Yamaha YZ85 2024 — Specifications

Do you remember your first jumps on a small introductory bike, that slightly restrained feeling of freedom? Forget all that. Mounting a Yamaha YZ85 is already signing up for another world, the one where the stopwatch and raised turns become the only language. With its 73 kilograms wet weight and 29 horsepower from an 85 cm3 two-stroke single-cylinder engine, this machine shows no mercy. It’s not here to look pretty on the trails, but to train the next generation of riders, those who aim directly for the first corner after the starting grid.

Its heart is this liquid-cooled engine, equipped with the famous Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS) inherited from competition. This system, by managing the opening of the exhaust ports, is the secret of explosive and linear acceleration, perfect for grabbing the throttle at the exit of corners. The six-speed transmission allows you to always keep the engine in its power range, a real pleasure to learn how to manage a lively two-stroke. We are far from the placidity of a TT-R 125, here everything is about control and commitment.

The chassis also speaks the language of racing. The semi-double cradle frame has benefited from an aluminum rear section since 2022, contributing to remarkable mass centralization, 570 grams lighter. Coupled with a redesigned swingarm for optimized rigidity, it offers track stability that inspires confidence. KYB suspensions, fully adjustable at the front and rear, are a luxury on a machine in this category, allowing precise adjustment of behavior to the weight and style of the young rider. Wave disc brakes, although simple, are more than sufficient to control this lightweight machine.

Ergonomics have been extensively reworked to meet the needs of growing adolescents, generally between 12 and 16 years old. The narrower bodywork, flat seat, and redesigned fuel tank offer total freedom of movement to move around on the machine. The seat height of 841 mm may seem significant, but it is consistent with the target audience, young people who grow quickly and need a motorcycle that follows them. The rear air intake, integrated into the side panels, ensures a direct flow of air to the airbox, guaranteeing consistent engine performance.

So, who is it for? Clearly for the young rider who has surpassed the stage of discovery and whose ambition is to go around in circles, as quickly as possible. It is the perfect tool for approaching motocross competitions in the 85 cm3 category. For approximately 5,599 euros, you are buying more than a motorcycle: a professional learning platform, reliable and powerfully effective. Of course, it is important to remember that it is not homologated for road use, its kingdom is the circuit or private trails. Faced with competitors such as the KTM 85 SX or the Husqvarna TC 85, the YZ85 plays the Yamaha reliability card and a very progressive chassis, perhaps a little less radical than the Austrian ones, but often more reassuring for progressing serenely. It is a demanding machine that does not forgive driving errors, but rewards with the frankness and aggressiveness of true racing motorcycles.