Yamaha XT250 2013-2024 Service Manual

TopSpeed's own review acknowledges the punchline directly: despite feeling like it's "been around forever," the current-generation XT250 has "only" existed since 2008 — a fact made stranger by rivals like the Suzuki DR-Z400S being genuinely older. The XT name itself traces back to 1980, appeared in Sylvester Stallone's hands in the original First Blood, and survived a discontinuation in 1991 before returning to fill the gap left by the smaller XT225.

2013 brought the single most significant update in this generation's run: fuel injection replaced the old 33mm Teikei carburetor, delivering smoother throttle response, reduced emissions, and easier cold starts. Motocross Hideout's own review frames it as a genuine quality-of-life upgrade for anyone tired of cleaning a dirty carb after winter storage or re-jetting for altitude changes. The switch came paired with an upgraded TCI ignition system (replacing the older CDI unit) for more precise timing, a larger fuel tank, a new multifunction digital LCD display, a longer and thicker seat, and an improved headlight. The 249cc air-cooled SOHC single, with a 74.0mm x 58.0mm bore and stroke and 9.5:1 compression ratio, delivers a claimed 16 hp at 7,000 rpm and 13 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm, run through a wide-ratio 5-speed transmission with chain final drive.

From 2013 onward, Yamaha deliberately left the platform alone beyond color updates — TopSpeed's more recent review confirms nothing meaningful changed mechanically for over a decade after the fuel-injection switch. A semi-double-cradle steel frame, tuned for mass centralization and light handling, pairs with a 35mm telescopic fork offering 8.9 inches of front travel and a rebound-adjustable rear shock with 7.1 inches of travel, riding on a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wire-spoke wheel combination with enduro-style tires. Front and rear disc brakes handle stopping duty. A genuinely tight turning radius — helped by a 51-degree handlebar lock angle, nearly trials-bike territory, on a short 53.5-inch wheelbase — makes the XT250 easy to maneuver at low speed. Motocross Hideout's reliability notes suggest owners can expect around 10,000 miles before a top-end rebuild becomes necessary, with simple preventative maintenance extending that considerably. Seat height sits at 31.9 inches, with wet weight around 291 lbs and a 2.6-gallon tank. Yamaha discontinued the XT250 in Japan by 2020, though it remained available in the US and select other markets through the mid-2020s.

This factory service manual covers the procedures, torque specs, and diagrams needed to keep a 2013-2024 XT250 running the way it was built to.