When you ask the YZ85's reed-valve-inducted six-speed engine for power, you learn very quickly the difference between it and whatever you rode before. This liquid-cooled six-speed screamer inhales through a 28mm Keihin PWK flat-slide carburetor and the heavy-duty clutch produces hard launches and positive shifts.

And when you begin exploring the capabilities of its adjustable, long-travel suspension, you'll start to comprehend how your Supercross heroes pull off those poster moves. The inverted Kayaba fork dishes out 10.8" travel and you've got 11.3" out back.

This is the real YZ deal, and if you're lucky it might teach you that the best things in life don't come easy. Excellence requires dedication, many hours, and a few thousand other intangibles.