Yamaha YZ85 2019 — Specifications

Are you looking for your teenager’s first real motocross bike, the one that will transform him into a rider? Forget the small 50s, let’s get serious with the Yamaha YZ85. This machine is the gateway to the world of real motocross, designed for young people aged 12 to 16 who are ready to tackle the track. Its price, around €5000 for the base model, is the ticket to enter the big leagues, far from the prices of the GYTR carbon versions reserved for future champions.

The philosophy is clear: pure performance and learning active riding. With a wet weight of 73 kg, it is as agile as a cat, and its 85 cm3 two-stroke engine is a small bomb. It delivers 29 horsepower, an enormous amount of power for this lightweight, channeled by the famous Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS) which guarantees explosive response from low revs. It is this acceleration to gain the holeshot from the start that forges reflexes. Be warned, this is not a bike with a progressive clutch for beginners; it is a race-bred, demanding machine that rewards commitment.

The chassis follows the same logic. The semi-double cradle frame and fully adjustable KYB inverted fork offer rail-like precision. You can feel that everything is designed for the circuit: the flat seat at 841 mm high, the aluminum swingarm for easily adjusting the chain, the petal discs. It is a competition bike, end of story. It is not homologated for road use, and thankfully; its element is dirt, bumps and high-speed turns.

Compared to the competition, such as some smaller 125 four-strokes that are often heavier and less responsive, the YZ85 asserts its fiery temperament. It demands respect, technique and meticulous maintenance typical of two-strokes. But it is precisely this demand that trains riders. For a passionate, serious and supervised teenager, it is the best school. It doesn't make concessions, but it teaches everything: control, throttle control, reading the terrain. The price of a Yamaha YZ85, ultimately, is much more than a number on a label; it is an investment in the first real riding sensations.