The theory of revolution
When an existing design approaches its limits, it’s time to call in the
revolutionary thinkers. The creative minds who aren’t afraid to throw
everything out and start from scratch.
Which is exactly what happened with the latest incarnation of our
championship dominating MX bike. Accepted wisdom has been turned on its head to
produce our most effective motocross bike yet. Meet the revolutionary
new YZ450F.
The 2009 450F captured back-to-back World and Aussie MX titles as well as the
World and AMA SX crown, so the challenge to take the open class weapon to the
next level was a big risk. Because to reach that level, a new approach was
needed.
The solution looks simple, but the decision was bold… take mass
centralisation in a new direction by fitting a rearward facing and backward
tilted cylinder. Now the heaviest part of the bike is closer to the middle…
right where it needs to be for amazing levels of flickability.
But theory is nothing without practice to back it up, so Yamaha testers
nailed berms, scrubbed jumps and blitzed straights lap after lap to fine tune
the new design, to confirm the agility of the new bilateral beam frame, the
linear power delivery offered by the sweet fuel injection system and awesome
punch from the high torque four-valve motor.
It’s not change for change’s sake. It’s the lightest handling,
whoop-skimming YZ450F yet.