2016 Yamaha YFZ450R Track and Trail Test Review

Yamaha’s YFZ450R high-performance ATV enters the 2016 season carrying pro number one plates from both the Grand National Motocross, and Cross Country Race Series with factory racers Chad Wienen and Walker Fowler. The YFZ450R was designed to work on the trail with performance focused for the track, so it’s no wonder the machine has risen to the top of both disciplines of racing.

Since its launch in 2009, we’ve done several track tests of the YFZ450R. Walker Fowler’s success in cross-country racing is a reminder that the YFZR was developed for trail as well as the motocross track. We know that a majority of the YFZ450Rs sold will never be raced, and there’s a good chance they’ll be ridden on both tracks and trails. With this in mind, we rounded up a 2016 Yamaha YFZ450R for our first combination track and trail test of the machine since 2009 to see how the recently updated machine performs against everything we have to throw at it.

Right out of the box, the YFZ450R is sort of the ultimate play racer that can rip it up on the track or the trail. Arguably, no other stock 450 in history could do both as well. It offers tremendous versatility for building a machine that can win championships in the woods, or on the frack for local racers, and top pros alike. For around $1,000 in accessories, you can get started racing MX locally, and for a bit more, you can build a reliable, competitive cross-country racer.

While some will balk at the machine’s $8,899 price tag, you get what you pay for. In this case, it’s a recently highly-updated, second generation machine, that’s borderline race ready, and frankly, it’s hardly more expensive than a dirt bike. We, too, see the need for a price point focused sport ATV that adults will want to own and ride, but the YFZ450R is that machine. The 2016 YFZ450R is for the serious sport ATV enthusiast who wants a machine providing the shortest distance between the dealer showroom and the checkered flag, whether you’re racing the Nationals or just racing your friends.