2016 Yamaha WR450F: FIRST LOOK
Alan Cathcart | November 6, 2015
Yamaha’s long-standing woods weapon, the legendary WR450F, is getting a makeover for next year. In light of recent developments with the new YZ450FX, the WR is being angled more at the amateur trail rider and racer, rather than the hard-core GNCC rider the FX is being targeted at.
The WR and FX both share the YZ450F’s rearward-slanted-cylinder design motor, with a reversed cylinder head and forward-positioned, straight intake, with the engine matched to a wide-ratio five-speed gearbox. But the WR has a different enduro-specific exhaust and muffler fitted, electric start, new radiator fan, large capacity generator and a new ECU and a mains-free electrical system to run add-ons like lights and blinkers.
Expect to see plenty of blue on the trails over the next 12 months.
The bilateral aluminum beam chassis is based off the YZ450F’s and has been retuned for less stiffness (like the FX) via different engine mounting brackets, and you’ll be getting revised KYB fork settings different to the FX’s.
The 2016 WR450F will be available in Team Yamaha Blue/White at an MSRP of $8,990, and will be available in Yamaha dealerships beginning in November.
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