P96
RIDE REVIEW I 2024 YAMAHA YZ450FX
tip-toed through the woods. We
opened it up on steep climbs
and fire roads to see what this
bike has under the hood. Mid-to-
top is just as strong as we had
imagined, and where it proudly
displays its race-inspired DNA
as you pick up the pace. With
from bottom to mid is smooth.
Once you're out of first gear,
you rarely go back. Second and
third gear is where all the fun
is, and this is where we spent
most of our time—in that area
between low-end grunt and
lower-midrange power—as we
Carolina trees. Without question,
it will also be as impressive, if
not more, on the wide-open GP
tracks that litter the West Coast.
Why? Because the new motor
rips. We rarely got it out of third
gear in SC. Low-end torque is
immediate, and the transition
