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/1517587
P98 RIDE REVIEW I 2024 YAMAHA YZ450FX which indeed toned things down a bit. We wanted more, though, so we ramped up the traction control setting in the app, which also made a noticeable difference for the better. We continued fiddling around with the Power Tuner App, a convenient piece of equipment, for the rest of the day. The FX retains its "light on" or "light off" handlebar switchgear, which allows the rider to toggle between two totally different pre-programmed engine maps. For example, suppose you're racing a three-hour GNCC race. In that case, you can choose the ag - gressive map (light off), holeshot-pulling character for the first hour, and then bail out into a more mellow map setting (light on) when you get tired and/or when traction is scarce. Pretty cool. The FX has top-notch handling. Its new chassis is already a sharpshooter on the F, and we knew it would be good for the tight stuff. The updates to the frame improve agility in the corners, which also translates into ease of use when slicing through the trees. The nearly half-inch lower seat height (compared to the YZ450F) makes the FX a little more comfortable and easier to maneuver, and the frame offers excellent feedback, which Yamaha says is partly due to the built-in flex characteristic from the specially designed engine hangers. You can also adjust the positioning of the rubber- mounted handlebar to suit your comfort needs further. New finger adjusters on the fork caps also allow for easy trailside tuning, which we took advantage of by opening the com - pression two clicks. This softened the fork and let the front end engage more in the slow-speed sections while giving the front tire more traction. The bike was respon- sive, and small inputs through the footpegs produced significant changes in direction when picking lines. This is crucial when rac- ing through the trees and something the FX does noticeably well. CN 2024 YAMAHA YZ450FX ($10,199) ENGINE TYPE: 4-stroke, single-cylinder VALVETRAIN: DOHC, 4 valves (titanium) DISPLACEMENT: 450cc COOLING SYSTEM: Liquid BORE X STROKE: 97.0 × 60.9mm STARTING SYSTEM: Electric FUELING: Mikuni fuel injection, 44mm TRANSMISSION: 5-speed; multiplate wet clutch FRAME: Aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION: KYB spring, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: KYB single shock, fully adjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL: 11.8 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL: 12.0 in. FRONT WHEEL: 21 in. REAR WHEEL: 18 in. FRONT TIRE: 80/100-21 Dunlop Geomax MX33F REAR TIRE: 120/90-18 Dunlop Geomax MX33 FRONT BRAKE: Hydraulic 270mm REAR BRAKE: Single 240mm RAKE: 27° SEAT HEIGHT: 37.6 in. GROUND CLEARANCE: 13 in. FUEL CAPACITY: 2.1 gal. WEIGHT (WET, CLAIMED): 251 lbs. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S