Vet Friendly & Fun
Story by Jeff Belknap, Photosn by Trevor Hunter
With Yamaha’s off-road 450 racer being unchanged for the new year, we gave it to 50+ off-road expert test rider Jeff Belknap to log put in some hours and get a little more of a different opinion on the bike. He hasn’t spent a whole lot of time on the new Yamaha’s in stock trim, only briefing getting to ride the bike for short periods of time at different stages of the bike’s build in years past. However, starting at a stock platform is critical in learning the ins and outs of a bike, so getting him to spend some time on the stock bike to get a more fair opinion and to see if he’d like it more or less than he has in the past was our goal here. Without further adieu, here are some words from Jeff –
“After logging numerous hours riding Yamaha’s unchanged 2026 YZ450FX in Southern California’s high desert, I was immediately impressed by how lightweight and agile the ’26 edition felt compared to previous 2023- models, a bike I wasn’t particularly a fan of. The updated rider triangle provided extra legroom between the seat and foot pegs, enhancing overall comfort and allowing for a more open riding position that made it easier to adapt to instantly. Previously, when jumping onto a Yamaha, it’d take a considerable amount of time to learn the ergonomics and how to ride the bike, whereas this bike is very user friendly and easy to jump on and feel right at home. It’s no secret that Yamaha’s 450 models have had a super aggressive power band and acceleration over the last few years, which can be tough for many VET riders to handle. But the 2026 model is easily tunable and we found a good map using the GYTR Power Tuner App that we created to deliver a smooth and broad power delivery. It really changes the game and made the bike more friendly with a connected and controllable tune. Throttle control feels way easier, making it simpler to initiate turns, and the power curve is much more comfortable overall.
The new chassis design makes the bike have a sharper feel, it keeps the front wheel down and planted similar to a CRF model feel. Since I am a front wheel steer guy, it made me really enjoy the bike over the past year models that had a heavy rear steer feel. The KYB suspension has always been a strong point on the YZ models and this bike is no different. It has a race inspired feel that is on the stiff side but as the bumps get bigger, they excel more and more. I did really like how you can now hand change the compression clickers front and rear for easy trailside tuning. The suspension and chassis perform just as expected. The KYB bump sticks absorb bumps and square-edge curbs with a stiff, aggressive setting inside. We made minor adjustments on the first ride day, mainly to slow rebound damping and give the YZ450FX a more planted feel.
My biggest complaint with the bike, and one that is easily fixed, is how uncomfortable the new gripper seat is. The shape of the seat is less than ideal and I personally didn’t like the new material, though some of our other testers don’t mind it.”
Of all of the “FX” class bikes on the market, Yamaha has gone the most aggressive with their 450 platform with a stiffer suspension setup, earth moving power output, and a race-inspired feel. Our faster Pro level riders can jump on it instantly and go fast with no changes needed, but our vet guys have been more prone to looking into mapping and suspension changes with this platform – a contrast to most other 450 off-road bikes on the market. However, Yamaha has made the window large enough on this bike to make it friendly and capable in the hands of both a fast pro and a more casual vet rider. Being able to tune the mapping makes the biggest difference in the world to both the power delivery and overall chassis and suspension feel as it all ties together. That paired with easily tunable KYB suspension, this bike appeals to the fastest racers on paper, but a few simple clicks and tunes can transform this bike into a vet friendly machine.
