VOLUME 56 ISSUE 40 OCTOBER 8, 2019 P87
Y
es, we'll forgive you if you did not
get excited when Yamaha first un-
veiled its 2020 YZ450F. It looks a
lot like the previous year's model but with
the usual updated graphics. But don't be
fooled! There is a lot more going on here
than first meets the eye. Yamaha made
numerous behind-the-plastic changes to
the '20 YZ450F that can't easily be seen
but can easily be felt on the track. But are
they for the better?
The YZ450F was already a great
motocrosser before the 2020 version
hit the scene. At least we thought so;
so much so that the YZ450F took first-
place honors in our '19 450 Motocross
Shootout. We found that it offered the
best all-around and complete package
for both on-track performance and owner
experience. It didn't blow away the other
bikes in our comparison in any single
category, except for, perhaps, in the elec-
tronics department with its marvelous free
power-tuner smartphone app that makes
engine tuning and maintaining an engine
log a breeze, but it did do everything well
and didn't have any glaring faults. Perfor-
mance-wise, we were most awed by the
'19's strong yet controllable power delivery
and excellent suspension.
BY THE CN STAFF I PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER
Based on looks alone, you're excused for not getting
too excited about the 2020 YZ450F, a motorcycle that
tricks your eyes into thinking it's just a re-clothed 2019
YZ450F. But it's not. Nope, not even close.
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