Exclusive Japanese Spy Photos! 2010 Preview
swapmoto
- March 14 2009
- 145,783 views
- 86 comments
EXCLUSIVE JAPANESE SPY PHOTOS!
EFI-EQUIPPED 250s LEAD THE WAY
The 2009 All Japan National MX Championship Series got underway today at Kyushu Sports Park in Kumamoto, Japan, and several special works bikes made their debut at the Honda-owned and operated facility. Because the machines of the MFJ series are not limited by a production rule, manufacturers are allowed to field prototype, pre-production, a full-works machines.
This weekend, the standout bikes were the Kawasaki KX250F and Suzuki RM-Z250s, both of which featured electronic fuel injection. Both were reported to be pre-production 2010 units, so it appears that EFI will make its way into the Lites class for 2010.
Aside from the EFI throttle body, the Kawasaki KX250F piloted by Shin Inouye looked much like an existing ’09 KX250F. As has become par for the course, the factory Kawasaki’s—even though exotic enough in their own rite—remained the most subdued in appearance.
A few days ago, TransWorld Motocross already spotted the pre-production Suzuki RM-Z250 in action at Glen Helen Raceway Park, but the bike raced in Japan by Suzuki factory rider Yutaka Hoshino was much, much tricker. As they are in the United States, the factory Suzukis in Japan have the highest bling factor.
Also on hand for the third year in a row was the EFI Honda CRF250R, piloted by Yu Hirata. This machine was a pure works bike, however, and we were told that the 2010 production EFI CRF250R will look much like the 2009 CRF450R.
No special Yamaha YZ250Fs were on hand at Kyushu, mostly due to the fact that Yamaha Japan has cancelled its official factory motocross race team effort. The satellite Team YZ squad was mounted on stock-looking ’09 YZ250Fs. Our inside sources at Yamaha Japan, however, indicate that there are no major engine changes in store for the 2010 Yamaha YZ250F, though the bike will receive an all-new chassis and bodywork, plus revised suspension settings.
As for the all-new Yamaha YZ450F, defending All Japan National MX Champion Akira Narita raced a privateer ’09 YZ450F (under the YSP/Narita Racing Team banner) with a combination of works Yamaha parts and Rinaldi Racing parts from Italy. Though the radically all-new pre-production 2010 YZ450F—which features EFI, a forward-tilted engine and an all-new chassis and bodywork—was said to be ready for Narita to race, word in the pits was that Yamaha Motor Corp. USA demanded that the bike not be unveiled in Japan just yet. Poor sales of the ’09 YZ450F mandate that the ’10 model not make its competition debut until September, at the All Japan National MX series finale.
Like Yamaha, Honda Japan dropped its factory motocross race team effort, but special HRC machines were provided to the Dream Honda team, which includes 250F rider Hirata, as well as 450 pilots Yoshihide “The Best Last Name Ever” Fukudome and Kazumasa Masuda. The Dream Honda CRF450Rs boasted plenty of trick parts; most notably Fukudome’s radical works Showa front forks.
The Suzuki RM-Z450s were pre-production 2010 units, with works throttle body parts and EFI components. Though it looks the same to the naked eye, the ’10 RM-Z450 boasts a new chassis with much-improved geometry. The engine settings are also said to be much different for ’10, gravitating towards the more aggressive side.
The factory Kawasakis featured the normal works parts—suspension, triple clamps, etc.—but nothing radically different than stock grabbed our eye. Many expect last year’s IA2 champion, Hiroake Arai, to make a big splash this year as he steps up to the IA1 division in ’09.
Below, you will find a 200+ photo gallery slideshow. To view the photos at your own pace, or to enlarge them to check out the detail, click the link below that says “Click here to download images.” Enjoy! - Swap-san
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March 14th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Thanks Mang! Enjoy the rest of your trip.
March 14th, 2009 at 7:35 am
WOW, sketchy graphic kit on pic.201, lol
March 14th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Awesome pics,great for the tech moto head! Their track food looks better than some of the stuff i have seen at local tracks.
March 14th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Good coverage Swap! Does all the foam really work? Seems to me like theres more surface area for the mud to hold onto? Id have to assume they know more about it than me lol but thats what it looks like.. Gnarly track conditions, wish I could see these guys at full steam! Anymore Japmoto coverage to come? Looks like huge nugs growing in the backround of pic 89 to.. Japan’s sweet!
