The BIG free mod question

[bluebike1999]

after reading a gazillion posts here about free mods and another gazillion about problems, DO THE FREE MODS REDUCE RELIABILITY?

i've just read another bike article that says a bike will lap quicker without the grey wire cut, as a result of smoother power delivery.

I cant help but think that with millions of yen at their disposal, and in an extremley competitive dirtbike market, that the Japanese r&d would know what works and what doesnt.

this poses the question of the purpose of a WR

IMO its a race usable trail bike.

I have done the yz mod and wont change back because i like it, but now i will need to do YZ style mantainance (more rebuilds).

a recent post stated a 98 400 had done OVER 20000 miles with hardly any work and no mods.

has anyone got a 'free modded' bike with high k's?

has anyone got a non free mod with low k's in need of work sooner? and why?

well gurus, what do you think?

[odonnks]

I would think that if one performed the free mods they will certainly run it harder at higher rpms than a non modded WR.

That also means more maint.

You can do the free mods and NOT run it harder but thst would be counter-productive and I doubt anyone could resist.

[Matty05]

The '05+ Aussie bikes are the only ones that the grey wire trick works apparently.

You could still try and find out.

As you know, frequent oil changes = longer life.

Everyone rides blue up here, and I have never seen one give up the ghost, ever!

Free mods would not reduce reliability, the only way I could see that they would, is incorrect jetting.

[CoWr_400rider]

Hey Odonnks,

I have a 98 WR400 I keep hearing that the 98 WR400 has no grey wire. Is that true? It certainly appears to be the case, I have looked all over the right side of the bike and can find no grey wire. Another question is about the exhaust cam. If my 98 has no grey wire then should I even advance the exhaust cam one tooth?

Rick....

[ncampion]

There is no gray wire on the 98 WR. As for the cam, the better mod is to drop in an 03 YZ cam with the auto decompress feature. Better hit all around and easier strating. Have had mine for three years with no problems and lots of smiles.

[sts475]

?

Dude !

Any mod that increases the stress put on an engine, reduces it's longevity. That's just the way it is. (Physics and all.) I wouldn't worry about the Yamaha.

Everyone that I know who has them, rarely has any problems and they last for a long time if maintained. That's why I just bought one. I wanted to have fun riding again instead of worrying about the bike.

Good Luck !

STS.

[Birdy426]

Let's see...YZ cam timing, cutting the grey wire (shifts the ignition map to YZ mapping), removing the baffle and snorkle make both intake and exhaust breathe more like a YZ, BK mod or other accelerator pump mod makes the carb work like it's supposed to...I don't think any of these mods will decrease reliability below that of YZFs, which is just as rock solid as the WRs. They may cause more frequent rear tire replacement, though...

[YamaHud]

I would love to get in on this. I just bought 07' WR450 yesterday. I'm no badass, I am just a cruiser. What if I just leave the damn thing alone and change the oil and air cleaner regularly? ? I feel so pressured to start cutting up my brand new bike and sticking it with weird probes.

[clark4131]

If you leave your bike unplugged, you will essentially have a very expensive TTR. If it's your first hi-performance 450 and you want to get used to it's nuances, then that's a perfectly valid strategy. However, because of its size and weight, you'll undoubtedly want to "unleash the beast". My advice is to at least put in the shorter throttle stop and do the grey wire, as those two mods really go hand in hand, and maybe do the fuel screw. Leave the airbox and exhaust alone until you want to go all out...SC

[YamaHud]

My advice is to at least put in the shorter throttle stop and do the grey wire, as those two mods really go hand in hand, and maybe do the fuel screw. Leave the airbox and exhaust alone until you want to go all out...SC

It is my 1st hi-performance 450. In fact my 1st 450. Please explain what doing these two mods does. I have the new DirtBike magazine and read the article, but what is actually going on with or without these mods?

[Bullwinkle]

It is my 1st hi-performance 450. In fact my 1st 450. Please explain what doing these two mods does. I have the new DirtBike magazine and read the article, but what is actually going on with or without these mods?

The throttle stop is just a simple mechanical governor. As its name implies, it stops the driver from opening up the throttle all the way. The YZ's have a stop screw that's about 11mm shorter (while using the same carb) that allows the throttle to open up that much more. This mod is really a no brainer. Just because you have filed down the screw (or bought a YZ one) doesn't mean you have to twist the throttle to use the additional power. (Although I guess most of us do!) As SC said, this mod works hand in hand with the cutting of the grey wire. The timing of the stock WR isn't set for optimum performance at the higher RPM's that you'll be getting if you cut or replace the screw, so if you do one you will need to do the other.

Happy riding!

