Tanshanomi's Snap Judgments

Yamaha 250 Tricker

Wed, August 17th, 2011


NOTE: The Tricker has never been imported to the United States.


2004–11 Yamaha XG250 Tricker
Performancewww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
The XG520 is mechanically identical to the XT250 that I reviewed in March, 2010. The performance score is logically the same.
Handlingwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
The Tricker is targeted as an urban explorer, not an enduro bike. Despite having identical frame and brakes as the XT, the Tricker's score gets a bump over its sibling due to its lower overall height and wider, more street-oriented tires, as well as an intended mission that demands less out of the suspension.
Lookswww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
The Tricker is a remix of trials and supermoto styling that hits all the right notes. It's fresh and different without being goofy.
Reliabilitywww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
It's a late model Yamaha with no known reliability issues and durable bodywork: everything works slickly and should continue to work that way for a long time.
Practicalitywww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
While not the best choice for long distances or freeways, the Tricker's compactness, nimble handling and a seat height under 32 inches make this an ideal city bike for nearly anybody. (Note that I drop all non-US-market bikes 2 points.)
Desirabilitywww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
The Tricker has a fun, funky street cred few bikes of its size and price possess nowadays.
Overallwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
The Tricker manages to be much more than an XT250 with different bodywork and smaller-diameter rims.