Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127962
Four strokes. . On e m.iss ion . h is is w h e r e t h e YZ experie nce begins. And the mament yau swing yaur leg aver a YZ8D™ yau became , part af a staried hi stary. With a le gacy lined with victaries much like its legendary bigger YZ brethren, the YZ8D has made a habit af daminating pretty much everything that has anything ta da with the mini class. And, af caurse, experts have 'been quick ta chime in with their awn praise, mast recently crawning it the 1998 H D af the YearHand H Dcc Matacrass ShaatautH 8 8 winner. Can 't really say we're surprised, thaugh. After all, fram its tarquey liquid-caaled 83cc single and smaath-shifting six-speed gearbax ta its race-bred frame, ultra-strang brakes and fully adjustable suspensian, the YZ8D is the mini-racer af chaice far thase seriaus abut winning. And if yau're gaing ta kick aff yaur c.areer a baar d a YZ8D, yau b'etter be prepared ta start daing that a lat. T t started when Daug Henry delivered a crushing blaw ta the SX warld twa years aga by spanking the entire field abaard his factary YZM4DD faur-strake at the '97 Supercrass finale in Las Vegas. We . couldn 't have wished far a better shawcase far the daminating, state-af-the-art technalagy faund an what's naw aur praductian YZ4DDF™-a bike that pretty much swept 1998 Bike af the Year hanars. With its ultra shart-strake, 5valve , tarque-packed pawerplant, H a r k s - s t yl e H KYB w suspensian and race-bred YZ chassis, there's simply na bike like it. Cycle News called it H ane af the mast exhilarating praductian race bikes an the planet, while Dirt Bike Magazine hailed Yamaha as having H ais ed matacrass ta a r new level...in ane fell s wa a p,u dubbing the faur-strake 'H definitely the Bike af the Year, maybe the decade: Well, that hard-hitting, all-warld package has just became even mare pat ent, a s the ' 9 9 YZ4 DDF gets a newly redesigned, lightweight swingarm with an up gra ded shack linkage ratia; lighter, stranger rear hub and Excel rims ; new Dunlap 739s; and a lar ger rear brake disc. The gaad news? Enhanced han dling and finer-tuned overall perfarmance ta make the "war ld's greatest faur-strake" that much mare unstappable. I H • Maximum mini. There are few joys in lif e equal to the free -spirited thrill and experience of motorcycling. And that 's why it 's important for 011 of us to do our port as responsible r iders. By following I logical common-sellSt: rules , we can maintain season after of season of unparalleled enjoyment of our sport. Always remember to review your Yamaha motorcycle Owner's maroal and Tips Booklet before you r ide . Before each r ide, take t ime to check all your equipment . Always wear an approved helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, gloves and boots. And oIways be sure your bike is in f irst-class condition before r iding. Never ride a yz on paved surfaces or public roads: never carry passengers : never engage in stunt riding and avoid excessive speed . Every motorcycle r ider should be aware of the limits of his or her skills, experience and abilities and ride accordingly . Beginners should be extremely cautious and allow extra time and distance for maneuvering and braking . All r iders should ride will within the limits of their ab ilities , never beyond them. Do not drink and ride . It is illegal and dangerous . Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to r ide safely and respect the environment . For further information regarding the M5F course, please call 1- 800-446-9227. The r iders used during photography of this broclure are highly skilled, very talented professional racers. All of the action was shat on a closed course , and is nat intended to be duplicated in any way. Specifications subject to change without notice . ~ come with a 30-tlay Limited Factory Warranty. Limited warranty does not apply to ..uts for racing . See your dealer for details . 49