VOLUME 56 ISSUE 31 AUGUST 6, 2019 P95
YAMAHA'S
WOODS RIDER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER
T A M E E N O U G H F O R T H E T R A I L ?
Y
amaha's all-new WR450F is
finally here. Hey, sometimes
getting things just right takes
time, right? Perhaps that's the case
with the 2019 Yamaha WR450F
which receives a significant overhaul
for the, well, not-so-new year. Almost
nothing has been left untouched.
When it comes to Yamaha's meaty
line of 450cc four-stroke dirt bikes,
the YZ450F comes to mind first,
and that's because it's the baseline
for the company's fleet of big-bore
off-road motorcycles, the YZ450FX,
and WR450F. You could include the
YZ450F in the off-road fold if you
want, but it's tuned for motocross
and is all but unrideable on the trail.
The YZ450FX is the YZ450F for
the hard-core off-road racer who
is looking for a motocrosser with
an 18-inch rear wheel, a wider-ratio
tranny and a kickstand to hit the
trails on. These off-road riders are
primarily concerned about getting
to the finish line first; they aren't
interested in comfort, usability or
manageability. They want to go fast!
And the YZ450FX certainly fits that
bill. But what about the person who
still wants performance and power
on the trail but also wants all the
comforts of home? This is where
the WR450F raises its hand.
Yes, the WR450F is modeled
after the latest YZ450F motocross-
er, which got a significant overhaul
in 2018. The WR is even more
closely related to the FX, which
got a serious revamp in 2019. The
2019 YZ450FX got what the 2018
YZ450F got: a new frame, a new
motor, Wi-Fi mapping connectivity
and a lot more. Now it's time for the
