Noleen Yamaha Yz360

NOLEEN YAMAHA YZ360

YAMAHA JUST ISN'T INTERested in producing a liquid-cooled, 500cc production motocross bike. And for good reason: The air-cooled YZ490, updated very little since 1982, is still selling well. Not to motocross racers, but to trail riders. Many trail riders simply don't want or need liquid cooling.

Enter Öhlins, a Swedish company known for producing quality shocks. Öhlins (mostly owned by Yamaha) saw a market for a 360cc engine kit that would transform a YZ250 into an Open-class racer, effectively giving Yamaha fans a lightweight, liquid-cooled, bigbore YZ.

The kit proved competitive for motocross in Europe, and enduro riders were quick to recognize its potential, too. Frenchman Stephane Peterhasel rode an enduro version of the Öhlins 360 to first overall at the 1988 International Six Days Enduro in France.

Noleen Racing, the U.S. importer of Öhlins shocks, sells the 360 kits in America. Rather than add a liner to a standard YZ250 cylinder, Noleen furnishes a new aluminum cylinder with a Nikasilcoated, 82mm bore. A new head, longer rod (needed for clearance between the piston skirt and crank weights), piston assembly, base gasket and cylinder-head O-rings complete the kit.

Installing the 360 kit requires splitting the engine cases to install the new rod. A stock YZ250 pipe will work fine with the 360 kit, or Noleen can supply a custom pipe that offers an additional performance boost for $149. Noleen can also supply porting specifications which let the 360 rev higher, if an owner prefers top-end zing over low-end oomph.

The complete Öhlins/Noleen Racing YZ360 kit isn’t cheap, selling for $1206, and installing it is more involved than just bolting on a new top end. But we think the finished product is worth the money and the effort: The 360 is powerful, light and easy to ride.

Noleen Racing 2141 East Philadelphia, Unit T, Ontario, CA 91761-7742 (714)947-5773