YZ 450 Woods Bike

[dirtbikesonny]

I keep waffling on what my new bike is gonna be, YZ 250F or 450F. I am 210 lbs. race expert off-road and play ride moto occasionally. I live in NW Washington and the majority of my riding is tight ,rocky,rooty,hilly,muddy trailriding w/ the occasional jaunt to the desert on the other side of the mountains. I am just worried I'll be stalling the 450 alot or that my results will suffer due to added fatigue from a heavier more powerful bike than what I ride now, a Yz 250. I guess I am looking for people who've made the switch from 250 to 450f and ride and race in similar conditions and see if they wish they had gotten a 250f instead.

[torqueme]

I have an old KDX200 that I love & also own a '00 426. I ride very tight single track trails. If you're 210lbs & expert, I would recommend the 450 over the 250. I've ridden friends 250Fs & like my 200, I keep looking for the extra power I now take for granted. As far as the extra weight goes, Power to weight ratio = no comparison. Put a flywheel weight on & you'll never stall a 450 on the trail.

[kxman]

Get the 450, install the Yamaha off road flywheel and you will not have stalling issues. Others may tell you to get a Rekluse clutch. I went that route for 1 ride. Much prefer the heavier flywheel.

[gtguy]

I'm a "B" class racer (I'll ride "A" class locally, but still really just a "B") and have an 07 YZ250 (smoker) and an 06 YZ450F. If you can have only one, STICK TO THE 250! I have a GYTR flywheel and added 2 teeth to the rear sprocket of the 450 and it is still miserable in the tight stuff. Don't get me wrong, on the track or open trails (3rd gear or better) it is AMAZING! Dodging pines, roots and rocks in 1st or 2nd gear sucks goat ba!!s. I'm not a Rekluse fan either...

BTW, my worst enduro of the year was on the 450, dropped over 100 points which is about how many times I kickstarted the 450. My score should've been about half that.

[KTM303]

Wrong tool for the job, an 07 yzf 450 is a pig on a tight track( not handling just using the power) let alone a tight trail. They produce lots of power in an abrupt fashion excellent for mx not so a rutted out root infested trail. I bought this bike as a do all but it isn't, first gear too tall and no flywheel equals lots of stalling with no e-start. Start adding weights and fiddle with the gears and it won't work well on the track.

A modern mx bike is just soo different from a trail bike and each year the gap gets bigger. The 250 is a better bet IMO as they aren't real fire breathers in the best of circumstances, it seems to be an easier conversion than the 450.

[Wiz636]

I keep waffling on what my new bike is gonna be, YZ 250F or 450F. I am 210 lbs. race expert off-road and play ride moto occasionally. I live in NW Washington and the majority of my riding is tight ,rocky,rooty,hilly,muddy trailriding w/ the occasional jaunt to the desert on the other side of the mountains. I am just worried I'll be stalling the 450 alot or that my results will suffer due to added fatigue from a heavier more powerful bike than what I ride now, a Yz 250. I guess I am looking for people who've made the switch from 250 to 450f and ride and race in similar conditions and see if they wish they had gotten a 250f instead.

I was struggling with the same decision and it looks like we ride the same places...I race in the Senior A of the NMA offroad series. I have an '02 YZ426and an '03 RM250, both set up very well for the tight woods and they both have their advantages/disadvantages but the key to it all is setup.

In my opinion, there is no better offroad setup than the strong smooth power of a 450 coupled with a Rekluse clutch. Gear it right, make sure your carb is tuned well and it's awesome. I just bought a new '06 YZ450 and am in the process of getting it set up...18" rear wheel, tank, skidplates, etc. I'm handing the carb to Zip Ty at the Riverdale WORCS race this weekend so they do their thing with it and I will put in the z-start pro clutch. My RM250 (which is a killer offroad bike) will be going for sale when I'm done.

[flintlock28]

The 450f in stock form is not a Woods bike, but add a flywheel weight, a skid/glide plate, and a Dr. D exhaust, and it becomes a quite capable Woods bike. I was shocked recently during Memorial Day weekend, how much easier I was climbing the Mountains of North Central Pennsylvania. Last year in stock trim, I was stalling out on tight, off-camber turns. This year with the afermentioned upgrades, the bike climbed like a Mountain Goat, with practically a high idle.

Another nice thing, is that if you come upon some decent hill climbs, the torque and grunt of the 450 will outperform the 250.

[dirtbikesonny]

What does the Zip-Ty carb mod cost and what exactly do they do?

[kxman]

Guess everyone has preferences. I came from a 250 smoker to my 450. I was instantly faster on the 4 stroke. All I ride is tight woods. I have added 2 teeth to the rear, skid plate, radiator guards, handguards, off- road flywheel, and Zip-Ty carb mod also their fuel screw. I revalved the forks myself. I am finished changing or adding equipment to this bike. I feel it is perfect.

[grayracer513]

What does the Zip-Ty carb mod cost and what exactly do they do?

$100. They do the AP wiring mod in the process, but the main part of the mod involves altering a couple of airways in the main circuit and changing the main nozzle (emulsion tube, needle jet). Generally sharpens the carburetion across the board.

[WB450]

I've been avoiding this thread because I love my 450, but it's not a tight woods bike. Wednesday afternoon I rode most of course of a ISDE qualifier that was in my area last weekend, and I have to say it was a pain in the ass at times. I've gone up 2 teeth in the rear and this helped, but it's still a hand full in the tight stuff. I have had the Zip Ty mod done (which I love) and it mad the throttle real touchy in the tight single track. A little wider portions of the course the bike is a blast.

[Wiz636]

I've been avoiding this thread because I love my 450, but it's not a tight woods bike. Wednesday afternoon I rode most of course of a ISDE qualifier that was in my area last weekend, and I have to say it was a pain in the ass at times.

Idaho City? I heard that was BRUTAL...no matter what bike was being ridden.

[thumper450yzf]

go with the 450, you wont regret it. mine was tempormental in the woods while in the break-in period but the more i rode it...the less it would stall out and it is fast as ever.

[WB450]

Idaho City? I heard that was BRUTAL...no matter what bike was being ridden.

I was up for the race, those guy and gals looked shot. It's too bad that Tuesday it was like 50 degrees and rain.

[ridg219]

I ride Vet B in local hare scrambles and enduros, and recently switched from a 03 YZ250f to a 07 YZ450f. I put a heavier flywheel, switched to a 51 tooth rear sprocket installed bark busters, a skid plate and rad gaurds. I've been riding the 450 since November, the stock suspension works really well off road (190 lb). The power is great, very smooth. The 07 450 is a few pounds lighter than my 03 250f but the 250f feels lighter in tight stuff. It has taken a few months to get comfortable on the 450, but I think I'm faster on the 450.