The chaotic rush into Christmas had me more than ready to close the workshop doors and not see another motorcycle until after the break. I love what I do and I love the motorcycle industry, but my workload seems to grow every year, and with my plans for 2026 being the biggest and boldest I’ve ever committed to, I was certainly ready for some well-earned rest. This year my bikes and riders managed to win races and earn podiums and championships in ProMX, AuSX, NSW State titles, Junior Australian Championships and Junior World titles, giving us the most successful season we’ve had to date. To make sure I didn’t burn out, I needed some time away from motorcycles, so the 2026 Yamaha YZ450F was parked while I spent Christmas with my family, travelled a little, then had a week on my boat, right up until my son started nagging that he missed his bike and wanted to ride with his dad.

My first ride for the year came after a morning spent testing new suspension settings for my riders ahead of the 2026 season. Once I was done with their bikes, I couldn’t help but throw on some gear and spin a few laps myself. Typical January weather: the temperature was nudging 40 degrees and I burned through electrolytes faster than the bike went through petrol. My son, on the other hand, did a solid 60-minute moto before his bike ran out of fuel and he had me scrambling to refill it as fast as I could.

A few days later we got another ride in, this time on the backside of the heatwave with temperatures down in the mid-twenties. As always, though, that post-heatwave storm was building and we had to get our ride done before it rolled in and soaked everything. It was far more enjoyable, I wasn’t melting inside my helmet and I could actually appreciate the bike.

One thing I couldn’t get out of my head while riding was all the US media chatter about the 2026 YZ450F lacking bottom-end and having a vague clutch. I hear these claims almost weekly from people who live and breathe US coverage but have never actually ridden the bike. Yes, it’s true the 2026 YZ450F has a mellower power curve than the previous model, but it’s still one of, if not the fastest bikes in the 450 class, and it still has far more power than anyone short of a professional rider can truly use.

As for the clutch, that’s personal preference. Some riders love a hydraulic clutch, others prefer a cable. I was a long-time cable-clutch guy, but I went into this with an open mind and have been converted. I can’t think of a situation where I’d want a cable over the hydraulic now.

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
9

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