In terms of dirt bike models, Yamaha’s focus this year was on its flagship motocrosser and pair of premix-burning cross-country racers. For the YZ450F, this meant a top to bottom overhaul including a completely redesigned engine, all-new chassis, narrower bodywork, revised suspension components, and 5-pound weight reduction (as verified on the Dirt Rider automotive scales). The only powerplant-related components that aren’t different on the 2023 model are the throttle body and muffler, which brought a lot of anticipation about how the Tuning Fork brand’s new-generation fuel-injected liquid-cooled DOHC four-stroke 450cc engine would perform.
After testing the YZ450F at Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s facility in Cairo, Georgia, we returned to SoCal and ran it on our in-house Dynojet 250i rear-wheel dynamometer. With a drum roller-friendly Dunlop D404 street tire on its rear wheel, the all-new bLU cRU spun 54.4 hp and 32.7 lb.-ft. of torque—an increase of 1.6 hp and 0.3 lb.-ft. over last year’s model. To find out how bLU cRU compared to the rest on the dyno and track, check out Dirt Rider’s 450 Motocross Shootout.
Related: 2023 450cc Motocross Bikes To Buy
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