VOL. 54 ISSUE 12 MARCH 28, 2017 P111
The KYB suspension is the most
modern of all three bikes and the
action is plush with good bottoming
resistance. Overall the Yamaha pro-
vides the most comfortable ride at any
speed. The engine design and snappy
response help lift the front wheel eas-
ily and give the 272-pound machine a
light feel most of the time. The weight
becomes apparent when the speeds
slow down and the trail gets ugly. The
Yamaha doesn't feel any heavier than
the CRF450X or the RMX450Z, but
they are all within a few pounds of
each other.
The Yamaha is a bike that can do
it all for a lot of riders, especially
those who love a strong engine and
great working EFI. The advantage the
Yamaha has over the Honda is that no
matter how well you jet a carb, EFI is
so much better at really high altitudes,
making the Yamaha WR450F more
versatile. Also, in a world of technol-
ogy, the CRF450X is the last of carbu-
reted four-strokes.
In a nutshell, the Yamaha is a great
all-around off-roader. It can be ridden
aggressively or at a casual trail pace
without a problem, and the Yamaha
YZ/WR range has a reputation for
outstanding reliability. For our testers,
it came down to a two-way showdown
between the Yamaha and Honda
with the Yamaha getting the nod for
its great-working EFI system and the
ability to be ridden comfortably both
aggressively and casually. Things,
however, could've been a lot different
had it not been for the RMX's stalling
issues. CN
The WR can be a bit of a handful on ultra tight
and technical trails (but all three can, too).
YAMAHA
wr450F
NOTABLE FEATURES
•Fuel-Injection
•Rearward-Slanted Engine
•Electronic Meter/Enduro Computer
•Full Plastic Skid Plate
•Starting System: Electric
w/kick backup
NOTABLE NUMBERS
MSRP: $9099
Curb Weight: 272 lbs.
Seat Height: 38.0 in.
Ground Clearance: 12.8 in.
Fuel Capacity: 2.0 gal.
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PLACE
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