2026 Yamaha YZF450F Assessment – Motorbike Take a look at

2026 Yamaha YZF450F Assessment

A mate of mine used to spend countless hours on lathes and milling machines constructing his race engines. Despite the fact that he was thought of among the best speedway engine builders within the nation, he was at all times trying to enhance on what he already had, as a result of in his eyes, good was by no means ok.

That is the state of affairs with Yamaha, and its new YZ450F. It’s a confirmed race-winning machine, with a fame for not solely being quick, but in addition dependable, and is usually described as “bulletproof”. This fame took it to the highest of the 450 gross sales charts in 2025. Pushed by a need to maintain bettering, the engineers and improvement groups at Yamaha then set about making a great factor even higher.

The 2026 YZ450F options some modifications that will appear minor on the floor, however when mixed, they add as much as a considerably improved machine. The 2026 mannequin isn’t drastically totally different from the earlier mannequin; it nonetheless has the identical Yamaha traits, however these mid-generation modifications are a step additional in the suitable route for the YZ450F.

The engine modifications in 2026 are all based mostly across the newest FIM noise restrictions. Whereas these restrictions come into impact in Europe for 2026, they don’t come into impact in Australia till 2027. Nevertheless, Yamaha set about constructing an FIM-compliant motorbike to be launched globally this 12 months.

There’s a barely modified air-box with a resonator, and a brand new resonator has been added to the exhaust, in addition to a modified muffler. To mitigate the efficiency loss ensuing from the sound restrictions, Yamaha has modified the consumption port to make it straighter and extra direct, and up to date the mapping to go well with.

The gearbox stays the identical from the earlier mannequin, except a hydraulic clutch. On the earlier mannequin, the hydraulic clutch was a GYTR manufacturing facility possibility made by Brembo. The 2026 mannequin now comes customary with a Nissin hydraulic clutch. If a hydraulic clutch isn’t your factor, I’m informed you may order a clutch cable and the required parts just like the perch and actuator arm to transform the 2026 bike again to a cable set-up.

I’m nonetheless on the fence with regards to cable or hydraulic clutches. For race begins I would favor cable, as I get a extra exact really feel when loading the engine and kit field proper earlier than the gate drops. But on the monitor, I just like the lighter really feel of the hydraulic, so on the finish of the day, I’m pleased with both. On this case, the brand new Nissin hydraulic unit felt simply nearly as good as every other, with a pleasant, mild, constant pull on the lever and a constructive engagement. So no complaints right here.

Regardless of the modifications made to satisfy the FIM noise restrictions, the engine felt just like the earlier mannequin. It nonetheless behaved like a Yamaha, with sturdy energy and earth-turning torque proper off the underside. It did appear somewhat cleaner when it comes to throttle response, which made it extra rideable and simpler to handle in placing that energy to the bottom.

The bike nonetheless had a pleasant bark beneath energy, though I did discover the consumption noise had been diminished, and it’s noticeably quieter at idle.

With the up to date mapping and consumption port, Yamaha regained the facility the brand new bike misplaced, complying with noise restrictions. So, the 2026 mannequin ended up with the identical horsepower figures because the 2025 mannequin.

The body has additionally been up to date. The objective in altering the body was not solely to take care of the nimble feeling Yamaha had gained with the brand new bike in 2023, but in addition to try to regain a number of the stability it misplaced with the outgoing 2022 bike. The modifications are a thinner entrance down-tube, with a revised inside and outer construction to create higher front-end really feel.

Yamaha YZF450F Specs
2025 v 2026

Specification	2025 YZ450F	2026 YZ450F
Total Size	2180 mm	2175 mm
Total Width	825 mm	825 mm
Total Top	1275 mm	1275 mm
Seat Top	965 mm	965 mm
Wheelbase	1480 mm	1475 mm
Floor Clearance	350 mm	345 mm
Caster Angle	26.9	27.5 mm
Path	120	123.5 mm
Entrance Wheel Journey	310 mm	310 mm
Rear Wheel Journey	295 mm	295 mm
Moist Weight	109 Kg	110 Kg

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To enrich the modifications made to the body in 2026, the KYB suspension has seen some minor updates so far as valving is worried.

I had some real-time comparisons to make right here, as I personal the earlier mannequin, the YZ450F. And in comparison with my bike, the 2026 mannequin did appear extra secure beneath brakes and on nook entry, and it felt simpler to carry a good line mid nook. Hats off to the engineers on this one, as this was a significant space that wanted bettering, and it appears they’ve moved properly and really in the suitable route.

And simply to place a cherry on prime of the most recent suspension modifications, the rear shock now incorporates a toolless compression adjuster.

Situations on this specific day had been a blended bag. We had some moist corners that developed with deep ruts in the course of the day, and dry, typically dusty straights main into them. It was definitely a great monitor for testing a brand new bike. Throw in a howling wind, and we riders had been additionally put to the take a look at.