March 14th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Very cool Swap-son! Sux all the mud.
March 14th, 2009 at 8:44 am
FIRST!!!!!
March 14th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Actually, I think you were sixth.
And yeah, I think the foam does really work, though one of the mechanics told me it is only good for super wet mud. I think the sticky Loretta Lynn’s kind might stick and pull the foam off.
March 14th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Its pretty obvious on the Rmz 450 pic that the steering offset is different from the ‘09.
Great Job Swap!
March 14th, 2009 at 9:05 am
dude thats an 08 YZ250F, look at pic 120 the swingarm is the oldschool bolt through type….what the shit is that all about.
March 14th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Correct! The frame is all new for 2010 on the RM-Z450.
March 14th, 2009 at 9:38 am
What is up with that YZ450 header pipe?
March 14th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Can’t wait for those hondas
March 14th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Is there any way that the foam under the fenders could help in sound testing? It looks like it is designed for mud, but could it be an advantage for sound testing?
March 14th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Man…that suzuki looks SEXXYYYYY!
March 14th, 2009 at 11:04 am
that works honda 250f is amazing! i’m in love yo! cant wait to ride a EFI 250f… that suzuki looks killer also!!!!! nice looks swapasan!!!!
March 14th, 2009 at 11:10 am
The team Dream Honda has your number Swapasan! sux you have a busted wheel…you could have rode some motos represent’n team twmx/usa/japan hahaha
March 14th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Soooo, the long awaited question FINALLY arives.. Will the MX community call them the “TEN’S”.. or the “O-TEN’S?” haha
March 14th, 2009 at 11:42 am
couple questions. what is that on the crf250r on pic #57, what the heck is with the header on the yz450?!? and what do they mean by…”Like Yamaha, Honda Japan dropped its factory motocross race team effort”… in the article?
March 14th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
What a shame…To put the best hand-built bikes in the world though that kind of abuse/torture/death = mud.
Why can’t they find a dry track or move this event to another time of year when its not so damn muddy?
March 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
It’s interesting how the bikes we race in the US are developed in Japan. It would be interesting to read an article on how the bikes are generally developed and how the motor corps in Japan relate to the U.S. divisions.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
AWW YEAH
March 14th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
KTM?
March 14th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
how is a graphic kit sketchy?? ur dumb.
if you dont know how to use a word dont use it.
March 14th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
When will the crf250r be available for the public?
March 14th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I wonder how much the Honda 450 has changed?
March 14th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
what is with hoshino’s Bar…haha look like freestyle Bars
March 14th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I think it is just for mud, because i dont think the front fender makes that much noise.
March 14th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
the CRF450 wont be changed much at all. If you notice, they make big changes on the 450 one year, then the next year all their R&D goes into the 250, and the pattern continues.
March 14th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
“Nothing too radically different than stock” that linkage on the KX450 looks very different than stock to my eyes.
March 14th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
M is finally a number!
yay!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 14th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
LOL
March 14th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
You should hear my front fender whistle on the fastest part of the track!!
March 14th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
THat YZ is using an 08 swingarm….what gives? I was anxiously awating the first pics of the “radically” new YZ450 and whatever they plan for the YZ250 ….bummmed thy didn’t unveil because of poor bike sales…makes sense but that is due to a lackluster economy and the bike itself being a year behind in updates to the other 3 i.e. FI, new chassis/bodywork etc, im assuming they (yamaha) don’t want anyone to see the ‘10 and hold out for that one so there will bee a ton of leftover 09’s. The RMZ’s both look killer I may get one of thos for my next bike if they’ve worked out the demons that plagued the 450 the past 2 years
March 14th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
THey (all 4) still haven’t converted to the radial front brake design?
March 14th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
two stroke, two stroke?
March 15th, 2009 at 1:39 am
hey swap what happen to that sick A1 practice Video?
March 15th, 2009 at 2:12 am
Feld Entertainment made us pull it down.
March 15th, 2009 at 11:48 am
o yippee.. i get to try and convince my parents on why i need a 250 now… lifes tough
lol
March 15th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
haha sketchy tires and grips too haha jk
March 15th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
if your fender whistles your probably on a 1972 gas gas or something similar haha
March 15th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
there gone man…just give them up already!!
