Speaker: 0:00

Welcome to the A DB podcast where we talk all things dirt with your host Mitch Lee.

Speaker 2: 0:07

Okay, welcome to another a DB podcast. We are out here today testing the 2026 Yamaha WR four 50 F. This is their latest and greatest machine. It doesn't have all the updates that the 2026 Yamaha YZ four DF got. We will hope they arrive next year or the year after. Probably. Uh, today I have with me Wes Mills. Wes, how

0:23

you

Speaker 3: 0:24

going?

Speaker 2: 0:24

Thanks for coming on the podcast.

Speaker 3: 0:25

Oh, you're welcome.

Speaker 2: 0:26

Um, tell us age, uh, uh, ability and where you would normally ride.

Speaker 3: 0:31

Okay, so I'm 34 35 and, uh, I did a lot of say club level racing. Um, last. Oh, through my whole life sort of thing like that. Um, done doubled in a few nationals here and there, and now at that age where it's the turning point between motocross and Enduro and, um, I've been lucky enough to test ride a few bikes that have bridged that gap. So I'm, I'm happy to. Happy and now enjoying riding in Giro a lot.

Speaker 2: 1:01

Awesome. Uh, and I think you're underselling yourself there as a clubman. You, uh, probably should have gone pro but decided to, started to go plumbing instead. But you know what, that's probably a clever idea because there's not many. You make it in the pro ranks. Uh, and then Briggsy, we have, everyone probably knows Jeff Briggs. He's been testing with us for, I don't know, 10 years, maybe more. Briggsy, Hass ridden everything from adventure bikes to electric trials, bikes to motocross in Duro. He's done all our shootouts. You know, if, if it's got two wheels and a set of handlebars, there's a good chance that Briggsy has had a test on it for a DB Briggsy. Welcome to the podcast mate. Thanks for coming out and testing today. Guess tell everyone Did I miss anything?

Speaker 4: 1:34

No. And yeah, thanks. Thanks for letting me do this awesome job. I'm stoked to do it. Um, nah, I've paid for

Speaker 3: 1:40

this.

Speaker 4: 1:41

No, not paid, but no, I, um, paid in love. Yeah. No, I

Speaker 2: 1:45

bought tins of t

Speaker 4: 1:46

There's not, not many, um. People lucky enough to test brand new bikes week in, week out and, and you know, help, help out in Mag. So I'm pretty stoked in that. Um, but yeah, no really good day. Um, we got to learn a lot about the bikes and yeah. Uh, I'm looking forward to letting you guys know what we think.

Speaker 2: 2:05

Alright, excellent. Well, we're gonna rip straight into it. So let's start with what we thought on the W four df, um, boys Briggsy. First thoughts, you hop on that bike. What's your first thoughts when you hop on and you're sitting on it?

Speaker 4: 2:16

Comfortable. Yeah. I like the ergos of the YZ. They've always been pretty good. Um, but once you get it in the bush, she's an animal. Um, definitely got a motor Yeah. That you want.

Speaker 2: 2:28

It's powerful. Um, there's two map modes, obviously. It has the, obviously the option to change the mapping with your phone using the Yamaha Power Tune app. Yep. Uh, but the two maps that come standard on the handlebar, did you play with them and what did they do?

Speaker 4: 2:40

Yeah, I did. So the blue was, the standard map was a lot more mellow. Um, a lot more. Smooth and linear compared to the aggressive map, which really felt like as soon as you wrap that on, she was lighting up the back wheel. Um, but in saying that. I think it's got a place and I feel like it's a really versatile bike that in the open it works really well, but it still handles the tight stuff, not too bad.

Speaker 2: 3:02

Um, and we talked a bit before, we kind of all said this, we came off the off the bike and we found like when you let the clutch out on this bike, because it's such a big powerful motor in a lot of the tight stuff, where we were running today is good kind of two 50 cc capacity territory. So riding a big bike in there, it felt like it kind of wanted to run on a bit. That's how I felt. Did you feel any of that?

Speaker 4: 3:21

A little bit. I'd really like to play with a flywheel weight on it. I think that'd make a big difference in the tighter stuff. Um, and just some gearing changes I think could make it a bit better in the tighter stuff. But overall, I didn't find it too bad. I was using the clutch a little more than I normally do, just for that reason. Um, when you're going around them slower corners, just it doesn't wanna flame out, but it, it. Runs really low in the reps'cause the gearings so high being a five speed. But once you get used to it, I don't find it too bad.

