Rumor-mill – 2012 Yamaha WR450
Chilly | Jun 10, 2011 | Comments 15
Is this the 2012 Yamaha Wr450?
New 2012 Yamaha?
The Japanese makers have pretty much rolled over and played dead in the off road market. Between the worlds four largest motorcycle manufacturers, there has not been a serious new enduro release in how many years now? Let’s see, there was the ill-fated Suzuki RMX450, whatever happened to that anyway? There have been some interesting medium size dual sport bikes. Yet for a real off road bike you have to go back to the 2008 Kawasaki KLX450 to find something sort of new.
So the biggest news around the intertube right now is the possibility of an all new Yamaha WR450. All the Euros are talking about it. It will purportedly look something like the above picture. Of course it makes sense, an update for the WR line is way over due. Let’s see if Yamaha can get it right by keeping the weight down and getting the performance correct. If it is another case of a moto bike gaining 30lbs to add and electric starter, that just isn’t going to fly in this day and age.
The Yamaha WR line has always been one of my favorite bikes to ride. The quick revving motor and sharp handling always make it a hoot to ride. Excess weight and low ground clearance have been the biggest hindrance to making it a great race bike. Paul Whibley and the Am-pro team have been making the YZ450 look pretty good so far this season, so we hope some of that can transfer over to a production bike.
I have been staring at this pic of the “new” WR450 for a couple of days now wondering how real it might be. At first I just assumed it was the typical photoshop work of adding a headlight to the mx’er in the hope that it might be something Yamaha might actually build. But the more I look at it the more I tend to think it might be the real deal. There are plenty of details added to make it a true WR. It has the correct sidestand and tail light. Even more interesting is that it has a mechanical odometer drive. I mean would anyone in their right mind add that to a mock up photo? Come on Japan, lets get in to the 21st century here.
But then the real thing hit me. Where is the E start? Would Yamaha really have the audacity to market an enduro bike without a magic button. Now that would really be going against the grain. Where KTM has added the button to nearly everything it makes, could someone be successful by doing the opposite? There is some logic to it, it is the biggest culprit to weight gain over the YZ. If the bike can really start in one or two kicks easily, why not? This is not like the original Yamaha four strokes that needed a mystical routine and good luck chant to bring to life. Even KTM has backed off of their E start only bikes, by making sure that all the newest generation of XCW and XCF machines have the back up kicker. So bring it on Yamaha, step away from the crowd show some innovation of your own. You can certainly do it with motocrossers, bring us something new in the enduro world!
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I would suggest this is a genuine picture of the 2012 WR450F.
If you look at the seat it is a different shape to the YZ along with the fuel tank is larger, the rear wheel is 18” with the bigger tyre, even the speedo cable is shown with the larger R/H fork protector.
As you already mentioned the side stand is fitted and lights etc.
The starter motor is now in front of the cylinder and clearly seen when comparing to the YZ450F.
The exhaust pipe is longer than the YZ.
It looks good,
Regards
Stephen
I really hope this is the real deal. The Yamaha WR line up is way overdue for a face lift and this bike could really be the key to future success. I think we will know about mid September, but I cannot wait to get a test ride on one of these blue babies. It is so hard to find much to write about with the Japanese brands in respect to enduro bikes. Give us something new!
That would be great, especially if they would also make a WR450X with this new design.
Is there any trueth to the rumor that Yamaha will bring out a 250cc 2 stroke trail bike based on the successful YZ 250 with Elec. start? Kinda like the very successful DT-1 that we rode in the 60′s.
I don’t know what I’m missing about this. they have been making WR450′s. Unless it’s a two stroke, but the pipe sure don’t look like it
I’m guessing the Euros will get a bike like that, but I’m not sure we’ll see one.
I think we might see something similar in 2013, but it will have E start and more junk.
ugh hurry up and release the new WR4 already. Just add the WR factor to the YZ, include the off road essentials, and let the e-start and weight get piled on another year.
Ummmm, it is on their website http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelgallerylib/210/1/0/gallery.aspx
Hi Jeff, that is the 2011 WR450. This model has been unchanged for a number of years now. What we are hoping for is an all new model for 2012 that will be based upon the current fuel injected YZ450 platform.
Have you seen it yet? Basically a 2011 with a 2009 YZF frame and fuel injection. Nothing like that one.
No I am on the road headed to the KTM ADV rally, but I was just thinking about it this am, should have been introduced yesterday or today
Here’s the 2012 WR450f on the Yamaha Canada site..
http://www.yamaha-motor.ca/products/products.php?model=3869&class=80&group=M|&LANG=en
Darn, well maybe next year the WR450f will shed some pounds, or be more revamped, but I’m starting to think not, seriously though whats next?.. passenger pegs and mirrors. I wonder what the minor tweaks have done when compared to the handling of a 2011 WR. I wish they’d just come out with a new 300f model, like the Husq.310. I bet the 2012 WR is still a rock solid, beast of a bike though, and some will gladly remove the battery and shave some weight somehow and enjoy one of the best engines in the motorbike world, instead of complaining like me.haha
Well at least we know they aren’t trying to chase down KTM in the enduro market just yet, or maybe they are catering to older riders like myself. Anyway, that’s my 2 cents.
Pardon my rant about the 2012 WR450f, just some of those dang KTM’s seem so flashy. The Yamaha USA website has a better layout than the Canadian site, go figure, so after another read up, I must say that the minor tweaks are thankfully Yamaha’s precision still at work.
I think that we can now officially say that the Japanese have rolled over and given up on the competition enduro market. I guess you have to give them some credit for just selling the same old product year after year and making a go of it.
it has a 19 in rear wheel so its crap.. i heard the 2012 model will have injection but on the 2011 engine..