Braking on the 2026 mannequin appears to have been made simpler. Not as a result of I seen the brakes had been stronger than its predecessor, however as a result of the bike was extra secure on nook entry, I felt I used to be capable of carry the brakes deeper into the nook regardless of the difficult monitor situations.

I made only a few modifications to the bike on the day, only a fast rider-sag and lever adjustment.

Because the day went on, and the monitor began creating some first rate traces, I ended up going 4 clicks softer on compression on each entrance and rear. And 4 clicks sooner on rebound entrance and rear. This was to permit the suspension to maneuver freely beneath me, given the monitor situations.

Different modifications to the 2026 mannequin embody some beauty ones. It is available in two color choices, the usual Yamaha blue, and the seventieth anniversary white and crimson. The bike now options two-piece facet quantity plates and a newly designed entrance quantity plate. I personally would have most popular the older model plate, or an aftermarket one, as they provide extra safety to the higher fork leg from roost. However then once more, there is no such thing as a roost out in entrance of the pack, is there?

The brand new 2026 mannequin additionally incorporates a one-directional gripper seat, designed to stop you from sliding backwards beneath acceleration, and in addition to can help you slide ahead with no resistance. And did this seat work? Sure. It’s not the kind of gripper seat you should purchase aftermarket, however it’s definitely higher than the usual seats we’re used to.

The up to date Yamaha Energy-Tuner App now incorporates a safety possibility. This anti-theft system lets you lock the ECU through a password. When the ECU is locked, the bike is not going to begin. In case your bike is garaged, and the ECU is locked, all of the would-be thieves stand to realize for themselves is a storage decoration, or at finest, a motorcycle they’ll push round.

For those who select to make use of this function, watch out to not lose your password. For those who do occur to lose it, the ECU is totally locked out, and you’ll require a brand new ECU from Yamaha. Simply write it down a number of instances, and don’t let your mates play jokes, and alter it on you, as a result of that wouldn’t be humorous.

Total, the 2026 YZ450F is a way more refined and extra rideable model of its predecessor. It’s nonetheless a Yamaha by nature, however a extra user-friendly one, with higher front-end really feel and a cleaner throttle response, thus making it simpler to trip. And a number of the stability the YZ450F was recognized for in 2022 has returned. And that’s so very welcome.

2026 YZ450F Specs

Specficiations
Total size	2175mm
Total width	825mm
Total top	1275mm
Seat top	965mm
Wheelbase	1475mm
Observe	n/a
Minimal floor clearance	345mm
Moist(with oil and a full gasoline tank)	110kg
Engine kind	Liquid cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC
Cylinder association	Single cylinder
Displacement	450cm3
Bore & stroke	97.0×60.8mm
Compression ratio	13.0:1
Beginning system kind	Electrical starter
Lubrication system	Dry sump
Engine oil capability	1.20L/1.26usqt/1.05Imp.qt
Gas tank capability	6.2L / 1.6usgal / 1.4Imp.gal
Induction	Gas injection
Ignition system kind	TCI (transistor managed ignition)
Remaining drive	Chain
Main discount ratio	2.481 (67/27)
Secondary discount ratio	3.923 (51/13)
Clutch kind	Moist, multiple-disc
Transmission kind	Fixed mesh, 5-speed
Shift kind	Return
Gear ratio-1st gear	2.000 (28/14)
Gear ratio-2nd gear	1.625 (26/16)
Gear ratio-Third gear	1.350 (27/20)
Gear ratio-4th gear	1.136 (25/22)
Gear ratio-Fifth gear	1.000 (21/21)
Body kind	Semi double cradle
Caster angle	27°30′
Path	123mm
Steering Angle	43°
Tire dimension(Entrance)	80/100-21 51M Tube kind
Tire dimension(Rear)	120/80-19 63M Tube kind
Rim dimension(Entrance)	21×1.6
Rim dimension(Rear)	19×2.15
Brake kind(Entrance)	Hydraulic single disc brake
Brake kind(Rear)	Hydraulic single disc brake
Diameter of  brake disk(Entrance)	270mm
Diameter of  brake disk(Rear)	240mm
Inside diameter of drum / Efficient diameter of disc(Entrance)	244mm
Inside diameter of drum / Efficient diameter of disc(Rear)	214mm
Suspension kind(Entrance)	Telescopic fork
Suspension kind(Rear)	Swingarm (hyperlink suspension)
Shock absorber meeting kind(Entrance)	Coil spring/Hydraulic damper
Shock absorber meeting kind(Rear)	Coil spring/Gasoline-hydraulic damper
Wheel journey(Entrance)	310mm
Wheel journey(Rear)	295mm
Interior tube diameter of entrance fork	48.0mm
Traction Management System	Geared up
Worth	From $15,749

2026 Yamaha YZF450F Photos