1980 Yamaha XS250 review from United Kingdom

The new Motad exhaust that was on it split apart from the bracket after a tiny scrape on a speedbump.

Strangely high oil consumption with no smoke.

It does 90mph downhill/tailwind!

This 27 year old bike has obviously been rebuilt not very long ago because its condition before I got my hands on it was lovely.

I have thrashed it and dropped it once at about 10mph on patch of oil or something, but basically I'm only writing this because everything I have read about the bike is really negative and I think it's done well.

It has just completed a journey from Scotland to Frankfurt in Germany and back again. It has been 100 percent reliable and a very steady performer for a small bike.

Much slagging off of the high rev power band has been done, saying it must be thrashed to get any decent power, which is true. But of course you have to thrash it, it's a fourstroke 250!

It's the worst tool for long distance touring, but I had to use it and I was glad of that high rev powerband, because that's where you want it to rev on the motorway at top speed, and it really helped to keep it there when it did get fast. Many miles could be covered without changing down, unless an extended climb was encountered.

It handles like crap, but of course with those thin tires and soft suspension, there is room for improvement.

It does 90mph downhill/tailwind!