How does a yz450f handle in the woods!

[TypicalYamiRider]

I currently own and yz125, I am about to turn 17 so I am looking to get a yz450, I know it seems like a huge step but I has been riding seance I was 4 and have. Lot of experience with bikes, not to mention I'm a pretty well skilled rider(not to be cocky or say I'm the best). But I do mostly woods racing and place a lot but I am in the B class now and my yz125 just ain't keeping up with the other bikes, It take everything I got just keep up in front of the pack to place. I thought about a yz250 2-stroke but I heard they make you tired real fast. I also race some motorcross so I don't want to get a strictly enduro bike but I want something that has a lot more power that I could use for both. A 450f seems like the best choice, opinions?

[Goforaride]

I currently own and yz125, I am about to turn 17 so I am looking to get a yz450, I know it seems like a huge step but I has been riding seance I was 4 and have. Lot of experience with bikes, not to mention I'm a pretty well skilled rider(not to be cocky or say I'm the best). But I do mostly woods racing and place a lot but I am in the B class now and my yz125 just ain't keeping up with the other bikes, It take everything I got just keep up in front of the pack to place. I thought about a yz250 2-stroke but I heard they make you tired real fast. I also race some motorcross so I don't want to get a strictly enduro bike but I want something that has a lot more power that I could use for both. A 450f seems like the best choice, opinions?

First and not to be mean but work on your grammar. Second you should buy a bike that is made for woods riding. Without spending a LOT of money on upgrades, a mx bike will never be good in the woods. I ride a lot of woods but it is miserable on my '14 yz450f compared to true woods bikes. You will have a hard time being competitive on A 450 anyways. The fastest woods riders I know ride 250f's that are designed for woods riding.

[dirtbeater]

I have ridden, not raced, 250f woods bike, 250 woods smoker, 450 f mx, and 250 mx smoker in the tight woods. I liked them all except the 250f woods bike. I am old fat and slow. The only reason I shy away from smokers is my toes have been broken many times and the vibes hurt really bad. My friends yz 250 had much lower vibes then my ktm 250 exc smoker. The 250f woods bikes didn't have enough power for my taste, I do hit the dunes occasionally. I like my 450 mx, my friends newer wr 450 felt sluggish. Just my opinion. I would like to ride a bored out yz 250 smoker though.

[Goforaride]

I have ridden, not raced, 250f woods bike, 250 woods smoker, 450 f mx, and 250 mx smoker in the tight woods. I liked them all except the 250f woods bike. I am old fat and slow. The only reason I shy away from smokers is my toes have been broken many times and the vibes hurt really bad. My friends yz 250 had much lower vibes then my ktm 250 exc smoker. The 250f woods bikes didn't have enough power for my taste, I do hit the dunes occasionally. I like my 450 mx, my friends newer wr 450 felt sluggish. Just my opinion. I would like to ride a bored out yz 250 smoker though.

250f do feel very sluggish if your use to a 450. I bet that in the woods you would have much better lap Times on the 250f tho. They are lighter and easier to control. The fact is that a 250f has more power than you, I and 99% of all other riders will ever Use in a racing situation. Unless your in the 1% your gonna be faster on a 250f or smoker in the woods. The biggest reason is traction and power control. Also e start is almost required to be competitive in amateur woods racing. Kicking after a stall will cost you time and more importantly it will exhaust you. One stall and re start is at best like 5 minutes worth of riding energy.

[dirtbeater]

I agree. My fat butt on a 250f in the dunes is less than amazing. Also, I don't race, just play ride. I also should mention that fall into the bottom 1% not the top 1%. The best rider I know has a clapped out xr 250. Forks hold no oil, it is a true pos. He can ride wheelies up hills that I still can't climb.

[Hans Schmid]

First and not to be mean but work on your grammar. Second you should buy a bike that is made for woods riding. Without spending a LOT of money on upgrades, a mx bike will never be good in the woods. I ride a lot of woods but it is miserable on my '14 yz450f compared to true woods bikes. You will have a hard time being competitive on A 450 anyways. The fastest woods riders I know ride 250f's that are designed for woods riding.

No, you don't have to spend virtually any money on a YZ450F to be competitive in the woods. Short of your standard guards (which you have to buy with ALL bikes), the YZF is a dream. Suspension is better then any woods specific bike made.

I spend lots of time in the woods on my 450f, racing it also. I also ride with many guys who are top expert riders riding different displacement bikes. None of them do any better or worse regardless of the bike, it's all about the rider...

