YAMAHA'S NEW 450 RACE WEAPON LANDS DOWN UNDER
7/Jan/2009
Yamaha's
2009 YFZ450R is basically all new and indicates a much
more race focussed shift in Yamaha's approach to their
recreational ATV range.
The YFZ450R story starts with a new, massively rigid but
very lightweight cast aluminium and steel hybrid
chassis. Though the footprint is wider and the
suspension longer than the YFZ450's, the YFZ450R is
physically shorter overall than its predecessor, giving
it a more agile, nimble feel.
Check out our
detail gallery for some close up shots of the new
YFZ450R or the
YFZ450 Wallpaper pages to put the YFZ450R on your
desktop.
Sitting low in this chassis is a 449cc 5-valve DOHC
liquid-cooled engine with reshaped intake ports and fuel
injection controlled by a 32-bit ECU.
The engine's dry-sump design allows for a shallower
crankcase, lowering the centre of gravity still further
for even sharper handling. Pressure lubrication from a
separate (small) dry-sump tank inside the crankcase
reduces weight and rules out oil starvation under high
G-forces.
The intake port design and valve timing have both been
modified for increased low and midrange power. A new
exhaust boosts low and midrange power, while a new
five-speed gearbox with taller ratios drives through an
up-rated clutch.
Increased wheel travel and longer suspension arms
maximise the YFZ450R's performance potential without
compromising overall balance, handling or agility. New
tread-pattern tyres make turn-in even sharper and a lightweight 220mm wave disc rotor reduces
unsprung weight.
Ideal riding ergonomics are made possible by a
four-setting handlebar adjustment system, a new throttle
lever, remodelled seat and wider footrests.
Current Australian #1 plate holder Ryan Lancaster will
upgrade his all conquering YFZ450 to the new YFZ450R for
2009, competition watch out!
KEY FEATURES
75mm wider overall than the YFZ450, the stance of this new 450R is
motocross-ready. The frame is designed of lightweight
aluminium, with a tension-steel bottom frame that lets
the engine sit lower for excellent mass centralisation.
Suspension components have more travel carefully chosen
for best performance, and the front shock bodies feature
Kashima coating for even smoother operation.
It's much roomier, with plenty of room to
hang off in the corners, and the seat is padded just
right to be more comfortable regardless of riding
position. Handlebars are 4-position adjustable, too, so
every rider can choose the best position, and the
throttle has been designed for all day comfort. What's
more, the engine balancer has been revised to even
further reduce vibration.
This 449cc engine uses the cylinder head and cylinder
from the championship-winning YZ450 for awesome power
output. That means titanium five-valve cylinder head
technology, with a camshaft designed just for this
machine to deliver abundant low to midrange torque while still maintaining a super strong top end to let
you pull away from the pack.
The YFZ450R adopts fuel injection for precise fuel
delivery. With a big 42mm Mikuni throttle body and 12-hole
injector, this system provides exceptional fuel
atomisation for maximum power. The system also includes
ISC (Idle Speed Control) for easy, reliable start-up and
warming.
This ATV is designed to make race prep easy. Body panels
come off easily for service; there's no need to remove
the battery or other components to get the fenders off.
The aluminium frame is bolted together, rather than
welded, for maximum durability. And the oil tank is
integrated with the crankcase so it's easier to service
the engine.
ENGINE
The new crankcase holds the newly designed crankshaft
that's ready to handle the increased torque output, as
well as the counter-balancer that has an increased ratio
for superior vibration control. The crankcase also
houses the oil tank, which helps to centralise mass for
unmatched handling and makes maintenance easier.
Camshafts are all new for this model, and are designed
to maximise the torque available in the low and mid
ranges.
Fuel injection uses a 12-hole injector that provides
exceptional atomisation of the fuel for maximum
combustion efficiency and power delivery. The system
also uses a big, 42mm Mikuni throttle body and includes
ISC (Idle Speed Control) for easy, reliable start-up and
warming.
