and bumpy downhills. Rear
traction and stability felt so
good that I actually adjusted
sag to put more weight on the
front wheel. I reduced it from
105mm to 102mm, allowing
the bike to steer better with
the front end rather than the
rear, which I prefer. After that, I
softened the fork by two clicks
using the tool-less adjusters.
This allowed the KYB com
-
ponents to work more freely
while giving the front tire more
grip. The YZ's Speed Sensitive
System (SSS) fork, considered
one of the best in the busi
-
ness, does a wonderful job
complementing Yamaha's slim
and solid chassis. Overall, the
new YZ450F feels a lot more
balanced than before.
However, the real hero here
is still the YZ's engine. The
bike is an absolute rocket
ship, but a rideable rocket
ship. Usually, you can have
one but not the other. With the
Yamaha, you get both—lots of
power and controllability.
The hit from bottom to mid
is unmatched, and the bike is
geared so well that you can
hold second and third gears
longer than most comparable
bikes. As controllable as the
YZ450F is, it's always a good
idea to have a firm grip on the
handlebars because nailing
the throttle and accelerating
out of a rut makes you feel like
Han Solo switching the Millen
-
nium Falcon into lightspeed.
Updates to the suspension
make the bike feel more stable
and less twitchy at higher
speeds than before.
VOLUME ISSUE AUGUST , P107
