2026 MX Bikes

AH387
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1625
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8/29/2019
Location
Bridgeville, PA US
4/10/2025 3:53pm
Saz wrote:
Makes me wonder if Yamaha will go the Honda route and just update everything across the board 250 and 450 if they managed to find a...

Makes me wonder if Yamaha will go the Honda route and just update everything across the board 250 and 450 if they managed to find a good in between the 2022 stability and the 2023-24 turning ability. 

The tiny front end twitch on the new gen on turn it really can snatch confidence at times. This gen Yamaha is fabulous but still could be better. I've heard a bunch of complaints about the 250s low end but haven't ridden one myself.

I know its wishful thinking but I'm hoping Suzuki will finally update the RMZ. They updated their DRZ which hasnt been changed since the times of Moses so I have hope.

I've been wondering that myself. As someone still clinging onto the prior frame, I'm just a tad hesitant to make the switch. 

Also, it appears that the new intake not pulling from the front, may have been some of the 250s issue. the latest Star bikes, along w GP bikes etc have a newly shaped airbox lid that has forward facing intake slots, without needing the channels through the shrouds like the old bike. So that may be something they could implement onto the new stock bikes to let them breathe more like the old bike, but stay slim like the current model. I have a feeling some slight tweaks will make the next bike perfect. 

I would imagine the 250F will get a new engine too, as it's essentially been the same since '21 minus the cam chain and ecu update.

2
4/11/2025 9:38am
MXer391 wrote:
Suzuki has an entry in the IA1 class in the All Japan National. Someone better fire that 2026 RMZ 450 thread back up…haha

I can't find it now, but a few days back I saw that.  It also said that they were riding the first couple rounds on the current 25 bike because the 26 race bike was would not be ready for the team for a couple more weeks and there were changes.  Hopefully something coming, I want to buy a new Suzuki so bad.

3
MXer391
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Altoona, PA US
4/11/2025 10:19am
MXer391 wrote:
Suzuki has an entry in the IA1 class in the All Japan National. Someone better fire that 2026 RMZ 450 thread back up…haha
I can't find it now, but a few days back I saw that.  It also said that they were riding the first couple rounds on the...

I can't find it now, but a few days back I saw that.  It also said that they were riding the first couple rounds on the current 25 bike because the 26 race bike was would not be ready for the team for a couple more weeks and there were changes.  Hopefully something coming, I want to buy a new Suzuki so bad.

Nao Akahori on Team 70 Suzuki RMZ-450. The other manufacturer's have a "Factory" team that usually raced the new models in the past but I doubt Suzuki has a team like that anymore. But if a new model is on the horizon, this would be the most likely place for it to show up. I always check into the live feed at the beginning of the race when they announce the riders to quickly analyze the bikes. It's tough bc you have to watch quickly. 

 

I would be first in line for a New RMZ 450 but I must admit I am really liking my '24 KX 450. 

2
4/11/2025 10:22am

I am in the exact same boat.  Got a 24 KX450 last year and I love the bike.  It does everything just right....I just bleed yellow, I finally gave up and got a Kawasaki, but hoping for a new Zuke.

1

The Shop

wwdiii
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2535
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Location
League City, TX US
4/11/2025 10:33am
I am in the exact same boat.  Got a 24 KX450 last year and I love the bike.  It does everything just right....I just bleed yellow...

I am in the exact same boat.  Got a 24 KX450 last year and I love the bike.  It does everything just right....I just bleed yellow, I finally gave up and got a Kawasaki, but hoping for a new Zuke.

A lot of us got 24 KX’s last year for a decent price.  These last few years green bikes are pretty dang good.  I’m not going to say they are the best at any one thing but they do everything good enough.  Going to be hard for some of us to justify replacing a green bike anytime soon unless lots of hour etc.  

4
5/3/2025 3:29pm
PRM31 wrote:

All Japan Motocross Championship starts in 2 weeks. Need some Vital representation with a camera for a Pit Bits.

Or get one of the Motocross action guys over there with their famous belt buckle cam

2
5/21/2025 5:12pm Edited Date/Time 5/21/2025 5:12pm

Honda did a press release and updated their website with the 2026 models.  No noticeable changes from the 2025 models.  250r and 250rwe increased $100. 450r and 450rwe msrp remained the same.

2
Tokyo_Tiddler
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Somewhere in, NJ US
5/22/2025 7:58pm
Money wrote:
Miss the days when the media would go over to Japan for round 1 of there series and would get the spy photos of the new...

Miss the days when the media would go over to Japan for round 1 of there series and would get the spy photos of the new bikes. Was always cool to see. 

Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking.  I always used to eagerly await the 1st Japanese national race so we could see what next year...

Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking.  I always used to eagerly await the 1st Japanese national race so we could see what next year had in store.  Seems like that is gone now.

mx317 wrote:

Wasn’t it Tokyo Tiddler that used to get some photos for us?

Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report back.  Japan used to do this up till about the early 2000's. Now the US gets the bikes almost the same time as Japan. I also used to take pics of the prototypes practicing at the local tracks or at the Japan nationals.  Those were exciting days when there were major changes from year to year, but those days are gone now.

5
Tokyo_Tiddler
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Somewhere in, NJ US
5/22/2025 8:00pm

I heard Beta is announcing a new 2 stroke model tomorrow.

3
5/22/2025 8:09pm
Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking.  I always used to eagerly await the 1st Japanese national race so we could see what next year...

Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking.  I always used to eagerly await the 1st Japanese national race so we could see what next year had in store.  Seems like that is gone now.

mx317 wrote:

Wasn’t it Tokyo Tiddler that used to get some photos for us?

Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report...

Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report back.  Japan used to do this up till about the early 2000's. Now the US gets the bikes almost the same time as Japan. I also used to take pics of the prototypes practicing at the local tracks or at the Japan nationals.  Those were exciting days when there were major changes from year to year, but those days are gone now.

I still remember the spy photos of the first CRF450. Man those were the days.

8
Tokyo_Tiddler
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Location
Somewhere in, NJ US
5/22/2025 8:19pm
mx317 wrote:

Wasn’t it Tokyo Tiddler that used to get some photos for us?

Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report...

Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report back.  Japan used to do this up till about the early 2000's. Now the US gets the bikes almost the same time as Japan. I also used to take pics of the prototypes practicing at the local tracks or at the Japan nationals.  Those were exciting days when there were major changes from year to year, but those days are gone now.

I still remember the spy photos of the first CRF450. Man those were the days.

You mean these pics of the first prototype?  I got into trouble for sticking the camera under the tent and posting the pics online the same evening as Honda was trying to prevent any close ups of the engine...

2RC450~12RC450~7.JPG?VersionId=53kvRC450~12RC450~16.JPG?VersionId=mXNxTD0YwCpealtHl.pBppUzHMB6j2XRC450FENGINE.jpg?VersionId=kVBj8meGEc7C847E65Fi.RugSmkXuJ.
24
5/22/2025 8:26pm
Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report...

Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report back.  Japan used to do this up till about the early 2000's. Now the US gets the bikes almost the same time as Japan. I also used to take pics of the prototypes practicing at the local tracks or at the Japan nationals.  Those were exciting days when there were major changes from year to year, but those days are gone now.

The 2019 KX450 hype was the last major one that I remember being a big deal on the internet. 

2
5/23/2025 4:28am
Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report...

Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report back.  Japan used to do this up till about the early 2000's. Now the US gets the bikes almost the same time as Japan. I also used to take pics of the prototypes practicing at the local tracks or at the Japan nationals.  Those were exciting days when there were major changes from year to year, but those days are gone now.

I still remember the spy photos of the first CRF450. Man those were the days.

You mean these pics of the first prototype?  I got into trouble for sticking the camera under the tent and posting the pics online the same...

You mean these pics of the first prototype?  I got into trouble for sticking the camera under the tent and posting the pics online the same evening as Honda was trying to prevent any close ups of the engine...

2RC450~12RC450~7.JPG?VersionId=53kvRC450~12RC450~16.JPG?VersionId=mXNxTD0YwCpealtHl.pBppUzHMB6j2XRC450FENGINE.jpg?VersionId=kVBj8meGEc7C847E65Fi.RugSmkXuJ.

Yea!!! Had no idea it was you taking those. Man we swooned over those photos at the time. Thanks for the memories.

2
Tokyo_Tiddler
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2096
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Somewhere in, NJ US
5/23/2025 5:57pm

I still remember the spy photos of the first CRF450. Man those were the days.

You mean these pics of the first prototype?  I got into trouble for sticking the camera under the tent and posting the pics online the same...

You mean these pics of the first prototype?  I got into trouble for sticking the camera under the tent and posting the pics online the same evening as Honda was trying to prevent any close ups of the engine...

2RC450~12RC450~7.JPG?VersionId=53kvRC450~12RC450~16.JPG?VersionId=mXNxTD0YwCpealtHl.pBppUzHMB6j2XRC450FENGINE.jpg?VersionId=kVBj8meGEc7C847E65Fi.RugSmkXuJ.

Yea!!! Had no idea it was you taking those. Man we swooned over those photos at the time. Thanks for the memories.

