Exclusive: 2015 Yamaha YZ Launch

Transmoto’s Ben Foster rides and reviews Yamaha’s entire range of 2015 two- and four-stroke motocross models at the Australian launch, staged at Queensland Moto Park, September 10…

It’s that time of the year when new bikes are not only breaking cover, but hitting dealer floors, which means a lengthy period of testing for us journo types. We know, it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it, right?

Anyway, this time round it was Yamaha’s full range of 2015 motocross weapons. With significant model changes to the 250F and 450F last year, we weren’t really expecting big changes on that front, and our expectations were right. It was more of a refinement year than a serious development year. Both bikes received minor updates with things like steel engine mounts (opposed to aluminium) which are claimed to make for a better rider feel, there’s new computer settings on both models, new fork settings on the 250F and new springs in the 450 fork with a move to a 5.0 spring from the 4.9 last year. Outside of that, it’s mostly cosmetic – black rims (which were reserved for the “Special Edition” $1000-extra models last year), gold chain and Dunlop MX52 tyres.

Interestingly, the two-stroke range finally got an update for 2015, and while it’s still basically cosmetic, there were some rumblings from the boys in blue that this could be the start of some more significant development for the two-stroke bikes in years to come. While the YZs currently outsell KTM on the two-stroke MX front, Yamaha know they need to make a move if it’s going to stay that way.

Underneath the completely new bodywork – rear guard, sideplates, airbox, radiator shrouds and seat, none of which is interchangeable with last year’s model – they are still basically the same two-stroke YZs that have been around since 2005. The 250 gets an updated 48mm KYB fork, which is similar to the 250F, but not the same spec, while both the 250 and 125 get wider pegs. The plus side with all of the two-stroke range is that they all come with a Yamaha “race” pack, which varies for each model (you can see what’s included for each bike below).

That’s what is new. Let’s take a quick look at what each one was like to ride.

2015 Yamaha YZ450F: $11,999

Simply put, the 450 is a beast. There’s so much power being pumped out of this thing, it’s on the verge of being scary. There’s a new lighter-pull throttle, which at first feels unreal, but as I reeled off the laps and the arms started to pump, I got a little whiskey throttle as I leant on it when I didn’t really mean to.

While the engine is strong, you can use it to your advantage and you really just need to reset and reprogram your mind to ride as smooth as possible. Shift into third or fourth gear and basically leave it there for the entire lap. I was pretty surprised how well it’d pull the tall gears (even with the move from a 50-tooth to 49-tooth sprocket this year) and if you could keep your lines smooth and flowing, it just worked so well like that. It was interesting to watch Josh Coppins (who was on hand for the launch, who also played a huge part in the development of the bike) ride the 450 and watch just how silky smooth he was. He was blisteringly fast, but was never really aggressive with the throttle. It was smooth, calculated and measured. By ear, it didn’t sound fast, but standing next to the track and seeing his cornerspeed, momentum and the way he just rolled the throttle on, you get an idea of how good the bike can be in the right hands.

2015 Yamaha YZ250F: $10,999

This was an interesting one for me. Having spent the last six months on the Transmoto 2014-model YZ250F T-Build, I was interested to see if the minor changes would make a difference. Well, they certainly did. The new EFI settings make for noticeably more mid-range. It feels somewhat similar to my ’14 after the airbox mods we made. There’s just more meat through the middle, and for a 250F it pulls really hard right from the bottom through to the top-end, even in the soft, tilled and loamy dirt we had at Queensland Moto Park.

Both the front- and rear-end feel more stable than last year’s stocker. The front feels like it sits a little higher in the stroke, which gives it a bit more of a settled feel under the hard and fast braking. The rear-end was an area a lot of people struggled with last year too, claiming that it felt too high. Many opted for a lower subframe and while there was nothing official in the specs given to us from Yamaha Oz, it did feel more stable. I’d say that’s a combination of the front-end being a little higher and no doubt, a small tweak to the shock, but we’ll get the full scoop on that for you in our upcoming magazine article.

Overall though, the small refinements have made for a better, more rounded bike, which is nothing but a pleasure to ride. The 250Fs are becoming so good these days that they are definitely more suited to a wider range of riders, rather than just the young-pup Pro Lites hopefuls.

2015 Yamaha YZ250: $9,999

I shouldn’t have been surprised, but man, did I enjoy this bike. It was a clear favourite for me out of the whole range. The sound, the power, the agility, the pure berm-smashing good time it provided. It’s old as far as technology goes, but it’s still just as good fun as the current model four-strokes. The new fork is great and while it’s on the firm side, it worked pretty well for my 85kg frame. There’s not as much confidence in the steering as the 250F, but it’ll get around a corner without much fuss. You’ve gotta ride it differently and as much as the mind and ears want to hear that snapping two-stroke hit, this thing really works best if you keep it smooth and controlled. There’s plenty of power there and coupled with the Race Kit FMF expansion chamber and stock muffler, it’s a lively, yet controllable delivery of pure fun.

As I mentioned earlier, there’s a race kit with all the two-stroke models and the 250 cops a GYTR gold sprocket, FMF expansion chamber, oversized wave front rotor and calliper kit, Yamalube oil package and holeshot button.

2015 Yamaha YZ125: $8,699:

People often forget how fun a 125cc two-stroke is. The modern 250Fs have almost killed this evolutionary step for young riders and it’s a real shame, because these things are nothing but fun. They might not be super fast, they might not have all the modern bells and whistles, but they’ll teach you clutch and throttle technique, introduce you to corner speed like you’ve never felt before and the sound is something that should be captured and played at your wedding. Like its bigger brother, there’s not much in the way of changes outside of the bodywork, but this is a package that’s been proven for years and is still just as good today. The FMF Shorty muffler that’s included in the race kit looks about 5cm long and makes the most magnificent note, along with a nice sharp, crisp power hit. It’s all about keeping things on the boil with a 125 and once you forget about engine braking and remember how to manipulate the clutch, you’ll really enjoy this thing. I didn’t see one person hop off it at the launch without a grin from ear to ear. It’s light, nimble, relatively speedy for a bike so small and a hell of a lot of fun.

The race kit on the 125 includes: FMF Shorty muffler, Oversized front rotor and calliper kit, V Force reed block, holeshot button and Yamalube oil kit.

2015 Yamaha YZ85: $5,899 – Small Wheel, $6.399 – Large Wheel 

While I didn’t ride the YZ85 (come on, I’m 6ft and 85kg!) it was certainly entertaining to watch Serco Yamaha’s Jay Wilson turn the thing inside out, lap after lap. Like its big bros, the 85 gets the similar bodywork mods, but also gets some engine mods with intake and exhaust port upgrades and modified cylinder. It also scores a really cool Race Kit with loads of goodies: GYTR (FMF) Shorty muffler, V Force reed block, GYTR sprocket, GYTR aluminium top triple clamp and GYTR (Pro Taper) bars.