TESTED: 2023 YZ450F

About the Test Rider

Steve Powell is the owner of SPMX Suspension and Engines in Victoria. With decades of experience as an industry leading technician at the elite levels of Motocross, Supercross and Offroad, Steve and SPMX offer riders of all levels the opportunity to access the technology, products and systems to improve their bikes performance and create their dream ride.

Introduction

It’s no wonder the likes of AMA Motocross and Supercross champion Eli Tomac and Australia’s ProMX champion Aaron Tanti shine on the Yamaha brand. They strive to be the best and ride for the Yamaha teams that match their dedication with incredible staff that give the best in the world the chance to be the best. Their success speaks volumes, not only about their collective efforts on the track, but also the hardware that Yamaha brings to the table for these riders to perform on. 

The 2023 Yamaha YZ450F is a model that has been highly anticipated after high level success on its predecessor, the 2022 model, both domestically here in Australia and internationally. 

It was an honour to be hosted by Yamaha Australia and the staff of Australia’s strongest motocross and Supercross team CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Racing to test the all new 2023 Yamaha YZ450F at Ride Park Victoria.

NEW FEATURES

The 2023 YZ450F took my eye straight away with a complete new look and solid blue colourway. The lines of this bike look amazing with a flat seat, slim cockpit and compact handlebar controls and switches. 

From the moment you climb aboard it screams excitement! The slim feeling, front guard and front plate draw your eye and just makes you want to ride. 

The bike has many features and new designs for this new 2023 model and there are a few that really stand out for me. The obvious one is the bike being a lot skinnier and lighter than the previous model. The seat is flatter and quite firm which helps the rider move your weight easily from central to the front of the bike. This improves the bikes steering capabilities dramatically. This translates to cornering  and especially in ruts, which I believe is linked to the new suspension and frame setup.

Yamaha suggest 7mm fork tube height and 97mm rider sag and surprisingly enough, this feels fine and super-stable, handling rutted and tight corners with ease. 

The bike boasts an all-new lighter engine and chassis, new engine mounts and the motor is thinner adding to the weight loss. Engine power and mapping is at a maximum, with the ability to change maps on the fly with ease. 

Yamaha has kept the launch mode for more consistent gate starts across a range of terrain. 

There are also improvements to the WIFI communication app, with many new features including a GPS lap timer. We put this to the test and it’s a great inclusion. The app retains all the other functions for service and maintenance, TPS, RPM, plus new launch control modes, traction control adjustment and other custom mapping or map sharing. 

FIRST RIDE IMPRESSION

Yamaha has really hit a home run with this first rendition of the new model. From the moment you take off to the track entry you can feel the engine is smooth,with no jerky carpark head wobbles, as the engine’s mapping is close to spot on. I started super slow as the bike was close to brand new although the CDR Team had put some hours on it to ensure our safety and make sure everything was ready for us to ride.

Very quickly I felt myself developing a feeling for what this new bike had to offer. The Yamaha has a reputation for a powerful engine and I was hanging on ready and waiting. Not to be disappointed as I was getting familiar with the track, I was able to  stretch each gear longer and longer. There is a lot of power, which is sharp down below and noticeably broad. 

Impressing me the most, was a smooth engine that was not as abrupt down low as per the previous model YZ450F. Don’t mistake this for less power, it is far more usable and promotes the chassis and suspension to allow the rider to hold a line easily when applying power, without the fear of being stood up or running wide. With this model there is little to no need to muscle the bike around to hold a turn.   

I feel this engine now lends itself to a wider range of riders. The smoother and broader engine being more attractive to both pro level and now, established vet and local racers that can enjoy this useable power. 

My last ride on the previous model I was still uncomfortable with the air induction, but I can say that with the new airbox design and fuel tank arrangement on the 2023 model, that I didn’t notice this as much and it is a major improvement. 

I also liked the new cockpit/foot peg /handlebar/seat (rider’s triangle) that allowed me to move freely and the transition from standing to cornering was done with ease.

The hard and flatter seat gets you in the right position every time to help corner the bike. Another massive positive to this new YZ450F was how agile and quick the steering feels. Normally this would come at a cost to high-speed stability, but again the bike feels solid braking hard from 4th gear into small choppy bumps. 

The suspension package is relatively the same as previous models, using the twin cartridge SSS KYB 48mm fork and 50mm KYB shock. Yamaha have included on the fly adjusters to the compression of the fork for ease of compression adjustment and to be fair, this package has been solid throughout many years and models of the YZ450. 

SUMMARY 

The predominantly all-new Yamaha YZ450f was a blast to ride and I was instantly comfortable and in control. The bike in standard trim is a breath of fresh air from the moment you crack the throttle and I rode as many laps as possible throughout the day due to how much fun I was having and to ensure I could relay all the amazing features on this new model.

The rider triangle is neat and comfortable, the engine and ECU is greatly improved and the length that the engine can pull gears without hitting the rev limit is impressive, especially in second and third gear. This gives plenty of time to get your technique in order. In the air the bike is light and predictable.

Overall I would say that the 2023 Yamaha YZ450f is a bike that can lend itself to a wide market of riders than its predecessor. 

In closing I want to thank Yamaha Australia and Inside Dirt for the opportunity to test the all new 2023 YZ450f, along with the CDR Yamaha and crew for the tech support in using most of the functions in the Yamaha App. The team were on hand to educate all test riders on the GPS onboard lap timer, map selection, fuel trimming, ignition timing adjustments and sensor safety checks, which was a big help in helping us all understand the features and how they translate successfully onto the track. 

Steve Powell 

SPMX Suspension & Engine