Words: Guy Streeter

Yamaha has been riding on new ground with its X range of off-road motorcycles, firstly introducing the YZ250FX last year and now, this powerfully fun YZ450FX. In between, the brand launched a YZ250X two-stroke for good measure.

The Japanese manufacturer has been celebrating more than its 60th Anniversary in the past year, including winning the MXGP championship, Australian Supercross Championship, 2015 Australian Four-Day Enduro… and the list goes on. With a freshly-revamped WR450F recently released, much more enduro success is on target.

Last week, Yamaha Motor Australia invited MotoOnline.com.au across the ditch to Queenstown on the South Island of New Zealand for the release of the 2016 Yamaha YZ450FX. Hosted by Lachy and Scotty Columb from Dirt Bike Tours NZ, we were treated to some epic scenery and trails that stretched on as far as you were willing to ride and up as many mountains as you could wish to climb.

Queenstown is a perfect destination for dirt-biking, so with Josh Coppins on hand to talk about the role he and Yamaha’s Peter Payne had in developing the YZ450FX into an enduro specific machine, it was a great was to host the introductions.

Image: Geoff Osborne.

For the last few years enduro/off-road riders have wanted the WR450F to be more like a YZ450F with a headlight and with the release of the 2016 WR450F late last year, we really feel that’s what Yamaha had delivered.

But Yamaha have taken it a step further with the release of the YZ450FX. It basically sits in between the WR450F and the YZ450F, sharing the best of both bikes while shaping it to be more specifically suited to competition off-road and enduro racing. The YZ450FX is an aggressive, trimmed down version of the WR450F.

The Yamaha YZ450FX shares many of the WR450F components including its wide-ratio five-speed gearbox, electric start, 18-inch rear wheel, frame-mounted sidestand, bash plate and frame mounts. It also features enduro-spec suspension and ECU, silver rims, YZ450F muffler, a large 270mm front disc brake, sealed chain and 22mm rear axle.

Image: Geoff Osborne.

The YZ450FX, like its other 450 stablemates, is based around a compact, bilateral frame chassis, with weight centralised around the rearward-facing motor. The air intake is located at the front of the bike, giving two main benefits – one by forcing air into the motor and enhancing the bikes strong power delivery, while the other keeps the air intake higher, making it ideal for deep creek and river crossings.

Yamaha has done more to keep the weight central to the bike by wrapping the exhaust around the motor. The addition of a wet sump, as well as by positioning the fuel tank underneath the seat, all aids in keeping the weight as central as possible.

As mentioned above, the YZ450FX shares the same wide-ratio five-speed gearbox as the latest WR450F, with slightly higher second, third and fourth gears than previous models. That makes it ideal and extremely rideable over slow and technical terrain.

Image: Geoff Osborne.

The YZ450F is well known for having one of the strongest and reliable motors in the motocross field, so Yamaha has adapted the YZ450FX motor with the use of different engine mappings to enhance the bike’s capabilities on the trail.

It has plenty of usable power down low and much mumbo up top as well, so you’ll find its setting to be pretty diverse depending where you ride. The power delivery was one of the major aspects the Coppins worked on, to make the motor more suited to the enduro racer and a little bit more aggressive than the WR.

The suspension, both front and back, have a solid, reliable performance utilising KYB 48mm USD Speed Sensitive Forks with 310mm travel and KYB rear shock. The suspension is tuned specifically for enduro requirements, giving predictable feedback that promotes confidence.

Image: Geoff Osborne.

On the trail or track, it’s clear Yamaha has achieved its goal of having the YZ450FX truly sit between the YZ450F motocross bike and the WR450F off-road machine. We have no doubt it will excel in the enduro market, particularly suiting cross country-type events. The bike will also be enticing for riders in recreational registration-approved states as a slightly cheaper alternative to the WR450F.

For those rec-rego states in Australia, an optional YZ450FXR recreational package is available including a lighting kit, rear view mirror, hand guards, horn and plate hanger – for an additional $500. There’s also a Yamaha Power Tuner available, alongside additional accessories.

The Yamaha YZ450FX is available for $12499 RRP, in-store now, so for further information on Yamaha Motor Australia’s range and complete specifications, visit the official website at www.yamaha-motor.com.au.