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We really wanted to have a true test of Yamaha's new racer for you folks by this time; after all, it's been two months since we first showed the world pictures and specs of the $6899 YFZ450. Sometimes you have to take the hand life deals you. Our hand? A few hours on a track hand-picked by the good people at Yamaha Motor Corp. Not such a bad deal, really. The day trip even came with lunch.



Setting out from the pits with talents such as Kory Ellis and Nic Granlund already circulating the track is a study in intimidation. Tentatively attacking the first few corners, we decided that while the motor is impressive on top, the bottom-end is a touch soft. Pair that with a light flywheel, and it makes midcorner stalls easy for a motocross neophyte. However, unlike its stablemate the Raptor, the YFZ has an admirably low center of gravity and a long wheelbase for good stability in corners, even with a narrow 46 inches in width. For a few laps, the supposedly MX-intended tires felt like typical roly-poly stock tires, but when aired to approximately 7 pounds, they were perfectly adequate. The YFZ flies nicely, is neutral in the air and is easy to redirect midflight, perhaps due to its super-low weight (a claimed 350 pounds dry).