WR450 For Baja?

[Chief]

Anybody desert racing a WR?

I'm looking at getting a new bike, and would like to race the 1000 with it.

There is a lot of information out there regarding Hondas and XR650's. I haven't been able to find much about the WR450 when it comes to desert racing.

I currently have a YZ400F.

The WR's seem like a great all around bike.

I am also considering Honda XR650 and KTM 525XC.

Does anybody know if pit support or parts would be a big problem with the Yamaha. I know Honda has a pretty good program for Red Riders during the race.

Help me stay Blue!

[abe hillo]

I own both o6wr and 03 650r for the long hall in baja there is only one bike to be on xr650 from the pits to honda support you can not beat it.

[Kevin_S]

We raced the 500 last june on a 03 YZ450. My 06 WR450 was prepped as a backup. We used Baja Pits for fuel and they did a great job. We thought we had plenty of spares. Our team made it to Race Mile 316 but the aftermarket lighting coil failed leaving us with no light and we were not fast enough to finish during the day. We did not have a spare lighting coil.

After 5 days pre-running and racing, we all agreed that the WR450 would have been a better choice than the YZ450 because of the lighting system is already there; the easier access to service the air filter, and the wide ratio trans.

However, if we raced the Big Red Pig (Honda 650) Honda Pits would have had what we needed to finish the race.

As long as Honda is the only factory supporting the race, it almost doesn't make since to ride something else for the race. A good friend of mine rides his WR450 most of the time for our Baja adventures, but uses the Big Red Pig for the Baja Races only and that is probably the smartest way to do it.

[taksx]

I agree with what's been said here.

I use my WR for weekend rides and pre running down there, but when it comes time to race the 650 is the choice due to parts and service.

Good Luck and don't spend all your cash in one place.

Eddie:thumbsup:

[Seabass]

Until Yamaha starts offering the support Honda does down there go with the BRP. The WR is an awesome bike for riding down in Baja but you're probably better off racing the Honda. BTW, I race my '05 WR 450 in the District 37 desert series and it works great. But 100 miles in the So Cal desert is a whole different ballgame than 500 or 1000 miles in Baja!!

[Chief]

Thanks for the response.

I figured that was what I was going to hear. It was good to hear it from some people that ride WR's.

I still want a WR450, but it looks like our race effort will be centered around an XR.

Hmmm...If I can figure out a way to get both.

[NavyNuke]

look at older XR's, I have an 01 XR, they are going at a reasonable price, and don't need much besides uncorking, and some suspension and a tank to race. I have the huge 6 gallon tank, and want to trade down to a 4 gallon or so tank.

But the WR is still MUCH more fun to thrash on.

[taksx]

Don't get us wrong chief, look at past Baja entries you'll find some WR450s and that crazy guy that's races a WR250. You can do it on a WR, but your spare part list will be enless.

Or do what we did. Race the RECORD series or CODE chit maybe ever the ZR races. way less money and all are done on the same trails/dirt roads.

Eddie

[ncampion]

Did anyone notice that the two Honda team rides this past Baja 1000 were not 650's but 450's? I can't believe they actually made it the whole way no matter how much support Honda has.

[johnnyjeep]

Did anyone notice that the two Honda team rides this past Baja 1000 were not 650's but 450's? I can't believe they actually made it the whole way no matter how much support Honda has.

Why, explain please

[NavyNuke]

go to the 650 forum, its discussed in lenght, boils down to honda is discouninuing the 650R, and all the R&D money is in the 450X so they run it. most any bike now will last for 1000 miles of abuse, just may not do it again the next week with nothing more than a valve check, and an oil change.

[ncampion]

The Honda 450 is not exactly know for it's "bullet proof" engine, especially the valve train. They also have short piston life. I'm sure the factory engines had lots of "special" parts in them. The bad publicity of having an engine failure during the race would really hurt them.

[Koko Azuela]

I'm sure the factory engines had lots of "special" parts in them. .

You got that right!! not even the frame was stock on those bikes!