Yamaha has refreshed its 2026 off-road competition lineup, honouring its 70-year racing heritage.
🔹 YZ450F – The Apex Flagship
- New Engine & Intake: Features a redesigned intake port for smoother and stronger low–mid torque, while maintaining high-rpm power.
- Quieter, Rider-Friendly Design: Central resonator in the exhaust and air cleaner reduce noise. Updates to the muffler, seat (anti-slide surface), and styling improve usability.
- Refined Chassis & Suspension: Tweaked frame tubing and asymmetric engine mounts lower rigidity for improved stability. KYB front and rear suspension are retuned with bigger pistons, added oil circuits, and new compression adjusters.
- Hydraulic Clutch & Smart Tech: Introduces a self-adjusting hydraulic clutch and password-secured ECU lock via the Power Tuner app, which also offers map, traction, and launch control, settable mid-ride.
- Race-Inspired Styling: Slimmer plastics, race-number plate, and new blue/white graphics—plus a special 70th Anniversary edition in nod to the iconic YZM400F.
🔹 YZ125 – Better Control, Smoother Power
- Optimized Intake & Carburation: Redesigned air intake, enlarged filter housing, updated jetting, and revised ignition timing deliver more consistent throttle response and stronger corner exits.
- User-Friendly Tweaks: Improved fueling map and air/fuel connections make carburetor adjustments easier.
- 70th Anniversary Touch: Available with celebratory white-and-red livery to mark Yamaha’s storied past.
🔹 Range-Wide Enhancements
- Fresh Styling: New graphics and colours across the YZ125, YZ250, YZ250F, YZ65, YZ85, and PW50 models.
- Commemorative Editions: Four additional 70th Anniversary models to celebrate Yamaha’s competitive legacy.
For 2026, Yamaha have further boosted the race-winning performance and handling of the flagship YZ450F, redesigned the intake system and enhanced carburation of the YZ125 and made the wholerange more appealing for a wider range of riders with updated colours and graphics.
Yamaha is also adding to the Off Road Competition range four special 70th anniversary models. These bikes with their stunning special livery weave together the rich fabric of Yamaha’s past and present off road race success with the promise of maintaining the fighting spirit that keeps the victories coming in the future.
LEADING THE CHARGE: THE 2026 YZ450F
The new YZ450F features a new engine, with the intake system redesigned for greater ease of use with more linear throttle response and improved control in the low- to mid-speed range. To achieve this, the shape of the intake port and wall have been changed to produce a stronger tumble in the combustion chamber for higher combustion efficiency in the low- to mid-rpm range while maintaining the power in higher rpm. Torque characteristics have also been improved for better feel. These changes improve the engine’s reliability while reducing the stress put on the rider. The new machine
maintains key features that made the current engine such an impressive power house, such as the unique reverse-head layout, 39mm titanium intake valves, forged luminium piston, plain bearing at large end and dry sump.
The exhaust has been made quieter with a centrally positioned resonator and tuning changes, and the air cleaner now features an added resonator and duct to reduce ntake noise. The muffler’s attachment angle was lowered slightly to create more space to allow easier pick up at the rear fender.
Among the new features that make a real difference to the riding experience is the new hydraulic clutch, which keeps the meshing point constant during continued riding; this means no adjustments are needed during racing. It also makes the meshing point easier to feel. The lever feel is natural and light with a smoother feathering action. Further changes to the clutch and clutch lever have secured a more stable performance.
The YZ450F’s frame has received high praise, and the 2026 model further improves it to achieve even greater usability, comfort and feel. In the new frame the inner structure and thickness of the downtubes have been redesigned, and bilateral asymmetric engine mounts adopted to adjust the frame’s torsional behaviour. This reduces rigidity in response to upward thrusts, while maintaining the same levels of longitudinal, lateral and tortional rigidity, and resulting in a front-end feeling that is calmer and highly stable, as well as improved chassis balance and contact feeling, better stability in
ruts and braking pumps, and less weight transfer.
