Advice needed for new YZ450F owner

[joeinalpine]

Just purchased an 07 YZ450F (white plastics limited edition) and the learning curve has been steep to say the least. Rode an enduro 20 years ago (I'm 42) but this bike has got some serious jump to it in first gear. I stall out doing the technical steep trails and sharp cutbacks where I have to keep working the clutch. I have broken 2 clutch levers and snapped the front brake lever yesterday going up a soft steep hill from a dead stop. The bike keeps getting away from me and the front end wants to come up. I have been living in first gear on the rock and dirt trails so far. What mods or courses are out there to help me out? Any advice is appreciated as I will be hitting Ocotillo Wells hard pack this weekend to play in the upper gears in open desert. I rode my z400 quad for 2 seasons and am never going back to 4 wheels so I have to figure out this power band somehow

[lastchild]

In my opinion, a heavy flywheel will help you quite a bit. It will help smooth out the power without any drawbacks.

I would do it right away.

As for breaking the clutch levers...are you running handguards? This will reduce the lever breakage.

[joeinalpine]

Thanks for the reply, any specific manufacturer on the flywheel and do I need to specify the weight?

I am unaware of handguards..new to the sport. I will check the catalogs

[black_n_blue_thumper]

Here are the mods that I made to make my YZ a mountain machine.

Rekluse, a must.

12-52 gearing... I love this but realize alot of guys wont.

rear hand brake...need the Rekluse to do this

18" rear wheel

I have lots of other mods, but these were what I considered a must for turning her into a great single track weapon. I never feel like my bike has too much power, it always feels so managable. The hand brake for the rear makes short work out of right hand switch backs and steep downhills and gives unreal 'feel' for modulating the rear brake. I like the gearing, it works for me. I am not a high speed guy. Its awesome both in the mountains and hillclimbing. The 18" rear just gives me flat protection off road (I am a fatass) and allows me to get away with running lower tire pressure. Hope this helps. I am sure you will get tons more advise.

[black_n_blue_thumper]

I run the ASV levers. They are expensive but guarenteed against breaking. I like the Powermadd handguards. They offer good protection but will 'fall away' without breaking or bending something else in the event of a crash. There are lots of good handguards out there, just look around.

[joeinalpine]

Thanks for the response, I assume the rekluse is the clutch mod I am hearing about. I was catching flak for buying this track bike and riding the hills and trails with it but I am having a blast between stalls and crashes. I will read up on what the effect is on the gear teeth.. I didnt think of that, that might help keep the front end down until I get better at rolling on the power going up hills

[lastchild]

I've got the GYTR flywheel, which was a breeze to install and really helped.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/accessories/acscitemdetail/5/348/1218/5375/all/2/5207/0/detail.aspx

You'll want the heaviest you can get.

For the handguards, I've been using Cycra for years...http://www.cycraracing.com/frontpage.html?E+scstore

[torrmentor]

Yamaha's in-house GYTR stuff is really good. I run their unbreakable folding levers (no handguards) and they are excellent. If iit wasn't for them, I would have DNF'ed a few races this year! The GYTR flywheel is also a must-have. Good luck & enjoy!

[joeinalpine]

Appreciate the help, I am getting the flywheel this week. I will keep the old one to change back when I get a grip on this bike. Any advice on the rear sprocket to increase the teeth. Will this calm the bike down to make the learning curve easier? I am not worried about top speed (yet).

[grayracer513]

Will this calm the bike down to make the learning curve easier? I am not worried about top speed (yet).

Not really. If you went to a 53, it would only make about a 7% change in the overall ratio. It may make the bike easier to keep running in the tight spots, but it will actually give it more snap at low speeds. It will also make you shift more often.

The YZ450 is an MX bike, and as such, it has a closely spaced ratio set in the transmission, with a rather tall low gear, and a fairly short top gear, compared to something like the WR450, which was made for enduros and trail work.

That doesn't mean you can't trail ride your YZF, I do it all the time. But you can't really alter the bike's overall character very much, and in the end, you're going to have to adapt to it, rather than the other way around. It's like trying to take a thoroughbred on a quite ride in the woods.

IMO, the mod that would help you the most is the auto clutch. I personally don't like them, but they do make the low speed sections easier to deal with. Beyond that, you could install a pair of WR450 cams. That will soften the engine noticeably.

ASV or GYT-R levers, or hand guards will stop your breakage problems.

[Drfletcherdc]

I have used a Steahly flywheel weight on my 05 yz250. It was a snap to install and didn't require any drilling. I have asv levers on my 06 450, they bend but don't break.

[YAM93]

Unless you're pushing 300 pounds, the type of riding you're describing can be much better handled by a YZ250F. There is an article in the most recent issue of Dirt Rider about this. What made you think you needed that much horsepower? Money to burn?

I have a YZ250F and ride a wide variety of mx tracks and trails, all i have to do is dial the suspension a little softer for rocky slower trails. Remember, the more you modify the stock engine, the more you're likely to have problems.

[grayracer513]

I'm glad you're happy with your selection, but the OP already owns a new YZ450, so the suggestion that he buy something else isn't particularly helpful to him. What he needs to know now is how he can deal with what he has.

To answer your question, some people like, and are more comfortable on, a bike that has the good low RPM power that only comes with displacement. You can say what you like about the 250F, and I would never argue that it's not a great motorcycle in its own right, but it ain't a big thumper, and that's just that. I owned one for a long time, and I would love to have kept it instead of the older 450, but it would have been a third bike to ride under certain circumstances, and not my primary ride, nor my son's. They are tremendously enjoyable, but overall, they just aren't what I like.

[Ranger18]

Just purchased an 07 YZ450F (white plastics limited edition) and the learning curve has been steep to say the least. Rode an enduro 20 years ago (I'm 42) but this bike has got some serious jump to it in first gear.... I have been living in first gear on the rock and dirt trails so far.

Get out of first gear. These bikes will climb hills better in second, otherwise they are too squirly. Remeber its not a 2 stroke, these things will thump up a hill like a sherman tank.

[scottbob99]

hit the gym, if you are losing the bike on up hills then you're too far back on the seat. work on your chest and arm muscles and stay up on that gas tank!!!!

[YZ250F_Rider]

It may be nothing more than learning how to feather the clutch just like you would a 2 smoke and to force yourself to grip the bike with your calves and knees. The 2 of those will go a long ways to keeping it under you and running.