The Yamaha TZ 250 was produced from 1973 to 2004, based upon the OW17 of 1970s racing fame. Throughout the long production run, the motorcycle underwent many significant changes. It was a commercially available racing motorcycle, with customers being able to purchase the bike alongside street-legal motorcycles in dealers across the world. Early examples were powered by a 247cc powerplant, enlarged to 249cc in 1981. In 1991, the model was refreshed, now sharing a 250cc V-twin with another factory-racing bike, the YZR 250. This was a significant change for the model, allowing it to remain competitive till the end of production. For the 1996 model year, the fairing and frame were redesigned, with many changes made to the air intake design. The motorcycle on display holds Japanese race history, including at the famed Suzuka circuit.