To match the characteristics of the redesigned frame, the front suspension setting has been modified, further improving the feel and stability, and reducing fatigue. For the rear, a new rear suspension has been jointly developed with KYB, providing smoother transition of the damping force from the low to high-speed range. The base and main valve structures have been revised with the base valve piston growing in size from 24 to 28mm and introducing separate oil passages for compression and rebound
strokes, improving damping in low speeds. The main valve piston that provides compression in the mid- to high-speed range now has six ports for each stroke as opposed to the previous model’s four, improving damping in harder riding. There is also a new hand-operated compression damping adjuster.
In addition to the frame and suspension, better control is achieved with the new anti-slide seat surface. It features a honeycomb pattern with a depth and grain designed to reduce the potential of the rider sliding back on the seat during acceleration. The new pattern also makes it easier to move forward in the seat.
When the 2026 YZ450F is parked between the races, an ECU lock function enables the rider to lock the bike via a smartphone. The engine can’t be started again until the password is correctly entered on the Power Tuner App, making this a great anti-theft system for a bike with no physical key.
In addition to the ECU lock, using the unique Power Tuner app, the engine character can be adjusted to match rider preferences and track conditions, with control over traction control and launch control as well as lap timer function. For quick changes on the go, the multifunction handlebar switch allows the rider to select engine mapping while riding. Powering the YZ450F’s electronic arsenal is the lightweight lithium battery.
The YZ450F also delivers when it comes to looks. The new bodywork has been styled to accentuate its light and compact stance, with a slim and low race number plate, two-piece side covers with a two tone colour emphasising the YZ series’ trademark horizontal lines, and a new rear mudguard. The YZ logos and the “speed block” graphics mark the bike as part of the race winning family.
Tying the model even firmer to Yamaha’s past, present and future racing success is the YZ450F 70th Anniversary Edition, featuring a stunning white and red livery inspired by the iconic YZM400F, the first ever 4-stroke machine to claim victories in the Motocross World Championship and AMA Supercross – and by doing that, revolutionising the sport.
REFINED PERFORMANCE: THE 2026 YZ125
The YZ125 has been widely praised for its segment-leading suspension package, superb handling and bringing incredible fun to every ride, as well as serious racing pedigree as proven by the YZ125’s success in racing across the globe. On top of this, the YZ125 is a proven platform for launching the careers of budding motocross stars, as evidenced by the award-winning Yamaha YZ BLU CRU programme. For 2026, thanks to Yamaha engineers’ continuous drive to increase this performance, the YZ125 has been further refined to increase its position in the two-stroke category.
The latest iteration of the YZ125 features a redesign of its intake system and optimised carburation and ignition timing to deliver more consistent and more linear power delivery, excellent throttle response and smoother corner exit.
For optimised fuelling through the rpm range, the carburation has been updated: The jet needle is new for a balanced fuel supply at all throttle openings to provide more consistent power delivery; the main, pilot and power jets have all been updated to achieve ideal fuel flow and therefore better throttle response from idle to high revs; and the air screw and oil level have been adapted for smoother ride on corner exit.
Next to that, the ignition timing has been updated for optimal combustion at all degrees of throttle opening. This has made the engine respond in a more linear fashion to rider inputs throughout the rev range.
The air filter’s intake has been enlarged and reshaped, and the joints have been updated for a smoother connection to the carburettor. These changes allow air to move through smoothly and the carburettor to perform consistently.
Yamaha is also announcing the YZ125 70th Anniversary Edition, which adds the special white and red livery to the long list of the iconic machine’s attributes.
RACE WINNING PERFORMANCE
The YZ250 and the YZ250F have been favourites among racing riders looking for the ultimate combination of controllable power, agile handling and Yamaha durability. For 2026 they are available in updated Icon Blue colours with new graphics. There are also 70th Anniversary Editions of both bikes in special white and red livery.
Yamaha’s youth racing machines, the YZ65 and YZ85, are built using the same race-bred technology utilised in their larger siblings. Manufactured to Yamaha’s high standards, these smaller capacity models feature the updated Icon Blue colour and new graphics for 2026.
Last, but by no means least, is the legendary PW50. One of the most recognisable motorcycles in the world, it has been the first two-wheel experience for many champions to be. Featuring a zippy, fully automatic 50cc engine, easy-to-adjust throttle limiter, low seat and lightweight handling, the PW50 is the ultimate beginner’s bike. For 2026 the PW50 receives updated Icon Blue colour with new graphics.