DIRT NEWS

in a seat height that is 10mm lower than the YZ450F . Yamaha says the changes made to the suspension package also increase the tight turning ability of the machine which increases confidence while riding singletrack . The WR ’ s diet continues into the rest of the bike , with Yamaha trimming the fat by 2kg compared to the outgoing model . This has partially been achieved by the switch to a lightweight Lithium-Ion battery , while a new aluminium footpeg bracket saves 100g and even the throttle wires are lighter , which contributes to the MY24 WR450F tipping the scales at 117kg full of fuel . Ergonomics have also been adapted moving into 2024 . The seat is now flatter , with its edges rounded for improved comfort , while the

shrouds are now 50mm narrower and the shape of the side surfaces is smoother . This allows riders to move their legs forward more easily , contributing to lighter and more agile handling . Yamaha has also tweaked things in the rear of the bike , with a new rear fender offering grab points designed for ease of lifting and ducts for silencer cooling . Dialling the bike in has also been improved for 2024 with Yamaha updating their Power Tuner app which sees a simple tuning slide bar function added . Riders can now also record and monitor suspension settings with preset themes . You can also dial in different amounts of traction control , plus there ’ s a lap timer function added . The 2024 Yamaha WR450F is expected to arrive in dealers during January 2024 with pricing set at $ 17,887 .

16 KIWI RIDER