YAMAHA WR450F
Yamaha swung for the fences with the 2019 WR450F. The advances on the previous model are clear, with a massive improvement made in stock engine mapping that produces far more useable power and calms what was an angry and largely pointless output that made single trail bloody hard work. Present too is a mapping switch to utilise when the need for less aggression becomes imperative.
The seat height is mercifully lower and a larger tank has been fitted for greater range, and of course you can tune and change myriad engine parameters via the very clever smartphone app. We’ve covered the bike’s new design a heap in recent issues so we’ll concentrate on how it stacks up against the competition.
The WR-F is more of a race bike than it’s been for a long time. What gives it that race bike feel is largely the combination of the Kayaba suspension and aluminium bi-lateral beam frame. The interplay between the two, based heavily on what a motocross bike needs, offers pinpoint accurate steering, the ability to take hits at pace without being