March 15th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Those Hondas are killing it hands down. The #36 Honda is so trick makes geico Hondas look like amateurs. The suzukis r second best but Akira Narita’s YZ450 is so cool.
March 15th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
i thought they werent gunna have the EFI 250s because of the extremely high rev…
March 16th, 2009 at 1:13 am
look at pic 36, the honda’s header is differatn at the end were it comes to the slip on, and its not a shorty anymore the pipe is longer ?
March 16th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
the new suzooks are sick so is the 450 yamaha
March 16th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
check out pic 162
three holeshots on the fork, never seen anyone do that for diff settings. haha
March 17th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Check out this link. Is this race the same one these spy photos are from?
http://xpressjapan.com/2009/03/2009-mfj-mx-rd1-1.html
March 17th, 2009 at 4:39 am
ya elég faszák lettek, a 2009 motorok, megnézném a KTM-ekek is….
March 17th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Kawasaki needs to bag the big ugly silencer. Hopefully they will get rid of the painted cases.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Dang, was hoping to see some 2 strokes!
March 19th, 2009 at 9:07 am
What up wiht yz pipe
March 19th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
KTM = Austria dude…
March 20th, 2009 at 1:44 am
what do you mean that the yamaha will have a foward-tilted engine.
I heard that yamaha was gonna produce them in 2010 the last few years but is it gonna be like a husaberg?
March 21st, 2009 at 12:23 pm
What up wiht yz pipe….anyone ever heard of talking normal? It seems to me that the new thing is talking like idiot cuz it so cool man!! Maybe if you tried talking like you had a few functioning brain cells, the rest of society could understand you!
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
But I was the first to post “FIRST!!!”
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:09 am
2010 honda cr250f, here come
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:10 am
what the hell does 2010 honda crf250r, here come mean!!!!!!!
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:12 am
you might be a tool??? Perhaps??? Most recent post!!! For Now!! LOL
I R SO COOL.
March 25th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
i have wood
March 26th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
they don’t need to change the 2 smoke 250’s
they keep advancing the 4 bangers cuz 4 stroke riderz can’t switch back to 2 strokes. but 2 stroke riders can
March 26th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
never. real mean ride powerband
March 26th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
You guys all suck. your a bunch of whiny, sniveling little girls who have nothing better to do than bash each other over a few spelling mistakes. come to alberta , canada when the REAL men ride. If your lucky, maybe you’ll keep up. till then put up or shut up.
March 27th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
where the heck do u find anodized radiators?!?!those things are bad!!! like on slide 150
March 30th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
yeah or the gold ones on the honda, slide 50!!
March 30th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Thats what i said
March 30th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
ive been wondering about that to, because its kinda confusing either way u say it
March 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
thats what she said
March 31st, 2009 at 8:51 pm
idk what is up with the YZ450F’s header pipe
March 31st, 2009 at 8:55 pm
If you find out let me know
March 31st, 2009 at 9:18 pm
cant wait 4 the crf250 to come i want one
April 15th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
I can tell that you you are a very fast rider because of your great spelling and perfect sentence structure. Sorry, but I cannot take you up on your offer for fear of being roosted every time you lap me!
April 17th, 2009 at 10:39 am
All these bikes are so dope. I would kill for any one of the 250’s
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
me too!
April 27th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Than what fun is motocross?
May 1st, 2009 at 3:52 pm
hey guys is the 2010 kx250f going to be fuel injected????????Anyone…:]
May 9th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
anyone hear if honda is gonna switch to a 6 clutch spring system like the 08
May 27th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
when are the 2010 coming out
July 28th, 2009 at 2:38 am
whoa !!! yeah babe i love those SUZUKI rmz 450 !! its bad ass oh thats nice ! rmz 250 look like same as 450 !!!! ….
August 11th, 2009 at 3:50 am
I heard the new 2010kx 250f is not fuel injected! but right here it says it is
August 11th, 2009 at 4:03 am
Canadians suck ass at riding!!!!
September 4th, 2009 at 3:56 am
The sneak peaks I have seen of the 2010 YZ450f appears to be a total and radical redesign of the bike.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
they both are shit yamaha is the way to go. i got a yz250f that will stomp the rmz 450
October 20th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
they both are shit yamaha is the way to go. i got a yz250f that will stomp the rmz 450
October 20th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
ya i like the two strokes, they smell nice but the four strokes have more power