First Look: 2016 Yamaha YZ250F and YZ450F

Yamaha’s class-winning YZ250F and YZ450F four-stroke motocrossers return with key revisions and snazzy new Limited Edition colors.

Yamaha has enjoyed championship-winning success with its YZ250F and a real turnabout in the fortunes of its YZ450F in major product shootouts, and for 2016 both of these winning four-stroke machines return to the Yamaha motocross line-up with some key updates, revised graphics and optional Limited Edition 60th Anniversary Yamaha color schemes.

Having introduced all-new versions of its reverse-incline-motored YZ four-strokes in the past couple years, Yamaha’s plan for 2016 was to refine rather than redesign these championship- and shootout-winning motocross thoroughbreds. Even so, some of the changes made for 2016 are significant.

2016 Yamaha YZ250F, $7590 (Team Yamaha Blue/White), $7690 (Limited-Edition 60th Anniversary Yellow)

Tops on the list of changes to the YZ250F is a new, lightweight, forged, two-ring piston that features a flat crown surface with additional strengthening ribs, and the piston oil jets that direct oil underneath the new piston to promote cooling, and thus better combustion chamber efficiency, have been revised. A shorter, more durable piston pin with diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating is also new.

On the big end, Yamaha engineers have revised the crankshaft and counterbalancer designs to provide a different balance ratio and aid in a more predictive power delivery off the bottom and reduce unwanted engine vibration. To refine the 250F at the opposite end of the rev range, the ECU get new settings that are intended to help eliminate the abrupt feeling generated when the engine hits the rev limiter at stratospheric rpm.

Other changes to the YZ250F include a clutch boss and shift-stopper arm as Yamaha continues to refine its clutch engagement feel and shifting action. The YZ250f also gets new brake pad material and a larger 270mm front brake rotor to help improve its stopping power. The fully adjustable KYB speed sensitive damping fork and fully adjustable KYB piggyback shock are the same basic hardware as the 2015 models’ but their settings have been revised to help cushion spike hits and also educe front-end dive. Yamaha claims that these smoother settings also deliver a more balanced damping feel in corners.

2016 Yamaha YZ250F Specifications
Engine Type: 250cc liquid-cooled DOHC 4-stroke; 4 titanium
valves
Bore x Stroke: 77.0mm × 53.6mm
Compression Ratio: 13.5:1
Fuel Delivery: Yamaha Fuel Injection (YFI), Keihin® 44mm
Ignition: TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition)
Transmission: Constant mesh 5-speed, multiplate wet clutch
Final Drive: Chain
Front Suspension: KYB Speed-Sensitive System inverted fork;
fully adjustable, 12.2 inches of travel
Rear Suspension: KYB monoshock; fully adjustable, 12.4 inches of
travel
Front Brake: Hydraulic single disc brake, 270mm
Rear Brakes: Hydraulic single disc brake, 245mm
Front Tire: 80/100-21 Bridgestone M403A
Rear Tire: 100/90-19 Bridgestone M404
Length: 85.2 inches
Width: 32.5 inches
Height: 50.4 inches
Seat Height 38.0 inches
Wheelbase 58.1 inches
Rake (Caster Angle) 27.1°
Trail 4.6 inches
Ground Clearance 12.8 inches
Fuel Capacity 2.0 gallons
Wet Weight (claimed): 231 lbs.
Warranty: 30-Day (Limited Factory Warranty)
Colors: Team Yamaha Blue/White; 60th Anniversary
Yellow
MSRP: $7590 (Team Yamaha Blue/White); $7690 (Limited Edition 60th Anniversary
Yellow)

2016 Yamaha YZ450F, $8590 in (Team Yamaha Blue/White), $8690 (Limited-Edition 60th Anniversary Yellow)

The big news for the YZ450F is that Yamaha has entered the launch control sweepstakes with an all-new Launch Control System (LCS) that utilizes high-precision ECU calculations to optimize power output and provide optimum traction and acceleration as the ride rleves the starting gate, especially in hard or slick conditions.

For 2016, the YZ450F gets a Launch Control system.[/caption]The YZ450F also gets new intake- and exhaust-cam profiles and timing to help increase combustion efficiency and make it a little less hairy on the low-to-mid rpm range. The YZ450F also receives the improved clutch boss and shift-stopper arm in an effort to provide smoother clutch engagement feel and more precise shifting action.

Other changes to the 2016 Yamaha YZ450F include revised engine mounts and a narrower swingarm pivot section on its bilateral beam aluminum frame in an effort to improve lateral rigidity. The footpegs are also mounted 5mm lower to help lower the rider’s center of gravity for improved balance and control.

In the suspension department, the YZ450F gets new triple clamps with a 25mm fork offset intended to help improve the YZ450F’s front-end feel, and a softer, 56Nm shock shock spring replaces the old 56Nm spring to improve bump absorption and aid in better overall handling. Like the YZ250F, the YZ450F also gets the new brake pad material and larger 270mm front brake rotor.

2016 Yamaha YZ450F Specifications
Engine Type: 449cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC 4-stroke; 4 titanium
valves
Bore x Stroke: 97.0mm × 60.8mm
Compression Ratio: 12.5:1
Fuel Delivery: Yamaha Fuel Injection (YFI), Keihin® 44mm
Ignition: TCI (Transistor Controlled Ignition)
Transmission: Constant-mesh 5-speed, multiplate wet clutch
Final Drive: Chain
Front Suspension: KYB Speed-Sensitive System inverted fork;
fully adjustable, 12.2-in travel
Rear Suspension: KYB monoshock; fully adjustable, 12.4-in
travel
Front Brake: Hydraulic single disc brake, 270mm rotor
Rear Brake: Hydraulic single disc brake, 245mm rotor
Front Tire: 80/100-21 Dunlop MX52F
Rear Tire: 120/80-19 Dunlop MX52
Length: 85.8 inches
Width: 32.5 inches
Height: 50.4 inches
Seat Height: 38.0 inches
Wheelbase: 58.3 inches
Ground Clearance: 13.0 inches
Fuel Capacity: 2.0 gallons
Wet Weight (claimed): 247 lbs.
Warranty: 30 Days (limited factory warranty)
Colors: Team Yamaha Blue/White, Limited Edition 60th Anniversary
Yellow
MSRP: $8590 (Team Yamaha Blue/White); $8690 (Limited Edition 60th Anniversary
Yellow)