Yamaha made this four-stroke motocross racing bike on 8 September 2009. It was the successor of the Yamaha YZ 426F, which was discontinued in 2003. It was the one who started the four-stock revolution (credited to cycle world).
Yamaha is still manufacturing this bike, and its latest model of 2023 is completely redesigned for better user experience and performance. If you want to know more about this compact light weighted motocross bike, read the full article to understand better the YZ 450F’s specifications Top Speed, Pros & Cons, and Engine.
Yamaha YZ 450F
Yamaha YZ 450F has a 450 cc liquid-cooled engine. It comes with dual front and rear hydraulic brakes. It can absorb all the bumps and provide a comfy ride due to its premium suspensions. You can easily adjust these suspensions according to your need. Its front tire is 21 inches, and the rear tire is of 19 inches. You can easily watch over the sedan due to its height. Kickstarter is now replaced with the electric start option.
Pros
- Due to its lightweight, it is suitable for beginners.
- This bike also has a tuner app, so you can easily map your engine.
- It has 38 inches seat height, so a tall person can easily and comfortably ride on it.
- It has dual hydraulic brakes that ensure the rider's safety even when speeding.
- Due to its 5-speed transmission, you will get better fuel efficiency than other racing dirt bikes.
- Its engine is perfectly placed in the center, and due to its aluminum frame, you will get a stable ride on any terrain.
- It comes with premium suspensions, and most importantly, both front and rear suspensions can easily be adjustable according to the rider's necessity.
Cons
- Although it is a lightweight bike, you may face heaviness due to extra safety gear.
- Usually, dirt bikes prefer gasoline, but you have to use high octane fuel in this bike which is a bit expensive.
Specification
Here are the specifications of this mighty motocross racing dirt bike given below.
| Engine Type | 450 cc liquid-cooled DOHC 4-stroke; 4 titanium valves |
| Top Speed | 80 mph |
| Bore x Stroke | 97.0 mm × 60.8 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 13.0:1 |
| Fuel Delivery | Mikuni® fuel injection, 44 mm |
| Fuel Capacity | 1.6 gal |
| Transmission | 5-speed; multi-plate wet clutch |
| Final Drive | Chain |
| Suspension / Front | KYB® spring-type fork with speed-sensitive damping; fully adjustable, 12.2 inches travel |
| Suspension / Rear | KYB® single shock; fully adjustable, 12.4 inches travel |
| Tires / Front | 80/100-21 Dunlop® Geomax MX 33F |
| Tires / Rear | 120/80-19 Dunlop® Geomax MX 33 |
| Brakes / Front | Hydraulic disc, 270 mm |
| Brakes / Rear | Hydraulic disc, 240 mm |
| Height | 50.2 inches |
| Seat Height | 38.0 inches |
| Length | 85.8 inches |
| Width | 32.5 inches |
| Wheelbase | 58.3 inches |
| Rake (Caster Angle) | 26.9° |
| Trail | 4.7 inches |
| Maximum Ground Clearance | 13.8 inches |
| Wet Weight | 240 lb. |
| Price | $9,599 – $9,899 |
Engine
Yamaha YZ 450F has a compact DOHC 450 cc four-stroke engine. It features strong pulling power with an increased rev limit of 500 rpm. It has a top speed of 80 mph and 52.8 horsepower at 9500 rpm, and 32.4 pound-feet torque at 7600 rpm. The 2023 model of this dirt bike has a completely redesigned engine. Yamaha made many changes in the new engine, like larger diameter titanium intake valves, cylinder, crankshaft, intake port shapes, and balancer assembly.
Ignition and Transmission
It has DOHC liquid-cooled engine, so you can rave and ride as much as you want; it will not get overheated like other Yamaha bikes. It also has an electric start option that gives its users a better experience. Its bore x stroke size is 97.0 mm × 60.8 mm with a bold compression Ratio of 13.0:1 for strong power pulling.
It has a 5-speed transmission with a tri-shaft transmission layout. Its main shaft is for a more compact transmission. It has a new stylish geometric design that gives premium look to it. Its disc spring of the new clutch replaces the coil springs that provide smooth performance.
Brakes
The YZ series of Yamaha has a solid baking system. It has Dual hydraulic brakes with 270mm front and 240 mm rear brakes. Both will provide excellent baking and will not let you get into any trouble. The front brake is the same, but Yamaha decreases the rigidity of the rear brake to enhance the braking system.
Tires
Good tires provide a good grip on the road, and it is essential to use high-quality tires to avoid any mishaps on the road. It has a 80/100-21 Dunlop® Geomax MX33F front tire and a 120/80-19 Dunlop® Geomax MX33 rear tire. Both are premium in quality and will provide extra strength to your bike on the road.
Like the YZ 250F, its rear wheel also has a three-cross-spoke pattern that enhances rider feel.
Suspension
The suspension absorbs the bumps and provides an extra comfortable ride. YZ 450F has a high-performance suspension for a smooth ride. It has KYB® coil spring-type front forks with speed Sensitive System and KYB® linkage-type rear shock.
You will get a tool with less compression that can easily operate with the hand. Both of the suspensions are well-balanced a will surely enhance the ride experience.
Fuel System
Yamaha YZ 450F has a Mikuni® throttle body fuel injection system provided by a high-pressure pump. This fuel system provides a fair amount of air and fuel mixture to the engine for better performance. It has a narrower fuel tank with a total capacity of 1.6 gal. You can increase this bike’s performance by using a larger fuel tank.
