Yamaha progresses in a methodical manner. The Iwata manufacturer will often concentrate their efforts on modernizing a single model before spreading those modifications to any associated platforms. To give you an example, in 2021, Team Blue completely revised the MT-09, and then in 2022, they did the same thing with the XSR900 and the MT-10. This strategy is not restricted to just models that can be driven on roads.
The YZ450F has updated chassis and engine enhancements in the year 2020. The WR450F, Yamaha’s most advanced enduro model, received the same modifications a year later. The incremental technique was utilized for both the 2022 WR250F and the 2021 YZ250F, from which the 2022 WR250F inherited its components.
The 2023 models of the WR450F and WR250F are, for the most part, unaltered by the recent extensive redesigns. The radiator shrouds have been updated with new graphics, but the bikes’ performance on the trail has not changed.
The YZ450F and the WR450F both have a 450cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC thumper; however, the valves on the YZ450F are made of titanium, making it more suitable for racing. Dunlop Geomax MX33 tires are used for both the motocross and the enduro bike, and a KYB inverted fork and monoshock deliver 12.2 inches of travel in the front and 12.5 inches of stroke in the rear suspension respectively.
There is no difference between the two models in terms of the seat height (37.6 inches) or the wheelbase (58.3 inches), but the WR450F is heavier at 262 pounds while having a gasoline tank that is only 2.15 gallons in capacity.
The WR250F from Yamaha adheres to the exact same recipe as its predecessor. Although the four-stroke, 250cc single from the YZ250F makes the transition to the WR, it does so at the expense of its four titanium valves.
Dunlop Geomax MX33 tires offer ample traction, and the 12.2 inches of front and 12.5 inches of rear travel are supported by the same KYB Speed-Sensitive System front end and fully-adjustable rear shock. The quarter-liter enduro has lost a few pounds, coming in at 254 kg, but the seat height, fuel capacity, and wheelbase have not changed.
In spite of the fact that the WR450F will not be receiving any improvements in 2023, Yamaha is likely going to release a slew of new features for it in the following year.
The 2023 YZ450F had a makeover from Team Blue that included improvements to its engine, chassis, ergonomics, electronics, and aesthetics. Even if the WR family won’t have updated graphics until 2023, it appears that Yamaha’s enduros have a promising future.