How doe the new Yamaha YFZ450X hold up on the Big Buck GNCC course - Find out in our Yamaha YFZ450 Video Review.
The base platform of the X is the same as the R, only it employs the features necessary to make it stand out in the real world woods and trails, not the man-made confines of the closed circuit race track. It’s narrower in the front by 2.7 inches, the suspension is softer and the fuel-injected engine is mapped for off-road duty. The X features the same cast aluminum frame as the R, suspended by a pair of KYB piggy-back shocks up front and a single shock in the back. All feature high and low speed adjustments and tread-style preload adjusters. The fuel-injected 5-valve engine is the same too. The primary difference is the narrow width but it’s the similarities that make it such a good replacement for the venerable YFZ450. Yamaha has been a trendsetter in the 4-stroke revolution for both the ATV and off-road motorcycle markets. Yamaha has never been willing to sit back and be complacent with its designs, instead the
With an MSRP of $8499 the 2010 YFZ450X positions itself at the more expensive option in the sport ATV market. Then again, Yamaha has long been the class leader so what is the price of going with a proven winner?
There was a point in time as a young rider and burgeoning fabricator that all I could think about were 4-stroke ATVs. At the time, 2-strokes ruled the woods and the dunes but my buddy Scot and I found that stuffing 4-strokes into those light chassis were the hot ticket. It made climbs much easier, they were much more fuel efficient and they were less demanding on the rider. Fast forward a couple decades later and now 4-strokes are everywhere, so we must have been on to something there. Anyway, I digress. It’s time to climb on the latest off-road ATV from Big Blue and put it through the test in the gnarly terrain of South Carolina at the press introduction of the 2010 YFZ450X, held on the hallowed grounds of the private riding preserve know affectionately as Big Buck.
At 2.6 gallons the YFZ450X is not equipped with a small fuel tank. I watched my gas supply during the day and after 50-60-plus miles of on-and-off throttle riding, constantly wringing its neck it still appeared to be over half a tank when I went out for my last ride of the day.
Yamaha had a ten-mile course that took about 30-45 minutes to complete if you rode steadily the entire time and didn’t stop to sight see along the way. It incorporated the best of the Big Buck GNCC layout including the knuckle-busting tree-lined trails and, of course, the infamous Creek Jump. According to the folks who designed it for us, this was as difficult or worse than what they use at the national race, only jam-packed into a smaller loop so there was truly no opportunity to rest. Right out of the gate we entered the forest and were greeted with lots of trees. Most of it was wide enough to get through without too much trouble. The trail wound back and forth, over downed trees and through dense undergrowth. It was first or second gear through here so it was a showcase for agility and maneuverability right at the start.
The 449cc engine is capable of chugging along at low RPM and has the grunt to pull it up any of the slippery Big Buck hill climbs.
While tackling the bigger descents it was nice to have the 4-stroke compression to hold the bike back, but there is plenty of feel from both front and rear brakes to keep the wheels turning enough to maintain control while scrubbing speed off to keep it on track. The trees were getting more-dense every time a mile marker blurred past but the real challenge was simply maintaining speed on unfamiliar terrain. Second and third gear on the 450X are simply money in the woods thanks to the good bottom end hit offered up by the 449cc 4-stroke Single.
The pair of KYB piggy-back shocks up front and a single shock in the back does a great job handling the high speed bumps of Big Buck.
Like you, I enjoy a challenging ride. Once the track passed the creek jump, various elevation changes and hill climbs started to become a factor, but the course still snaked through the trees so the rider maneuverability in the cockpit here is important. The X features an all new T-shaped seat design that helped keep the monkey off my butt and the grippy texture on the side of the bodywork helped me cling to the bike. Ducking puddles and carrying a wheel or two over rises at the top of the climbs is so much fun. Damn, I know I’m not Bill Ballance but for a few moments I felt like it. You can get a hold of Bill’s replica YFZ for another $300. I’m not a big mud or silt fan on a bike but on an ATV it’s easier to emerge unscathed than it is on a bike. Although it’s much dirtier thanks to the extra pair of wheels you have to account for.
Climbing rut-filled hills is no sweat for the 450X. Hitting it with speed shows the stock suspension, as the Yamaha technicians had it set up for us, was very good. It’s easy to tie ATVs in knots with all the different terrain that their width and length cover but the YFZ seems to have it covered. I never made any suspension adjustments because I was either not going fast enough to abuse the bike or it just worked great out of the box. With the front end light and the engine growling beneath me I looked forward to the gnarled, crusty climbs every lap. It’s so much fun to pin-it and hang on for the ride like this. Braaap…barks the relatively quiet but still entertaining sound from the EPA-friendly exhaust. I know one thing, a GYTR slip-on will give this dog a raspier bark and probably a wee-bit more punch too. Luckily Yamaha has a full array of parts already available already. In fact, the selection of GYTR accessories is impressive. It includes nerf-bars, grab bars, bumpers, skid plates, exhaust and the grand-daddy of the line-up, a fully-ported head that can be installed by your Yamaha dealer before you even pick the bike up.
The wheels are all-new too. They feature a rolled bead which helps prevent debris from building up between the wheel and tire during hard-core off road riding.
After hopping off the bike to pull it away from the tree I realized, the fact that this ATV has no reverse is probably the one thing I can really complain about. No doubt Yamaha justifies it as a cost and weight saving decision, but as far as I know, the majority of the competition in the sport-ATV class has reverse so it will be a bone of contention for some consumers. It’s just nice to have it. Like milk with Oreos: Not necessary but that’s the way I prefer it personally. The rest of the route is highlighted by more of these tunnels of trees. It is slimy in spots, dusty in others but always forces the rider to pay attention to the forest you’re dashing through with maybe inches between the bars, wheels and hands. With a width of 46.1 inches the X offers 2.7 inches of extra clearance than the moto-specific YFZ450R. And we put it to good use all day long. It’s challenging, fun and a little dangerous but when has that ever slowed any of us down?
This engine is very manageable, it features a lot of low-end and mid-range torque that makes it excellent in the woods.
Available in Team Yamaha Blue, White/Red with an MSRP of $8499 or the Bill Balance replica blue with red plates and bumper for $8799.
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