Yamaha Intros 2016 MX and Off-Road Bikes
Yamaha announced today its 2016 motorcycle lineup, including the motocross and off-road bikes that matter to folks like us. On the motocross end, both the YZ250F and YZ450F sport a number of refinements, like a new piston and revised counterbalance and crankshaft designs on the 250. The 450 features retuned cams to smooth power deliver, and now adds launch control, a special ECU setting that helps the bike hookup better on slippery starts. Both bikes feature suspension and chassis revisions, and also transmission and clutch changes.
Yamaha continues to reach deeper into the off-road market. Last year Yamaha’s WR250R and YZ250FX created a new level of Japanese off-road four-stroke bikes—designed to go right after KTM’s traditional dominance—and this year the blue folks introduce the new YZ250X, which is an off-road focused 250 two-stoke. Based on the YZ250, it sports a wide-ratio transmission, revised suspension, and all the traditional off-road updates like an eighteen-inch rear wheel, O-ring chain and a side stand. Hey, anything new on the two-stroke side is good news! Yamaha’s official info on the bikes is below, and you can go to www.yamahamotorsports.com for more info on all of them.
YZ250F and YZ450F
A new lightweight, forged, two-ring piston headlines the improvements to the 2016 YZ250F. The piston features a flat crown surface with additional strengthening ribs and a shorter, more durable piston pin with diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating. Revised piston oil jets direct oil underneath the new piston, which helps promote cooling and contributes to more stable engine performance. Optimized crankshaft and counterbalancer designs provide a revised balance ratio, predictive power delivery, and reduced vibration.
In addition, revisions to the YZ250F clutch boss and shift-stopper arm provide smoother clutch engagement feel and more precise shifting action. New ECU settings result in a smoother transition as the rider reaches the rev limiter, while new brake pad material and a larger 270mm front brake rotor deliver improved stopping power and control for aggressive corner entries. Finally, new front and rear suspension settings help smooth sudden jolts and reduce front-end dive for a smoother, more balanced damping feel when cornering.
The YZ450F features an all-new Launch Control System (LCS) that utilizes high-precision ECU calculations to optimize power output and provide ideal acceleration out of the gate, especially on hard track surfaces. New intake- and exhaust-cam profiles and timing help boost combustion efficiency and improve the engine’s ease of use in the low- to mid-rpm ranges. And, like the 2016 YZ250F, the YZ450F has an improved clutch boss and shift-stopper arm for smoother clutch engagement feel and more precise shifting action.
Other improvements to the YZ450F for 2016 include revised engine mounts and a reshaped swingarm pivot section on the aluminum frame to improve lateral rigidity. Footpegs are now mounted 5mm lower to help lower the rider’s center of gravity for improved machine balance and control. New triple clamps with a 25mm fork offset help improve front-end feel, and a new shock spring provides an ideal balance between bump absorption and handling performance. The same as on the 2016 YZ250F, new brake pad material and a larger 270mm front brake rotor deliver improved stopping power and control for aggressive corner entries.
The 2016 YZ250F and YZ450F will each be available in two color options: Team Yamaha Blue/White and Limited-Edition 60th Anniversary Yellow. The YZ250F will retail for $7,590 in Team Yamaha Blue/White and $7,690 in Limited-Edition 60th Anniversary Yellow. The YZ450F is priced at $8,590 in Team Yamaha Blue/White and $8,690 in Limited-Edition 60th Anniversary Yellow. The YZ450F will be available in dealerships beginning in late June, and the YZ250F will arrive at dealerships in late July.
YZ250X
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., today debuted the all-new 2016 YZ250X, an off-road racer conceived, engineered, and built specifically for Cross Country and Hare Scrambles competition.
The YZ250X has been optimized for the unique demands of GNCC® and Hare Scrambles racing, and is equipped with a 249cc two-stroke engine, Yamaha’s proprietary YPVS™ power-valve system, and a new wide-ratio, five-speed transmission.
The ultra-lightweight YZ250-spec frame is a carefully engineered combination of aluminum castings, forgings, and extrusions that provide the perfect balance of rigidity and flex, and a fully adjustable, speed-sensitive, KYB® suspension has been tuned specifically for the needs of cross-country racers.
The YZ250X’s aggressive bodywork is based on the YZ250 motocrosser, but features updated styling from the front fender to the rear brake protector. The bike also comes standard with an aluminum, tapered handlebar; YZ-F-style foot pegs, a gripper seat; Excel® rims with Dunlop® tires; and a whole host of GNCC-specific features, including an eighteen-inch rear wheel, sealed O-ring chain, narrow expansion chamber, a convenient side stand, and a fuel tank petcock with reserve position.
The 2016 YZ250X will be available in Team Yamaha Blue/White and will retail for $7,390. It will arrive at Yamaha dealerships nationwide beginning in late August.
YZ Two-Strokes
The YZ85 is ready to race and offers instant power and Yamaha durability for budding motocross racers. The YZ125, with its agility and power, is the perfect transition from the YZ85 to Yamaha’s YZ250F. And, the YZ250 is the ultimate two-stroke motocrosser, a bike that sets the standard by which 250cc two-stroke motocross bikes are judged. For 2016, the YZ85, YZ125 and YZ250 are all equipped with gold-colored chains and black wheels to give the bikes true factory-racing style.
The 2016 YZ85, YZ125, and YZ250 will each be available in Team Yamaha Blue/White. TheYZ85 will retail for $4,090, the YZ125 for $6,390, and the YZ250 for $7,290. All three bikes will be available in dealerships beginning in late August.