My test ride of a Yamaha 250 Torque Induction

I had the absolute privilege of being asked by a chap called Steve if I would like to test ride his recently restored Yamaha 250. I didn’t need asking twice, I can tell you!

We arranged a day and time to meet up. I was sooo excited, I have never ridden a two stroke bike before.

Let me start with a little bit of history about the Yamaha 250.

Back in 1972 Yamaha first produced engines with reed valves, called Torque Induction. This system helped deliver more low-end power and quicker engine response over the entire RPM range. 

The 250 replaced the outgoing YDS7 model with Yamaha changing the front end and squeezing in some reed valves in front of the carb and into the backs of the cylinders and this heralded the start of a new era for two strokes.

The 250 was fast, light, flexible and handled. Yamaha added the ‘Torque Induction’ graphic to the side panels as a reference to the new system and continued to use a four bearing crank, the use of two main bearings per cylinder meant the RD’s bottom end was always that little bit more resilient than other bikes on the market.

The petrol tank was fitted with a locking cap and the dash is simple yet elegant combined with functionality - everything you need is there: two lights for the indicators and a bulb checker which was advanced for it’s day. The new black switch gear on both bars was easy to use and proved to be something Yamaha would continue to use on future models.

Steve bought his 250 back in 1982 and back then it was his second bike that he used when it was raining as he didn’t want to get his main bike wet.

A few years later children came along and the 250 was consigned to the back of shed. Some thirty – yes 30(!) years later the 250 was uncovered and a meticulous restoration project beckoned. The bike was started and amazingly the engine roared into life straightaway.

Steve, and his mate who was helping with the rebuild, started stripping the bike. The frame and the swing arm were sent off for powder coating and the paintwork was re-done to, if I may say so, a beautiful standard. The blue, to me, is iconic of the bikes from the seventies and has a lovely shine to it.

Unfortunately the exhaust was not salvageable and had to be replaced with a new one but it is a standard exhaust for that bike. I love the long clean lines of the exhaust and to me, it sets the bike off nicely.

The wheel rims and spokes have also been replaced but the original hubs remain as to do the handlebars, yokes and clocks albeit they have been restored.

The forks are original but were pitted so they went off for re-chroming but the rear shock absorbers had to be replaced.

All in all, Steve says that about 80% of the bike has all its original parts that have been restored and/or rebuilt.

I did not know, but there is a sixth gear on the 250 but it has been blanked off but the later models do use this.

Finally, the bike was back on the road and Steve started riding it again. Up until this point the engine had not been touched and was still running as well as it did back in the 80’s. 

It wasn’t until earlier this year that the engine was treated to the same meticulous rebuild that the rest of the bike has received.

So, my time had come to ride the bike. I jumped on the bike and went to press the start. It doesn’t have a start button! It has a kick start. Having never used one before, I was fairly impressed with myself that I started it on the second kick. 

The smell of two stroke was amazing. I am of the firm opinion that you can’t beat that smell. If only they would bottle it!

I set off. As I did I went to change into second gear and got a false neutral instead and the engine revved a little – I was wincing to myself at this point. Sorry Steve!

As I pulled away and got the rest of the gears ok, the bike came to life. It was so easy to ride and smooth and just handled the corners effortlessly. The noise and the smell was amazing and I could feel that I had a huge grin on my face. I was loving it.

As those of you who have ridden two strokes know, they tend to have a relatively narrow power band but once you get it into this rev range, for the size of bike it goes really, really well.

Obviously being somebody else’s bike, I didn’t feel that I could go too far but I still managed a nice ride on some roads I know.

Compared to modern bikes, which let’s be honest, makes it pretty easy for you, it is a whole new way of riding. You really feel that you are riding the bike, reading what it wants and how it wants you to do it. Before this I was never sure that I fancied a classic bike but now my opinion of them has firmly changed.

The only downside were the brakes. The brakes reminded me of my old  ‘65 Mustang. If you wanted to stop, I found it prudent to give it a weeks notice. To be fair they were substantially better than the Mustang but I suppose I am used to riding a modern bike with ABS. 

Pretty soon I adjusted my riding to take account of the brakes and once I had done this they were no problem.

All too soon my ride was over and I parked back up and reluctantly handed the bike back to Steve. What an awesome bike it is. Yamaha certainly knew what they were doing with this bike.

I had decided by the time I got back that I definitely needed a two stroke in my life. They are just so much fun and the grin factor is right up there.

Thank you Steve for allowing me the opportunity to have a ride on your 250 pride and joy. I can definitely see why you love it so much.

BK

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My new bike

So I sold the MV and was looking for something else but wasn’t quite sure what it was that I wanted.

A couple of years back I had a test ride on a Triumph Thruxton R and gelled with it straightaway and I knew it was right for me but in the end decided that they were just too expensive for me. I did look at seeing if I could get one now but they are still holding their value. One day I will get my Thruxton.

A friend of mine has a CB1000R and when I was out with him the other week we swapped bikes. Wow! I loved it. We parked up and I had a huge grin on my face. I knew then that I would be looking on the internet when I got home for one.

