2016 or 2017 WR450 vs YZ450FX?

[24v]

Hi everyone.  I am about to buy a bike to go to the desert.  I would like to do a combination of hard pack, and dunes.  I live in San Diego, so I have to deal with the whole Green and red sticker thing.

I know the WR gets a green, and the yzfx gets a red.  Red will limit my summer time riding.

 

With that said, is there enough difference between a wr and an fx to deal with the limitations of the fx due to the sticker, or is the wr close enough that I could mod it to be similar to an fx if necessary?

 

Sorry if this is a lame post or redundant question, I did try looking around and did not find an answer.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

[SteveThe Snakes]

We've gone over it a couple of times. But a WR is pretty much the same bike. Suspension is supposed to be valved a bit different, springs are the same. The WR needs a rear section pipe and derestriction and you have the same bike with lights and a green sticker.

[FORMA MOTO]

The WR has more:

 

Restircted Muffler

Suspension valving softness

More wire harness

Front light

Rear light

Locked ECU

[24v]

The WR has more:

 

Restircted Muffler

Suspension valving softness

More wire harness

Front light

Rear light

Locked ECU

The wiring and lighting don't bother me as I would likely ad a bright headlight anyways.  The locked ecu and restricted exhaust bother me more as that is money I wouldn't need to spend on the fx.

[SteveThe Snakes]

Let me see if I have that right. You spend close to $9,000 out the door on a bike and your worried about a used YZ rear section of the pipe and a $100. ECU. hum ok.

[FORMA MOTO]

The wiring and lighting don't bother me as I would likely ad a bright headlight anyways.  The locked ecu and restricted exhaust bother me more as that is money I wouldn't need to spend on the fx.

 

Yeah, I should have gone green sticker / WR, but the deals were not as good, and the idea of less 'stuff' on the bike appealled to me....even though I will probably add it all back anyway...

[SteveThe Snakes]

Yeah, I should have gone green sticker / WR, but the deals were not as good, and the idea of less 'stuff' on the bike appealled to me....even though I will probably add it all back anyway...

Well your going the foreign plate route so you should be fine. But yea by the time your done you generally end up with a fx with lights or a WR with a fx pipe. So it kind of evens it out either way.

I still don't even know if the wr is a AC headlight or running off of dc.

[FORMA MOTO]

Well your going the foreign plate route so you should be fine. But yea by the time your done you generally end up with a fx with lights or a WR with a fx pipe. So it kind of evens it out either way.

I still don't even know if the wr is a AC headlight or running off of dc.

 

Supposedly the FX has everything needed to add the lights; stator winds, harnesses, and inlcuding the rear light mounting bosses underneat thel rear fender...  but no harness plug for the trip computer.

[SteveThe Snakes]

I think the headlight is running off of AC like the older carbed versions.

My WR headlight wires are in the front main harness. The only mod I did was to add a high beam switch and I used a pep boys pig tail that had the extra wire for the bulb socket.

[SteveThe Snakes]

If you end up going DC on your headlight you may consider using one of the super bright LED bulbs that use very little power.

[FORMA MOTO]

If you end up going DC on your headlight you may consider using one of the super bright LED bulbs that use very little power.

 

 My headlight may not even be funtional...

[24v]

Let me see if I have that right. You spend close to $9,000 out the door on a bike and your worried about a used YZ rear section of the pipe and a $100. ECU. hum ok.

Is the ecu really only $100?  As for the rear section of the pipe, the head pipe does not have a catalyst in it?  I am just starting to learn, so that is why I am asking.

I truly appreciate the help.

BTW, I am also concerned about the softer suspension valving of the WR.  Is it much softer, or only slightly?  It really would be easier if we could test ride these bikes.  LOL

Edited June 28, 2016 by 24v

[SteveThe Snakes]

Is the ecu really only $100?  As for the rear section of the pipe, the head pipe does not have a catalyst in it?  I am just starting to learn, so that is why I am asking.

I truly appreciate the help.

BTW, I am also concerned about the softer suspension valving of the WR.  Is it much softer, or only slightly?  It really would be easier if we could test ride these bikes.  LOL

No catalytic converter in the US. YZ tail pipes would be cheap on eBay. ECU is about $100. Suspension valving is slightly different but stiff on both bikes, same springs. Typically set up for a 180 lb. rider.

[24v]

No catalytic converter in the US. YZ tail pipes would be cheap on eBay. ECU is about $100. Suspension valving is slightly different but stiff on both bikes, same springs. Typically set up for a 180 lb. rider.

Hmm, I think you've talked me back over to the WR side of things. ?

[Super_Davee]

My YZ pipe was under $100 on eBay. 

[organicgun]

In the wonderful state of california; I would consider that No matter how much money you throw at an fx it will never be a green sticker bike. But it wouldn't take alot to make the wr really good.

Edited June 28, 2016 by organicgun

[SteveThe Snakes]

I would consider that; No matter how much money you throw at an fx it will never be a green sticker bike. But I don't think it'd take alot to make the wr really good.

Pretty much. If it was me and I was on a budget I would pick up a slip on or YZ muffler section and use a Pro Moto billet end cap. They have a spark arrestor built in.