Yamaha YZ 450 F in the driving report

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Yamaha YZ 450 F in the driving report

New frame, new bodywork, revised engine

The 2014 model year Yamaha YZ 450 F motocross machine has been thoroughly renovated. MOTORBIKE she has already ridden.

At first glance, not much has changed, but it has Yamaha has revised the 450 crosser with the characteristic inverted cylinder head for 2014, which MOTORRAD tester Didi Lacher was able to see for himself on the piste in Ponte a Egola, Italy. The exhaust manifold now surrounds the cylinder head, the filler neck is hidden under the front, foldable part of the seat. A bit cumbersome, but the air filter can be changed more easily and quickly.

The machine also looks significantly narrower and less bulky than before. After starting it, you notice that the typical snorkeling noise from the airbox has now disappeared, the new 450er sounds like any other crosser. The performance development was successfully trimmed towards drivability, the load changes are now more smooth. However, the engine is still aggressively on the gas, which does not make metering easier on slippery terrain. As before, it has its strengths in the lower and middle range, but turns loosely to the limiter if necessary.

The new Yamaha YZ 450 F looks better balanced

The Yamahas have always been very front-wheel-oriented with good traction at the front when accelerating, plenty of grip, but also a bit top-heavy feeling when jumping. This is basically also the case with the new one, especially since the standard set-up encourages this tendency. After the fork legs have been lowered a little further in the bridges, i.e. the front has been raised, the machine appears better balanced. The fork continues to work with conventional steel springs, which some buyers will surely appreciate.

It tends to be tightly tuned, gives edges hard to the driver when braking waves occur. However, the fork and spring react noticeably to small changes in the setting. With the power tuner available as an accessory, the mapping of the injection can be changed. As a test, the Yamaha technicians played a mapping on the test machine that made the YZ much smoother, without losing liveliness and power in the upper area.

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