Yamaha rolls its little, American-style cruiser, the V-Star 250 into MY2023 with all the charm that made it popular in the first place. The small-displacement fuel-efficient 250cc engine and light weight make it a newbie-friendly pocket cruiser with unmatched attention, that makes a good first bike for folks on the cruiser path.
2023 Yamaha V-Star 250
- High-Efficiency Engine
- Relaxed Rider Triangle
- Wide-Geared Five-Speed Transmission
- Retro Cruiser Styling
- Model: V-Star
- Engine:: 249 CC V-Twin
- Power Output: 21 HP @ 8,000 RPM
- Torque: 15.2 LB-FT @ 6,000 RPM
- Transmission: Five-Speed Manual
- Classic Appeal
- Affordably Priced
- Excellent Entry Cruiser
- Drum Brake
- Exhaust Is Vulnerable To Damage
- No ABS
2023 Yamaha V-Star 250 Performance And Capability
Yamaha makes a surprising move with its air-cooled 249 cc V-twin engine in the layout. It's a long-stroke mill with a 49 mm bore and 66 mm stroke rather than the usual over-square setup we see with Japanese engines. This arrangement also gives it a relatively mild, 10-to-1 compression ratio that will tolerate mid-grade pusholine just fine.
There is certainly something to be said for a simple air cooled engine design. It does make it easier to maintain and diagnose problems, so it is not a knock at all to bring up its 26 mm Mikuni soupcan that manages the induction with no reliance on electronic fandanglery at all.
A single over-head cam times the twin-valve heads and help keep the top end simple and light. The Yamaha V-Star 250 produces 21 horsepower and 15.2 pound-feet of torque. That's at 8,000 rpm and 6,000 rpm, respectively. Once that power filters through the five-speed transmission and chain-type final drive, it turns out an estimated V-Star 250 top speed of 85 mph. Even if that's a tad ambitious, the V-Star 250 is capable of handling short stints on the superslab with a reasonable cushion for passing. Overall this V-twin offers smooth roll-on power and a good dose of punchy bottom-end torque. The 2.5-gallon fuel tank should offer a generous fuel range. Fuel economy clocks in at 78 MPG.
Engine & Drivetrain | |
|---|---|
Engine | Air-Cooled, SOHC 60° V-Twin, 2 Valves |
Displacement | 249 cc (15 cu in) |
Bore x Stroke | 49 mm x 66 mm |
Compression | 10.0:1 |
Power | 21 HP @ 8,000 RPM |
Torque | 15.2 LB-FT @ 6,000 RPM |
Fuel System | Mikuni® 26 mm carburetor |
Final Drive | Chain |
Gearbox | Five-speed; multiplate wet clutch |
Design
No doubt about it, the V-Star 250 is right at home in Yamaha's retro-tastic “Faster Sons” lineup with classic design elements from the '80s. My first thought upon seeing it was that it is the lovechild of a Honda Rebel and Harley-Davidson Sportster, and I mean that in the most positive way.
With a retro touch, the V-Star makes that vital connection to the custom culture of old, and it shows up in several areas. Bobbed fenders mean you aren't carrying any superfluous weight in the sheet metal parts. A blackout tripletree joins the black frame and swingarm which pairs nicely with the glossy black paint on fenders and teardrop fuel tank alike. There's plenty of quality chrome, including on the dual exhausts. Someone pass me some shades 'cause this thing totes some bling to break up the darkness a bit.
Forward controls place the rider in the windsock position, though the bar riders have a considerable amount of rise and pullback to let you ride upright to give your back and shoulders a break. As for rider comfort, the seat height is about as low as it comes at 27 inches off the deck, plus it comes stock with a smallish p-pad and frame-mount passenger footpegs for a friend.
Yamaha V-Star 250 Specs | |
|---|---|
Length | 86.2 in |
Width | 28.0 in |
Height | 41.7 in |
Seat Height | 41.7 in |
Wheelbase | 58.7 in |
Ground Clearance | 5.7 in |
Fuel Capacity | 2.5 gal |
Curb Weight | 324 lb |
Chassis
Tubular-steel members make up the welded V-Star frame. It follows the old school with a dual-downtube/double-cradle arrangement that completely supports the ultra-efficient engine rather than using it as a stressed member. This affords some protection to the smooth running engine's bottom end.