Dimensions
It comes with a decent height and length of 50.2 inches and 85.8 inches respectively, along with a width of 32.5 inches. You can easily watch over any sedan due to its decent height. You are going to get 58.3 inches wheelbase for better performance and a comfortable bump-absorbing ride.
Its trail size is 4.7 inches with a good 26.9° rake. Forget the engine abrade issue, as it has 13.8 inches of ground clearance.
New lightweight frame
It is a lightweight bike with a redesigned aluminum bilateral beam frame. Its frame comprises 10 different aluminum frames that provide stability and perfect balance. It allows the rider to enter corners with excellent handling. It also increases traction control for safer rides. One more thing, lightweight does not mean its frame does not have strength; even then it will provide extra strength to the bike so a massive person can easily ride on it.
Weight
It is a lightweight bike with aggressive engine power. YZ 450F weight is 240 lb / 111 kg. Although it is a lightweight bike, you may find it heavier due to its extra safety gear.
Handling
As we have discussed, it is a lightweight bike with a lightweight frame; hence it is a compact and thin bike which is a perk for the rider as it provides excellent handling while on trails and corners.
While describing the dimensions, I have told you that it has increased legroom between the seat and footpegs with an angle size of 26.9°. Nothing less, its tires are also perfectly balanced, providing improved riding comfort.
New Traction Control
This bike comes with new traction control that provides grip on the road, and if any tire loses its grip on the road, it will stop the bike by applying brakes. You can easily use the traction control through its three high, low, or off levels.
Conclusion
Yamaha YZ 450F is a 450 cc bike with robust engine power. You can choose this bike if you want a dirt bike in the 450 cc category. So a question arises as to why choose this bike instead of other bikes; so let me tell you that YZ 450F has premium suspension with a fully adjustable option so that you can adjust them according to the condition. It has a decent height along with 21 inches front and 19 inches rear tire. The front and rear wheels have hydraulic brakes that prevent any mishap.
It is a powerful racing bike with a top speed of 80 mph and 52.8 horsepower at 9500 rpm. Although it is a lightweight bike, it can be tough for a beginner to ride on it due to its mighty power.
Although it is a perfect bike with value for money price, it can be a pain for you as it requires high-octane petrol, and it may feel heavier due to extra safety gears.
FAQ
Here are some of the frequently asked questions and their answers.
What is the top Speed of the Yamaha YZ 450F?
The top Speed of the Yamaha YZ 450F is 80 mph with 52.8 horsepower at 9500 RPM and 32.4 pound-feet torque at 7600 rpm. Although its 450 cc engine must have to produce more power, it is enough and quite normal for trail or drag races.
If 80 mph is not enough for you, make some changes to increase its power, like replacing its fuel tank with the larger one or reducing the sprocket teeth of the front tire.
What is the price of the Yamaha YZ 450F?
The price of the Yamaha YZ 450F 2022 model is $9,599, but if you want to get its latest version with many upgraded and improved features, you have to buy its 2023 model for $9,899.
This bike is built to win the races with the best power delivery and suspension performance, so spending this much on it will be worth it.
What are the improvements in the 2023 Tuner App?
Yamaha Introduced its tuner app in the Yamaha YZ 250F; later, they loaded this beast will the same tuner app so you can easily do engine mapping, but in 2023 they upgraded the entire app with a bike setup guide and user-friendly interface which can be easily connected with your android or iPhone.
The new tuner app will give more power in the entire rev range. You can do engine mapping by using a new sidebar.
What year did YZ 450F get an electric start?
Yes, Yamaha YZ 450F has an electric start option. Initially, it was not there, but as time passed and Yamaha improved its technology, they introduced the electric start YZ 450F in 2018 and removed the Kickstarter. It has a powerful and lightweight t four-cell lithium-ion battery for the convenience of its users.
Is Yamaha YZ 450F a Race Ready dirt bike?
The YZ450F boasts a wide range of top-spec details, including 1-1/8- inch aluminum tapered handlebars, a new compact PVC handlebar pad, new lightweight throttle cable, wide foot pegs with new lightweight aluminum alloy brackets, a quick-adjust clutch perch, stylish blue rims and a lightweight gold drive chain with new YZ450F-specific chain guide which make it race ready dirt bike.
Is Yamaha YZ 450F can be a beginner bike?
No, Yamaha YZ 450F can’t be a beginner bike for the new rider as it has a compact engine with huge power and a lightweight body. Its handling can be difficult for beginners and adults so you can choose your first dirt bike in the 350 cc category. If you are still choosing this bike, it can be a poor idea due to its high power and cost. Beginners hit the ground several times, and hitting the ground with this bike can be costly and risky.
Is Yamaha YZ 450F used as a Racing Bike?
Yes, you can use Yamaha YZ 450F for Racing. It is a motocross racing bike with a top speed of 80 mph. It produces robust power with a 13.0:1 compression ratio, and you can win many races on it as it is ideal for drag races.
Rand Frankey is OffRoadsCare freelance Content Editor. He loves offroad Travelling and bikes, jeeps, and dirk bikes. He will explain all his experience with dirt bikes and offroad vehicles which helps you to make a decision like which vehicle is right for you.
