VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P111
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The fight for the podium
turned out closer than we
expected, and in third place,
we found the Yamaha YZ450F.
Chock-full of some mid-gen
updates, this might just be
the most polarizing bike in the
lineup.
Undoubtedly, the Yamaha is
the fastest bike in this lineup.
There's no question about that.
While we didn't technically put
these bikes on the dyno, the
dry-sump, forward-facing cylin-
der design has the hardest-hit-
ting punch of any stock 450cc
machine. Hold on tight because
when you twist the grip, this
bike goes in a hurry. The torque
from down low is instant and
almost surprising with its Mike
Tyson intensity. It then transi-
tions into a hearty midrange and
pulls gears much longer than
any of us initially expected. Bet-
ter to have and not need than
need and not have, right? The
exciting personality makes the
YZ the most fun engine to ride
and feels like the complete op-
posite of the Kawasaki. If you're
looking for the most exciting
engine to ride, this is your ticket.
With help from their Power
Tuner app, you can detune
the Yamaha's motor if you so
choose. The "light-on" or "light-
off" settings allow users to
choose between two completely
customizable maps. This is how
Yamaha's engine scored so
many points across the board.
Our faster riders chose the more
aggressive maps, and our vets
opted for the smoother ones.
With tons of customization and
pre-built maps at your finger-
tips, there's something for ev-
eryone. Factor in the app's other
features, like a built-in hour
YAMAHA YZ450F
M