It was during the era when we only had dial-up modems and digital photos were just starting to become mainstream. Honda had successfully kept the prototype hidden even in Japan and there were no spy photos of it. I only lived 50 minutes from the Honda track in Saitama so I ran back to post the photo's, but the "Fresh Dirt" website would crash every time I tried to upload a single photo.  Everyone on Fresh Dirt were jumping up and down wanting to see the very first photos of Honda's first 4 stroke MXer, but I couldn't post them. Eventually, I emailed the photo's one by one to "RM250GUY" and he was able to upload then on the US end.  The first Honda electric MXer never generated the excitement of that first 4 stroke. It was like capturing the first photo of a unicorn Smile

The prototype was a bit of a POS, though. It backfired and was really hard to start.  Almost every time, Tortelli came off the track, there would be parts falling off. He did make that bike look good though, although he wasn't jumping the big jumps very often, I think because he had hurt his back before flying to Japan, I recall.

2RC45~122RC45~19.JPG?VersionId=E2UPuvdD8wAOtl5vZHzObcMFPK
10
5/23/2025 6:06pm
You mean these pics of the first prototype?  I got into trouble for sticking the camera under the tent and posting the pics online the same...

You mean these pics of the first prototype?  I got into trouble for sticking the camera under the tent and posting the pics online the same evening as Honda was trying to prevent any close ups of the engine...

2RC450~12RC450~7.JPG?VersionId=53kvRC450~12RC450~16.JPG?VersionId=mXNxTD0YwCpealtHl.pBppUzHMB6j2XRC450FENGINE.jpg?VersionId=kVBj8meGEc7C847E65Fi.RugSmkXuJ.

Yea!!! Had no idea it was you taking those. Man we swooned over those photos at the time. Thanks for the memories.

It was during the era when we only had dial-up modems and digital photos were just starting to become mainstream. Honda had successfully kept the prototype...

It was during the era when we only had dial-up modems and digital photos were just starting to become mainstream. Honda had successfully kept the prototype hidden even in Japan and there were no spy photos of it. I only lived 50 minutes from the Honda track in Saitama so I ran back to post the photo's, but the "Fresh Dirt" website would crash every time I tried to upload a single photo.  Everyone on Fresh Dirt were jumping up and down wanting to see the very first photos of Honda's first 4 stroke MXer, but I couldn't post them. Eventually, I emailed the photo's one by one to "RM250GUY" and he was able to upload then on the US end.  The first Honda electric MXer never generated the excitement of that first 4 stroke. It was like capturing the first photo of a unicorn Smile

The prototype was a bit of a POS, though. It backfired and was really hard to start.  Almost every time, Tortelli came off the track, there would be parts falling off. He did make that bike look good though, although he wasn't jumping the big jumps very often, I think because he had hurt his back before flying to Japan, I recall.

2RC45~122RC45~19.JPG?VersionId=E2UPuvdD8wAOtl5vZHzObcMFPK

Do you have any photos of the last prototype 2 stroke Honda raced, I think it was 2003?

2003 RC250M 2.jpg?VersionId=1nOxQokjF8CoR1ca8sgl
8
1
Broseph
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Location
Stevenson, WA US
5/23/2025 7:12pm
Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report...

Yes, Japan used to get the production models a year or more before the US launch and I used to ride next year's models and report back.  Japan used to do this up till about the early 2000's. Now the US gets the bikes almost the same time as Japan. I also used to take pics of the prototypes practicing at the local tracks or at the Japan nationals.  Those were exciting days when there were major changes from year to year, but those days are gone now.

I still remember the spy photos of the first CRF450. Man those were the days.

You mean these pics of the first prototype?  I got into trouble for sticking the camera under the tent and posting the pics online the same...

You mean these pics of the first prototype?  I got into trouble for sticking the camera under the tent and posting the pics online the same evening as Honda was trying to prevent any close ups of the engine...

2RC450~12RC450~7.JPG?VersionId=53kvRC450~12RC450~16.JPG?VersionId=mXNxTD0YwCpealtHl.pBppUzHMB6j2XRC450FENGINE.jpg?VersionId=kVBj8meGEc7C847E65Fi.RugSmkXuJ.

Absolutely legendary photos. 

2
Tokyo_Tiddler
Posts
2096
Joined
7/25/2009
Location
Somewhere in, NJ US
5/23/2025 7:49pm

Yea!!! Had no idea it was you taking those. Man we swooned over those photos at the time. Thanks for the memories.

It was during the era when we only had dial-up modems and digital photos were just starting to become mainstream. Honda had successfully kept the prototype...

