WR450F Race Bike

[KTMsSuck351]

I'm turning my WR450F into a full blown race bike. I'm boring it out to 478, putting Hot Cams in it, stiffer springs/revalve, gearing it higher, FMF Header and silencer. Does anyone have any suggestions what else I should do?

[Hans Schmid]

Why does it need to be a 478? Instead of adding more power why not work on making it lighter?

[DirtRider500R]

Why does it need to be a 478? Instead of adding more power why not work on making it lighter?

 

This.^^

[grayracer513]

What year is the WR, and what kind of racing are you talking about? 

[KTMsSuck351]

It going to be for D37 races. I lightened it already by buying one of those ballistic batteries and taking the head light off. I picked the big bore kit so when I gear it higher I still can have plenty low end.

Also it's a 2007

[Navaho6]

Why does it need to be a 478? Instead of adding more power why not work on making it lighter?

 

Yep

Edited January 13, 2014 by Navaho6

[woods-rider]

Swap some SSS forks in.

[grayracer513]

There are a number of guys in D38 running WR's at various levels of modification, including stone stock engines, and some of them do quite well on the bikes.

 

Were I to run one, I would drop a set of YZ cams in it (or stage one hot cams for the WR), ditch the smog carb altogether and switch to the carb from a YZ450 (although the WR carb can be worked with), and redo the suspension.  On that last point, my preference would be to use a Phase 4 kit from SMART Performance, rather than switch to a whole set of SSS forks and then have to revalve those anyway.  The Phase 4 fork may in fact actually be a better fork in the rocky slow stuff. 

 

That, and a Rekluse clutch.

[KTMsSuck351]

The carb is already fine and the bike it totally uncorked. What would be the advantage of a Rekluse compared to a Hinson? I've always used Hinsons in my bikes.

[KTMsSuck351]

I might just buy one if these babes instead.

Edited January 13, 2014 by KTMsSuck351

[woods-rider]

What would be the advantage of a Rekluse compared to a Hinson? I've always used Hinsons in my bikes.

 

I'm pretty sure he's talking about their autoclutch to prevent stalling. Not a fan of them myself. I tried one in my buddies '09 WR450 and it mellowed out the hit too much for my liking.

Edited January 13, 2014 by woods-rider

[KTMsSuck351]

I'm pretty sure he's talking about their autoclutch to prevent stalling. Not a fan of them myself. I tried one in my buddies '09 WR450 and it mellowed out the hit too much for my liking.

I've always liked a torqy hard hitting motor and the Hinsons seem to be great for that.

[FORMA MOTO]

I'm turning my WR450F into a full blown race bike. I'm boring it out to 478, putting Hot Cams in it, stiffer springs/revalve, gearing it higher, FMF Header and silencer. Does anyone have any suggestions what else I should do?

 

Yeah, I did this already. 

If you want more info on what worked for me, PM me.

I live in North Los Angeles.

 

I would absolutely, positively not go with a big bore, unless you like more vibration, shorter crank life, and no increase in power band width.....

Cams with Port and Polish is the ticket. Mine is a rocket, with real usable power from 3000-9000 rpm.

[grayracer513]

The Rekluse clutch takes the job of clutch modulation in tight, rocky, or otherwise difficult areas completely out of the hands of the rider.  (You CAN override it, but there's very nearly never any need to)  No more stalling while picking your your way over the boulders, or clearing the third step at the top of that ugly climb, or when you just run your wheel up against something at low speed that you thought it would climb over, but it didn't.  The WR is already less prone to that than the YZ is because it has an engine that is happier at low RPM and it has more rotating mass.  That changes a little when you start tweaking them, though.   Traction also improves in situations like restarting a climb from the middle of the hill, and such.  It's a lot like having an automatic transmission on take off.

