Yamaha revealed their 2014 YZ450F and YZ250F Motocross machines this week in the US, and although the YZ250F is basically an all-new bike, it’s the controversial YZ450F that will steal the spotlight for many.

Taking a look back to 2010, Yamaha released their all-new YZ450F, using a radical reversed engine design that had been used most recently by Cannondale in 2001.

Cannondale’s reverse cylinder MX400 was the most notorious reverse cylinder design ever made, it was overweight, hard-starting, undersprung and unreliable.

Yamaha obviously took this failure into account while designing their 2010 YZ450F, but the bike was released and within the past three years that model has received plenty of mixed reviews.

The bike had plenty of raw power and was definitely a reliable unit, but riders such as James Stewart could not gel with the bike and forced the famous mid-season split between Yamaha and Stewart.

Companies began to put together engine mount kits to transfer weight to different areas on the bike with riders complaining of lack of feel in the front end.

Other riders referred to the bike having ‘stink bug’ characteristics and felt that the bike was unstable at high speeds – then again, some riders loved it straight out of the box.

Although the bike copped some flack here and in the US, Australia’s Yamaha YZ450F mounted riders went on to achieve great success on the reverse cylinder designed bike from 2010 onwards.

The unique 2010 YZ450F was a big move for Yamaha.

Jay Marmont took two consecutive premier class Australian Motocross titles aboard the CDR Yamaha in 2010 and 2011 with Josh Coppins right on his tail riding the same equipment.

Coppins then went on to take his YZ450F to victory in 2012, clinching the Monster Energy MX Nationals MX1 title for CDR Yamaha making it the current reigning championship holding bike.

Lawson Bopping also won his first-ever Monster Energy MX Nationals MX1 overall aboard his YZ450F at the 2012 Hervey Bay round in Queensland.

Dan McCoy continued the YZ450F’s success in Australia during the 2012 Terex Australian Supercross Championship, landing a solid second place finish overall and coming very close to stealing the title away from the now Kawasaki mounted Marmont.

Currently CDR Yamaha’s Billy Mackenzie and Lawson Bopping sit third and fifth overall respectively in the MX Nationals MX1 points chase, with Berry Sweet/Lucas Oil/Yamaha’s Tye Simmonds holding down seventh.

Yamaha took all of this criticism into account over the three years of that particular models production and are now presenting us with a revised second generation YZ450F for 2014.

With a completely new frame design, updates to the engine, all-new ergos and weight distribution, Yamaha might just suprise a few critics for the new year.

Yamaha claim they have built a more stable and controllable bike with a lower centre of gravity that is perfectly balanced. Combine these new features with their updated engine that was already quite impressive – this could be something special.

MotoOnline.com.au will put together a comprehensive test on the 2014 Yamaha MX1 contender when they arrive in Australia, but for now you can click here for an in-depth look at the revised model.

The all-new 2014 Yamaha YZ450F.