Sneak Peek: 2018 Yamaha YZ65 27

It's almost here and now we have a look at the real thing!

ML512
1/25/2018 4:01pm
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Vital MX: It's almost here, well technically it is. The long-awaited Yamaha YZ65 has made it ashore and someone snagged a photo of one in the crate. The only sure things we know is this bike will be officially announced in just over a month, upside down KYB forks, steel chassis, separate subframe, large/floating wave brake rotors, Maxxis tires...and the strong possibility of this new engine having a powervalve. What do you think, would you snag one if you had a rider of that age and size? Now how about the rumored updates for the YZ85...


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Sneak Peek
Yamaha YZ65
27 comments

View replies to: Sneak Peek: 2018 Yamaha YZ65

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Underground
6 years ago
Good new fellas. That smaller round section on the right hand side of the engine in front of the clutch area and underneath the xpansion chamber is for the power valve governer. And if the 65 has it, the 85 should definitely have it too if new. This could also be the new 85 we are looking at. Like mentioned earlier, that's a pretty big distance from pegs to seat for little legs
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Question
6 years ago
The engine is big for a 65, it looks like a 85. The dimension between the pegs and the seat is quite big too. So, if it is not a 85 SW, I would not be surprised that it is a 65 cylinder, with small wheels, then the 85 with big wheels will be pretty much the same as this picture. If using the same platform they will sell a lot of these mini bikes.
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Tuna
6 years ago
If the 65 and 85 have powervalves, I know several people who will buy them. That’s one of the complaints of the current 85 compared to say the KX85 that has one. A lot of the kids I know Racing MX also race hare scrambles and woods. Having a PV for woods is a big deal. Not so much on an MX track where you are mostly running WOT.
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Jay Moto
6 years ago
For Yamaha to be doing this says a lot of positive things. First about their health as a company. They must have the capital to risk releasing something that could potentially fail and collect dust on showroom floors. However, second, it shows some positives about the outlook on the economy. They must be confident that the economy will be good enough that there will be plenty of buyers for these. I love it!
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mikec265
6 years ago
if priced competivly with the KX65 and if the reliability is as good or better than the other 65cc bikes... I'll take 2 in 2 years.

But an electric equivalent that dad/Uncle doesn't have to work on much would be better.
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ledger
6 years ago
Such a cool looking bike from what I can see, looks a lot like it's big brother 450F with the shroud, number plates and blue rim's. Props to Yamaha.
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ML512
6 years ago
Because...that market is dominated by KTM and Husky...Yamaha is releasing this along with a heavily updated YZ85 soon. This gives them a good path of keeping riders on their brand as they go from PW50 (soon to be replace by an electric model, in a few years), to YZ65, YZ85, YZ125, then 250 and 450s. Right now the only brand with a clear path to keep a rider from start to finish is KTM/Husky.
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billyp330
6 years ago
This makes a ton of sense to me. In fact I've been looking at buying a new 18 crf450r for myself recently since my brother is a Honda tech and works at a Honda dealer, but part of me says its dumb to buy a Honda because when my kids start racing they will have to be on a different brand then me. I know Honda makes a bunch of small bikes, but none of them are race bikes until you get to the 150r. I don't want to go KTM/Husky but wanting to have the same brand throughout makes them the only real option. IDK I'll still probably get the Honda because of my brother and all that, but now that Yamaha has put out this 65 it makes them the better choice for most I believe. I will say though they need a "race" worthy 50cc bike like the ktm sr. 50s.

And the pw is going electric in the future?????
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manandmachine
6 years ago
Same exact boat here. My boys are riding 2004 and 2006 CR85’s and I’m still holding a torch for Honda with an 06 CR250R and a 2012 CRF450R (I sold the 2017 Husqvarna TX300 recently). Partly because we all enjoy riding the same brand and the 2018 TC85 wasn’t available yet.

Today is a different story. All the Austrian minis are updated and riding all Husqvarna is looking like the only option for us.

Kudos to Yamaha Their new 65 looks fantastic and with the updated YZ 85 they are a viable option. Would like to see a new YZ125 and YZ250 to follow.

What happened to Honda?
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ML512
6 years ago
Honda has publicly stated that two-strokes will not be in the future of any product they make...regardless of segment.
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manandmachine
6 years ago
Exactly, what happened to Honda. They have completely dropped out of the mini Motocross segment. The CRF150R is... who knows?

CRF “F” motorcycles are for family play riding and are a durable learning tool. Then what? CRF150R?

If you want to ride the 85 class on a Honda, I guess you have to buy a used bike.

What happened to Honda?
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Rockinar
6 years ago
Honda has totally dropped the ball on bikes. XRs all gone minus the 230, 2 stokes all gone. The only bikes they have are high maintenance 4 strokes. Not much of a choice for riders who dont want high maintenance and given the middle fingers to the little guys too.

Explains why you have great Honda dealers closing shop. The Big Red Machine is not what it once was. I always bought Honda and still want to love them. But they just dont have the options anymore.

If I bought a new bike it would be a Husky.
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crusher773
6 years ago
I do actually. I just don't look for it to be better than the KTM or Husky. 1 Yamaha in my entire life and it was an absolute pile of crap. Especially compared to a KTM.
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Rockinar
6 years ago
1 Yamaha in your entire life and it was crap, so this new 65 must be crap too? Was it new used? Who made it crap? You?
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crusher773
6 years ago
It was a brand new 250F locked up at about 2 hours. Yamaha said go pound sand on it. That bike just fell apart. Poorly made and was just not reliable. Rode Hondas for years also they were junk too. Been on KTM since 2002 on my 3rd one now and they are bulletproof. Far more reliable than the Japanese.
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Tuna
6 years ago
KTM is never going to beat Yamaha in reliability and QC. Crappy that you had one bad experience. I have owned multiple, like many KTM and Yamaha products. Every KTM I have owned has had an assembly error or faulty component from the factory. Some more serious than others. Can’t say the same for Yamaha. I own and ride both brands, I’m no nut swinger. That is just my experience.
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crusher773
6 years ago
I disagree KTM beats Yamaha in quality any day of the week. I'm going by my experience as well and owning multiples of both also. KTM is far and away the brand that stands behind their products and makes a product to last. I will never go back to a Japanese brand because they simply don't care about the consumer either. KTM stands behind their machines the Japanese don't care. I know you Yamaha guys are all wound up about this bike and that's cool whatever to each his own. I just disagree that you guys think it will be better than the KTM that continually evolves their mini bikes with other things besides BNGs for 10 years straight.
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