2021 Yamaha WR450F Review

To be frank, a new set of graphics would probably be enough to extend the sales legacy of the evergreen Yamaha WR450F. One of Australia's most popular off-road offerings in recent years, the WR450F has become a hot ticket item amid the ongoing COVID-driven enduro frenzy playing out in Oz.

Rolling the arm over for 2021 would have been an easy, if not foolproof option for the Japanese marque to continue its sales hot streak, especially since the 2020 WR only reached our shores mid last year.

Instead, Yami has taken its full-size enduro blaster back to the drawing board, enlisting heavy hitters including Kiwi legend Josh Coppins in the development program.

According to Yamaha, the 2021 Yamaha WR450F is sharper, offers better handling and improved feeling and feedback, with most of the changes based on the 2020 Yamaha YZ450F motocross bike.

The blueprint reads essentially like a motocross bike with a headlight, but how will that transpire on single track in the bush? Let's find out.

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The 2021 Yamaha WR450F isn't cheap, with the latest model checking in at $15,949 ride-away. Supply and demand, we surmise, but it is in the ballpark when compared to other models in the category.

In any case, the changes for 2021 are extensive: a new aluminium bilateral frame with thinner main spars and thicker bottom tubes; KYB speed-sensitive fork up front tuned for enduro; lighter and more powerful brakes; and noteworthy engine modifications.

The frame is borrowed from the YZ450F, using slightly different engine mount brakes, and is complemented by a revised top triple clamp, front wheel axle and bar mounts designed to cultivate front-end feeling and feedback.

The footpegs use a slightly different, lighter construction, while the 'bars are positioned 15mm further forward and 5mm lower to help the rider get over the front, improving grip and steering.

Cradled within the frame is an engine that is said to essentially be the 2020 Yamaha YZ450F mill with enduro settings, making it lighter and more compact than the predecessor WR engine. Better mass centralisation has been achieved with help from a lighter cylinder head configured in a reverse design, while the compression ratio has increased from 12.8:1 to 13:1. New intake/exhaust systems and a revised ECU help differentiate the WR from the motocross-centric YZ.

The Yamaha WR450F continues with two-stage on-the-go tuning operated via the handlebars with help from the Yamaha Power Tuner app. First introduced in 2019, the tech allows you to adjust the fuel/air mixture to suit different riding conditions, while also monitoring engine data.

The engine is complemented by a more robust five-speed transmission that offers shorter ratios between first and third and a taller fifth gear compared with the Yamaha YZ450F. As before, the Yamaha WR450F persists with a cable clutch.

Elsewhere, the Yamaha WR450F boasts a slimmer and more compact multifunction display for 2021, with an odometer, two trip meters, clock, timer/stopwatch and a fuel consumption indicator. If we’re honest, there's an opportunity missed here – it would have been nice to see a fuel range readout or a clearer presentation packaged into a small, concise display. This is especially the case when you consider the added freight on the WR's 2021 sticker price.

You can also have your WR fitted standard with an Australian off-road kit, which brings a swag of goodies that novice and experienced riders alike will appreciate on the trail: a rear brake snake, Barkbusters, lightweight LED taillight and licence plate holder and a durable plastic bash plate designed to protect lower chassis rails, among others.

Don't discard the motocross rhetoric as pure PR fluff: the Yamaha WR450F feels unapologetically like an MX bike.

Our initial impression is a machine that telegraphs more of what's happening underneath while also offering sharper changes in direction and loads of high-speed stability.

Basic ergonomics feel strong out of the box, partially wrought by the revised 'bar geometry, but also Yamaha's forward-thinking airbox and fuel tank design, which really allows you to get your weight over the front. The Yamaha WR450F isn't as narrow through the girth as, say, a KTM two-stroke, but it's an easy machine to get to grips with nonetheless.

On slow, single-line trails, the Yamaha WR450F transmits what feels like every stick, rock and tree root to the rider's hands and feet. It's a significant departure from the soft, almost pogo-stick like progress of European enduro machines, but in time it generates confidence.

Navigating rutted corners seems easier with the additional feedback, as does stringing together faster single-line corners: you soon revel in the ease of bike placement, power-down and the WR's nonchalance at extroverted angles.

A sharp turn-in response and redeeming mid-corner poise are other virtues of the WR450F's 2021 upgrades. It is seamless through corner transitions and really does cultivate confidence.