It was during the era when we only had dial-up modems and digital photos were just starting to become mainstream. Honda had successfully kept the prototype hidden even in Japan and there were no spy photos of it. I only lived 50 minutes from the Honda track in Saitama so I ran back to post the photo's, but the "Fresh Dirt" website would crash every time I tried to upload a single photo.  Everyone on Fresh Dirt were jumping up and down wanting to see the very first photos of Honda's first 4 stroke MXer, but I couldn't post them. Eventually, I emailed the photo's one by one to "RM250GUY" and he was able to upload then on the US end.  The first Honda electric MXer never generated the excitement of that first 4 stroke. It was like capturing the first photo of a unicorn Smile

The prototype was a bit of a POS, though. It backfired and was really hard to start.  Almost every time, Tortelli came off the track, there would be parts falling off. He did make that bike look good though, although he wasn't jumping the big jumps very often, I think because he had hurt his back before flying to Japan, I recall.

2RC45~122RC45~19.JPG?VersionId=E2UPuvdD8wAOtl5vZHzObcMFPK
Do you have any photos of the last prototype 2 stroke Honda raced, I think it was 2003?

Do you have any photos of the last prototype 2 stroke Honda raced, I think it was 2003?

2003 RC250M 2.jpg?VersionId=1nOxQokjF8CoR1ca8sgl
04 RC250 0.jpg?VersionId= uHw5BeAKrte2004 RC250M b.jpg?VersionId=xwrzZuatkjnMM4bJ3ku9 v2004 RC250M g2004 RC250M i 0.jpg?VersionId=C5r2VwkFEDCMxF6SqMbLCx2004 rc250m z.jpg?VersionId=mGjxI
12
5/24/2025 11:09am
mx317 wrote:
What is Yamaha running for a 450 in MXGP? I haven’t seen any major changes visible to the naked eye, but they could have an all...

What is Yamaha running for a 450 in MXGP? I haven’t seen any major changes visible to the naked eye, but they could have an all new frame with 2025 style plastic and you couldn’t tell. They often run the next year’s model there like they did the CRF450R. 

Money wrote:

The old 22 frame 

Hodge336 wrote:

I heard that’s what Renaux is running. Keefer said they’re trying to get some of that stability back

all of Yamha team running the 22 frame ?
fantic/Wilvo ?
star ?

 

Markee
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Suffolk, VA US
5/24/2025 11:21am

Keefer said the 2026 RMZ 450 will be push start with a de compression lever. No kicker, no battery or starter. Unfortunately gained 7 lbs.

7
1
kawasa84
Posts
1721
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Location
Flower Mound, TX US
5/24/2025 11:28am
Markee wrote:

Keefer said the 2026 RMZ 450 will be push start with a de compression lever. No kicker, no battery or starter. Unfortunately gained 7 lbs.

"Push-Start" Kenny!!

3
5/24/2025 11:29am
Markee wrote:

Keefer said the 2026 RMZ 450 will be push start with a de compression lever. No kicker, no battery or starter. Unfortunately gained 7 lbs.

So long Kickstart Kenny, hello Pushstart Paturel

6
Hodge336
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Waterville, ME US
Fantasy
5/26/2025 2:42am
Money wrote:

The old 22 frame 

Hodge336 wrote:

I heard that’s what Renaux is running. Keefer said they’re trying to get some of that stability back

Dirtdemon wrote:

all of Yamha team running the 22 frame ?
fantic/Wilvo ?
star ?

 

I think it’s jus Renaux

MXer391
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419
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Location
Altoona, PA US
5/26/2025 6:27am
Markee wrote:

Keefer said the 2026 RMZ 450 will be push start with a de compression lever. No kicker, no battery or starter. Unfortunately gained 7 lbs.

LOL! I just loosen up the nut on mine and slide the kick starter off and tell everyone at the track that mine is an e-start prototype from Japan!
1
flowarmz
Posts
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5/26/2025
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Roma, RM IT
5/30/2025 2:43am

I just think that we should blast Suzuki s comment section asking for a new rmz, in order to not let motocross die and lose another important brand..

2
Money
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1/18/2011
Location
Fresno, CA US
6/10/2025 1:23pm

Those Honda 450 spy photos are badass. Wish we still got to see big updates from the Japanese races. 

4
6/10/2025 1:27pm
Money wrote:
Miss the days when the media would go over to Japan for round 1 of there series and would get the spy photos of the new...

Miss the days when the media would go over to Japan for round 1 of there series and would get the spy photos of the new bikes. Was always cool to see. 

That was my fav also.

1
Money
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Location
Fresno, CA US
6/10/2025 2:00pm

Also pretty neat yamaha kept the 2014 yz250f under wraps too. Thought I once read from someone at PC yamaha was riding it at glen helen then pc showed up to the Sx track and they loaded it up n left. 

280driver
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VA US
6/11/2025 9:24am
26kx

Dig the blue accents.  Gives an ‘80’s vibe.

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