With the mad rush into Christmas, I’ve spent more time in the workshop than on the track. Twelve-hour days will do that to you, so I haven’t logged as many laps on the 2026 Yamaha YZ450F as planned. Still, I’ve carved out enough time to start refining the fork setup. The stock suspension is impressively versatile and works well for a wide range of riders straight out of the crate. Early on, I struggled to fault it. But as my comfort level increased and I rode the YZ across a broader mix of tracks and terrain, I found myself wanting a little more front-end hold-up.

To get that firmer feel, I added 3mm of preload to the fork springs using preload washers and slipped two additional face shims into the compression stack. This gave the forks extra support through the stroke, particularly on corner entry, an important change for a rider like me who loads the front heavily. Too much dive and my confidence evaporates. Since the tweak, I haven’t noticed drastic differences on smoother, slower tracks, but on rougher circuits with heavy braking bumps, the improvement has been significant.

I recently put the revised setup to the test at Ranch MX in Raymond Terrace, NSW. It’s a fast layout with some decent jumps and gets hammered by rider traffic, which means plenty of braking bumps and chop, perfect conditions for evaluating suspension changes. I’ll be turning a lot more laps there over the Christmas break, so expect a deeper update early next year.

Looking ahead, we’re planning to throw a stack of GYTR goodies at the YZ450F and deliver a full breakdown of the build. We’ll kick things off with an exhaust and work our way through engine covers, radiator braces, chain guides and all the other trick bits GYTR produces for the YZ range. If you want a sneak peek at what’s available for your own Yamaha, jump onto Yamaha Motor Australia’s website and dive into the full GYTR catalogue.

Mat Boyd

2026 Yamaha YZ450F
RRP
$15,749
WARRANTY
N/A
DISTRIBUTOR
Yamaha Motor Australia
INTERNET
www.yamaha-motor.com.au/

SO FAR
TOTAL HOURS
7

MODS THIS MONTH
Fork Service

MODS Next MONTH
GYTR Parts