There were quite a few for sale but a black and red one caught my eye. I made some enquiries, asked a few questions and arranged to see it.

It was a bit of a trek for me to go and see it (a 6 hour round trip), my o/h drove me in the car, so I took my leathers with me in case I decided I wanted it as if I did I would be riding it home that day.

In the advert I could see it had red wheels and on enquiry found out that the back wheel was a vfr wheel and both wheels had been powder coated to match the red paintwork. I was a little undecided as to whether I could live with the wheels.

Well we got there and saw it parked up and I knew straightaway that I would be riding it home. The pictures in the advert did not do the bike justice, it looked far better in person. I was smitten and the wheels look fantastic.

Now when I bought the MV the o/h was not with me and I literally just liked the look of it and the sound of it when the chap started it up and bought it on that basis. Luckily there was nothing mechanically wrong so I got away it.

This time the o/h checked the bike over for me and asked a lot of questions (!) before giving me the nod that it was okay to buy. I agreed a price with the chap and sorted out the paperwork. After taxing and insuring it, off I rode.

Well, I knew within half a mile that I had made the right choice. Not only did it sound awesome but it was so easy to ride and very smooth and it kinda went well too. I was riding along and realised that I was grinning.

Luckily the chap that owned the bike before had put on a few little extras namely:

* ASV levers;

* changed the standard exhaust for a noisy Delkevic which pops and bangs nicely and had the CAT removed;

* crash bungs;

* heated grips (I have never had these on any of my bikes before so I am excited to test these out);

* the Mettzler tyres are practically new too;

* a Puig front screen;

* a small carbon rear hugger;

* a belly pan;

* a tail tidy.

I shared the riding on the way back with the o/h so he could see what he thought of it too. Unfortunately for me he absolutely loves it too and keeps muttering that it would make a good replacement for his Fazer. I think I’m going to have to tie the CB down so it doesn’t migrate over to the other side of the garage.

The following morning, the sun was shining so I went out for a ride on the CB. I must have been enjoying myself as it was mid afternoon by the time I got back.

There are a couple of things that I would like to do to the CB:

* take the pillion seat off and replace it with a cowl;

* remove the rear footpegs (I do not take pillion);

* possibly change the end can for a carbon end can as I think this would look better with the black paintwork but I do love the sound of the exhaust that is on there so I will think about that one;

* possibly some billet reservoirs for the brake and clutch as the standard plastic ones are, how can I put it, fugly!

I should think that after riding it for a while there will be other things that crop up that I will think might be nice to add/change but right now all I want to do is just get back on it and go back out.

I’ll keep you posted of the tweaks I make to the CB.

BK

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A cheeky birthday ride out ……

A few places along here are quite bumpy with an uneven road service but it is very pretty and a nice ride.

There’s a lovely little cafe in Brackley that we knew was open for takeaway (and there is a bike shop next door which makes it all the more appealing) so we decided to make our way there to start with.

A friend messaged to say it was his birthday the following day and he fancied a ride out, was I about to go with him? Heck yes, got to make the most of the great weather.

The roads were dry and it was soooo great to be out, we passed a few other bikers on the way who must have been happy to be out on their bikes to as most of them nodded back!

We set off towards Aylesbury and then picked up the A413 and headed out through Hardwick into Winslow, and carried into Whitchurch. We stuck with the A413 through Padbury and then came into Buckingham. Once you get out of the villages, the A413 is really good on the bike, nice sweeping bends and a few straight bits too.

Once we got to Buckingham we then headed left on the A422 through Bufflers Holt and Westbury into Brackley. 

We parked up in Brackley and headed to the cafe to order our bacon rolls and coffee. Perfect.

Not far from the cafe is a park so wondered there and sat on the grass in the sunshine. What a perfect way to spend a morning – riding, eating and chatting with your mates.

After a couple of coffees we checked out the bike shop. What a great selection of bikes and a great range of prices too to suit all budgets. We did spend a little while in here ooing and ahhing over what bikes we would have in the garage.

My friend is looking for an Aprilia Falco and they just happened to have one in the shop, it was in great condition, good mileage, obviously been very well looked after - perfect. Out came my friend’s wallet ready to buy it only to find the person who had left the shop before we came in had just purchased it. My friend was gutted :-(

Another ride was needed to ease the disappointment so we got back on the bikes and headed off.

We headed back the way we came but were on the lookout for a coffee stop (can never have too many of them) and we stopped in Winslow where we found a Turkish restaurant doing takeaway food including coffee. Perfect.

We were outside drinking our coffee when a couple of other bikers rode past and saw that we had coffee so turned around and came back. Unfortunately, one of the guys who was on a KTM, turned around on an elevated driveway and he lost his footing and dropped his bike!!!

Luckily only a few scratches to the bike but nothing major, I think the poor guy was more embarrassed than anything. Unfortunately we’ve all done it but that fact doesn’t make it better when you’ve just dropped your bike in front of people!

After another coffee (I know right, going to be buzzing from all that caffeine!) we headed back home.

The weather was definitely on our side and it was sooo good to be out and about making the most of it.

Great ride, great coffee, can’t wait for the next ride.

BK

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