it's the FX's turn to get those
updates. The latest FX has a
heavily reworked aluminum
bilateral beam frame, an all-new
engine (that yields 500 rpm more
over-rev), slimmer bodywork, and
several other highlights, just like
the F model got a year ago. But
the FX receives more than just an
"X" sticker. To be off-road com-
petitive right off the showroom
floor,
Yamaha again outfitted the
450FX with several thought-out
modifications specifically for
off-roading. Compared to the
motocrosser, the FX has an 18-
inch (versus 19-inch) rear wheel,
an O-ring chain, a composite
skid plate, a folding aluminum
kickstand, a nearly half-inch lower
seat height, and a half-gallon
larger fuel tank (2.1 gallons vs.
1.6 gallons) with a reserve light.
Pair all that with other off-road-
specific mods—such as off-
road-friendly ECU mapping and
suspension settings, a lower seat
height, YZ450FX-specific engine
mounts, and a unique five-speed
wide-ratio gearbox—and you'll see
that Yamaha did its homework
catering to the off-road racer.
The FX is fitted with a fully
adjustable KYB suspension, which
includes Yamaha's highly touted
Speed Sensitive System (SSS) coil
spring fork, which now has a hand-
operated compression clicker.
WHAT
IT'S NOT>
Let's clarify one thing: the 450FX
is not a trail bike. That's what
the Yamaha WR450F and family-
friendly TT-R lineup is for. The
FX is an off-road racing ma-
chine, period, and a very aggres-
sive one at that. At its core, it is
a fire-breathing motocross
bike
that has been tweaked for high-
performance "closed-course"
off-road racing.
For 2024, the YZ450FX enters
a new generation as it follows in
the footsteps of its fully redone
YZ450F cousin, which was
heavily updated a year ago. Now
P90
RIDE REVIEW I 2024 YAMAHA YZ450FX
The 2024 Yamaha
YZ490FX got all
the updates that its
YZ450F cousin
got last year.
