MOTOCROSS LAUNCH | 2026 YAMAHA YZ450F

You don’t often get to say this, but we bloody beat the Yanks. That’s right—before the factory test team in California even blasted their first berm, we were the first in the world to swing a leg over the 2026 Yamaha YZ450F. It happened at Appin, on the hallowed ruts of the Macarthur Motorcycle Club, just an hour from Sydney. And in a stroke of rare luck—especially for a Sydney winter – we scored a window of perfect weather after a week of torrential rain. The soil was mint, the sun was out, and Yamaha handed us the keys, errr PowerTuner App, to a bike they claim is easier to ride faster, for longer.

Now, on paper, the updates to the YZ450F might seem minor—a few engine tweaks here, a revised chassis there, a new hydraulic clutch, a tidier seat cover. But spend five minutes on this thing and you’ll realise what Yamaha’s really done is refine the relationship between man and machine. They didn’t want to reinvent the wheel—they wanted to polish it so it’s smoot enough to actually enjoy the last ten minutes of your moto.

This is not a ground-up overhaul—it’s a strategic, surgical evolution of what’s already been one of the best 450s in the game. Yamaha’s engineers were faced with an uncomfortable question: how do you make the best, better? Their answer was clear—refine the ride.

How did they make it better?

As our readers know, we had the 2024 model YZ450F as a long-term test bike, and we loaded it up with GYTR parts – including the GYTR hydraulic clutch, which quickly became a favourite of ours.

So the big question heading into the launch of the 2026 model was: what could Yamaha possibly have done to make this bike better? Driving to the track, that thought kept looping in my head. Honestly, I struggled to come up with anything. The YZ450F was already one of those rare bikes that’s hard to improve on – it was that good across so many areas.

That made the launch a little nerve-wracking. The YZ450F has been a personal favourite of mine, and when a brand starts changing multiple components on a bike that’s already nailed it, you start to worry. Plenty of manufacturers in the past have “updated” a bike only to step backwards.

Fortunately, Yamaha didn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater for 2026. The 450cc DOHC four-stroke engine retains its fire-breathing top-end, but now delivers power more smoothly across the low-to-mid range thanks to a redesigned intake port. By generating a stronger tumble effect inside the combustion chamber, the updated port improves torque and combustion efficiency. This is meant to offer A more linear, connected feel between the throttle and rear wheel.

Fuel is fed via a 44mm Mikuni throttle body and a refined injection system that delivers consistent atomisation across all track conditions. Paired with Yamaha’s signature Power Tuner App—which now includes Quick Setting slide bars, full traction and launch control tuning, and a new ECU lockout function – you can fine-tune your power delivery from your phone and keep the engine settings secure with a password.

Yamaha has finally joined the hydraulic party. The new system gives the YZ450F a noticeably lighter lever feel, smoother feathering, and a consistent engagement point – even under heat. The updated clutch hub improves lubrication across a broader surface area for better durability and more stable feel during long motos.

The new aluminium bilateral beam frame has been reworked, the KYB Speed Sensitive System fork gets revised settings, and out back, the new KYB rear shock features updated damping rates.

Even better, the shock now includes a tool-free low-speed compression adjuster—a quick-flick knob that lets you tune the rear-end in seconds without digging through the toolbox.

Bodywork updates include a slimmer front number plate, sharper two-piece side covers, and a sleeker rear fender. A new honeycomb-pattern seat cover grips your arse better and low noise intake and exhaust updates meet FIM/AMA sound regs.

The handlebar is lightweight, rubber-mounted, and adjustable in four positions. They sit atop a set of new triple clamps with improved flex characteristics.

The 2026 YZ450F rolls on Dunlop Geomax MX33 tyres, mounted to wheels with a newly computer-optimised spoke layout that shaves weight without sacrificing strength. The rear wheel now features a three-cross spoke pattern to improve impact absorption.

Brakes, e-start and the other bits and pieces remain the same as the previous model.

So what’s it like on the track? How do those chassis and engine changes translate to ruts, whoops, berms and start gates? Is it really easier to ride fast? We find

A day out

The 2026 YZ450F still has all the same great characteristics as the previous model. It’s compliant, smooth, and the KYB suspension remains magic.

The new frame feels slim between the legs and gives plenty of feedback from the rear tyre through the pegs and chassis. You can feel exactly what the rear wheel is doing, which is huge on a bike with this much power. On any 450, the connection between throttle and rear wheel is like trying to tame a dragon – so when you’ve got that much control and traction, it’s a massive confidence boost.

But if I had to pick my favourite change? It’s the hydraulic clutch.

