There it is this new Yamaha WRF 450 2016, a bike that, like his little sister 250 cm3, is based on the technical basis of cross YZF model. The operation was quite successful with 250 WRF, but what will happen with the 450? A question that may arise legitimately, especially considering the elitist character of the hair 450 YZ-F. But the Japanese did not merely add a headlight at the motocross bike to create this enduro motorcycle, among blue we worked in depth to fit the specifications of Enduro, probably helped by the experience garnered for some years now on the Dakar.
Yamaha WR450F 2016 Motorcycle
So you can forget the older generation of 450 WR-F, the similarities with the 2016 vintage will not be obvious to find. First, exit the mill 5-valve, up to the famous inverted cylinder engine and tilted backwards. The same principle as the YZF but with a lot of changes I invite you to (re) discover in the technical part. Obviously we note the arrival of an electric starter, almost indispensable element in enduro, but the kick is preserved, and that, that's always fun when battery failure. The chassis is extremely close to that of a YZF few details. We can not say that the WRF suffers deficiency in terms of equipment, but still, an enduro bike to over € 9,500 series without hand guards.
Yamaha inside
Place this test 450 WRF 2016, we are in the south of Spain and Yamaha has put together a full-scale rolling to discover this new Japanese enduro, a raid of 200 km in the western scenery Sergio Leone, like conditions of Baja and even a day in South America in the Dakar! Straddling the bike, it's not really disoriented by the current style of Yamaha ergonomics "up to date" which calls for a small acclimatization recalcitrant broad bikes at the gills, and personally I am one. Well, it is not fatal, it gets used again but it's usually more enjoyable to have a finer motorcycle.
If the handlebars seems very natural beginning of the day, I change my mind at as and taxiing. By chaining kilometers standing in the tracks and Spanish rios, the position becomes brittle for the wrists. A concern which can be partly solved by changing the position of the handlebars, or even better by changing the position of the tees (4 possible positions) in order to better adapt to his wishes.
We quickly realized that the best is notable on WRF 450 2016 in terms of chassis behavior. From the previous vintage, the bike seems already lower saddle, especially the weight seems less high pitched. The whole is more balanced, so it becomes more easy handling. It is easier, yes, but we will not go again until that one is in the presence of a simple enduro to handle. It takes a minimum of presence and leadership to guide the new WR450F, especially in more technical portions where you have to shoot straight. Its front end is not always easy to register with precision corner entry for example. Throughout the test, I will open also further compression of the fork so that it plunges more easily and more will be felt.
Side always suspensions, this fork that I could find a little dry on small impacts, ultimately proved an excellent compromise between comfort and performance. I speak from the top of my 68 kilos (without equipment), some of my colleagues (sturdiest do we tell) have found them a little too soft at times. For his part, no complaints about the shock of the WRF 2016, comfort and efficiency were at the rendezvous, despite the hostile terrain grip. The result is a healthy Kayaba together, that does not come unawares when a hidden hit hard by dust stone, yes yes, we tried!
Silent and. noisy?
To engage the motor part, I will immediately start with the point that hurts: it is noisy this WRF 450! Noisy yes, but from inside ... Because if we can only welcome the discretion of the beast for the ear of a waterfront, the Standing slam issued by the airbox just behind the cockpit is this When making use for the pilot in the long run. Well, we must say that has swallowed 200 terminals in the day with many rolling parts where gas remains open for minutes ... like on a rally bike, really! And so, as rally, earplugs are urged to make your life more enjoyable blue.
As for the engine itself, say he has a demonic, just healthy! The "fishy blows" on the throttle the bike propel strongly from one point to another. Thrill seekers and seasoned drivers will probably delighted in WR450F 2016. However, the lambda enduro rider, he may be less dythirambique. This engine clearly has strength to cash sub-schemes without flinching or ideal for winding in the technique. But unless they are always watching finger on the clutch, it is not unusual to be surprised by his explosive behavior the rest of the time! A point which can also penalize the precision of the motorcycle in the art, as seen above.
Long live electronics!
Fortunately, this gross nature can also leave coax through the magic of electronic fuel injection, and we we're not deprived in our halt at midday: it is sufficient to connect the Yamaha tool, minute later the standard engine curve is replaced by "soft" and we are off again. It is obvious, the WRF is not the same! It becomes much more docile behavior is smoothed and can then operate with much greater ease motor force. It has now mastered the precise net gas. In short, here is a possibility of setting it important not to neglect and also the strength of this "big" enduro 2016, not only reserved for the big guys.
Finally, the test course with few crossings, we have not really been able to put the box of the test speeds. However, nothing special to report, for example, has not found between two reports, and the mill anyway accepting the troisimème at low speed, it helps! Note though, takes the fifth long - maybe a sixth would it not too much? However that does not stop us "cruiser" to 120/130 km / h on the Spanish track (with still room).
Balance WR450F 2016: The adventure does not scare him!
Yamaha WR450F The 2016 will not truly surprised us, and it is in no one complaint but simply the result that we expected. This bike imposes and caters more to large spaces. If maneuverability is up, the WRF 450 is still not the Queen crossing "beefy" technical and portions skimpy. But when the landscape opens while the beast is in his element: his handlebars, one imagines well venturing Morocco, America and other large spaces to swallow kilometers motorized adventure.
Here Yamaha therefore did not err in offering us the test this way WR450F 2016 "Baja". For his motorcycle is placed on the ground with a healthy chassis that allows driving with the pace without fear when the field is deteriorating. The engine is really strong, his strength allows him to cash diets low in stride. His punch him is double-edged, we appreciate the "boot once" at the slightest rotation of the handle, it's fun, you can pull up on all reports, but it is also sometimes difficult to control. Hence the importance of playing with different power curves available and make its engine to the card. Well seen.
Yamaha WR450F 2016's will be available at your local retailer in the month of March 2016 at a price of € 9,599; obviously it's still too expensive but with respect to the Yamaha market remains on the ropes. On this test, Arnaud carries a holding Klim Enduro XC (€ 169 pants, jersey and gloves € 59 € 39), a helmet 6D ATR-1 2014 (€ 599) and knee pads Leatt C-Frame (€ 599).
Yamaha WR450F 2016
Price: € 9,599 at 08.12.2015
Colours: Blue
Availability: March 2016
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