RUST magazine: RUST#42

2019 Yamaha WR450F
attention given to rider feedback, as well
as the attention to detail and the sheer
quality that Yamaha has bestowed upon
this WR450F.
Simply to look at, this is one
handsome bike. The bike is sleek. And
the details speak of Yamaha’s Shifulike
understanding of the sport. The
airbox is no-nonsense. The sidestand
is properly tucked away. The new skid
plate is far more protective (offering
the water pump a place to hide) but
also fits so much better, so it’ll pack less
mud. The headlamp unit is so much
slimmer front-to-back, and so is now
not offensive the way the old one was.
That map switch – it operates on the fly,
no need to hold a steady throttle or to
stop, switch off etc, just hit it whenever
you need.
The new WR450F is lighter, smaller,
lower, less violent, more accurate,
more agile, more comfortable. More…
just more, the way less is often more.
Its still a 450, still one of the most
powerful 450s, too – so lower-order
European enduro riders might still
want to approach with some caution
– but everyone else, from desert racers
in Australia and the US, to trail riders
everywhere, and to European enduro
riders of some standing, this is some
bike – you really want to ride one.
Just wow.
www.rustsports.com 75