Like the Berg 70 degree motor and the 449/511 Yamaha pushes the mass centralization approach...

They really do seem to like to push new tech. I had a half year YZ125 way back in the day with air forks! no spring. they sucked






they also pioneered the boost bottle, BASS rear brake that was linked tot he shock damping, mono shock, water cooling, disk brake etc. They try hard for sure.

Seems like they are sorting the new mass central YZF designs and getting some results. Josh Grant took a 5th at Unadilla and Jeremy Martin took a second. Very good results. I don't know why I cant stop looking at and thinking about that YZF250.

Yamaha was always my brand and the new yz250f sounds awesome. I'm glad that bike finally got some major updating. Not that it was really a concern though. Some of the reviews still hint that its not going to win the tests but I bet it's still one of the most reliable in the tests.

Cycle world just did a sneak peek ride / test on it and said it is a VERY good bike. Great motor, feels light, handles great.

http://cyclenews.uberflip.com/t/24308

If I wasn't drooling over Huskies I'd be all over it, don't need convincing lol. My neighbor just upgraded from a 04 yz250f to the new yz450f. His old one finally needed relatively serious work so he went shopping. He's had it this whole season and doesn't have any complaints. We all know that they pick things apart with magazines and he was thankful because he was able to get a great price because of it lol. Either way I'm still dreaming of a TC449 .

225 hours on my TE511, zero issues, valves still stock and perfect. No smoke. No piston needed. Neeener neeener

I seriously want to buy the motor design and CTS patent and start my own company . I have a dollar, who's in on this? Lol

I wish ZipTy would buy all that and push the envelope with this platform. American made (kinda) ZT511 please.

I think it has merit it just does not have the 20-30 years of development the "standard" bikes have had. The Berg was very successful. I personally really liked the FE390.

Mike Lafferty dominated on them even being a completely new first gen bike.

Most of us feel that way about the X-lights and 125 (same basic frame layout)

- I like that manufacturers are thinking somewhat out of the box and Yamaha has always done this. At the time no one thought a 4 stroke would ever be big in MX again and Yamaha pushed the light weight 4 stroke concept husky and Husaberg had pioneered to a new level and we have nothing but 4 strokes now. Back in the day when works bikes were allowed there was so much innovation and cool ideas. Now we have the same basic bike we have had for 15 years. Had we developed all these years instead of just the same old package we might be riding 160 pound rotary powered automatic bikes with anti dive non telescopic forks etc. The point of my thread here is to promote forward thinking and new and creative ideas to think about. The last few rounds of MX have shown riders on Yamahas that are not top guy but right there pushing the top guys with these Yamahas so I would not say it is hype. In a few short years and with not top riders they are right there. A few more years of development and a few top riders and yamaha could very easily put this concept on the top spot.

I'll have to look it up but read a quick ride review on the new YZF250 and they said it was a huge step forward from last years bike, feels super nimble, tracks in ruts like nothing else and works great.

On top of all this all the manufacturers are doing it to some point. Honda with the two shorter mufflers said to move the mass closer to the center. The funny looking long head pipes routed like a 2 stroke pipe to maintain the length yet push the heavy muffler forward (centered). Almost all manufacturers have rotated the cylinders back to some extent over the last few years. Most are also shoving the tank more to the center. Honda's latest CRF frame is different said to "move mass more toward the center". The Yamaha is an obvious example but all bikes are doing this to some extent because they found advantages in doing so. I don't see anyone rushing to move weigh away from center. Indy cars and superbike racing have been doing it for years. I'd say it is not hype at all.

I think mass centralizing is important but that isn't everything. An example is that Sherco, it could just be the geometry or even engine components. Not so much that mass centralization. Either way I like the effort put in. They may not be building full works bikes like you all speak of back in the day but there still is an attempt to cure issues developed from critique of their race programs, media, and customers.
I really missed the 2 stroke era entirely, I was riding XR's at the time and eventually a new 2003 yz250f but from the sounds of it the motor dramatically effects handling too. I went and saw a beta 300 and didn't think it felt any lighter then a 4 stroke but I guess it lightens up while riding. Heck anyone that's ridden a 449 knows that pushing it sucks but it handles much lighter then you would expect when you ride it.
Either way it's really cool that as a consumer there are so many options out there. There really is a bike for everyone out right now.

No but I believe it is something added.

Seems nearly everyone is working towards this even if it is not as blatantly obvious as the Yamaha.

KX450 - "The 2012 also received a nice face-lift with new bodywork, fuel tank and a shorter muffler, which Kawasaki says helps mass centralization."

CRF450 - "The biggest change, which is evident by looking at the head tube, is that the twin spars are mounted about two inches lower. This is part of the centralization of mass plan to mellow out the CRF chassis."

"plus a strategically engineered compact dual-muffler exhaust system that tucks in closely to the center of mass. "

"Back then they talked a bunch of hokum about equalizing the weight in roll–at least this time they have centered their argument on centralization of mass (and the 7-inch shorter mufflers are, in fact, moved closer to the center of gravity)."

RMZ250 - "The redesigned swing-arm is said to improve rigidity/mass centralization "