WRF4?? on the MX track ?

[mjskier]

Hi all,

I'm toying with the idea of trading in my YZ250 for a WRF4?? as the

gearing for the YZ makes it very unpracticle for trail riding (1st too long, 5th way too short).

I like both the MX track and trail riding so my plan is to get a WRF and get a YZF tank and seat to ride it at the MX track and use the WRF set up when trail riding.

Has anybody else done that ? I'm by no mean a good MX rider, (I don't jump that much) so the main issue I see is that the wide gearing might not be very appropriate for track riding. Or is it ?

Also, is there any model year to stay away from ?

I was thinking 2001 or 2002 as the price is right. From the spec, the 2002 is about 20 lbs lighter than the 2001. Is the 2002 that much better ? Electric start isn't a requirement for me.

thanks for any suggestions,

bruno.

[MattyH]

spoil yourself and go for a 450 with the e-start(it only adds about 8lb), if drop it on the track, hit the button and away you go while laughing at the other poor bastards who are still kicking the crap out of their bikes!

I have an '04 450 with the yz rear guard and number plate on it and it has been raced and it won all 3 heats(my bike has been subject to a few internal modifications though). the seats on the yzf and the wrf are different so if you wanna run the yzf tank you're gonna be up for the cost of the yzf or equivalent seat as well.

the 450 is sold with a spare yz front sprocket (14t), or at least it is in Australia so sorting the gearing for mx use is pretty simple (if i remember right its a 27mm socket u'll need to change the sprockets)

if the '01-'02 models are slap bang in the middle of your budget opt for the newer of the two but the first thing that you need to do before you even ride it(aside from a test ride before you part with the cash) is have the clearances checked. i cant stress it enough. a friend of mine recently bought an cosmetically immaculate '02 426 and the clearances were down to 0.001 on the left exhaust valve.

[mjskier]

spoil yourself and go for a 450 with the e-start(it only adds about 8lb)

Thanks for the info. I thought that it would be much heavier but looking at old reviews and specs you are right. One magazine article mentioned that the 2003 WRF was only 8 lbs heavier than the 2002 YZF. n(not bad considering the battery, lights, kick stand...)

Maybe I SHOULD spoil myself... :-)

bruno.

[Math]

1st thing: stay away from the 2003WR450f: too many problems. If you go 450f, go with the 04.

2nd thing is about the poor bastards: Matty, this expression does not sound really friendly even for a francophone like me and since over 50% of the riders in the 4xx yamaha forums still ride 400s and 426s, and considering all YZ guys kickstart their bikes, ? It'll probably be better if you avoid the word bastard in such cases ... and probably many other cases by the way No offense taken.

3- A well tuned 426 is a real blast on a motocross track and since you won't do big tripples, I wouldn't be afraid at all. I would agree with the 02 beeing better. I haven't figured why yet but it seems to me that they have less problems with the off idle bog. The 450s have even better suspension.

4- A 426 is really easily yz-ized. You can time the bike like a YZ without even having to buy another cam (although a yz450 cam is great since it auto-decops), you can buy a seat, an aftermarket YZ tank with good fuel capacity, number plate, rear fender... you can even swap the pipe to an original YZ pipe which are sold on e-bay brand new for about $60.

I'd say a 02 426 or a 04 450 are two really really good choice in your situation. Of course I'd prefer the 450 but the 426 is a h... of a nice ride!

[RADRick]

I have an '04 WR450 that I ride tracks and trails with. Considering what I do for a living, I had a lot of comparison rides on different bikes before deciding what to spend my own money on. Because of numerous knee surgeries, E-start was not an option. The WR has the engine and tranny of a trail bike, but the chassis and soul of an MXer. I don't think I'd want to race it on MX tracks, but if having a bike that suits a wide range of riding is what you're after, the WR fits the bill to a Tee.

[cgrlvr35]

I have the 05WR450. Ive been on mx tracks, washougal, taft etc, I race the WORCS series and been having a blast. Slowly doing up grades, did the suspension. I have ben happy. Its good on the table tops. Ive been happy

[tonymiller]

Math,

Don't want to jack the thread, but what is so bad about the 03 WR450? Mine with the free mods has been the best bike I have ever had! [01 WR426 before]

Should I be looking for something I am not aware of?

TM

[RADRick]

Math,

Don't want to jack the thread, but what is so bad about the 03 WR450? Mine with the free mods has been the best bike I have ever had! [01 WR426 before]

Should I be looking for something I am not aware of?

TM

The '03s had a problem with shearing off the Woodruff key on the cam gear. The factory has quietly fixed a number of them under warranty with an update, but when buying used you have no way of knowing if it has been updated or not, and no recourse if it should fail. It has been known to cause catastrophic engine failures since the valves can stay open while the piston keeps moving.

[flatnacker]

Yes, but a simple fix can be done swapping to the 04 starter clutch for around $350 AUD which eliminates this prob!!!

[OldCrash]

Hey there

I personally would go for the 450 It has allot of benefits over the 426 in my opinion, the best being the electric start and the auto decompression. According to Yam the 02 426 has a dry wt. of 240 lbs and the 450, 245 lbs. so the weight is not really a factor. I race a 03 wr450 myself this is my second full season on it and have not had a problem with it yet. I race with a group called MRA (motorcycle racing association www.racemra.com) here in MI/OH area. Most of our races are night races, racing starts at 8:00. So we race on into the dark.

