The all-new 2027 Yamaha YZ450FX appropriates the latest YZ450F’s engine, frame, and suspension hardware, and then retunes nearly all of it for slower speeds, longer days in the saddle, and rougher ground. It arrives at dealers in September with a $10,499 MSRP in Team Yamaha Blue.
The engine is tuned for control, not peak output. Yamaha revised the intake and exhaust cam timing angles to smooth power delivery and cut stalling at low rpm. A new AC magneto rotor adds inertial mass, which reduces torque fluctuation. This gives the 450 more usable grunt off the bottom. The result is a motor designed to pull through rocks and roots without demanding constant throttle correction.
Gearing is shorter for 2027. Yamaha went from a 50-tooth rear sprocket to a 51-tooth, a small change with an outsized effect in first and second gears. The shorter final drive gives the rider more room for error on low-speed throttle inputs and makes the bike less likely to stall in technical sections.
The clutch is now hydraulic, and the pull is 15 percent lighter at the lever than last year’s YZ450F. The YZ450FX adopts the YZ450F’s hydraulic clutch and adds modified clutch springs to keep the lever pressure consistent for the rider. The lighter, constant clutch lever feel is critical to a woods rider who uses the clutch constantly for log crossings, off-camber turns, and first-gear switchbacks.
The frame comes from the YZ450F, with FX-specific engine brackets. The twin-spar aluminum frame is new to the FX for 2027, and Yamaha paired it to engine brackets with revised shape and thickness. Those brackets tune rigidity for the low- to mid-speed range for cross-country effectiveness, giving the bike a lighter, more agile feel through corners without giving up straight-line stability at speed.
The KYB suspension is the YZ450F’s hardware with cross-country valving. The fully adjustable Speed Sensitive System coil-spring fork has 11.8 inches of travel, while the shock moderates 12.0 inches of rear wheel travel. Yamaha retuned both ends to respond more freely from initial damping through mid-stroke, which is prime woods bike territory.
Dunlop Geomax AT82 tires are standard, with a bi-directional rear. The AT82 is a dedicated cross-country tire, and the bi-directional rear tread pattern is designed to hook up under acceleration and braking across dirt, rock, and roots. The 18-inch rear wheel gets a three-cross-spoke lacing pattern, plus a revised rear brake with a new caliper, piston, disc, and brake line that cuts weight and sharpens feel. Excel rims are employed for both wheels.
The new YZ450FX is quieter. Yamaha revised the tailpipe cap and pipe perforations and fitted a new air filter assembly with the YZ450F’s outer resonator to meet noise rules.
The 2027 Yamaha YZ450FX is built around long days on the trails. The woods flagship keeps the compact electric starter, handlebar-mounted map switch, free Power Tuner app with four-level traction control and a lap timer, folding aluminum kickstand, and tool-free air filter access. The new YZ450FX is designed to be quieter and easier to ride slowly, and to help you stay fast well past the first hour of your GNCC race.
2027 Yamaha YZ450FX Specifications
ENGINE
Type: 4-stroke single
Displacement: 450cc
Bore x stroke: 97.0 x 60.8mm
Compression ratio: 13.0:1
Valvetrain: DOHC; 4 titanium valves
Starting: Electric
Fueling: EFI w/ Mikuni 44mm throttle body
Transmission: 5-speed
Clutch: Hydraulically actuated wet multiplate
Final drive: Chain
CHASSIS
Frame: Twin-spar aluminum
Front suspension; travel: Fully adjustable KYB Speed Sensitive System coil-spring fork; 11.8 inches
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After a dozen years in limbo, the Super Glide is resurrected as a member of the Softail Cruiser family. The 2026 Harley-Davidson Super Glide arrives as a limited edition of 2500 units to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. The new Super Glide proudly wears the iconic red, white, and blue of the 1971 original, and Don Williams tells us how this latest Softail feels on the road.
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We’ve all heard the old saying, how you never see a motorcycle parked outside a psychiatrist’s office, right? Well, if you struggle with addiction and/or your mental health, then yes, you’ve probably figured out that motorcycles can be a big help. The Remix Racing Project is a California-based nonprofit and motorcycle racing team dedicated to raising awareness for mental health and addiction recovery. Founded by Jeremy Taubman and Shanea Makinson, Jeremy competes in the MotoAmerica Super Hooligan class and hosts fan-zone activities to provide resources and get conversations started. In this guest segment this episode Teejay and Jeremy chat candidly about going racing a little later in life, how it’s helping his own recovery, and what the Remix Recovery non-profit is achieving in helping others. Jeremy has published a book “Remix Recovery—Leading a Brave Space” and you can find it on Amazon. Needless to say, if you’re struggling with life’s challenges—and believe me—we understand, then visit The Remix Racing Project, click on the resources tab, and you’ll find help that’s just a phonecall or text away.
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Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
Don’t forget to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!
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