[Hans Schmid]

I currently own and yz125, I am about to turn 17 so I am looking to get a yz450, I know it seems like a huge step but I has been riding seance I was 4 and have. Lot of experience with bikes, not to mention I'm a pretty well skilled rider(not to be cocky or say I'm the best). But I do mostly woods racing and place a lot but I am in the B class now and my yz125 just ain't keeping up with the other bikes, It take everything I got just keep up in front of the pack to place. I thought about a yz250 2-stroke but I heard they make you tired real fast. I also race some motorcross so I don't want to get a strictly enduro bike but I want something that has a lot more power that I could use for both. A 450f seems like the best choice, opinions?

Big gap between B and A/AA riders. I don't know your type of racing but a 450 will beat you up, period!as mentioned, either a 250F or a 250 2t are going to be the best route... A 250FX to me sounds like an awesome machine!

[dirtbeater]

Monk I have enjoyed reading your thread in the smoker side of things. It has made me want an 06 or newer 250 smoker and put a 325 kit on it. If you could only keep one bike, your 450 or smoker......which one would you keep?

[TypicalYamiRider]

But you say, "mx bike will never be good in the woods", yet you suggest a mx bike? If you can handle the HP while still maintaining to be a great rider wouldn't it be most sufficient to ride a 450f? Also--thank you but I have decent grammar.

[Hans Schmid]

Monk I have enjoyed reading your thread in the smoker side of things. It has made me want an 06 or newer 250 smoker and put a 325 kit on it. If you could only keep one bike, your 450 or smoker......which one would you keep?

450...though it threw me over the bars and hurt me yesterday...

[Hans Schmid]

But you say, "mx bike will never be good in the woods", yet you suggest a mx bike? If you can handle the HP while still maintaining to be a great rider wouldn't it be most sufficient to ride a 450f? Also--thank you but I have decent grammar.

450 is a lot of weight and a lot of horsepower, both I think you would struggle with...

[Goforaride]

No, you don't have to spend virtually any money on a YZ450F to be competitive in the woods. Short of your standard guards (which you have to buy with ALL bikes), the YZF is a dream. Suspension is better then any woods specific bike made.

I spend lots of time in the woods on my 450f, racing it also. I also ride with many guys who are top expert riders riding different displacement bikes. None of them do any better or worse regardless of the bike, it's all about the rider...

 the yz suspension is anything but good in the woods with stock valving. You can make do but its a energy expending chore the second you add roots, ditches, rocks etc... On good woods suspension, you can ride all day long. As for your friends, the key phrase is top experts. They may well have identical lap times regardless of bike size but the surely work harder on the bigger bikes.  

But you say, "mx bike will never be good in the woods", yet you suggest a mx bike? If you can handle the HP while still maintaining to be a great rider wouldn't it be most sufficient to ride a 450f? Also--thank you but I have decent grammar.

I never suggested an mx bike. I suggested a 250 4 stroke offroad race bike. Ktm for example has an entire line of 2 and 4 stroke race bikes designed for offroad instead of mx. The suspension is different. They have non link suspension. 6 gears instead of 5, bigger tanks, e start. They are purpose built. Yamaha also has the 250fx. Honda has the Crfx Etc... An mx bike is by far the best choice if you have the cash to build it but the factory built woods bike will cost less in the end.

[Hans Schmid]

the yz suspension is anything but good in the woods with stock valving. You can make do but its a energy expending chore the second you add roots, ditches, rocks etc... On good woods suspension, you can ride all day long. As for your friends, the key phrase is top experts. They may well have identical lap times regardless of bike size but the surely work harder on the bigger bikes. I never suggested an mx bike. I suggested a 250 4 stroke offroad race bike. Ktm for example has an entire line of 2 and 4 stroke race bikes designed for offroad instead of mx. The suspension is different. They have non link suspension. 6 gears instead of 5, bigger tanks, e start. They are purpose built. Yamaha also has the 250fx. Honda has the Crfx Etc... An mx bike is by far the best choice if you have the cash to build it but the factory built woods bike will cost less in the end.

How can you say the Yamaha stuff is anything but good... We must rode two completely different Yamahas as every single Yamaha I have owned has been excellent. I agree with your comments regarding the 450 though, but the suspension, no way...

[Goforaride]

How can you say the Yamaha stuff is anything but good... We must rode two completely different Yamahas as every single Yamaha I have owned has been excellent. I agree with your comments regarding the 450 though, but the suspension, no way...

