Last year, Yamaha made clear its intention to move back to the top table of the enduro world with the launch of the eagerly-awaited WR250F. Featuring a completely new engine and chassis, the WR250F achieved an impressive streak of top 5 results – including multiple podium finishes in the 2015 Enduro World Championship – underlining its competitiveness at the very highest level. For the 2016 season, Yamaha further reinforces its comprehensive off road line up with the arrival of the all-new WR450F, a sophisticated enduro racer that benefits from some of the most advanced engine and chassis technology to be seen in its category.

Based on the 2015 MXGP World Championship winning YZ450F – and developed alongside the latest 2016 YZ450F production model – the 2016 Yamaha WR450F utilises Yamaha’s innovative reverse cylinder head and rearwards slanting cylinder. Having convincingly demonstrated its winning performance at the highest level, this industry-leading engine design gives the WR450F rider high levels of controllable and linear torque, while this design’s greater mass centralisation contributes towards the bike’s agile handling character.

By adopting the latest YZ-F derived engine layout together with the compact and light-handling YZ-F based chassis, the all-new WR450F delivers major improvements in terms of weight, power characteristics, agility and rideability. Aimed at enduro racers as well as long distance rally riders and recreational riders, the purpose-built WR450F benefits from a full enduro specification, and runs with specially developed engine and chassis settings that are designed to optimise its performance in a diverse selection of low and high speed off road situations.

Like the YZ-F models and the recently launched WR250F, the completely new WR450F engine features a reverse cylinder head with a front facing air intake and rear-exiting exhaust. By increasing intake and exhaust efficiency, this innovative layout enhances the engine’s linear torque feeling, and delivers deep reserves of highly controllable and easy-to-use power. The WR450F’s reverse cylinder head and rearwards-slanting cylinder layout has already proved its competitiveness with the World Championship winning YZ450F motocrosser. As with the highly successful YZ-F ‘brothers’ and the WR250F enduro, the new WR450F’s compact engine layout – together with the underseat fuel tank and snaking exhaust pipe – contributes significantly towards mass centralisation.

For easy engine starting and strong performance in a variety of conditions, the WR450F is equipped with an all new fuel injection system that is designed to enable the rider to exploit fully the machine’s increased potential. The WR450F’s new fuel injection system has been completely reprogrammed to meet the needs of the enduro rider. The 44mm throttle body is 2mm larger than the design fitted on the current WR450F, and a revised spray angle and improved throttle valve opening characteristics contribute towards the WR450F’s good balance of high power/high speed performance together with ease of use and rideability at lower speeds.

For effective cooling performance in all riding conditions, the 2016 Yamaha WR450F is fitted with new enduro-specification radiators that feature a different core pitch angle to the YZ-F design, and the new shrouds have also been specially developed to suit the special demands of enduros and long distance rallies. To ensure good cooling performance at low speeds, the WR450F is equipped with a radiator fan as standard, a feature that will be appreciated by any rider who has ever been stuck in a bog or been waiting in a long line of riders at a particularly tricky obstacle.

Equipped with a new wide ratio 5-speed transmission, the WR450F is ready to master any terrain – from slow speed woods riding through to aggressive special tests – as well as being able to achieve a good top speed on open enduro and rally terrain. Compared to the previous WR450F, the new model runs with higher 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears, while 1st and 5th remain the same. To complement its wide-ratio transmission this next generation enduro bike features an all-new enduro clutch that’s designed to handle the long and hard days experienced in a typical event. For a light feel together with good durability, the new clutch uses new materials for the friction plates and clutch disc, as well as a newly added push lever.

In the motocross world, the Yamaha YZ450F’s Air-Oil-Separate front forks are widely regarded as being amongst the very best designs available today. By keeping the air and oil in separate chambers, these high-tech forks help to prevent cavitation for more stable damping performance and predictable handling characteristics. The 2016 WR450F uses the same forks as its motocross counterpart, but to ensure smoother low speed operation – combined with the ability to absorb harsh bumps – the WR-F model runs with dedicated enduro settings. Similarly, the YZ450F-based rear shock runs with revised settings that have been designed to handle the wide variety of low and high speed riding associated with enduro racing.

Like the latest 2016 YZ-F models, the all-new WR450F is equipped with a 270mm diameter front disc brake that offers excellent stopping performance together with accurate feel. Featuring black rims, the WR450F’s 18″ rear wheel and 21″ front wheel are equipped with Metzeler 6 Days Extreme tyres, and the enduro equipment also includes a lightweight engine guard, frame-mounted side stand, sealed chain and 22mm rear axle.

The 2016 Yamaha WR450F is equipped with a full lighting kit, and to handle the extra demand on the electrical system, a high output ACM is fitted. The lightweight digital instruments include a multi-function display with an enduro computer that keeps the rider informed about their progress and distance covered – while a fuel level warning lets the rider know when it’s time to refuel. There’s also a main switch-free starting system for speed and convenience.