1981 Yamaha YZ250

[opfermanmotors]

The 1982 YZ 250, sought after bike for Vintage racing.

Evil 1 (HD)

[83 CR480R]

Nice to see an old smoker still rolling!  Lot's of TLC and they will last forever.

[compmoto]

great music !    and the bike smells good from here !

[kamakz28]

Yes they are saught after. I just happen to have one for sell .I am new to the site so it might take a bit to find my way around. I will post this bike and many more that are up for sale.

[TMKIWI]

Question Opfermanmotors.
I have a guy wanting to do a trade on my tt600 with a 1981 IT250.
I am after a yz but how much difference is there between the yz & it.
There are lots of it175's over here but not many 250's.
Is it worth looking at or just get a yz.
We havent started talking money yet just wanted to know if i am wasting my time.
Cheers.

[riffraff]

Question Opfermanmotors.
I have a guy wanting to do a trade on my tt600 with a 1981 IT250.
I am after a yz but how much difference is there between the yz & it.
There are lots of it175's over here but not many 250's.
Is it worth looking at or just get a yz.
We havent started talking money yet just wanted to know if i am wasting my time.
Cheers.

Get IT! Get IT!

[SachsGS]

An 81 IT250 differs considerably from an 81 YZ250, 6 sp vs. 5 sp, weight, suspension etc. Yamaha engineered one for ISDT events and the Mike Bell scoot for mx. Here in the Pacific Northwest there are still quite a few evolution era YZ's floating around. I know of one 81 YZ465 that is a complete runner and a good candidate for restoration.

In my area a lot of those TT600's kicked back and grenaded their motors.

[redrider611]

I like to see old smokers still going.
The YZ is cool but personally, I would much rather have the CR in the vid. 85 or 86?

[opfermanmotors]

An 81 IT250 differs considerably from an 81 YZ250, 6 sp vs. 5 sp, weight, suspension etc. Yamaha engineered one for ISDT events and the Mike Bell scoot for mx. Here in the Pacific Northwest there are still quite a few evolution era YZ's floating around. I know of one 81 YZ465 that is a complete runner and a good candidate for restoration.

x2, the IT is more of a trail bike with a mellow power band and YZ is a motocross bike with a harder hitting power band.  Depends on what you want to do with it.

The YZ is cool but personally, I would much rather have the CR in the vid. 85 or 86?

1986 CR500


1986 Honda CR500 Part 4 - Rebirth (in HD)

[redrider611]

Sweet 500. I am a HUGE fan for the 85-86 CR125's-500's
Even a bigger one for the 87 CR80. 86 was same except for 87 had front disc brake.

[Coop]

I agree. The 85-87 CR's were the last years I REALLY liked it. If I found an '87 CR125 or 250 to restore I would have a hard time not buying it, lol.

[maicoman009]

One of my good freinds had a "81" IT-250 and I've ridden quite a few older YZ's and they do have a pretty wicked powerband but if your just getting it to ride & not race MX then I would without a doubt get the IT! I can definetly say that if a brand new "if we could go back in time" 1981 IT-250 went up against a 1981 YZ-250 in a eighth of a mile drag race the IT would come out the winner! IT's have a wide ratio tranny & once your in 4th,5th & 6th gear the YZ will be screaming it's guts out just to keep up....On a MX/SX track you won't beat the YZ-250 with a IT-250 though.

[KXAF888]

I am the title sponsor for the Midwest VMX Series, which host races for both vintage and modern bike in the Midwest.  The are a ton of old *cool* iron bike left out there.  A good freind of mine just purchased a 81 YZ250, brought it home, rode it around the yard, then raced it the very next day(30 minute moto's +1 lap) and won on it!  Our races have a good mix of vintage, post vintage, EVO, and Revo bikes.  The cool thing about vintage racing is that everyone is there to have FUN!!!!  I have only raced the modern classes the past 2 years(won 2 class championships last year, and going to finish 2nd in both classes this year), but I recently bought some old iron as well.  I plan on have my mechanic go thru the bike top to bottom over the winter, then race both modern & vintage next year.


if anyone on here is from IL, IA, MO, WI, or MI....you should come check us out next year(or tomorrow at Sunset Ridge MX, our last race of 2010)

[ford832]

I've never ridden that vintage YZ but have ridden a couple of IT's-and wasn't impressed.I thought they were too cool but once riding the whole bike just seemed sluggish-engine,suspension,trans etc.(both were well done examples as well)I realize the year and all but having wanted one at one point,decided I wasn't interested after a couple rides.

[Coop]

There's not really a comparison between an IT and a YZ. The IT's engine, suspension, etc are not nearly as good as on the YZ. I have ridden both bikes from the early 80's (brother-in-law had an IT and best friend had a YZ back in the day) and would pick the YZ without hesitation.