Yamaha’s WR450F: A Sales History

You’ve probably heard Yamaha Motor Australia (YMA) refer to the WR450F as “Australia’s favourite dirt bike”. But just how well has this machine sold (in its combined 400, 426 and 450cc model designations) since the WR400F arrived in 1998? The following table gives you a snapshot of the phenomenally successful model’s sales and RRP history over the past 17 years. Yep, 26,684 units and counting. And YMA reckon their all-new, totally overhauled 2016 WR450F will sell in excess of 2000 units. Don’t doubt it.

YAMAHA’s 2016 YZ450FX?

YMA has confirmed that they intend to soon release a 2016 YZ450FX cross-country model. The easiest way to think of the YZ450FX is as a hybrid version of the YZ450F and WR450F. It’s a WR450F with firmer suspension, a YZ450F exhaust system (with mapping to suit) and no lights or hand guards. Or, if you’d prefer, it’s a YZ450F with an electric-start and 18-inch rear wheel. Whichever way you look at it, the FX sits somewhere between its enduro and motocross cousins.

According to YMA, the YZ450FX (which, confusingly, is called the WR450FX in the USA) will only come in the blue colour scheme with silver rims. The new model is expected to arrive in Australia in the first quarter of 2016 at an RRP that’s yet to be confirmed by YMA (though, if the pricing relativities of the WR250F and YZ250FX is any indication, the FX model is likely to be $500 cheaper than the WR450F – which puts it around $12,500).