Well, the boys in blue have done it again; gone and completely re-designed the way we look at the modern motocrosser. The 2010 Yamaha YZ450F is a complete departure from its previous generation. But "radically different" and "all-new" just don't seem to do this thing justice.

Lets jump into some of the main points of interest, shall we?

Engine

• The rearward-slanted engine allowed engineers to design straight intake and exhaust ports, creating the most direct path for air flow into the fuel-injected engine for incredible performance.
• The YZ450F uses a battery-less fuel injection system with a 12-hole injector for superb fuel atomization. The 44mm Keihin throttle body is designed for easy starting, with an integrated cold start and idle speed adjustment knob. Yamaha FI provides optimal air/fuel mixtures in all altitudes and wide range of temperatures for outstanding throttle response.
• 4-titanium valve cylinder head with a "pent-roof" design combustion chamber provides excellent combustion efficiency and unequalled power output.
• The air filter case is changed to accommodate the new engine layout. Putting it up front keeps dirt and dust kicked up from the rear tire away from the intake system.
• New "tornado-style" exhaust header with resonator efficiently scavenges exhaust gasses and helps the engine achieve its exceptional low-to-mid range torque characteristics, while the 150mm-longer muffler comfortably meets the latest noise stan- dards without a sacrifice of power.

Chassis/Suspension

• The aluminum Bilateral Beam frame is crafted from a carefully chosen combination of forged and extruded aluminum, 16 components in all, for the right rigidity balance and light weight. A very symmetrical chassis design promotes nimble handling, letting riders enter and exit corners as quickly as possible to put the competition behind them.
• The swingarm and rear shock are redesigned, with the shock mounted along the central axis of the frame, taking advantage of the space no longer needed for the front-mounted airbox. This optimized combination delivers exceptionally linear performance for excellent bump absorption and awesome cornering ability.
• The KYB Speed Sensitive front fork has 10mm longer stroke for excellent feel and shock absorption.
• KYB rear shock with large capacity piggy back reservoir and 50mm piston for more consistent damping control.
• New fuel tank is positioned underneath the seat, contributing to the centralized mass. The seat is long and flat for to allow free rider movement.
• The triple clamps are redesigned, with a change in offset from 25 to 22 mm for unequalled cornering performance. The ProTaper bars are four-way adjustable to accommodate a wide range of riders.