The YZ450F has had a strange relationship with the buying public around the world. The bike has always done well in Australia and had on-track success with the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team, but in the US the popularity of the bike has been directly linked to its results.
Prior to 2021, the bike was referred to as the blue pig and apart from a small fanbase, it wasn’t worthy of even being on the same track as the other brands. But a French rider comes along and wins a few races and the bike instantly turns into one of the great machines of our era. Sure, behind the scenes a change of team developing the bike had changed, but the US production rule means the bulk of the bike can’t be altered. We are a fickle bunch, aren’t we?
In 2022, Yamaha are now riding the wave of success of the YZ450F. Eli Tomac has shown the bike is capable at supercross, just like Ferrandis did in motocross a year earlier. CDR Yamaha continue to have success here in Australia, while Jeremy Seewer has been a mainstay in the top five of the MXGP category since moving to the GP class and to Yamaha.
A BIKE FOR EVERY BUDGET
Every buyer has a budget to purchase and use the bike. And at every level, things can be done to help you get the most from your YZ450F — and that doesn’t always mean a bling overload that does nothing to enhance performance on the track or your enjoyment of the product. The bottom line these days is that production motocross bikes are very good and the days of throwing money