[YamaHud]

The throttle stop is just a simple mechanical governor. As its name implies, it stops the driver from opening up the throttle all the way. The YZ's have a stop screw that's about 11mm shorter (while using the same carb) that allows the throttle to open up that much more. This mod is really a no brainer. Just because you have filed down the screw (or bought a YZ one) doesn't mean you have to twist the throttle to use the additional power. (Although I guess most of us do!) As SC said, this mod works hand in hand with the cutting of the grey wire. The timing of the stock WR isn't set for optimum performance at the higher RPM's that you'll be getting if you cut or replace the screw, so if you do one you will need to do the other.

Happy riding!

OK....I asked the dealer for the screw and they are telling me I need a whole new housing? Are they crazy? Also, about this wire. Just cut it and thats's it? wrap the ends up with some electrical tape? rip the whole cable out?

[bandit99]

You dealer is full of

You do not need to buy a new housing. You can cut down the original throttle stop or buy the YZ one. I personally just cut mine down since it was the cheaper route. I would cut the gray wire and just tape it up real good with electrical tape. Honestly, I never really felt much of a difference with the gray wire cut.

[yz-dwg]

I would love to get in on this. I just bought 07' WR450 yesterday. I'm no badass, I am just a cruiser. What if I just leave the damn thing alone and change the oil and air cleaner regularly? ? I feel so pressured to start cutting up my brand new bike and sticking it with weird probes.

I bought an '06 in August (my 1st 450) and left it alone for three months and was happy for a while, I then intsalled the PMB insert only and found a big boost of power, I rode it with just the insert for a couple of months and it seemed to do everything I wanted and I was happy, last month I did the rest of the mods and absolutely love it, it has WAY more power but still seems rather tame and totally useable, it seems easeier to ride now and the extra power has saved my butt more than once, I'm no badddas either and I dont ride very hard (i'm an old man with brittle bones), do the mods, you'll love your WR even more, if you dont want to rip, stay out of the throttle, but you'll be glad to have the power when you need it..?

[Birdy426]

Just to clarify - The retarded timing (that the gray wire mod fixes), the 1/2 throttle throttle stop (that the YZ throttle stop fixes), the plugged up exhaust (that the PMB end cap fixes) and the airbox snorkle (that taking the damn ting off fixes) are to make the bike emmisions legal and noise legal in states like Californistan. Fixing these things makes the bikes run like Yamaha intended.

[richardspoof]

ya the cali laws kill wr450s, ive done the jettin,greywire,throttlestop, everything cept the ais removal and the bike rocks, im thinkin about really changin up the flywheel to yz and the yz cam thang

[Bullwinkle]

OK....I asked the dealer for the screw and they are telling me I need a whole new housing? Are they crazy? Also, about this wire. Just cut it and thats's it? wrap the ends up with some electrical tape? rip the whole cable out?

I just filed mine down as well. Just be careful that you don't go too far - reportedly the throttle can get stuck in the WFO position if the screw is too short! (Although I did have a guy at a parts counter at a Yami dealer tell me just to remove mine and plug the whole! But overall I' haven't been too impressed with the knowledege of many of the folks at bike shops.)

[crs400s]

OK....I asked the dealer for the screw and they are telling me I need a whole new housing? Are they crazy? Also, about this wire. Just cut it and thats's it? wrap the ends up with some electrical tape? rip the whole cable out?

dude....you just got yourself a top-shelf off road performance machine. ' the man' doesnt want you to jack up his ozone, so he sissified your ride. every brand new dirt bike is too lean off the floor to make him happy( nevermind all the big rig exhaust!). f the man, and make yourself happy. i mean, you just dropped a ton of cash,... right?!?! these are very simple mods that make your bike run free, like the yz........................or maybe you need a ttr!!! man up and mod!!!? :applause:

[drtbk4ever]

It is my 1st hi-performance 450. In fact my 1st 450.

Hey YamaHud, I suggest you do what yz-dwg did, go and ride the bike as is for a month. By then you will be comfortable with the bike and will surely be wanting more out of it.

Then change the throttle stop and cut/pull the grey wire. Get the part number of the Yz throttle stop and just go order it. As someone has already pointed out, if you don't eventually do these mods, you may as well be riding a ttr.

And your dealer is out to lunch. There are some very knowledgeable dealers out there, but I have never found them anywhere near as helpful as the "Collective" here on TT.

Get out there and ride.

[dlt333]

I had the dealer perform the modifications and it they are great - this bike rips!!! I did not even ride it before the mods, but it was $175 or so it was worth the cost. I've only had one break in ride so far, but I'm looking forward to my next outing to see how it really performs.