2024 WR450F Immersion Day
Yamaha Dealers and Staff Experience New Faster and Lighter Enduro Machine
The excellent off-road riding region around the New South Wales town of Stroud came alive recently to the thumping sound of pedigree four-stroke enduro competition machines as Yamaha dealers and staff from across Australia congregated for a special WR450F immersion event to mark the Australian release of the highly anticipated 2024 model.
Under the guidance of renowned Yamaha enduro racing legend Josh Green, whose Off-road Advantage coaching grounds served as the venue, participants were given a firsthand experience with the cutting-edge machine in challenging conditions created by the relentless downpours that punctuated the day.
The power curve and the way you can use the Power Tuner App make it enjoyable to ride. It goes hard
The event provided a unique opportunity for all involved to familiarise themselves with the new model’s features and benefits and gain valuable insights into its performance;. Information that can be passed onto customers during the critical decision-making stage.
The presence of Yamaha’s off-road racing team’s major sponsor, ShopYamaha, further heightened the experience with a showcase of the latest GYTR, Yamaha Genuine Part and Accessories and Yamalube as well as the newly released Yamaha Racing apparel.
Dean Mosig, an experienced motocross rider from Peter Steven’s Dandenong (Vic), was the first to express his delight with the new WR450F. “The changes for the 2024 model mean this bike feels a lot like my YZ, but with bush attributes,” he said. “It’s easy for me to feel cramped on a bike, so the improved rider triangle is huge for me due to the extra comfort levels. The traction control button also received a good workout in the slippery conditions. The entire riding experience compared to the 2023 model is a step up.”
James Mutton from Sydney City Motorcycles said he had been reading a lot about the new bike before the test and was super excited to experience it. “I’m a big fan of the 2023 YZ450, so with some of the engine features transferring to the new WR, I was super keen to see how it performs.”
While the 2024 WR450F is designed to win enduro competitions in the hands of the world’s fastest riders, Yamaha Dealership Relationship manager Kam Williams showed the usability of the new bike, even in the hands of someone with little off-road riding experience. “I’m not an experienced off-road rider, so the thought of riding the WR450F in such tricky conditions was a little bit intimidating when I arrived,” he revealed. “But the guys set the bike’s power delivery up for me using the smartphone Power Tuner app, and I had an absolute blast. I’m not the fastest guy out there, but the bike was capable. The power curve and the way you can use the Power Tuner App make it enjoyable to ride. It goes hard, and it stops when you want it to.”
Yamaha Motor Australia staff member Ben Cade, from the Internal Sales team, is no stranger to Yamaha’s WR range. A big fan of the enduro model, he even has a limited Aussie Edition parked in his garage. “I’ve been off-road riding with Yamaha since I started on a PeeWee,” he revealed. “Just sitting on the new bike, you can feel how narrow it is, and it’s so much lighter and easier to move around. It was tough work out there in the slippery conditions, but it felt really nimble through the tree-lined tracks.”
Reflecting on the event’s success, Matthew Ferry, General Manager of Sales & Marketing - Land Mobility, emphasised the day served a dual purpose: to showcase the impressive features and benefits of the 2024 WR450F and ignite enthusiasm that can be transferred to customers. “Though brochures and videos provide technical insights, nothing compares to the firsthand experience of feeling the bike’s performance and upgrades, as well as experiencing the enjoyment it delivers in real-world conditions,” he said. “The enjoyment and excitement delivered today by the new WR450F connects the participants to the product in a unique way, and that will be conveyed to customers on the showroom floor.”
The 2024 Yamaha WR450F is now available from Yamaha dealers Australia-wide. For more information and technical details about the new addition to Yamaha’s Enduro range of off-road motorcycles, or to find your nearest Yamaha dealer, visit the 2024 WR450F product page.