Powered by a new reverse-head engine, this completely restyled YZ450F gives Yamaha riders the power to discover their real potential.

This all-new MXGP-bred motocross bike represents the start of a whole new era of advanced racing technology in which the rider feels at one with their machine, and where trackside fine-tuning can be done quickly and easily using the touch screen of a smartphone.

The ideal balance of power and confidence

Yamaha’s designers have set out to build a new kind of motocross bike that delivers the ideal balance of power and confidence to Yamaha riders, as well as offering class leading style, performance and handling.

The engine design features an updated cylinder head, piston, cam profiles, cylinder geometry and more – all working together to deliver class-leading power, with even more controllability. And its new aluminium bilateral beam frame is designed with an optimized engine mounting position to enhance the machine’s balance, while also improving cornering feel and increasing overall rigidity.

World’s first production Power Tuner app

Yamaha is also launching a specifically designed Yamaha Power Tuner smartphone app for devices running iOS® and Android® systems – making the 2018 YZ450F the world’s first production motocross bike with a smartphone-based wireless engine tuner. Now all Yamaha YZ450F riders can connect with their bike like never before, and dial their engine performance in to suit different riding styles, track conditions and changing weather.

The Yamaha Power Tuner app enables the rider to make quick and easy fuel and ignition mapping changes – uploaded wirelessly to the bike via the communication control unit’s onboard Wi-Fi system – for the ultimate in track-side tuning. A “Log” function allows you to make notes about your riding location, conditions, bike settings and more – giving you a baseline for future rides – and this ground-breaking app can also monitor a range of data such as race settings, maintenance and system diagnostics, engine running time and more.

The new Power Tuner app released with the 2018 YZ450F not only makes it possible to modify engine mapping in even greater detail than before – it also allows users to share settings among the team or with friends, thus evolving the system into a unique tool that helps facilitate communication and enhance Yamaha riders’ performance.

Compact and lightweight electric start

Utilizing a compact starter motor and ultra-lightweight lithium-ion battery, the 2018 YZ450F brings the convenience of push-button starting to the racetrack for effortless restarts under pressure – and more relaxed riding when the clock isn’t ticking. Powered by a high-capacity and ultra-lightweight lithium-ion battery, the system adds minimal weight.

New engine

For 2018 Yamaha has refined the YZ450F’s distinct rearward-slanted cylinder design that features a unique rear facing exhaust and forward-mounted downdraft intake system.

The all-new cylinder head is lighter, and the engine is repositioned in the new frame at a slightly more upright angle for optimized front weight distribution. The new engine is equipped with new cam profiles as well as a new crankshaft and a stronger high-compression “box bridge” piston design with DLC-coated (Diamond-like-Carbon) pin – and now breathes through a new 44mm Mikuni® throttle body. Together these updates give the rider an ideal balance of 450cc class power with exceptional control and response.

The transmission and clutch have been overhauled for a more direct connection as well as enhanced strength. Revised gears with a wider surface area, uprated clutch plates and a stiffer outer pressure plate all combine to boost durability.

For improved performance and weight distribution the YZ450F’s radiators are larger and angled more directly in the incoming air stream for improved cooling under the most demanding race conditions. The innovative wraparound exhaust pipe design improves both mass centralization and power development, and features revised geometry for 2018. This layout moves the rear end of the exhaust pipe farther forward and enables a muffler position close to the center of the mass.

Returning for the 2018 model, Yamaha’s Launch Control System (LCS) is integrated into the YZ450F’s new engine character to deliver quicker, smoother race starts. By boosting controllability when accelerating hard out of the gate, the LCS gives optimized power delivery and ensures that the rider has the best chance to grab the holeshot and lead the pack into the first turn.

2018 YZ450F Engine and Electronics
Main Technical Changes

New high performance reverse head engine
New lightweight cylinder head
New cam profiles and crankshaft
Power Tuner with new wireless smartphone app
New lightweight electric starter with lithium-ion battery
Engine repositioned in frame at a more upright angle
Stronger high compression piston design with DLC coated pin
44mm Mikuni® throttle body
Larger radiators
More centralized muffler positioning
New aluminium frame and optimized ergonomics

The YZ450F benefits from a compact new bilateral beam frame that further refines this motocross bike’s famously instinctive handling. Refined upper frame bracing increases rigidity, while the redesigned rear frame spars and the new engine mounts improve mass centralization to provide an ideal balance between cornering feel and straight-line rigidity. Put simply, the new frame is designed for the best possible balance of bump absorption, stiffness and cornering.

Surrounding this fully rebuilt chassis, the 2018 YZ450F features a new lighter and more compact body from tip to tail that not only looks sharper, but also gives improved ergonomics for easy rider mobility.

A smaller 6.2 litre fuel tank and redesigned top-mounted airbox together with new concave radiator shrouds give a slimmer knee grip area that not only improves styling, but offers better knee grip and enhanced overall riding support for added controllability. And the seat width has been reduced by 9mm and is almost 20mm lower towards the tail end, giving a flatter profile for better rider mobility during front/rear weight shifting.

Class-leading KYB® suspension

The easily tuned, fully adjustable KYB® spring-type forks feature speed sensitive damping that provides exceptional balance between handling and bump absorption for race-winning performance. Their AOS (air-oil-separate) design is widely regarded as being one of the industry’s leading systems, giving excellent low speed feel with high-speed stability – and offers the added advantage of being easy to set up.

The KYB® rear shock boasts new damping characteristics to match the new chassis, and is equipped with a lighter spring for reduced weight – and for consistent damping performance in longer races, the reservoir capacity has been increased by 30cc.

New graphics and blue rims

The all-new slimline bodywork is highlighted with the use of new graphics, and the new 2018 YZ450F is also equipped with blue wheel rims that reinforce its factory bike DNA.

2018 YZ450F Chassis and Ergonomics
Main Technical Changes

Newly designed high-rigidity bilateral beam frame
New engine mounts for mass centralization
Narrower and flatter seat for improved rider manoeuvrability
Slimmer, more compact body design
Optimised suspension matching the new frame
Redesigned KYB® rear shock with larger reservoir
Compact 6.2-litre fuel tank
New graphics and blue wheel rims
Availability and retail price

The all-new 2018 YZ450F will be available at Yamaha dealers starting in August 2017. Pricing varies per country. Please contact your local press officer for country specific information.

Connected as One

The 2018 YZ450F raises the bar in the world of motocross machine design by offering the very highest level of connectivity between the rider and the bike, both in terms of instant tuneability and also rider/machine unity. You could not be more Connected as One with the YZ450F.