Rake and trail are somewhat relaxed at 32 degrees and 4.7 inches respectively, which lends it some stability and channels some of that chopper magic. It's too bad there's no stretch in the downtubes, that would be really boss. Fixed-value forks float the front end on 33 mm tubes with 5.5 inches of travel, which is plenty for the roughest patches. Dual, coil-over shocks support the rear with 3.9 inches of travel and adjustable preload so you can set up for a passenger and cargo, or set it back to solo.
The laced wheels round out the rolling chassis with even more retro-tastic goodness to complete the package. They come shod in Cheng Shin rubber in a 3.00-18 ahead of a 130/90-15. As for the brakes, a 282 mm disc and twin-piston caliper do most of the work, because out back, a 130 mm drum brake finishes out the brakeage. Perhaps that drum brake is taking the classic styling too far? You be the judge.
Chassis & Suspension | |
|---|---|
Front Suspension/ Travel | 33 mm fork/ 5.5 in |
Rear Suspension/ Travel | Dual shocks, adjustable preload/ 3.9 in |
Rake | 32.0° |
Trail | 4.7 in |
Front Tire | 3.00-18 CHENG SHIN C-916 |
Rear Tire | 130/90-15 CHENG SHIN C-915 |
Front Brake | 282 mm, Hydraulic disc |
Rear Brake | 130 mm drum |
2023 Yamaha V-Star 250 Price And Availability
The 2023 Yamaha V-Star 250 costs $4,699. You'd better like gloss black as well, since it only comes in the “Raven” colorway for now. The V-Star 250 hit showrooms in November 2022.
Pricing & Features | |
|---|---|
Features | Rear Drum Brake, 26 mm Mikuni® carburetor |
Warranty | One Year (Limited Factory Warranty) |
Colors | |
└ 2015 | Raven, Impact Blue |
└ 2016 | Electric White |
└ 2017 | Frost Silver |
└ 2018 | Raven |
└ 2019, 2020 | Metallic Silver |
└ 2021 - 2023 | Raven |
Price | |
└ 2020 | $4,349 |
└ 2021 | $4,499 |
└ 2022 | $4,599 |
└ 2023 | $4,699 |
Competitors
Royal Enfield has a suitable counterpart in its Classic 350. As the devilishly-clever name suggests, it rocks that classic British look, which makes sense given the marque's origins.
Royal Enfield Classic 350
With laced wheels, and chrome fenders, the Classic 350 hits all the vanity high points. Even the little thumper could pass for a British parallel-twin engine when viewed in profile. In spite of its greater displacement, the Royal Enfield produces 20.2 horsepower and 19.9 pound-feet of torque against 21/15.2 respectively, which is an okay tradeoff at the end of the day.
Pricing is close enough at $4,799. Credit where it's due, Royal Enfield offers almost a dozen colorways, some are two-tone to boot.
He Said
“At first glance, it's a cute little pocket cruiser, but the top speed makes it a viable transportation option in most types of areas. It's endowed with long legs, which is confidence inspiring in areas that are what you might call a fuel desert, and can enable some serious weekend fun.”
She Said
My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “When you get this low in the displacement range, you usually find thumpers that can never have the nice sound of a V-Twin engine. The V-Star 250 is a nice entry-level cruiser that lacks any sophisticated electronics. The high-efficiency engine gives you respectable fuel economy so don't let the small tank put you off. You don't get any more retro than a carburetor and a drum brake.”
FAQ
Q: How much is a Yamaha V Star 250?
MSRP on the 2023 Yamaha V-Star 250 is $4,699 and comes only in the Raven colorway this year.
Q: Is the Yamaha V Star 250 good for highway?
Top speed of the Yamaha V-Star 250 is 85 MPH. This means the bike has the capability of maintaining highway speed with a little reserve for passing.
Q: Is Yamaha V Star 250 good for beginners?
Low seat height and manageable power make the V-Star 250 suitable for entry-level riders.
Q: How much horsepower does a Yamaha V-Star 250 have?
The 249 cc air-cooled V-twin engine on the V-Star 250 produces 21 horsepower and 15.2 pound-feet of torque.