2018 Yamaha YZ450FX First Ride Review
The YZ450FX engine has tons of power and lots of torque that work great
in both high- and low-speed riding conditions. In tighter areas where
the speeds are slower, the low first gear makes the engine very
controllable and difficult to stall, but is understandably very short,
making it only useful in tight single-track. Second gear is a bit more
versatile and works best in moderately tight trails and areas that open
up a little bit. Third gear works best for your average off-road course
and, thanks to the engine’s plethora of torque, the bike can be lugged
easily in third gear in most situations that aren’t too slow going.
Fourth and fifth gear are best suited for more wide-open terrain when
the speeds increase. The YZ450FX has a moderate amount of engine-braking
but instantaneous throttle response. With those two qualities combined
with how much torque it has, the bike is easy to ride and stay in
control without exerting too much energy, which makes it easier to ride
for a long period of time.
Suspension
The KYB SSS fork and KYB shock that Yamaha has used for several years
on its motocross and cross-country (off-road) bikes are still
unbeatable in the comfort category. The KYB units soak up every impact,
large or small, with an incredible amount of plushness, and even when
you anticipate a jolting impact to your wrist and arms, the fork absorbs
it as if it’s not even there and the same can be said for the shock as
well. Being that the KYB components are set up more for off-road, they
are understandably softer than the YZ-F motocross models, and both the
front and rear do an excellent job of absorbing the impacts that come
with riding off-road.
Chassis/Handling
The YZ450FX chassis has a larger overall feel when riding it, which
is partially due to its wider radiator shrouds. It carries its 262-pound
wet weight much better on the trail than it does when occasionally
having to be lifted onto a bike stand. The instantaneous throttle
response of the engine makes the YZ450FX feel lighter on the trail, and
this is especially true when blipping the throttle to ride over
obstacles, which the bike does with ease as a result of how stable and
planted the chassis is. The planted feeling makes high-speed sections
much less daunting, and as far as cornering, the blue bike favors being
steered with the rear as front end traction is not as abundant as it is
on other comparable bikes in the class.
Conclusion
The 2018 Yamaha YZ450FX is a potent off-road bike that has a plethora
of power and torque, fantastic suspension, and a chassis that instills
confidence at high speeds. It takes a little bit of time to get used its
wider-feeling radiator shrouds, but once you’re accustomed to it, it
has a very comfortable overall feel with its plush suspension, soft
seat, and easy-to-ride, yet powerful engine. In addition to riding it in
off-road conditions as it’s designed to be, we will be taking it to
several riding areas including the motocross track because we feel it
can handle it and prove to be a do-it-all bike for those who like to
ride off-road and motocross.
TECH SPEC
|
PRICE |
ENGINE |
TRANSMISSION/FINAL DRIVE |
MEASURED HORSEPOWER |
MEASURED TORQUE |
FRAME |
FRONT SUSPENSION |
REAR SUSPENSION |
FRONT BRAKE |
REAR BRAKE |
RAKE/TRAIL |
WHEELBASE |
SEAT HEIGHT |
FUEL CAPACITY |
MEASURED WEIGHT |
AVAILABLE |
CONTACT |