Yamaha has been
manufacturing this
model for as long as
I’ve been alive, with the
WR400 first released
in 1998, so I thought it
seemed right to see how
much it had improved in
my lifetime
‘ve got to admit, Yamaha’s WR450F is
a bike I knew very little about before
the call came through from Kiwi Rider
to attend the launch of the updated
2019 model. Needless to say, I jumped at
the chance... and started boning up on the
WR. Yamaha has been manufacturing this
model for as long as I’ve been alive with the
WR400 first released in 1998, so I thought
it seemed right to see how much it had
improved in my lifetime. So, since 1998 the
WR has evolved in many respects, and is
now, obviously, a 450. For 2019 the bike has
received a whole heap of updates, which I’ll
get to shortly.
The launch for the bike was a two day
affair, with the first day being held at
Josh Green’s (Yamaha enduro team rider)
property. The track there was half grass
track and the other part was tight single
track through the gum trees. The second
day was a trail ride led by Rick Braico
around the Bulladelah area.
KIWI RIDER 39