Speaker 2: 3:51

We're gonna come to the clutch in a minute because I think that's important.'cause this is one of the only, uh, four 50 in the class left with a cable clutch. But before we do Wes hopping onto a four 50. Now you normally ride one, two fives and 2 52 strokes. Um, what did you think of? The big W-F-F-D-F, let's talk motor,

Speaker 3: 4:06

uh, okay. Motor cra like characteristics. So as soon as you roll from stop to go, you can feel like it just wants to keep going. Um, the throttle response is very smooth, even though it's an animal of a motor. You can tame it, uh, you can ride it a gear high and just kind of roll into the turns and just be patient like if you're patient with the bike and just learn, like just rolling on into ruts without trying to push and things like that to get used to it. I found that that was a much easier way to, to ride. Such a powerful bike. Mm. So I, I, I only rode, like, I only liked it on the mellow map. Mm. Um, and then the two 50, we will cut to that. But the two 50 I rode on the aggressive map for just other reasons. But just because of it having such a big inertia, um, you tend to find that tipping it into tight turns, you, you do feel the weight.

Speaker 2: 5:00

Mm.

Speaker 3: 5:00

Um, but rolling the throttle on, I was quite surprised of how smooth the bike is still, but. If you ride it aggressive, like you gotta know about it really quickly.

Speaker 2: 5:11

Yeah, I think that for me too, that motor, I only wrote it in the mellow map as well. Um, and you know, a lot of bigger capacity, four strokes, you can kind of lug. I felt like when I lugged this one, it just, it's so powerful and it just wants to keep going. Even I found lugging. It was tricky. Um. So the motor, the motor is a monster. I think the motor would suit guys who are on more open four wheel drive, track, fire road guys out probably further out west or in in the middle of Australia that have more space than probably riding tight single track in and around the coasts.

Speaker 3: 5:39

Yeah, I agree. And I, I think it'd even suit the guys that. Uh, familiar with a big bike like the, the four 50 size in the sense that if they were the type of guys that went back in the past where they'd throw a pipe and mapping and all that sort of ignition and things like on four fifties, I think that this straight outta the crate just. You don't have to do any of those things. Mm. So it does have those right out the box sort of hap like feels

Speaker 2: 6:05

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 6:05

Feel to it. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 6:06

Yeah. I think, um, I, I think it will probably also sort, it suits maybe big or blokes. I think Brigg, you said this before, whereas you said it as well, like anyone kind of over the hundred kilo mark would probably feel quite comfortable on it'cause it's. Firmly sprung. We'll get to that in a second. But it's that motor, the motor's so powerful that I think a bigger bloke would suit it. But, um, for Aussie conditions, for most people who don't write tight single track, you know, in the forest around the coast, man, I, I think that motor is frigging lethal. It's awesome. It's so powerful and strong.

Speaker 4: 6:32

Yeah. In my opinion, it's a great all rounder. You could ride it in the sand, you could ride it in open trails, you can ride it on a motocross track and it'll do all three brilliantly. The tight stuff, it'll get through it. You're probably just not gonna have as much fun as a six speed KDM. Yep. That's just the reality of it, in my opinion. Yeah,

Speaker 2: 6:50

that's good feedback. Let's move on to the clutch. You mentioned the clutch before BRIGGSY two now It is the one of the last cable clutches left in the four 50 class. Um, the Kawasaki K LX four 50 R still runs one. Uh, the rest I'm pretty sure are on hydraulic clutches. Now everyone bags the, the, the cable clutch. I find that thing so light, especially for a four 50 and even though it's a bush bike, and so, you know, you're kind of swinging off the clutch to get on an uphill up and down hills a little bit more. I didn't find it faded too bad and I found it light on my, on my forearm.

Speaker 4: 7:16

Yeah, it, I, it's every bit as good as it hydraulic clutch in my opinion. Um, it's light enough, uh, it's got good feel, it's got great adjustability, which the hydraulic clutches don't have. You can adjust where you want your lever a bit easier and quicker. Um, and. I don't, I'm not a real heavy clutch guy. I very rarely use my clutch. Um, but when I do, no, I found it really fine. Like it was, it was fine.

