I’ll be honest, the 2026 Yamaha YZ450F kind of fell into my lap. Or maybe I just pinched it. Either way, while Matt Boyd was flat out getting Boyd’s Moto Racing ticking along, I quietly rolled his new YZ into my shed and got to work. I have loved the chance to just ride it, live with it, and figure out what it’s actually like to live with.

Most of the writing and early thoughts happened over the summer break, done at home with a Triumph sitting there as a bit of a comparison point. The bike’s had about 14 hours on it so far, so it’s still fresh, but that’s usually enough time to know whether something’s going to annoy you or not. I then took it up to Ranch for a proper ride, fast track, good flow, and the kind of place that exposes suspension pretty quickly.

Straight away, the bike felt good. Ranch is quick, and on those high-speed sections I could feel the suspension needing a little bit of work. It’s not bad by any means, but when you’re really charging, that’s where I think there’s room to improve. Overall though, the balance was solid, and after a couple of motos I was comfortable pushing it harder.

Maintenance-wise, there’s been nothing to complain about, which is exactly how I like it. I haven’t had to do much yet. The sag definitely needs setting properly; I feel like the rear needs to come up a bit. It’s also due for an oil change and air filter, which I’ll grab from the local shop and knock over. That’s just normal early ownership stuff. I like to keep bikes fresh, especially when they’re new.

One thing Yamaha continues to absolutely nail is air filter access. It’s unreal. Super easy to get to, super easy to change, and when you wash the bike it doesn’t seem to get soaked like some others do. That’s a massive bonus if you ride a lot. The rest of it is just standard Yamaha, starts every time, feels solid, nothing weird or finicky. You sort of forget about it, which is exactly what you want.

If I had to pick something that’s frustrated me, it’s the grips. Boydy went with straight Renthal rentals, and I’m just not a fan. Drop the bike or get a bit of mud on them and your hands want to slide straight off. I’d much rather the standard half-waffles or even a lock-on grip. It’s a small thing, but it’s noticeable when you’re actually riding.

Power-wise, yeah, it’s a proper 450. It can be a handful at times, no question. Coming off another four-stroke, you definitely notice it. But what I like is how much you can use the torque. I found myself riding up a gear more, pulling harder out of corners, and letting it stretch its legs. Yesterday I was jumping stuff, holding fourth gear, and really winding it on down the straights. It was actually a pleasure, the way it just pulls away cleanly and keeps driving.

You do need to be fit to ride it properly. There’s no getting around that. But when you’re on top of it, the bike rewards you. It’s fast, stable, and feels like it wants to be ridden hard.

Jeff Briggs

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

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