CHASSIS
Spacious ergonomics allow room for an aggressive racer
to move around during the moto, and the ATV's body
panels that the rider contacts during operation are of a
special, softer plastic material for greater comfort. The seat is narrow in the front, yet wide and padded
in the rear to provide a more comfortable ride, even
when hanging off on the side of the seat in a turn.
Wheels are set motocross-spec wide, near the maximum
allowable 1270mm, for great cornering ability.
The newly designed Dunlop front tyres have a superb
combination of the right compound, tyre profile, tread
pattern, and sidewall-to-tread-centre-stiffness ratio to
provide outstanding comfort, bump absorption, and
precise cornering performance. The rear Dunlop tyres
also help the rider achieve a high level of performance
with superb feedback in turns and great grip on the turn
exit. At 20 inches rear and 21 inches front, the tyres
also provide better ground clearance.
ProTaper handlebars are mounted on four-way clamps for
exceptional adjustability. There are two sets of holes
in the handlebar crown, and eccentric clamps so the
rider can choose the standard setting, 10mm or 20mm
forward, or 10mm back.
Foot pegs are a huge 65mm wide, something riders will
appreciate every time they want to get up on the pegs,
with good kick-up on the ends for solid footing.
The all-new frame is aluminium for lightweight, except
for the frame member under the engine. Here tensioned
steel is used for its combination of strength and
thinness. This allowed the designers to sit the engine
lower overall for excellent mass centralisation for
unmatched handling.
The front frame is noticeably narrow at the A-arm
mounting points. This dramatically reduces changes in
camber as the long A-arms travel through their full
range of motion. The front 44mm KYB shocks have Kashima
coating for smooth operation with superb bump absorption
and excellent anti-bottoming characteristics. The 250mm
of wheel travel means this racer is up to even the most
challenging tracks.
The rear swingarm is crafted of strong, gravity-fed
aluminium, and it's matched to a fully adjustable 46mm
KYB piggyback shock absorber for excellent handling.
Rear wheel travel is 280mm for comfort even on tough
terrain.
For excellent stopping ability, YFZ450R features dual
front hydraulic disc brakes and a trick looking,
lightweight wave-type rear rotor.
OTHER
The new throttle lever requires less effort.
The instrumentation is all business. A discrete panel
on the fender in front of the rider gives vital
indicators about low fuel, coolant temperature, check
engine, and neutral gear via a straightforward LED
display.
The new YFZ450R is available in Team Yamaha Blue/White and White/Red with trick red frame
2009 YFZ450R SPECIFICATIONS
Engine type: Single cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke,
DOHC, 5-valve
Displacement: 449 cc
Bore x stroke: 95 x 63.4 mm
Comp ratio: 11.4 : 1
Lubrication: Dry sump
Carburettor: Mikuni 42mm EHS with ISC (Idle Speed Control)
Ignition: TCI
Starter system: Electric
Fuel tank: 10 litres
Final drive: Chain
Gearbox: 5 Speed, manual clutch
Overall length: 1830 mm
Wet weight 184kg with 10 litres of fuel
Overall width: 1240 mm
Overall height: 1095 mm
Wheelbase: 1290 mm
Suspension front:
Double A-arm, threaded pre-load adjustable dual-rate coil-over springs, 3-way adjustable dampers, 250 mm wheel travel
Suspension rear:
Swing arm, threaded pre-load adjustable coil-over spring, 3-way adjustable damper, 280 mm wheel travel
Brake front: Twin piston, hydraulic double disc
Brake rear: Twin piston, hydraulic wave type disc
Tyres front: AT 21 x 7-10 radial
Tyres rear: AT 20 x 10-9 radial
Warranty 12 months unlimited kms, parts and labour
Colours Team Yamaha Blue/White; White/Red
RRP (inc GST) $13,999
YAMAHA YFZ450R WALLPAPER
YAMAHA YFZ450R DETAIL GALLERY
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