RIDE REVIEW I 2022 YAMAHA YZ85 & YZ85LW
P124
After hopping aboard the
YZ85, Hudson immediately no-
ticed the dual shrouds and flatter
seat design. While this is rela-
tively like the Husky he currently
rides, he did mention that his
friend's older '07 YZ85 always
felt "a little weird" with only one
shroud and the exposed fuel
tank. This more-symmetrical
cockpit looks and feels comfort-
able right away.
For the rest of the day, all we
heard was the unmistakable
scream of an 85cc two-stroke
from the track. Young Hudson
wound out the YZ and railed the
outsides, carrying momentum
in every turn. The re-routing of
air on the YZ85 through and
under the seat is said to improve
overall throttle response just like
it did on the bigger YZ125 and
YZ250. The YZ85 engine is also
equipped with a power-valve sys-
tem and a six-speed transmission
for those who want to really open
the little bike up. Overall, the
power is snappy, has good carry-
through, and certainly enough
oomph to haul 135-pounds
around with ease.
After our morning session, we
jumped to the bigger YZ85LW.
Larger wheels and a longer
swingarm made this bike instantly
more comfortable for our taller
The styling changes were
also functional for the '22 YZ85.
Despite having one radiator,
the YZ85 has two radiator
shrouds to give the rider a more
symmetrical feel in the saddle.