With that said, the added bonus of motocross-esque tuning comes in the form of high-speed fire trail and single-line tracks: the Yamaha WR450F feels beautifully controlled in its damping, and is quick to recover from big hits including log jumps or spoon drains. In fact, we reckon it wouldn't be out of its depth tackling a motocross track in stock trim, such is the level of poise under load and control.

One potential downside, especially for riders more in the novice to intermediate end of the scale, is that all that extra feeling and feedback – especially via the fork and 'bars – is likely to make the entire experience feel more alive and visceral than what it might have been in the past. Cue the dreaded arm pump. With that said, after 400km aboard Yami's full-size enduro machine, we really came to appreciate the latest swag of changes and felt really comfortable – without so much as altering its static sag or clickers.

Another motocross attribute comes in the form of the Yami's engine. It produces accessible power almost everywhere, but there's no doubting the lower to middle reaches are its sweet spot, with the urge slowly petering out as you arrive at the upper echelons.

The engine's so-called mass centralisation seems to contribute to the Yamaha WR450's ease of use. On slower sections, tight corners and over tricky obstacles, the 119kg (wet weight) WR feels neutral and balanced, while on faster sections of trail it boasts an uncanny ability to avoid big tail wagging moments, regaining its composure itself almost telepathically.

A legacy of the engine's layout and high-set airbox is a more prominent induction noise than most traditional off-roaders. At low speeds, there is a distinct crack upon opening the throttle; at one point we considered wearing ear plugs, but soon became accustomed to this Yami character trait. It's a clever move – a higher induction point for water crossings and potentially less dust.

Elsewhere, the WR has no trouble lofting its wheels for fast and slow obstacles, and will happily stand on the back wheel for days – a virtue of its outright balance and crisp throttle response.

That said, there are occasions where the Yamaha WR450F feels its size and displacement, ditto the engine inertia that tends to afflict bigger machines. On a couple of sections of really tight, rocky terrain, we found the blue mapping software (engaged by pressing the handlebar button) was a sure-fire way to dulling the WR's progress, making it feel more manageable until the terrain opened back up.

The carryover fitment of a cable clutch is a tad controversial given the 2021 Yamaha WR450F's outlay, but we couldn't really fault its weighting, sticking point or action against more modern hydraulic units. There's also something to admire in its simplicity and long-term prospects.

The gearbox too, though mechanical in its feel, works well and offers an ample spread of ratios suitable for Aussie enduro conditions. For some reason, though, our test bike required vault-like precision to find neutral with the engine running. More often than not, we'd need to shut it down first.

We had our doubts about whether the latest changes to the Yamaha WR450F risked making it too hardcore. The truth is the changes conspire to deliver a sharper, more engaging machine that really does elicit confidence. Furthermore, on face value the changes have been done without diluting the WR's user-friendly appeal.

Equally, the 2021 Yamaha WR450F looks great, feels extremely well put together and adopts a simple, no-fuss approach to regular maintenance – the tool-less air filter removal being an example. No more oily, greasy subframe rails!

For the do-it-all rider, the 2021 Yamaha WR450F makes a lot of sense. This is a motocross bike with a headlight – so much so you could feasibly tack on some electrical tape numbers and go racing out of the box – but it is also an inherently capable and adaptable enduro machine.

A bike for every off-road occasion, if ever there was one.

ENGINE
Engine type: Liquid-cooled four-stroke, DOHC, four-valve
Capacity: 449cc
Bore x stroke: 97.0 × 60.8mm
Compression ratio: 13.0:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

TRANSMISSION
Type: Constant mesh 5-speed
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame Aluminium bilateral beam
Front suspension: Telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Adjustable link-type
Front brake: Hydraulic single disc, 270mm
Rear brake: Hydraulic single disc, 245 mm
Front tyre: 90/90-21 Metzeler Six Days Extreme
Rear tyre: 130/90-18 Metzeler Six Days Extreme

DIMENSIONS
Claimed wet weight (including oil & fuel): 119kg
Overall length: 2175mm
Overall width: 825mm
Overall height: 1270mm
Seat height: 955mm
Wheelbase: 1480mm
Ground Clearance: 320mm
Fuel tank capacity: 7.9lt

OTHER STUFF
Price: $15,949 ride away
Colours: Team Yamaha Blue
Warranty: Three months, parts only
Bike supplied by: Yamaha Motor Australia