I race most of the time in full wr trim. It's kind of my trade mark I race with the lights on ? , it also helps friends and family pick you out in the dark. The bike is mostly stock with just the free mods except cutting the gray wire. I like the torque the way it is and don't want to change it. I did have to have the suspension done to handle my size 6' 1" 220lbs. it just wouldn't handle the jumps without bottoming but my brothers 02 yz426 wouldn't either with a rider my size. The stock tires had to go also. I run dunlop 756's. The 450 tank is pretty slim and as for the fuel capacity I just don't fill it full to race only about half full will get me through 2 practices and 2 motos. No need for the extra 10lbs of fuel when racing. I do take the rear fender and light assy. off once in a while when I race a big race or a day race not because of weight but because of cost. The light assy cost around $100.00 and the rear fender and tail light is over $60.00. It's better to replace a $20.00 fender and a $20.00 number plate if you get hit or go down. I learned this the hard way, a guy lost it on a jump and landed on me It got the headlight rear fender, handle bars, bent a radiator and bent the exhaust. Not to mention it hurt a little bit A yz fender bolts right on you just have to punch out a couple of slugs for the overflow tank and with a small bracket a yz number plate will go on. I have had allot of guys come up and ask me what the bike is . They know it's not a yz because of the lites and e-start (I never kick start it) but it's to fast to be a wr ?. I take the gate in 2nd gear and ride the whole race in 3rd and a little 4th. I hope this helps Send me a note if you would like anymore info.

[AkRider]

I did the 04 stater upgrade on my 03 even though I never had a problem. I YZ'ed mine with the number plate and rear fender and took all the extra stuff off. I did not do the tank and seat but I think it would help a lot with the fast cornering on th track. I think my WR is lighter then my friends YZ426 once I did all the mods to it. I changed the exhaust which was a big weight savings. I ride about 60% trails and 40% at the track and I think it's a great way to go.

[OldCrash]

The '03s had a problem with shearing off the Woodruff key on the cam gear. The factory has quietly fixed a number of them under warranty with an update, but when buying used you have no way of knowing if it has been updated or not, and no recourse if it should fail. It has been known to cause catastrophic engine failures since the valves can stay open while the piston keeps moving.

I believe it is the flywheel key not a cam gear key. Bikes that have been repaired by dealer should have a punch mark by the vin # on the head tube. There is a Yamaha service bulletin on this problem I don't recall the bulletin #. There have been allot of post talking about the cause and effects you could do a search for it in the forum and find it . I love my 03 it is a blast.

[Oouthere]

I also race my '04 WR450F in full WR trim. I had to upgrade the springs, front valving and front tire. The front tire was replaced because she pushed out in turns and the rear valving should probably be upgraded as well. I'm 6'2" @ 235lbs and the biggest jumps I hit are 65', usually limited to 50'. I'm a high D, low C class rider and have won about 75% of my races while running Opening Trails and 250D.

My daughter has a YZ250F and I can ride a good bit faster using her bike but you shift yourself to death. The ultimate bike for me would be a YZ450F with a WR gearbox.

Rich

[flatnacker]

Ahhhhh wouldnt that be a WR with a YZ cam basically????

[simon@vic]

1- if your getting a wr or yz 250-426-450, get one that is 2002 or newer. and yes they are that much better {avoid the 2003 wr450).

2- a wr trans on an mx track will be fine unless you are a pro, then it would be annoying even if the final drive gearing was perfect.

3- if you get any wr, put a 2005 yz cam in it

the best bike for me would be a 2005 yz450 with a 6 speed wide ratio trans......droooollll

[RADRick]

I believe it is the flywheel key not a cam gear key. Bikes that have been repaired by dealer should have a punch mark by the vin # on the head tube. There is a Yamaha service bulletin on this problem I don't recall the bulletin #. There have been allot of post talking about the cause and effects you could do a search for it in the forum and find it . I love my 03 it is a blast.

I figured since I used the singular "cam gear" that readers would know I was referring to the one on the crank that drives the cam chain. My bad. Most mechanics refer to the gears on the end of the camshafts as cam sprockets since they aren't really gears in the true sense. Also, there are no woodruff keys used on the cam sprockets. They bolt onto the camshafts.

[flatnacker]

1 {avoid the 2003 wr450).

Why avoid the 2003??????? Sure they had a prob, but this can be fixed for a few hundred bucks, Im guessing you would be paying more than that for a 2004 even though they are essentially the same bike??

[96warrior]

I play around on my 01 426 without any problems on a couple of mx tracks around here. I only put in about 2 gallons of fuel though, for the day. It helps with the top-heavy feeling in the corners. As long as your bike is dialed in you will have fun. Your pretty lucky if you even get to use 4'th gear on most tracks though. I don't see how my bike is at any real disadvantage to an 02 wr426

[simon@vic]

ya, most people cant be bothered to do simple mod like that.

also the 2004 does have a different crank with a different taper for the crank to fly flywheel.

2003s can be fine. but not all of them are, or will be.

[Math]

The 03 -04-05 WR tank and seat combo are less of a problem than the 02 and older because the ful tank capacity was reduced a lot in 03. My 01 has an enourmous fuel reservoir that it not ergonomic at all. I replaced it with a Zip Ty (built by IMS) fuel tank and it is a hell of a change.

I would love to race a WR450 on the track. You could even shut the motor for those long air times and restart with the e-button just before landing ?

About the key sharing... yes, if I recall right, it was the flywheel. It's not that the 03 is bad, it's that the 02 and 04 are soooo good according to what I've ridden and what I have read...