"Revolutionary!"

"Cutting Edge!"

"Ahead of its time!"

We've all heard these over used catch phrases. We're not going to use them to describe Yamaha's latest motocross effort, the YZ 400F. They don't fit the descriptive application in this report.

Yamaha's foresight, coupled with its engineering efforts, places the YZ 400 beyond "Revolutionary", "Cutting Edge" or "Ahead of its time". Yamaha has developed and delivered a new competition machine that will change the way technology is applied toward motocross equipment, forever.

The Off-road.com Dirt Bike Staff met with Yamaha's PR man, Terry Beal, Engineering Guru, Ed (Dr. Ed) Scheidler, and Crusty Man Joel Albrecht for a day of test riding the 1998 YZ 400. The track: Carlsbad. The weather: dreary - then wet! Very wet!

	Terry Beal (right) preps everyone before riding.
Yamaha's Ed Scheidler huddles against the rain.

Our test ride was a very insightful experience that mixed the good, with the bad, and the fun with the work.

Click on the following links. Then read about the bike that Dirt Rider magazine claims is the Bike of the Year!, long before the year was over. Find out what we discovered about Yamaha's 4-stroke motocross effort!

And, find out some things the in print magazines didn't reveal about the YZ 400.

YZ 400 Technical Information

YZ 400 Ride Testing

Next Year's YZ 400?