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are exactly the same as those of the<br />
YZ450F. In addition to the expected<br />
wide-ratio five-speed transmission, the<br />
new 450’s are fitted with enduro-specific<br />
multiplate clutches built to handle the<br />
abuse of riding hard in tough conditions.<br />
The bikes share things like a happy<br />
button and both have side stands, but<br />
the WR comes with a headlamp, tail<br />
light, LED speedo and a cooling fan.<br />
Why a Yellow WR? Well it’s a limited<br />
edition 60th anniversary model, but<br />
the bike is also available in blue. In the<br />
early days Yamaha USA was yellow<br />
and in Europe they were red and white.<br />
We think it looks absolutely flippen<br />
gorgeous. The WR will be raced in world<br />
enduro champs. It’s a trail bike or offroad<br />
racer depending on who you are.<br />
The WR comes equipped with plush<br />
valved suspension for woods and trail<br />
riding, a mechanical-style muffler that is<br />
not only quiet but also a spark arrestor<br />
and an ECU that is tuned for trail riding<br />
and limited for sound. It runs the same<br />
chassis as the yz 450 f. The WR weighs<br />
in 4KG’s heavier than the FX.<br />
The FX looks far more racey, with<br />
distinctive lines and a number board<br />
rather than a headlamp – and it’s<br />
missing a fan, but the mountings are<br />
there for you to fit one. It is much like<br />
the YZ250FX that was released last<br />
year, just substantially more powerful<br />
definitely more race bike. Like we said,<br />
it is built off the YZ450F motocross bike<br />
but made for off-road. Pure YZ and pure<br />
competition with the parts one would<br />
expect from ride like this, 18-inch rear<br />
wheel, and it rides on the YZ motocross<br />
chassis for accurate handling. For sure<br />
this bike is plenty capable of racing offroad,<br />
tackling a grand prix or even a day<br />
at the motocross track if you want. The<br />
FX is only available in 3 markets where<br />
we breed horsepower hungry racers –<br />
The USA, South Africa and Australia.<br />
The bikes have different silencers –<br />
the WR’s is a bit quieter and is designed<br />
to tone the power down a bit – the FX<br />
pipe is basically straight off the YZ.<br />
So which bike?<br />
Cam and Brian really put both bikes<br />
through their paces – from some<br />
huge jumps, to fast open trails and<br />
deep water crossings (yes – we found<br />
some), they wrung these bikes throttles<br />
-sometimes it is more fun for mere<br />
mortals like us just to sit back and watch<br />
the fun rather than actually riding.<br />
Chatting after the ride was pretty<br />
interesting. Brian, a seasoned<br />
campaigner seemed to lean more<br />
towards the WR – “It’s a lot more<br />
forgiving, smoother, softer (As a 450<br />
goes) a bit lower in the seat and<br />
generally easier to ride, especially for<br />
a rider who enjoys trail riding. For a<br />
guy who loves to ride MX track AND<br />
enduro and is a really above average<br />
rider, the FX is the answer – but for the<br />
24 DIRT & TRAIL MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2016<br />
<strong>1602</strong> <strong>DT</strong> WR feature.indd 24 2016/01/24 9:36 PM<br />
Yam
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