450 SML Shootout In-Depth | 2023 Yamaha YZ450F

 
 The Yamaha YZ450F is without question the most highly anticipated bike of 2023. All-new from the ground up, the bike is six pounds lighter, noticeably thinner between your legs, more powerful than before, and better looking, to boot! There is no denying the fact that the Yamaha engine has been a beast ever since the brand reversed the cylinder head. Something about the design – we suspect the super-straight, downward air intake – and the rearward-slanted cylinder head; produces massive horsepower and enjoys better forward traction than any other powerplant in the class. The new YZ450F engine is even more wicked, with a big hit down low that transforms into a massive mid-range and top-end that doesn’t quit. The power is so abrupt, though, that most of our testers rode with the optional second map which is smoother and more tractable. 

The new chassis gives the YZ450F a completely new personality. Gone is the wide, long, stable feel, and in its place is a narrow, quick-handling, character that takes a bit of getting used to. The suspension setup is key and the Yamaha is now one of those bikes that requires some thorough testing and even experimentation. Throughout our time on the bike – both in Florida at the media intro, as well as at our shootout – we tinkered with fork and shock clicker adjustments, fork height in the triple clamps, and rear shock sag. The results that our testers achieved were varied; some were completely satisfied with the handling of the new bike, while others failed to find a balanced setting. 

Pat Foster on the Yamaha YZ450F

“The new YZ450F powerplant feels stronger and deeper, yet smoother than last year’s. The initial low-end is smooth but hearty, making it a little more rider-friendly than last year. even though it feels faster throughout the power curve.” – Foster

“As usual, the Yamaha suspension is plush and so effective at soaking up bumps. However, the handling is completely different from years past. The chassis is much more aggressive and adept at cornering than Yamahas have ever been before.” – Foster

“The bike feels light, nimble, and corners as well as anything in the class. I do believe Yamaha has sacrificed some of its high-speed stability to do so, though.” – Foster

“The new ergonomics are a huge improvement for me. I love the lower footpegs that have been moved 5 mm rearward, and the taller seat helps open up the rider compartment. The bike is so much slimmer than it has been…super comfortable and sleek feeling.” – Foster

Rene Garcia on the Yamaha YZ450F

“I prefer the new engine over last year’s, as it has a smoother power delivery that is easier to control.” – Garcia

“In the standard map setting, it is honestly hard to keep the front wheel down when you are aggressive out of a corner. Good thing there is the precise-feeling cable clutch to help modulate the engine’s power.” – Garcia

“The bike is so thin, that it doesn’t even feel like a Yamaha. The Yamaha corners great – better than it ever has – but Yamaha sacrificed some stability to get it to do so.” – Garcia

“I really like the new ergonomics as the bike is way slimmer between your legs and doesn’t have that big feeling in corners. It feels great between my legs and the rider triangle is nice and open.” – Garcia

Donn Maeda on the Yamaha YZ450F

“I’ve long thought that Yamaha had the perfect 450-class engine, and it had gotten even better. There are zero reasons to ever spend money on power accessories for the 2023 YZ450F, especially because the new Power Tuner app makes it a cinch to really fine-tune the power delivery. The powerband is massive, and.I definitely prefer the tamer map setting as the standard map is far too aggressive for a rider of my limited talent.” – Maeda

“If we had but black front fenders on all the bikes in the shootout, I might not have guessed that the YZ450F was a Yamaha. Sure, the airbox noise would have been a dead giveaway, but what I’m saying is that it feels nothing like previous YZFs. The bike is super thin, tips into corners better than ever, and has a larger rider compartment that is excellent.” – Maeda

“The Yamaha’s downfall for me? The bike felt a little unbalanced and twitchy for me. I had some scary moments on rough downhills under braking, and there were times when the bike would oversteer in corners. More rear sag and lowering the fork in the triple clamps helped!” – Maeda

“The KYB suspension is excellent and has a super plush feel, yet great bottoming resistance.” – Maeda

Kyle Puerner on the Yamaha YZ450F

“Mid-range to top-end is the Yamaha’s sweet spot. The engine makes rally smooth power that has an almost electric feel to it. Throw in the tuneability of the engine and this is one potent powerplant that has unlimited versatility While second gear is longer, I think that affected the bike’s ability to chug around in third..” – Puerner

“With the settings I was originally set up with, the bike cornered amazingly well but had some headshake on deceleration. I had the Yamaha guys lower the fork 2 mm in the triple clamps (to 5 mm from 7 mm) and that seemed to help reduce the headshake without compromising the bike’s cornering ability.” – Puerner

“I really love the way the new bike feels! It has a slim body that doesn’t feel wide when you sit down to corner, and this gives the bike a more maneuverable feeling.” – Puerner

“They cut six pounds off the Yamaha for 2023 and you really can feel it. It is complemented by the new slim bodywork and free-revving engine, too.” – Puerner

Brian Smith on the Yamaha YZ450F

“Man this bike is so easy to ride! The Yamaha is amazing and the power is too good. Crack the throttle and the response is right there where I need it to be.” – Scrub Daddy

“When I first got on the bike it scared me because it got some headshake and it handles so much different than a Yamaha usually does. I was able to get used to it after a lap though and I think the bike is trustworthy.” – Scrub Daddy

“I like the map button on the bars because it is easy to see what setting you are on. You can change it while you are riding and you don’t have to stare at it to see how many times the light is blinking or anything.” – Scrub Daddy

“I’m only 5’6″ and the bike fits me like a glove. I love the new thinner feel that the bike has when you sit down for the corners. I could ride this bike stock all year, but I’d get a pipe anyway so it would sound even better.” – Scrub Daddy

Kyle Vara on the Yamaha YZ450F

“The Yamaha YZ450F engine is very fast, yet it is controllable. I love the maps and how much they make a detectable difference. The Power Tuner app I’m sure allows you infinite adjustments as well.” – Vara

“I think the engine is strongest from the bottom-end to mid-range, but that’s in the smooth, tractable map. It hit a lot harder in the standard map but it was sometimes hard to control.” – Vara

“The bike has a front-end bias that makes it nervous on deceleration. I got some headshake so I lowered the fork in the triple clamp and set the sag a little lower than the Yamaha guys started off with. (105 mm vs, 100 mm)” – Vara

“The width of the tank is much better than it has ever been and it feels great between your legs. The bike is very comfortable and easy to move around on. I love the bike, but it needs some help with suspension and chassis setup.” – Vara