Yamaha stuff is superb! On a track my '14 yz450f suspension can't be beat without spending thousands and even then it will only be beneficial if your racing for the national title. It took me quite a bit of experimenting with sag, fork height and clickers but once dialed in it's amazing. That's on a track tho. No roots, boulders, ditches that are as deep as they are wide, etc... Last Xc race I rode had a 1/4 mile long woop section running the bottom of a deep irrigation ditch. Unable to blitz them because They were all different heights and gaps and covered in grass so who knew what was coming. They all had nice square edges tho. The yz suspension fell flat on its face! My local trail system is covered in 4-10" tall roots, again the yz suspension fails miserably. With a re valve it could be amazing through those obstacles but then I loose the on track performance. As for the rest,(with stock settings in a woods environment) it is way to snappy and fast reving, first gear is to low but second is to high for most tight stuff. Both of those things make it prone to stalling. It really needs an 18" wheel. It's way way to tall if your under 5'10". If you can't put your feet on the ground you suffer in the woods. Basically everything that makes it one of the best mx bikes currently offered, makes it a very poor woods bike. Edited February 19, 2015 by Goforaride

[Goforaride]

When I first got this bike, I argued that it was just fine in the woods. Over time and after riding a couple friends bikes on the same trails, I have come to realize that this bike is as lost in the woods as I would be on the moon

[TypicalYamiRider]

the yz suspension is anything but good in the woods with stock valving. You can make do but its a energy expending chore the second you add roots, ditches, rocks etc... On good woods suspension, you can ride all day long. As for your friends, the key phrase is top experts. They may well have identical lap times regardless of bike size but the surely work harder on the bigger bikes. I never suggested an mx bike. I suggested a 250 4 stroke offroad race bike. Ktm for example has an entire line of 2 and 4 stroke race bikes designed for offroad instead of mx. The suspension is different. They have non link suspension. 6 gears instead of 5, bigger tanks, e start. They are purpose built. Yamaha also has the 250fx. Honda has the Crfx Etc... An mx bike is by far the best choice if you have the cash to build it but the factory built woods bike will cost less in the end.

I thought you was talking about a yz250f. I have been looking at the 250fx, it seems like a great woods bike! I also thought about a husqvarna TE250, I have never ridden one but I have heard they are a great woods bike. They are expensive and I have a hard time finding used ones for sale(trying to find a 2013 model at least). Ktm's are great but I have rode several different kinds and they are not just my kinda bike. As of money on the bikes, I'm really passionate for bikes, so that's all I spend my money on, building it up with upgrades, looks, etc... Suggesting on a TE250, and where I could find ones used for a decent price?

[mdsharon]

not true 450 with a rekluse turns the yz into a good woods bike, now 250 would be better but for the price and parts all over ebay you can't beat it. Ya I wish I had ktm but money is always the difference. just sayin! Yamahas kick ass.

[Goforaride]

not true 450 with a rekluse turns the yz into a good woods bike, now 250 would be better but for the price and parts all over ebay you can't beat it. Ya I wish I had ktm but money is always the difference. just sayin! Yamahas kick ass.

exactly money is the difference. Once you purchase a rekluse, get the enjectioneering mod, have your suspension sprung and valved correctly for woods and bought a larger fuel tank you have paid for that ktm. And you still wont have e start. The only extra you might spend on the ktm is springs if your not average rider size

[Hans Schmid]

exactly money is the difference. Once you purchase a rekluse, get the enjectioneering mod, have your suspension sprung and valved correctly for woods and bought a larger fuel tank you have paid for that ktm. And you still wont have e start. The only extra you might spend on the ktm is springs if your not average rider size

Man, you should have bought a KTM 250XCF, you sure have a hate on for your Yamaha.

[grayracer513]

My first reflex when I saw the original question was to respond with a question: "How does a pig play a violin?"

 

That's not altogether fair, of course, but the YZ450F is certainly out of its element as a woods bike.  The suspension is stiff, the engine is too cantankerous, the rear wheel is wrong, and the gear box is a close ratio setup.  It is light, and is workable, but you do have to make some changes to get it to work well. 

 

IMO, the only reason to go with a YZ instead of a WR is if you're buying used.  YZ's are a lot easier to find good examples of, and usually less expensive.  But if you're buying new, there will be a lot less expense involved in getting more power from the WR engine than in correcting the shortcomings of a YZ to suit the role really well.