The 2017 Yamaha YZ450 received no large changes for this year. Little refinements for strength and reliability made this bike even greater than in the past. Since I have never ridden a Yamaha YZ450 before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The first lap I did on the bike was breathtaking in regards to the power of this motorcycle. The neutral feel of the ergonomics made for a quick adjustment period. Thank goodness for that quick adjustment period because Glen Helen Raceway was ripped treacherously deep on the ride day! After I had a nice feel for the suspension on the bike, I started to really trust the YZ450F.
When the rider starts going fast is usually when they notice the faults of a bike. Except there was not one single part on this bike that stuck out like a sore thumb to me. Even though there will always be changing variables like the track conditions, suspension is always a compromise, especially at a track like Glen Helen. With the sag set on the low end of Yamaha’s 100-102mm recommendation. Even at 103mm I felt the rear end was too high for some of the situations Glen Helen offered that day. I then had a technician take a quarter turn out of the shocks high speed compression. Still not having that dead and planted feel I like in a motocross rear end, we then went in 2 clicks on the rebound. That was it!
Although It may have been possible that all I needed were those 2 clicks of rebound, it is highly beneficial to know that Yamaha does not lack sensitivity in the suspension. Having all of the parts of a motorcycle work in unison is quite a pleasant feel, especially on a bike that is box stock.