Dirt and Trail Dec 2019

That’s Richie VDW
without the shirt.
the change results in “improved cornering
performance, traction, and bump reaction.”
• The KYB suspension gets revised
compression and rebound damping rates.
Yamaha has also fine-tuned the engine
mounts, top triple clamp, and the front
axle to work with the new suspension
settings. The wheelbase and rake have been
reduced.
• The seat on the YZ450F sits over a
half-inch lower. The seat is now right at 38.0
inches, down by 0.6 inches.
• Yamaha has worked on the braking
for the 2020 Yamaha YZ450F. There’s a new
front brake caliper, plus a new front disc
that retains the 270mm disc size. In the rear,
the disc diameter has been reduced by five
millimeters to 240mm. The brake pads are
also updated.
• The weight of the Yamaha YZ450F
is static, with it still hitting the scales at
113KG’s.
• Yamaha Power Tuner: Yamaha’s
YZ450F was the first motocross bike with
inbuilt connectivity, that enables remote
wireless tuning using a smartphone. By
downloading the free Power Tuner app
for IOS or Android devices, YZ450F riders
or mechanics can easily adjust the fuel/
air mix and ignition timing to set the bike
up for different tracks and changing riding
conditions. This feature makes the 2020
YZ450F the most adaptable motocross
machine that can be tuned instantly at the
trackside, enabling its rider to master a wide
range of surfaces and weather conditions. In
addition to its engine re-mapping function,
the Power Tuner app can also record race
log information and monitor a range of data,
including system diagnosis, engine run time
and more. Cool huh!
• Handlebar-mounted adjustable
mapping switch: After pre-programming
the 2020 YZ450F with the Power Tuner in
the paddock, there’s a handlebar-mounted
mapping switch that enables the rider
to select the map of their choice. This
simple on-the-fly adjustment allows instant
mapping changes to suit changing track or
weather conditions, from a super-aggressive
map for fast dry tracks to a more useable
map on muddy surfaces.
52 DIRT & TRAIL MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019