2006 WR450 Heavier!

[Indy_WR450]

What gives with the new 2006 WR450 weighing 5.1 lbs heavier than the 2005 and looks nearly the same and has the same specs????

I guess it must be the new 15.1 lb enduro computer that gets rid of the stock light weight 10.0 lb odometer!

Cool, new, digital enduro computer offers speedometer, clock, tripmeter, etc. in basic mode – or pace management functions such as timer, distance-compensating tripmeter, average speed, etc. when switched to race mode.

At least it has a steel frame the new YZ450 looks like a bear to rejet with the new frame coveing the carb access!

[hotrunnin-05wr450]

i must admit the new yz450 does look pretty bitchin though.

[jwriott]

I'm thinking with the return of the 5-speed, you buy the YZ and add a Rekluse.

That's what I'll probably do for a next bike.

[Dan_Lorenze]

I'm thinking with the return of the 5-speed, you buy the YZ and add a Rekluse.

That's what I'll probably do for a next bike.

I would rather slip in a nice WR tranny and maybe a flywheel weight.. A buddy of mine bought an 05 YZ450 for trail riding, he hated it and sold it after 2 months of riding.. 1st gear was just too tall for technical riding. He bought an RMZ450, he said it's night and day better for offroad than his YZ... (I just think he likes yellow bikes)..

[Lukejt]

Why didn't he just install a larger rear sprocket?

Lukejt

[Dan_Lorenze]

Why didn't he just install a larger rear sprocket?

Lukejt

Because he wanted to have a top speed of at least 40 mph...

[jwriott]

I would rather slip in a nice WR tranny and maybe a flywheel weight.. A buddy of mine bought an 05 YZ450 for trail riding, he hated it and sold it after 2 months of riding.. 1st gear was just too tall for technical riding. He bought an RMZ450, he said it's night and day better for offroad than his YZ... (I just think he likes yellow bikes)..

Dan, doesn't the 05' YZ450 have a 4-speed?

[Indy_WR450]

Yes the 03/04/05 YZ is 4 speed and the 06 YZ is back to a 5 speed like the 426s.

That still does not explain why the WR grew 5.1 lbs?

[hotrunnin-05wr450]

they added lead for the last year....so that way when they put it into the new aluminum frame it can way 5 lbs less!!! and make a big deal about it!!

[jwriott]

Yes the 03/04/05 YZ is 4 speed and the 06 YZ is back to a 5 speed like the 426s. ?

That still does not explain why the WR grew 5.1 lbs?

I know that, I thought we'd already gotten past wanting a WR450 and moved onto the YZ450 with the 5-speed.

My guess would be that that Yamaha is getting tired of all the calls and hate mail they receive when one of their customers puts a WR on a scale and it's way heavier than advertised. Could they actually be listing the true weight?

[Indy_WR450]

Good point John! They may be pumping up the numbers back to reality.

[Dan_Lorenze]

Vmax, Yep... It's got the 5 speed but it's a close ratio tranny, don't get me wrong I love close ratio transmissions but for true offroad conditions you can't beat wide ratio trannys. I've gotten myself into some pretty ugly situations on my WR where I thanked god for having such a short first gear. Funny, in the past I'm guilty of having the opinion that the WR was the fat ugly sister to the sexy YZ.. In some situations it is.. But I could never justify the change over to the YZ for the riding I do.. And, the older and fatter I get the more I love the magic button... Oh... The magic button....

[flatnacker]

In what type of situations do you love having such a short first gear? I have found the shortness of the gears to be a real pain-especially on hill climbs where first is just to short and shifting to second is not an option? Serious question because its been something which has me stumped-spose I should attack the hill in second and fan the clutch?

[Dan_Lorenze]

In what type of situations do you love having such a short first gear? I have found the shortness of the gears to be a real pain-especially on hill climbs where first is just to short and shifting to second is not an option? Serious question because its been something which has me stumped-spose I should attack the hill in second and fan the clutch?

Situations like being lost, no trails and no roads just following my GPS while riding over basketball size rocks for a couple of hours at a time (my last cross country ride), in that stuff clutching is for the birds... It's all fun and games until the terrain gets ugly then I'm happy I chose a WR with its transmission... A small first gear is really nice for those situations. It's why Yamaha makes the bike in the first place.

[Matty05]

I have to admit that the WR's are porkers! My two best mates both brought YZ450F's when I got the two WR's and the YZ's are lighter than even the WR250. It is really dissapointing to say the least.

I am soooo glad that the 2006 WR's have steel frames! ROCK ON!

[flatnacker]

A small first gear is really nice for those situations. It's why Yamaha makes the bike in the first place.

Yeah but on a gnarly hill climb it can cause some grief

[Indy_WR450]

I am with Dan Lorenze on this one. The wide ratio tranny and the granny first gear is awesome for low speed technical riding like trials type terrain and then hitting some high speed washes or fire roads! A stock YZ first gear would fry the clutch very quickly in super nasty conditions. As for hill climbs where you can get a run at it that is what 3rd gear is for! The WR has gobs of low rpm torque and flywheel to carry you up in third at just above idle! ? It is an awesome all around trail and play bike! It is like the world heaviest trials bike! ?

[flatnacker]

Im not necessarily disagreeing with anyone, but I know for some of the riding I do where it is dense forest and minimal run up to the hill climbs first could be just that bit wider-these are serious hills Im talking about where if you stop, stall or miss a gear you are tumbling back down on your arse!!! Geez a nice 3rd gear hill would be a dream!!!!

[Indy_WR450]

You can fine tune 2nd or first with sprocket changes to suit your conditions and trails. Most of us are very happy with 13/50 and the WR tranny!

[simon@vic]

claimed weights are a joke.

by the time you add:

-oil

-coolant

-fork oil

-eng oil

-heave duty tubes

-bash plate

-rad supports

-bark busters

your way up there in weight...........

its all about how it feels changing direction quickly more then what it weighs.