The 2016 Yamaha off-road range has been revealed with major improvements for the YZ250F and YZ450F. And both models are available in a Limited Edition to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the first 125cc two-stroke YA-1, which was the first Yamaha to be produced back in 1955.
2016 Yamaha YZ250F
The 2016 Yamaha YZ250F builds on the complete redesign from 2014 with a lighter piston and con rod to reduce reciprocating weight and improve the acceleration. The new flat top piston, with a thinner crown and shorter pin reduces weight by 18 grams, improves combustion efficiency. It’s also got a ribbed underside and a new piston cooler sprayer for lower temperatures (around 10°C), and a higher-spec, heat-treated con rod.
Additional crankshaft counterweights and a new balancer should give more linear torque with less vibrations, plus the new ECU is smoother when you’re hitting the rev limiter. A smoother clutch boss and stronger spring for the shift stopper lever refine the clutch and transmission, plus the suspension settings have been changed with input from the Yamaha factory test riders. You also get a bigger 270mm front disc and new brake pads.
2016 Yamaha YZ250F Limited Edition
The Limited Edition 2016 Yamaha YZ250F features a 60th Anniversary Yellow/Black paintjob with the familiar racing speedblocks. Plus an Akrapovic slip-on exhaust, GYTR lever guards and engine cases, and the Yamaha Power Tuner upgrade, which means you can change ECU settings without the need for a laptop.
2016 Yamaha YZ450F
The bigger brother bike was also redesigned in 2014, and the 2016 YZ450F gets a similar list of refinements for the new season. The biggest news is the addition of an electronic Launch Control System which will monitor the ECU and modify the power delivery to reduce wheel spin and wheelies in the first two gears, rather than retarding the ignition and reducing the ignition spark rate. And it’s a simple case of pressing the button on the left handlebar while you’re idling.
There’s a new camshaft, optimised valve timing, and a higher lift exhaust cam and valve spring to reduce resistance when you’re at lower speeds. You get a smoother clutch boss and stronger spring just like the YZ250F, and the same 270mm front brake and disc pad upgrades.
There are bigger suspension changes though, with the Air-Oil-Separate front forks getting improved compression and rebound settings, and also new triple clamps for a 25mm fork offset. The new 56 Nm rear spring helps the rear suspension, along with revised compression damping settings. Meanwhile the swingarm pivot assembly is 12mm wider, the engine mounts increase rigidity and lower the centre of gravity, and the footrests are 5mm lower. A lighter exhaust bracket and modified coolant impeller pump finish off the list of changes. Plus the Yamaha Power Tuner is an optional upgrade.
2016 Yamaha YZ450F Limited Edition
As with the Yamaha YZ250F above, the YZ450F Limited Edition gets the 60th Anniversary paint, the Yamaha Power Tuner, and the GYTR clutch cover and hand protectors.
2016 Yamaha WR250F, YZ250, YZ125 and YZ85/LW:
The WR250F and the various YZ models are all getting a simple Racing Blue colour scheme upgrade with nice new black wheels rims and graphics changes.
2016 Yamaha TTR-125/LW/E, TTR-110E, TTR-50E and PW50
Finally the 2016 Yamaha TTR range, and the PW50 have to make do with just the Racing Blue graphics changes for this year.
Aside from the Limited Edition YZ250F and YZ450F, all the Yamaha off-road bikes come in any colour you like, as long as it’s Racing Blue. And they’re all generally available from July/August onwards.
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