For the past decade, this sport has welcomed in a number of new and exciting models. Features like fuel-injection, air forks, and a lightweight chassis have all dominated the press releases from the OEMs in recent years. As incredible as all of this innovation has been for consumers, the one common denominator has been that almost everything has catered to big bikes. Well, thanks to Yamaha, the focus on innovation has turned to the youth of our sport as this year they have introduced the all-new 2018 YZ65.
Back in November, when the word first trickled out that Yamaha was indeed going to jump head first into the 65cc market, it was met with excitement all over the motocross world. In a competitive market that has been mostly dominated by KTM, the BluCru wanted to change this. Having not designed this size of motorcycle for over three decades, the drawing board would be the first place this new 65cc would come to light. Yamaha knew that with consumers being more educated and more style conscious than ever before, this new bike had to look good, and definitely could not stall out of the gate. With its main competitor in the 65cc class having a motorcycle that looked identical to its bigger siblings, Yamaha decided early on in the design process that the YZ65 had to look like a shrunken down YZF450. This new bike also had to have all of the features that not only would make it appear cosmetically sound, but it also had to have all of the important items to make the bike work good right out of the box. Items like upside down forks, a solid engine package, disc brakes (front and back), strong wheels, and durable components are all must-haves for today’s consumer.
We’re sure that everyone will agree that from the first moment that we laid eyes on the 2018 YZ65, we were blown away by both how good the bike looked as well as Yamaha’s attention to detail. From the tapered handlebars, the blue rims, and the perfectly contoured rad shrouds, this bike looked like a smaller version of Matt Goerke’s 2017 Championship winning YZF450. The folks at Yamaha were obviously very excited about this new model and their launch into the 65cc class, but I feel like for the first time in a while, the entire industry was elated that another OEM decided to take such a large and courageous step in helping the youth of our sport. However, looks and hype are one thing, but the big question was how would this new 65cc bike perform on the track against models that have been tried and tested for years?
With this new Yamaha 65cc engine, all you have to do is twist the throttle and hold on. Photo by Sheldon Litwiller
When MXP received the call from Yamaha Motor Canada to inform us that this new bike was finally ready to be tested, I was very excited. In almost all testing situations, I would normally do it myself as I’ve been testing bikes for years. However, since this bike was just a tad too small for me, I had to hire my 10-year-old son Ayrton to take on the task of actually riding this new bike. Ayrton has been racing the 65 class for two full seasons so he’s quite aware on how these small bikes handle, as well as how the power delivery is. Also, due to the fact that he’s been racing Orange bikes for the past five years, his input on how the new Yamaha would stack up would be invaluable. For testing this bike, I basically went through all of the steps that I normally do before I even start a bike up. I first adjusted the bars and levers to how he usually likes them and I set the sag. Although this 65cc was a different colour, I wanted it to feel as close to his own bike as possible. Then came the moment that every test rider loves – the first time a new bike fires up and you rev the throttle! If the incredible looks of this new Yamaha don’t get your attention, then the sound of it will definitely have your senses tingling. The 2018 YZ65 doesn’t just sound like your normal 65cc motorcycle, this bike has a throaty grunt to it that makes you want to hit the track.
Right from the moment that my test rider threw his leg over the YZ65, he felt comfortable. The only item that was going to take a little time in getting used to was the cable driven clutch lever. With the clutch lever also being a little further away from the bars than on other models, smaller hands will have to reach just a little extra more. Once we gave the clutch lever a little more play with the customary Yamaha clutch adjuster, everything was good and it was time to hit the track
The track at Moto Park was a great place to test this new bike as it had every type of section we needed. Photo by Sheldon Litwiller
Key Features
Powerful-feeling 65 cc liquid cooled, single-cylinder 2-stroke engine with Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS)
Crankcase reed valve
6-speed transmission with optimized gear ratios
Newly designed semi-double-cradle steel frame, aluminum sub frame 36mm inverted fork with 12 levels of compression and 10 levels of rebound damping for solid front-end feedback
Motocross rear suspension with 10 levels of adjustment for both rebound and compression damping
Newly designed aluminum swingarm
Aluminum tapered handlebar with four positions of adjustability
New seat for improved comfort, body weight transfer and easy maintenance
14-inch front and 12-inch rear wheel
For this exciting test ride, I chose the home of Yamaha’s training facility, Moto Park. As everyone knows, Moto Park has been around for decades, and these days it’s one of the best tracks in Canada. Since Yamaha Motor Canada plays such a big role at Moto Park, I thought it would be the perfect place to test and to introduce this new bike. We arrived early on a Saturday morning and the track was not only perfectly groomed but it was also mostly vacant. As my test rider hit the track, I could tell that he was wisely taking it easy for the first few laps. With MP having the perfect combination of slow and fast corners, as well as cool jumps, a rider can really get the feel on how a bike is working. After a few laps you could tell he was feeling more comfortable. Standing on the side of the track, the first thing that I noticed about the new YZ65 was the sound. Once the throttle was opened up a little and the bike began to pull, it sounded more like an 85cc than a 65cc. Jumping and cornering didn’t seem to be a problem either as the new Yamaha appeared to handle very well. As my test rider came in for his first break, I was eager to hear what his initial thoughts were going to be.
“This bike feels really good, it just feels a little different than what I’m used to. I can tell you one thing, this bike is fast. I mean, it kind of feels a little slow in the corners, but once you come out of the corners, it’s really fast. It feels normal off the jumps and I can’t wait to try jumping the stuff I normally do here. This bike does feel a little smaller than my bike, but I don’t feel too big for it. I really like the way the bars feel and the brakes seem to work well. I don’t really like the clutch lever but I think I could get used to it. I don’t know, this bike feels really good. Can I try going fast on it now?”
From the handling, to the power, to just the overall feel, Yamaha definitely has done their homework with this new YZ65 as it’s great right out of the box. The next question will be with its durability, but that can only be answered over time. As far as this new bike being competitive in the 65cc class? There is no question that you’re going to see a lot of blue challenging for podiums in 2018. This new bike is hitting Canadian dealers as I write and it will retail for $5,499. In closing, I’d like to thank Yamaha Motor Canada for allowing MXP Magazine to be the first Canadian publication to test this awesome new motorcycle. With our young riders being such an important part of this sport, it’s great to see another OEM step up and give these kids another great option in the 65cc market.