[Navaho6]

I tried the cheapest Rekluse, the EXP 2.0.  After a few rides with it, including a gnarly single track ride in the Ozark Mountains, I realized that I was doing a lot better with the manual clutch.  Without using the lever (allowing the autoclutch to do the work), the torque wasn't as predictable and controllable as with a manual operation.  It reminded me of a Polaris quad.  Too much engine braking on deceleration, too.  That really threw me off and destroyed my speed in the corners. Sure, you can override the auto clutch with the lever and modulate the power.  However with the cheaper model (EXP 2.0) the clutch pull was too stiff, at least 15% - 20% more (major arm pump issue for me).  I could have upgraded to the Core EXP for another $500, and that may have solved the hard clutch pull, allowing me to actually use the lever all day.  $900 was just too much $ for the sole benefit of not stalling.   I sold mine on ebay, and don't miss it.

Edited January 14, 2014 by Navaho6

[KTMsSuck351]

Yeah. I did some research on it. I would never buy an auto clutch in my life. Hinson is such a proven product I won't get anything else.

Edited January 14, 2014 by KTMsSuck351

[DRZ04]

I am not sure what year WR you have but if you check the January 2014 Dirt Bike Magazine towards the back they have an article about a 2012/2013 WR450 that has just about everything done to it. As usual more done than most would do.

[Remington_NC]

Auto clutch is just personal preference. If you ride fast without, don't buy one. I have a 2012 WR450 and I have a z-start pro auto clutch and with proper tuning i have an absurd hit of power. I love the thing but it doesn't really matter. its all on you to ride. 

 

TO make your bike a race bike I agree with the other posters. Light weight, and better suspension. I took my 2012 SSS cartridges out and put in Ohlines TTX cartridges in the stock tubes. Huge different. On a bike that heavy the suspension is key. Spend your money on suspension and lots of practice. 

 

If you were always at 100% throttle wishing you had more with your bike as a 450, then more engine will help. If your rarely at 100% throttle your bigger engine will probably hurt your speed. You'll being trying to use less throttle probably get tired sooner, and decrease engine reliability Its so rare riders are being held back by power. 

 

Just an opinion but, 

 

1- suspension

2- comfort things: bars, steering damper, good gear

3- lots of practice and working out

4- performance things like: pipe, carb tuning, ideal tires for the terrain, gearing sticker. 

 

PS I put 1 and 2 before 3 because I like working on my bike so much adding cool things to it is fun in its own respect. 

[Hans Schmid]

Yeah. I did some research on it. I would never buy an auto clutch in my life. Hinson is such a proven product I won't get anything else.

 

So are Rekluse clutches....The majority of problems relating to Rekluse clutches are owners installing them incorrectly.....

[Hans Schmid]

Auto clutch is just personal preference. If you ride fast without, don't buy one. I have a 2012 WR450 and I have a z-start pro auto clutch and with proper tuning i have an absurd hit of power. I love the thing but it doesn't really matter. its all on you to ride. 

 

TO make your bike a race bike I agree with the other posters. Light weight, and better suspension. I took my 2012 SSS cartridges out and put in Ohlines TTX cartridges in the stock tubes. Huge different. On a bike that heavy the suspension is key. Spend your money on suspension and lots of practice. 

 

If you were always at 100% throttle wishing you had more with your bike as a 450, then more engine will help. If your rarely at 100% throttle your bigger engine will probably hurt your speed. You'll being trying to use less throttle probably get tired sooner, and decrease engine reliability Its so rare riders are being held back by power. 

 

Just an opinion but, 

 

1- suspension

2- comfort things: bars, steering damper, good gear

3- lots of practice and working out

4- performance things like: pipe, carb tuning, ideal tires for the terrain, gearing sticker. 

 

PS I put 1 and 2 before 3 because I like working on my bike so much adding cool things to it is fun in its own respect. 

 

I ride fast and still use a Rekluse.....Do I feel its a must, no! But our races are getting tougher and tougher so it does make the job easier.

 

All that being said the OP rides nearly every day so seat time doesn't seem to be the issue.....