When it comes to two wheeled challenges, I followed my long tradition of jumping off a cliff and building my plane on the way down at the launch of the 2019 Yamaha WR450F. I just wasn’t expecting an actual cliff to be part of the equation.

It may have been a global launch held in Stroud, NSW, but only Aussies and Kiwis were present. That’s because the Australasian appetite for this bike is off the charts – we buy around 1500 of these a year, the number in America is around 300.

Yamaha’s WR450F (priced at $13,299) has changed its character with this model and the last, from the softest of the 450 enduro range, to one of the hardest hitting, thanks to being based on the fire breathing motocrosser YZ450F.

Technical Specs

  • Engine TypeLiquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve
  • Displacement (cc)449.0
  • Bore x Stroke (mm)97.0 x 60.8
  • Compression Ratio12.5 : 1
  • Lubrication SystemWet sump
  • Fuel ManagementFuel Injection
  • IgnitionTCI
  • Starter SystemElectric
  • Fuel Tank Capacity (L)7.5
  • Final TransmissionChain
  • TransmissionConstant mesh 5-speed