RD 250

1981 Yamaha RD 250 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around Yamaha's sport touring motorcycle platform, the 1981 Yamaha RD 250 pairs a 247 cc (15.1 cu in) liquid-cooled twin, two-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 38 HP (27.7 kW) at 8,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 6-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 153.8 HP per liter, the engine character is placing it firmly in high-revving supersport territory where top-end breathing dominates.

On the scales, the RD 250 measures 158 kg (348 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.24 HP/kg (4.16 kg per horsepower). The 17-liter (4.5 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 163 km/h (101 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Yamaha archive, this model family spans 7 indexed model years from 1975 to 1985, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.