2016 YAMAHA YZ450FX
FIRST TEST
P76
W H AT I S T H E Y Z 4 5 0 X ?
Like all of Yamaha's competi-
tion off-road bikes before it, the
YZ450FX is based on its YZ
(motocross) cousin, in this case
the 2016 YZ450F (we'll refer
to it as simply the "YZ" in this
report). The FX is essentially the
same motorcycle but with many
key changes that address the
specific needs of the off-road
racer, which is no different than
what Yamaha has done with its
YZ250FX and YZ250X models.
And like all of its FX brothers,
the YZ450FX is deemed a full-
on race bike strictly intended
for closed-course competition;
therefore it doesn't fall under the
same EPA and CARB umbrella
as your traditional trail/play bike,
or any motorcycle intended to
be ridden on public land. This
is what the new 2016 WR450F
is for. (The all-new green-sticker
WR450F has just been released
"THE FX,
HOWEVER, IS
STILL A BEAST,
THERE'S NO
GETTING AROUND
THAT; AFTER
ALL, IT STARTED
OUT LIFE AS ONE
OF THE MOST
POWERFUL BIKES
IN MOTOCROSS,
BUT IT'S NOW
A MUCH MORE
TAMABLE BEAST."
