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Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Graphics companies are going to utilize the whole sideplate so I wouldnt worry about it.
What I want to know is if anyone has retrofit a '22 front numberplate/fender on the newer gen.
The 22 front end is such a great design, better than the current and especially brand new styles.
I’m sure the companies will, but still doesn’t change the fact that it’s horrid. That’s a hill I’m willing to die on lol.
Same, it OBJECTIVELY looks stupid.
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Back when the 23 came out, I used to think the same as well. I was blown away by a test ride on the thing and knew it was gonna be my bike next year, but I had to do something about the front plate and fender! Luckily, clamps were the same so you could bolt on a 22 front end theoretically.
Put my photoshop skills to use and noticed that it actually looks worse to me with the old frontend- it just didn't fit proportion wise in my eyes. I recreated the masterpiece for you to decide yourself.
How'd they come up with the 70th ann bike when they released the 50th in 2024 ?
Same thing happened for the 2024 Hondas, at least the Kawasaki's look good for 2026 with their new graphics
50th Anniversary of YZ model.
70th Anniversary of Yamaha motorcycles.
I can’t help but think that Yami missed the mark with both models.
The 50th anniversary YZ didn’t reflect anything of the look of the original YZ, just like this has no connection to the very first Yamaha motorcycle.
front plate dont matter too much when the whole field is looking at the back imo.
That makes sense. And that’s a good looking bike! But, I’ve been a fan of the yellow Yamahas for years.
I'm never a fan of smaller side number plates, but these ones just look smaller because of the black piece. A set of graphics will clean that up. The front number plate looks bad now, but I thought the same thing about the 23', and it grew on me.
The bike is probably great and looks fine, or at least will look fine. Sometimes change looks ugly at first.
Just my $.02.
Guess I’m one of the few that think the 22 fender and front plate were hideous
Same. Looked like a saggy dong.
Those two front number plates look like they’re the same part number.
I like the new 450. I am happy they targeted a more forgiving chassis, as I'm a '22 fan. The easier to ride power sounds good, but did they do that intentionally or is it a direct result of the sound baffling and they are just spinning it that way? I'll be really curious next year when the 250F gets those updates, even if it gets a new motor. Hopefully it still has that signature YZF snap/rev.
As far as styling, I'm not a huge fan of the looks of the current one. It's cool but I don't love it. The '26 sidepanels are an improvement both looks and seemingly function. I felt like the '25 panels were wonky, didn't line up, I hated the seam down the middle and graphics peel easily at the lower corner. New front plate is pretty bad but so is the '25. I like the front fender though.
Nah, dont lump me into that stuff. I had a 94, 95, 97 YZ125 and YZ250 back in the day. Loved the graphics last year. Loved the 2016 yellow and black too. I had NCY Graphics on most of my YZ's in the 90's. My 2017 YZ250F I have custom on it, but its Blue/White. Red just doesnt need to be on a YZ again.
BTW, I never like MC back in the day. I pulled for everyone but MC every time he raced. HAHA. He was the absolute man at SX though.
Pit Row
I like it, I don't know what y'all are bitching about. Fender looks like a fender, numberplate will hold a number. I like that they made it thicker in 23 so the brake line can go behind it, much cleaner overall. I was a fan of the single color one piece side plates though. I'm wondering if the blue was showing to much wear so they went back to black where the boots rub.
I put the '22 Yam oem front fender and cycra stadium plate on my '23.....worked fine, looked much better. '23 fender is a skinny squid looking fender, not sure how Yamaha thinks this design enhances the bikes look?
I do not think it's about looks it's about saving a few grams here or there
Why not complain about a $10K bike’s looks? The front looks bad. The only “ugly” bike I really liked was my ‘88 kx250. Let’s face it, that snow shovel rear fender was about as bad as the YZF’s front fender.
Heck, I wouldn’t buy a Bugatti Veyron. It’s ugly. There’s so many more options.
Technically speaking, did they need to change the frame?
Did the connecting rod issue get resolved?
Wondering this as well. Thinking about trying a blue bike next year and this is my one major concern. Although I’m also not sure how widespread it is, or if it’s a case of only the negative outliers being posted.
At $10,299 msrp, I sure hope so. It is unacceptable for complete engine destruction to be happening so frequently for how much they cost.
The KX450 threads on here have turned out to be pretty legendary, and I'm hoping this thread can go in a similar direction. Post up your thoughts or experiences with these machines.
I picked up my '26 last week and painfully tore it down to ship off the suspension before I rode it. I added a couple things like a FMF muffler and show what it sounds like stock vs. FMF.
I've been threatening to start a YouTube channel around testing/tech/maintenance and riding/racing, so I did. Going to continue to update it over time as I get this '26 Yami dialed in. Feel free to roast my video, too.
Good vid. I suspect the bike is going to pull hard to the left just from the massive volume of DOT4 in that humongous clutch reservoir! WTH is up with that? I've seen hydraulic reservoirs smaller on excavators! 🤣 Thing will definitely break 3-4 ribs on the left side if the rider plants into the bars.
It’s an improvement ovr the last fender with 8 points & angles. The body work looks Stupid . Is this the off road logging model ? Because it looks like it should never leave the woods & seen by any human. What is the wheel base 11 foot long ? I had 1 slam the brakes on & stop in front of me , squid move . He panicked because he didn’t think his 450 could make the turn.
Haha man, you're not kidding about that. This fluid should look pristine after 100 hours!
No idea why they made it this way, the Kawi is half as big. My ribs and sternum are on full alert.
Yup, guessing Yamaha put that massive volume of fluid on there as a heat sink in case Tomac was still on the bike next year.
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