dissapointed with 05 WR450

[NMRIDEN]

I went from a 00' Wr400 to a 05' Wr450 and am sort of disappointed. I think my 400 has more hit than my new 450. What's up with that? Any suggestions. I am new to this site and I have seen the list of free mods, my question is do these mods require re-jetting? To be honest I am intimidated by the whole jetting concept. Is the stock jetting OK. I live in New Mexico, and probably do most of my riding from 5000-8500 ft in elevation. Anyone have jetting set for those altitudes willing to help me out. I love the Wr's I think I just need to wake this bike up. I am searching through old threads, but any help would be appreciated. ?

[SkyRaider]

I just got an '05, too. It sure seems to me that after you do the free mods it runs pretty lean. I'm going to get the JD jetting kit. Hopefully, that will help a lot.

[wrooster]

I am new to this site and I have seen the list of free mods, my question is do these mods require re-jetting? To be honest I am intimidated by the whole jetting concept. Is the stock jetting OK.

read through this thread:

https://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=215250

everything said applies to your 450F as with the 250F.

also see the jetting tips in the 250F FAQ, again most everything applies to your 450F as well:

http://www.thumperfaq.com/sitemap.htm

jim aka the wrooster

'01 wr250f

[GasAHolic]

I understand that's pretty common without the mods. I just picked up a new one also, which the seller rejetted and removed the exhaust baffle, but still needs the smog / gray wire and a few other mods. I'm in the process of compileing a list of mods, free & otherwise that are recommended and will post them when it's ready. ? Apparently there is no such complete list available here as yet.

[endurodog]

I went from a 00 WR400 with YZ timing to a 03 WR450 and didn't notice any difference in power really. Now I really like a MX type of hit too. The E-button was an upgrade for sure. Make sure you do the free mods. I just put a Hotcam intake in my 03 but havn't had much seat time on it. From what I have felt it is better. I had to go with an intake instead of an exhust because of some repairs. A exh. with YZ timing would have brought even more of an MX hit.

[elton]

I went from a 00' Wr400 to a 05' Wr450 and am sort of disappointed. I think my 400 has more hit than my new 450. What's up with that? Any suggestions. I am new to this site and I have seen the list of free mods, my question is do these mods require re-jetting? To be honest I am intimidated by the whole jetting concept. Is the stock jetting OK. I live in New Mexico, and probably do most of my riding from 5000-8500 ft in elevation. Anyone have jetting set for those altitudes willing to help me out. I love the Wr's I think I just need to wake this bike up. I am searching through old threads, but any help would be appreciated. ?

I was disappointed until I did the "free mods"; and for about a min. or two after until I used the extra throttle provided by the shortened throttle-stop -- since then I have been amazed at my 05 "WZ450".

Given my lack of mechanical skills, I printed the free mods detailed for the WR250 at http://www.thumperfaq.com (are similar for the 450), gave it to my dealer and had them do the mods at my first service; ie: shorten the throttle-stop, disconnect the grey wire under the gas tank, remove the restrictive exhaust silencer baffle, remove the airbox snorkel.

Most here re-jet after the mods (I will soon); given your elevation, bet you need to also -- check-out the JD Kit at the store here and the Jetting forum. Also, might want to consider the Lowedog kit to remove the AIS (smog crap).

Elton

[Texas4play]

http://www.thumperfaq.com/sitemap.htm

This gives you info on free mods. Written for the 250 but, are good illustrations for all.

Your '05 will have variances to some of these mods.

In a nutshell here's the way I see it:

1. Throttle stop - when you first get your bike it's half throttle. Can't have that so, we change the throttle stop.

2. Gray wire - now that we have full throttle, our c.d.i. map is still mapped for 1/2 throttle. Can't have that so, we dis-connect gray wire (on the 05 it's in a six pin wire harness under the tank, right side).

3. Exhaust snorkle / Air box - now the bike needs to breath better so we remove the exhaust snorkle (take off the end cap, remove 4 bolts, re-install end cap) and open up the air box (remove seat, take out snorkle behind the battery. some people even cut out the holes on right side of air box, up to you).

4. Jetting/Fuel screw - once you get all this done you find out it's too lean. The 05 needle is non-adjustable and the fuel screw is blocked off and the jets are lean. Change needle to an adjustable type (jd or 04 model) pluck out the fuel screw blocker and change screw to zip - ty or the like. Up the jet sizes (main,pilot,starter, etc) to your elev and temp. Adjust fuel screw approx 1 3/4.

5. A.I.S. removal - lowedog kit - remove ais to rid the backfire on decel (after all these are done)

These are just basic mods to tune your new bike. Theres lots more you can do but this is a good start. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

[Dan_Lorenze]

Texas, excellent post. ???

[Texas4play]

Thanks Dan, just try'n to get the word out ?

[Grandville]

Texas, excellent post. ???

Yes, Texas I agree with Dan.