I know plenty of riders are die-hard cable fans. I grew up with cable clutches too, rode them my whole life, and I get the arguments: friction point feel, ease of maintenance, pros and cons. But the truth is, you just adapt. And once you do, the benefits are hard to ignore.

The new clutch has a beautiful action – smooth, consistent, and light at the lever. It doesn’t fade mid-moto, and you don’t need to worry about on-track adjustments. Compared to the old cable setup, it just feels nicer. For me, that’s a major win.

That’s the impressive part about this bike. Everything Yamaha has changed moves the YZ450F in the right direction.

For the launch, I ran 100mm of sag on the shock. I stiffened compression four clicks, slowed the rebound four clicks, and dropped the fork legs through the triple clamps. For me, that setup balances the bike better in corners and sharpens up the steering.

If you’re a smaller rider, you probably wouldn’t push the fork tubes through as far as I do, but for my weight and style it makes the front-end a lot more stable.

Coming into braking bumps, the fork holds up, tracks well, and settles into ruts without fuss. Older YZ generations could feel big, bulky, and hard to tip into ruts – sometimes you had to mess with sag settings just to make them turn. That’s all in the past. The 2026 feels light, nimble, and easy to put wherever you want. Despite the big motor, Yamaha has packaged it so cleverly that you don’t feel the mass when you’re trying to steer it into ruts.

The rear shock is all-new for 2026, and it shows. Yamaha has switched to a six-piston port valve design, which flows oil more efficiently. Combined with updated chassis specs and the addition of a toolless adjuster, the shock is incredibly effective.

At 100kg, I didn’t touch a single setting all day – and had no intention of doing so. The shock tracked beautifully, stayed composed over bumps, and put power to the ground without skipping or kicking. That’s seriously impressive straight out of the crate.

Yamaha also addressed the seat. On our long-termer, we swapped out the stock seat cover early for a pleated option because the old one felt a little slippery.

The 2026 model now comes with a new gripper seat that’s been cleverly designed. It has a sharp edge at the front and a rolled edge at the back – so you can slide forward easily into turns, but it holds you from sliding rearward under acceleration. It’s tacky without being harsh, and it feels durable.

I also like the Yamaha’s slightly rounded seat profile. It’s different from the flat seats on some other bikes, but I find it makes it easier to move around on the bike and get out onto the sides of the seat for flat corners. For me, it’s a positive change.

Yamaha has been the horsepower king in the 450 class for years. In our 450cc motocross shootout at Goulburn earlier this year – a track with huge uphills and downhills – it was the extra grunt of the YZ450F that carried it to victory.

For 2026, the motor is just as powerful but noticeably quieter thanks to the new intake and exhaust design. That reduced noise can trick you into thinking it’s lost some punch, but the drive is all still there. The straight-line pull is impressive, and the way it puts power to the ground makes it extremely effective.

The key is that it’s still brutally fast, but more manageable. On a 450, the last thing you want is an on-off light-switch throttle. That’s fatiguing and hard to control. Yamaha has kept the big horsepower but refined the delivery to make it more progressive and easier to live with.

Nail on the head

The 2026 Yamaha YZ450F proves that evolution can be more powerful than revolution. Yamaha has managed to keep everything we loved about the previous model – brutal power, class-leading suspension, and a balanced chassis – while making it easier to ride, less fatiguing, and more race-ready straight out of the crate. With the addition of a hydraulic clutch, refined suspension, quieter yet equally potent motor, and smart tech through the Power Tuner app, it’s a package that privateers and pros alike can trust. In short, Yamaha didn’t just protect the crown—it polished it.

Rideability for Real Racers

That’s a big compliment for the YZ450F, because realistically, very few riders in the world can use a 450 to its full potential. By making it more rideable without sacrificing power, Yamaha has given privateers and club-level racers a bike they can race at a high level without throwing thousands into modifications.

With some brands, if you want to race competitively, you’re looking at fork work, shock mods, or ECU changes. With the YZ, the suspension is already excellent, the motor is strong and controllable, and the whole package is balanced.

If you asked me what I’d change for racing? Honestly, not much. I’d throw on different grips, numbers, maybe a holeshot button, and that’s it. That’s around $300 worth of parts. Then I’d race it on Sunday.

Tech & Tuning

You’ve still got the Power Tuner App. Launch control, traction control, and engine maps are all fully tuneable straight from your phone. The holeshot system retards ignition until third gear, and you can even set what RPM it holds.

That’s fully customisable by anyone with a smartphone—no extra hardware or complicated programming required. It makes tailoring the bike to your style, track, or conditions simple, fast, and accessible.

2026 Yamaha YZ450F Specifications

RRP: $15,749