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How many of you ride your 450F for woods?

By sauce,
in YZ400F/426F/450F/450FX

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sauce

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I think it's a fantastic bike in the woods.

Flickability is good.

I'd recommend this bike as well as a full face MX-style helmet to help prevent bugs getting in your teeth.

Smiles for miles.

Dirty

Did you swap out to an 18" rear wheel? When it's dialed in does it start easy if you stall in the tight, rocky stuff? I know I will miss the button I have now on my X.

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cowboyona426

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So far my 450 has never seen a track. I will say that in most places, the stock front tire plain sucks. The gearing is a tad high, but I think a flywheel weight would be more beneficial than lower gears on the 06. I have no regrets so far, but I haven't put much time on my bike yet (unfortunately).

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gjones

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I have raced my 450 in the woods since February and love it! I have never had issues with it re-firing when stalled. As far as overheating, I haven't had it boil over yet, just keep moving and air it out every chance you get. Obviously the suspension is a bit stiff for woods riding but once you get that dialed it is the most fun I have ever had on two wheels!!

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SurvivorMan

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I race my 06 450 in the woods, it's great. go to a 51 tooth rear sprocket and the GYTR flywheel really helps on the slow technical. Apparently, the Vortex ignition helps as well, with different ignition/timing maps. If you have problems overheating, I recommend taking off those front rad gaurds that block air flow, also oversize tanks inhibit air flow as well. Works connection makes a rad cage that protects from side impacts but does not choke off the front air flow.

Imagine if this bike came only with the E start and no kickstand, kinda like the new 450 sx-f....and EFI, it would be untouchable!!

Hey Grayracer, Would a push rod ever work in a 4 stroke, get the cam giro down low?

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grayracer513

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Would a push rod ever work in a 4 stroke, get the cam giro down low?
It could, and from the standpoint of lowering the CG and service simplicity, it would be an ideal choice. DOHC engines were originally conceived to reduce valve train inertia by eliminating parts, but they have the disadvantages of more weight up top, etc.

A lot could be done to make a push rod engine get past the difficulties it has with high engine speeds, and although I can't recall where just now, I recently saw something about a high revving engine that was a pushrod setup. Small block Chevys have been run at 11K before, too, but with a lot of coin in the valve train.

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Milhaus

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isnt a 250 2-stroke still the best choice for the woods?450 to me just feels a bit touch bulky in the trees.

Well, the KTM 200 2-stroke is still one of the hottest bikes for woods applications, but the YZs can still get it done.

I rode my YZ426 up in the mountains yesterday and it did fabulous. I am running a 14/51 ratio and have a heavier Baja Designs flywheel which really helps. My buddy brought his YZ450F up and we both had no troubles.

We traded bikes for a bit and while the 450 had more power, I prefered the ride of my old 426...but probably because I am more used to how it is set up.

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YZ426F Rider

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NOt exactly a 450, but my YZ426 is used almost exclusively for woods and single track mountain trails. Compared to the other bikes that I ride with, the YZ426 handles very, very well in these conditions.
Same here...I run 13/50 gearing (I throw a 14 on when I'm going to eastern WA where it is more open) and run some very tight stuff with my 426. I have never had an overheating problem and I run Engine Ice as my coolant. Also, when I know I'm going to be in really tight stuff I will turn my idle up a little bit to help with stalling.
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binske

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Everyone asks the question how does you bike work in the woods and everyone in general thinks it's a good bike for it. Well I can't give an opinion on woods riding but technical mountain riding I can. In general they are terrible.The close ratio transmission has to many obstacles to over come,one being if you use stock gearing it's way to high and if you gear it down then 5th is so slow the boys riding wide ratio bikes have to wait on you all day long. Second the new YZ bikes are made to compete on tracks with jumps and whoops and do very well with this, but not for riding rocks and ruts as they will pound you apart. Reality check Wrs or enduro bikes are best suited for woods and mountains and YZ for competition.

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cowboyona426

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isnt a 250 2-stroke still the best choice for the woods?450 to me just feels a bit touch bulky in the trees.

I'm the other way... I like the idea of having the extra power and grunt when I want/need it, anymore when I ride a 250 smoker they don't feel like they have enough guts.

Binske- what part of Idaho do you ride? I've never been anyplace where I really regretted having a YZ instead of a WR, I think it's all in how you ride.

Albertabigdog- doesn't GYT-R offer different weights of flywheel for the 06? ?Which did you go with and why? I think a flywheel might be the next thing I do to my 450, but I haven't made up my mind yet.

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SurvivorMan

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Cowboy, I went with the heavier of the 2 from GYTR, I think it ends up being around a 9oz addition to the flywheel...it works great! It doesn't change the bike at all, it just adds smoothness when it's slow or traction is bad. With my 51 tooth rear I can almost come to a stop, blip the throttle and take off out of corners, gets you off the clutch a lot more in the technical slow stuff and saves the stalling. Good luck.

I just purchased a slightly used 06 250 smoker and love it. it's so light, it feels like a bmx. it definately works better in the slippery and technical riding in the woods. When the traction is good and the trails are slightly more open, I have alot more fun on the thumper though. There is no better bike!

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