the Explore mode; Yamaha calls it smooth, but it was just too smooth and too delayed for dirt riding where I prefer an immediate response. Then there’ s now TCS( traction control), and SCS( slide control) which have both street and offroad settings( one of each for each control type). Here again, Yamaha reported the customer feedback saying they’ d like these features, but they’ d like them simplified, not the hugely techy multilayered offerings some manufacturers spec. The fuel tanks are new, reshaped to be lower and made 1.5kg lighter( offsetting the weight of the new IMU etc) and there’ s a new threepart crash bumper underneath to hopefully save the tank from drop-damage. Refuelling is slightly awkward as you can only open one filler at a time( with the ignition key), so some faff, but at least the tanks are able to self level, so if you fill only one side then very quickly the levels will adjust to two half-filled tanks. There is now also cruise control, which can be activated from third gear upwards. It’ s a simple setup and easy to work. A quickshifter is an optional accessory. The two-piece seat on the 2022 model has been replaced by a rally-style seat, yet comfort was good – and seat height is unchanged at 890mm. Chassis-wise, there’ s the new Kayabas which, as said, do a very good job even without any tweaking of the adjusters. There’ s a new steering damper with a wider range of adjustment, although this doesn’ t extend to properly stiff as racers may like – probably to stop owners toppling over when attempting U-turns. The sump plate is a new design, probably on account of a change to the exhaust. Perhaps more significantly, the side stand switch has been raised by 15mm
KIWI RIDER 39