Speaker 2: 7:40

You talked about the adjusting the, the clutch, which is what you can do with these cable clutches. I hopped on the bike after you had hopped on it, Wes, and you run your clutch lever in such a different position to me. And to feel like it's all the way out, you let your clutch lever out and I let my clutch lever right into the handlebars. I

Speaker 3: 7:52

I

Speaker 2: 7:52

do. So that's handy with the

Speaker 3: 7:53

cable. You can adjust. Yeah. Well this bike, I didn't use it other than, other than saving it from flaming out, um, just. Didn't like, which is so rare for me'cause I'm constantly fanning of like feathering the clutch, which I shouldn't do. Um, but I did, I left it alone. So I actually got a real feel of the motor, um, without it. Being, um, you know, I didn't really give the clutch for much of a durability test or how it feels with the cable or anything like that. Like, I've always, like, I've always bought Japanese bikes and bought the, uh, aftermarket hydraulic kit for every single bike that I've ridden, but for some reason, every single YZ or W, well, I haven't had a W but every YZ that I've had, uh, I've never changed. The clutch to a hydraulic just because of the free feeling

8:41

cable.

Speaker 2: 8:41

Yeah. Yeah. There you go. So that's how light they are. You've never actually changed the yummy one. Yeah. Alright, let's move on to suspension and frame. Um, this model got a big rework last year. Uh, this is the 26th, obviously the 25, or maybe it was 24. But the big, big changes, um. Suspension. I'm a hundred kilos and I throw some gear on. I get heavier, obviously. Um, I really like that suspension. I find it, it's not, it doesn't beat me up like I would expect, you know, it's kind of motocross, e, the suspension. It's firm. So you'd feel like maybe over the choppy stuff it'd beat you up a bit. But I found it still compliant, but it's just never blew through with my weight. And then. The chasy itself, um, you know, kind of, you've got a lot of single track kind of ruts out here through the corners. It was pretty easy to keep the rear end, to follow the front end. I felt like the chassy was pretty predictable. It didn't buck funny and it didn't step out. Um, Wes, let's start with you. You are probably the lightest of here. How did you find the suspension on the four 50

Speaker 3: 9:33

look firm? It felt like just a traditional motocross bike for me because of probably my weight.

Speaker 2: 9:38

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 3: 9:39

Um, a few clicker settings, softer would've been pr like. Perfect, but it wasn't bothering me at all. Mm-hmm. I think that when they bet in a little bit, just after a couple hours of riding, it always seems to change a little bit like that. Mm. So, um, look, it was right in the comfort zone. Um, there was no deflecting on roots and things that were harsh. Um. So all in all, like with, with, with the suspension field, there was just, that wasn't that instant thing of changing. I, I, I, I think talked about the things that I would change, but they were so minor, but nothing really going in front of suspension other than a couple of clickers. Hmm.

Speaker 2: 10:16

Briggsy, uh, you, we saw you today jump a hole. Oh, I saw you today. Jump a section of the road. That was a big gap that if you hadn't got it wrong, could have been quite interesting.

Speaker 4: 10:24

Oh, I kind of did get it wrong.

Speaker 2: 10:26

But you over jumped it, right? You landed in the hole. Yeah. Suspension. The fork. The next hole. Yeah, the next hole over the fork. Just kind of soaked it up.

Speaker 4: 10:32

Yeah, no, look, um, I ride a lot of motocross and it was fine on the track. Um, everything we rode today held up great for me. I'm 93 kilo throw gear on 9 5, 9 7, and I took it into the paddock through some, whoops, I've got there. I took it on the motocross track. I took it in the bush and it did everything. Um, it even handled the slow enduro rocky stuff that we did really well. Um, the chassis I find works what they've done with the YZ refinement. They've brought it over to the WR now, and it works really well. It's very balanced. Outta the box. I don't feel like it wants to dive or it doesn't Seesaw like the Wise Z's traditionally used to with that powerful engine used to kind of want to feel like it's doing this and that when you're braking.

Speaker 2: 11:18

Mm.

Speaker 4: 11:18

Um, it just, it set it's very comfortable.

Speaker 2: 11:21

Mm.

Speaker 4: 11:21

Very predictable. Um, tracks really well. I, I really enjoyed it. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 11:26

Now you are gonna race the off-Road series next year. Um, is this suspension good enough to get it outta the crate? Do some maybe a bit of tinkering. You're like you said you're 90 something kilos. A bit of tinkering too and kind of go racing on it.