I did all the applicable mods to my 03, as you have listed, but found the most significant power improvement came with an aftermarker exhaust. These bikes like you said "need to breath better". The extra grunt of 50cc can be substantial, I think it can be found in un-constipating the exhaust.

[simon@vic]

the 2005s are junk. every one should boycott them. then the price will fall. ?

[Rip Wheeler]

NM, do the free mods, get the JD jet kit. Its perfect for a guy who doesnt want to do a bunch or trial and error. The kit will come with specs. Also, I inquired in the forum as to what others were using and their altitudes. I did this at the same time I did the FMF Powercore4 which I also installed the quiet core insert. Nice pipe, good power increase and sounds really tight! And also not obnoxious, but probably close to the max allowed in db. I imported mine brand new out of Canada, so it never had any grey wires and long throttle stop screws. I guess the 05's all have this, regardless. I find the power to be real nice since since the muffler. I do have a YZ camshaft coming, but not too sure if I'll instal it till I get more time on the existing setup. I had a YZ timed 426 before and the hit was hard and violent. I liked it! But for trail riding, the WR timing is much more manageable and would probably work better for trails IMHO. After you get all that power robbing goodies off of it, you'll throw rocks at everything else. The fact it was all choked up was one of those deals Yamaha had to do do get it green stickered, and they knew we could undo this stuff, while a red stickered bike is impossible to ever undo, no matter what you do to it. A search here will give you all the info you need. And when you ordered the JD kit, grab a extended fuel screw too. Zip Ty fuel screw is sold here along with the JD kit ?

[NMRIDEN]

I wanted to thank everybody for the help. ? I ordered the JDkit and the zip ty fuel screw from the TT store last night. I am going to do all the "free" mods this weekend. ?

[vantolr]

I wanted to thank everybody for the help. ? I ordered the JDkit and the zip ty fuel screw from the TT store last night. I am going to do all the "free" mods this weekend. ?

Let us know what you think after the mods., JD kit, etc. I'm guessing you're going to be a happy camper, but give us an udate.

[wardirt1]

I sent you a PM on this as I live in NM also but another way to get this answered is to go to the jetting forum and repost. Lots of experts there to give you the jet sizes you need. I got them from there for me. Also, if the '05 needle truly has no clips-shame on Yamaha-I will give you mine from my '04. See the PM for the number. Or, you can call Bobby Js in Abq, they have this all figured out for riding at the elevations you mention, ask for their service dept.

[Raistlin]

I have a friend that bought a 05 wr450. After 2 rides he was ready to get rid of it. I did the free mods and a JD jet kit for him. Now he would not trade it for the world...... Do the mods and jet kit, you will not believe the sleeping giant that will come out of your new toy!!! ??

[atomictom]

I think that there is something wrong with the people who aren't happy with the new bike. You can't tell me that there is that much difference between the 04 and 05. Do the mods right, and stop whining. I am in Canada and I think the bikes in the states must be getting the royal shaft from the government! I did not have to cut the grey wire I disconnect the tps for wide open riding and re-connect for tight trails, I put a different jet kit in, put a tit powerbomb with an aluminum Q, opened up my air box with cut outs and removed snorkel, maintain my bike to a T (a beat up one, but thats what they are for) any little quirks that are in the bikes system I have settled with keeping them. Lets face it, if you wanted a YZ450(all though I don't believe mine feels much different) you should have bought one. I love speed and power and I don't think there are many bikes out there that compare to the dependability and power of the wr450 by keeping it relatively stock.

And the last thing: make sure you break-in the bike before most of the mods! ??

[Raistlin]

Actually there is quite a differnce between the 04 and 05 here in the states. The 05 is quite the dog. My 04 wr250 would outrun it out of the box. They also have smog controll on it now for 05. The pilot screw is plugged (easily removed though), and the needle only has one clip position on it now. It is also jetted quite lean from the factory. But with all the free mods it becomes the beast we are all familiar with!! ?

You guys in canada are just lucky you do not have to mess with all this stuff!!

[atomictom]

Actually there is quite a differnce between the 04 and 05 here in the states. The 05 is quite the dog. My 04 wr250 would outrun it out of the box. They also have smog controll on it now for 05. The pilot screw is plugged (easily removed though), and the needle only has one clip position on it now. It is also jetted quite lean from the factory. But with all the free mods it becomes the beast we are all familiar with!! ?

You guys in canada are just lucky you do not have to mess with all this stuff!!

I do believe you are right and I think I can speak for all of us over here we're sorry, but the way our government is going the same changes on recreational motor vehicles and tolerances will be quite similar to yours in a few years. (Overpopulation with residential areas encrouching into prestine riding territory! ? :cry:

[RichieGoatGruff]

Also, if the '05 needle truly has no clips-shame on Yamaha

Actually, it's an EPA requirement, to get green-sticker legal there has to be no EASY way for the owner to modify the carb settings...I used washers under my 81 XL250 needle to richen things up! This has been going on for a long time, us old farts are used to it...you newbies need to quit whining and start learning how to get around the EPA!!