First Look: 2018 Yamaha YZ65

Yamaha has revealed an all-new Junior MX bike to their line up, the YZ65. The new mini bike is designed to offer the perfect step up from the PW50, and fills the gap before jumping onto an 85, making it one of only two Japanese 65cc machines in the class. With a 14-inch front an 12-inch rear wheel, the YZ65 is aimed at riders aged between seven and 12 years old, and claimed to be easy-to-ride for entry-level racers to learn and develop their skills. The new YZ65 was unveiled to the the public at three MX tracks on the Australian East Coast on the weekend – to coincide with the global reveal at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross at San Diego. If you weren’t at one of the weekend launches, here are the standout features of the new machine from Yamaha Motor Australia…

Standout Features

Engine The 2018 YZ65 features a new 64.8cc liquid-cooled, two-stroke engine design with a case reed-valve intake and a mechanical Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS). Designed for performance and ease of use, the YZ65’s all-new engine also offers unparalleled durability and reliability. Veteran engineers with over 40 years of technical knowledge — built up since the introduction of the first YZ250 in 1973 — put their know-how to work using Yamaha’s trademark YPVS system. This is the biggest contributor to the bike’s easy-to-use torque. A slit-shaped valve on the side of the exhaust port operates in response to engine rpm, moving the valve upward or downward at the top part of the exhaust port to open or close. Transmission This super-competitive engine is matched to a six-speed transmission with ratios that optimise power output. Clutch plates and spring load have been designed for a super-light clutch pull enabling enhanced machine control. Frame A newly designed semi double-cradle steel frame, removable aluminium subframe and aluminum swingarm provide a nimble feel and confident handling. The ergonomics feature a flat, comfortable seat and four-position adjustable aluminium tapered handlebars to provide comfort and ease of movement for a wide range of rider builds and sizes. The chassis is designed to feel stable while riding over bumps, to have good feel and feedback from the ground, to bring consistent lap times and have stability while in the air. Suspension The YZ65 adopts a race proven USD front fork from KYB with 36mm inner tubes to ensure a planted feeling when entering corners and excellent shock absorption when going over bumps. The specially machined one-piece outer tubes are made of aluminium alloy for excellent rigidity and front-end feel. Out back, a new link-less shock design is light and compact to suit the needs of 65cc-class riders, and acts through a new swingarm with YZ125-style chain adjusters. Both front and rear suspension systems are tunable for both rebound and compression damping. Aesthetics Other cool features include YZ450F-inspired graphics that are integral with the body panels for a shared YZ family look. This is underlined by the same coloured blue rims front and rear and gold-coloured chain. Price and Availability The 2018 Yamaha YZ65 will be available in your local Yamaha dealer from May, 2018. Yamaha is yet to confirm the price on this machine.