Speaker 4: 11:36

Yeah, a hundred percent. Yeah. Mm. Um, I might, if I was gonna race it, I'd probably go a spring rate firmer for myself, but I could get through a race on that. Yeah, no problem.

Speaker 2: 11:46

Yeah. That's impressive. Uh, last thing we're gonna talk about now is the ergonomics. Um, for 2026. We've got that, uh, Grier seat. Uh, and there's been some ECU changes and stuff that we've already mentioned earlier on. Um. How do you guys find the ergonomics? I find with the Yammy, they have that little scoop in the seat in the front or around the, the ha middle of the seat. That makes me feel like I sit in it a bit and the, and the bars have a, maybe a slightly higher bend. My personal preference is for a flatter seat, being a taller guy and a, and probably a flatter bend. I don't like the, the tall bend bars. Um. But ergonomics, it feels a little less chunky than previous model Ws. Some of the previous Model Depots with a big fat headlight and a big bar pad and everything hanging off around here, they felt a bit agricultural, whereas I think this is becoming a little more European. Thoughts.

Speaker 3: 12:30

Yeah, I agree. I totally agree with that because with the seat, the shape of it, it's not a traditional flat seat with the, with, um, with the edges. And, you know, I, us, I used to use the edges as a guide of where I was sitting on the bike, but it's, it flows seamlessly with body positioning. Yep. I think I find it, look, it's not, I didn't really pay much attention to the seat, and that's probably a good thing because then it's not something that's bugging you. So, um. Look, the bars are higher than I would. I would run, but it wasn't, nothing was bothering me in the sense that I couldn't feel comfortable. And I think just by being at that sort of angle and pitch and height, it kind of see suits the broad riders that would Yeah. Ride that size bike.

Speaker 4: 13:18

Yep. Yeah. For me. I like that it's a kind, it is a trail bike. It feels more like a trail bike or an older motocross style. The new beaters and chicos and kdm. S you're very up on top. Yeah, the seat's very flat and, and you're over the bars a lot more. This one's not quite like that, but it's still comfortable. Every bit comfortable. Um. It's got the YZ skinness now. They've pulled that into the tank. I mean, you go back to 2012. Yeah. That's a big thing sitting like this, like, yeah. So it is, it is a nice feeling bike. I, I really enjoy it. Um, and I had a YZ four 50 last year. Really loved it. Mm-hmm. Um, and I'm on the KM now, but I, yeah. Yamahas is still a great bike.

Speaker 2: 13:56

Mm. Oh, no.

Speaker 4: 13:58

Now buddy. Shh.

Speaker 2: 14:01

Uh, okay. So, um, so I guess the last thing I forgot to mention too is, and it probably comes in with the whole, with the suspension, the chasis. The ergos is that I, in the past and I um, should have tried it today, I have like to push the fork legs through the triple cla to little'cause I did find coming outta corners. If I was sitting down to come out of a corner, the front end would just wander out the front of the rut a little bit earlier than I'd like to. Um, so if I probably owned one, I'd probably just push the fork legs through the clamps just to lower that front end to help me get it in a little bit better, because I don't think I'd lose anything by doing that personally. Um, is there anything that you guys would suggest to people set up wise if they were to buy this bike, the first things you'd do set up wise?

Speaker 3: 14:39

Rear tire. Yeah.

Speaker 4: 14:41

Yeah, I'd agree with that. The rear tire, it's one 40 wide and it's just, it feels. Wide and thick. It wants to. It doesn't have a great edge on it. I mean, it's an FIM tire. They're not bad, but they're just compared to an MX 34 or an 1881 or,

Speaker 3: 14:57

yeah,

Speaker 4: 14:57

whatever you run. I just find the grip's not there. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 15:00

Yeah. Well, we're looking at the shape of the tire just because it's so wide on that, on that tire, on that rim that it's curved all the way at the top. So you're getting that power sliding sort of effect. Yeah. Rather than that bite when you are driving forward.

Speaker 4: 15:13

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 15:13

Sidewalls are okay.

Speaker 4: 15:14

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 15:15

Um. But in saying that, like maybe dropping a few more PSI might help, but I just, yeah. I think that you nip it in the bud and just get a different tire.

