was un-phased," said another. Even Metcalfe said:
"The KYB spring forks are by far the best in the
production bike market and the rear worked well
the rougher the track got." Need we say more about
the YZ's suspension?
The YZ's engine is also impressive. It has tons of
power everywhere while still being relatively easy
to control, though some thought the motor was too
explosive in stock configuration. "The Yamaha's
engine is still a benchmark for power," said Metcalfe.
Because of the unique airbox location (just
behind the steering head), you easily hear the air
being sucked into the intake system, which annoys
some of our testers; that, combined with a muffler
that doesn't muffle, the YZ played havoc with our
tester's ears. "It's loud and it doesn't sound good,"
said one tester.
We love the YZ's new engine-tuning app that
allows you to make mapping adjustments right from
your smartphone. It's simple and fun to use, and it's
free! It makes handheld tuners and couplers seem
obsolete.
Even with a spring fork and electric starting,
Yamaha managed to keep weight in check at 247
pounds. It's not the lightest bike on the scale nor
is it the heaviest, but it's pretty much right in the
middle, and it feels fairly light and agile on the track.
Even though Yamaha addressed these two
issues, the YZ still feels wide and doesn't turn as
proficiently as the Honda, KTM, Husky and Suzuki.
Yamaha did make the bike narrower between your
legs, but you can still feel the radiator shrouds with
your knees when you stick out your legs in the
turns. That really bugs some riders, and the Yama-
ha just doesn't feel quite as sharp or as precise, or
offer as good feedback in the turns as the Suzuki,
KTM, Husky and Honda. As you know—races are
won in the turns.
When it comes to details, the YZ has powerful
brakes, light clutch pull with excellent modulation,
a soft (but not too soft) seat, comes fitted with
well-liked Dunlop MX3S tires and when it comes to
reliability, the Yamaha has a stellar reputation. And
the YZ is a looker, especially with those blue rims!
VOL. 54 ISSUE 42 OCTOBER 24, 2017 P93
YAMAHA YZ450F
PROS
•Great suspension,
excellent fork
•Very potent engine
•Great reputation
for durability
•Electric start
CONS
•Still heavy
•Slightly vague front-end feel
•Hard on the ears
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Weight (full fuel): 247 lbs.
MSRP: $9199
