1980 Yamaha XS250 Special from United Kingdom
Summary:
Fun, enjoyable lightweight cruiser that will put a smile on your face
Faults:
Based on other reviews it appears that I was fortunate with this machine as I had no faults in all the time I owned it.
General Comments:
I really loved this bike. I still prefer the retro cruiser style of the 80's and 90's than the straight bars/far too low seat of today's cruisers.
This was bought to commute and have fun with, and not for touring or covering long distances, particularly at motorway speeds, so my experience may be a little different from others.
The seat was very comfortable, and combined with the wide bars made for a very laid back riding position. I never had any problems with turning at low speeds with those bars, it's a shame they don't appear these days.
Performance was okay for my purposes, sure, it was never going to be quick but it wasn't designed to be, it plodded on relentlessly and the engine was smooth, as was the gear change. Brakes could be better, but nothing unusual for a bike of that era, and as I tended to plod rather than gun it, they were adequate.
Remarkably, I never had any starting or electrical issues, so I guess my model had been well cared for and garaged.
I honestly loved this bike and had to think hard about why I sold it, which was to move up in engine size for something I could tour Europe on.
If I could find one (or the 400 or better yet the 1100) I would definitely buy it.
Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 4th November, 2023