Speaker 2: 15:25

Yep. Well that's good timing.'cause I'll tell you what, it doesn't take, it doesn't take a chicken to ride a W four. It takes more than chicken. They've had enough. We're gonna wrap it up right now. Yeah. But um, yeah, that tire is a Dunlop indu. And, uh, yeah, I agree with you. Probably a tire change. Otherwise, I'm also with you guys

Speaker 3: 15:41

and our oversized front disc. Every four 50 should have Yes. Have a oversized front disc. Yeah. Um, it's a tractor. Yeah. They're all tractors. Even the motocross ones to pull up. They just, you know,

Speaker 4: 15:54

funnily enough, but like, we didn't change a clicker today. Yeah. We didn't change four ki We didn't do sag even.

Speaker 2: 16:00

Yeah.

Speaker 4: 16:01

And outta the box, it still was a great boy. Yeah. So, uh. I mean, you can refine everything. I'd like to get the sag and the, and the, for quite like, it's something you'd dabble in if you had, if you owned it yourself. Yep. And probably just go to your online settings through people who test them. Um, and then maybe a firmer spring for me, but. There goes wise, like it's a great bike. Yeah, yeah,

Speaker 2: 16:22

yeah. You'd leave it as is.

Speaker 4: 16:23

I

Speaker 2: 16:23

would largely,

Speaker 4: 16:24

yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 16:24

Yeah,

Speaker 4: 16:24

mostly. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 16:25

Uh, and if someone was to say, what would be the kind of spec of person that you would recommend buy this bike? Um, let's go from ability size, uh, where they live, male, female age. Who would you reckon? Like me personally, I would say to someone, you're probably gotta be slightly heavier. Like if you don't wanna make any drastic changes, you've gotta probably be over 90 kilos. You like riding more open, fast stuff and uh, you know, you're pretty confident, pretty strong and able to tam it. Me or a big boy.

Speaker 4: 16:55

Or a big boy? For me. For me, I'd say, uh, an experienced rider. Yeah, you'd want to be that B grade motocross level above or, or someone who wants to race. Occasionally in Enduro.

Speaker 2: 17:05

Yep.

Speaker 4: 17:06

Um, but rides at least once a week.

Speaker 2: 17:08

Yep.

Speaker 4: 17:08

Because that these bikes just any four 50 really. Once you get tired and that throttle comes on, you're in trouble pretty quick.

Speaker 2: 17:15

Yeah.

Speaker 4: 17:16

Yeah. So for me, I'd, I'd just say the more experienced rider who's looking for a race ready bike, who wants something that's got a lot of power handles, well ready to go out the box. Yeah. Perfect bike.

Speaker 3: 17:27

Probably someone that's dabbling in a bit of a midlife crisis. They wanna die. Yeah. I love it. They wanna live. Look, I think that's like, it's, to me, it, it seems like the Corvette of like the midlife crisis, it's like it's got all the fire breathing power you want, and if you tame it, it can be ex exciting. And, you know, I don't know. Honestly, I think that if, if you're, if you're a safe, experienced rider, like Briggsy just said. You know, I think I didn't hurt myself on it today. It's a good sign. I didn't have a tip over or anything like that, but it just, the little things like if you get unstuck just that little bit and you just don't have that experience or the weight or a bit of a combination of both that it can, it can you just. Y you raise your chances of having a bit of, a bit of a spill. So yeah.

Speaker 2: 18:15

On a big bike like that.

Speaker 3: 18:16

On a big bike, yeah. But mind you, it is so nice just to cruise around too. Mm. Like even if you're just not having to shift so many gears, like a two 50. So if you're responsible and experienced,

Speaker 2: 18:28

you'd be fine.

Speaker 3: 18:28

I think you'd be fine. And, and I think it would appeal to a wide range of riders around 80 kilos. Yep. And, and, and

Speaker 2: 18:34

up

Speaker 3: 18:34

and up.

Speaker 2: 18:35

Uh, okay. That's it guys. We are gonna, uh, wrap it up. Now we have another story coming with this bike. We have done mapping and we're gonna give you guys three or four depending on how many we decide on in the end maps that we've chosen for this bike. That's a trail map, a really slow sluggish map, a full blown race map. And we'll come up with some other kind of map that we've probably used a lot of today. Uh, and you can use your power tune app and just put it straight into your 2026 model. Yamaha wire at W four 50 F, so stay tuned for that story for now. That's it on the WR four 50 F, and we'll catch you next time doing the WR two 50 F.