2019 YAMAHA YZ450F
FIRST TEST
P72
in two straight wins for Jorge Lorenzo after a
year-and-a-half dry spell. There is a lot to be said
about being comfortable on a motorcycle when
you're racing it—on pavement or dirt.
Engine performance is identical to the '18
model, with the exception of the 49-tooth rear
sprocket (up one tooth from last year). This was
noticeable on the track and makes the bike pull
a little harder out of the corners and feel a little
Beefed up axle-
collars, both
front and rear,
actually make
a noticeable
difference in
stability. Once
Yamaha's
factory racers
tried them, they
never went
back.
One of the best
improvements from
2018 to 2019 is the
YZ's new seat foam.
It's firmer so you don't
feel the frame rails
nearly as much as
you used to.
