2008 YZ450F w/ WB Alum Pro2 Exhaust review

[ZMoney520]

I want to give a little history with the 08 leading up to putting on my White Brothers exhaust and trying it out. I have ridden the bike 3 times now. My skill level, I ride +30 expert and sometime local Pro (use to run more pro when I was younger).

Ride 1 - Break in day. Couldn't tell you anything about the bike that day. Just slow riding and trying to do it right like the manual says. Stock exhaust look cool and was quiet.

Ride 2 - Bone stock to start with. The first thing I noticed was the bottom didn't feel weak but like it didn't want to get into the power easily, more like a gearing thing. The mid and top where fantastic though. Much better than my 2007, even with the WB on the 07. For the great turning, I didn't notice much at first except the front end didn't push in loose tight turns at all. I didn't feel like it was much better than my 07 in other turn conditions. So, the second part of the ride, I put on a SDG tall seat. What a differnce. This thing will turn tight, swing wide, do whatever I want it to do. I LOVE the turning on this bike. It never feels like it wants to stand up in the corners. Just point it where you want to go, lean it over and it does what you want. I am sure the seat had a lot to do with this because it allowed me to get further up on the tank where you need to be (better riding position). So this would be the first recommendation I would make to this bike.

The suspension was still stiff so I couldn't tell a lot about it. I did notice with the power delivery of the bike that when exiting turns it hooked up without wheel spin and took off. This was way better than my 07 that wanted to break loose coming out of any turn that didn't have a rut to stick to. Not sure if this is suspension or frame improvements, but it is awesome.

So, I was loving the bike over the 07 at the end of ride 1.

Ride 2 (tonight actually) - Installed my White Brothers Al Pro 2 I had on my 2007. It bolted right on with no problems. So we get to the track and this track is very good about prepping it. We had a little rain early in the day and when we got there they were still tilling it and watering it some more. As soon as they opened it up for us I took off, first one on the track. What a difference the pipe made. The dirt was deep and wet and it didn't bog the bike at all. It would plane out on top of the crude and go. The bottom woke up (didn't feel like a gearing issue anymore) and I could run through sweepers in 3rd gear where I had to work them in 2nd on the stock exhaust. The power also seemed to broaden through out and the mid and top were not hurt if not improved slightly. Bottom line, the stock exhaust will not see this bike again until it is on the side walk for sale when the 09's come out. Anyway this bike is awesome as is now. (Still may try to go up one tooth on the rear to help with getting into 4th gear a little sooner for the track I usually ride. I think this will make it slightly better but is not necessary). The bike also still didn't get bruttle enough that you had to finese it out of corners. It still hooked up way better than the 07.

Overall opinion after tonights ride. I felt like I could put in more hard laps than I could on my 07 without getting tired - result of better suspension I guess. With the bike changes and the tall seat, god can I turn this thing now. And when I say I can turn now, this has always been one of my weakness on the track. Tonight I actually had a guy come over to me and ask how the heck I was getting through the corners so fast. I wish I had a lap time on my 07 to compare to the 08 but it felt like I was cutting a good 5 seconds off my lap time on a track that takes about 1.5minutes. The shifter is much easier and fluid under hard accelaration as well. The WB exhaust is the way to go. When I pulled into the pits after the last ride I came in singing "I LOVE THIS BIKE". I can not wait until the next race to see how it comes off the line and with the cornering improvements, which not only allowed me to drive into the corner harder (great front brake) and getting it through much quicker, I think I will be giving the other guys a fit.?

[Ga426owner]

Good read.....I think you will be happy to go up to a 50 on the rear sprocket. This with the WB pipe will make the bike have the lost low end that many complain about. The tall seat is a requirement on every 06 - 08 in my opinion to help assist in better cornering....now your weight gets to the front of the bike easier and no more camel/toilet/saddle seat feel.

This would be the least amt of mods done if I owned a 08.....and a hell of alot less than my 06:thumbsup:

[adamdf]

Good review. I can't wait to pull the trigger in October and decide which 08 450 i'll be replacing my 250F with, they all seem so good i know i can't go wrong.

[YamieRider411]

Great review. Question? I have a pro circuit ti-4 system on my 07. Should I try and move it to my 08 or should I wait until pro circuit comes out with the ti-4 system for the 08? Don't they dyno the new stuff? I would think it would be the same w/ WB systems.

[Ga426owner]

You should try it and report if it wakes the low end up.....is your gearing stock?

[djtroy]

I also changed the exhaust to a Yoshimura from my old 07. Your right BIG difference. I also use the g2 quick turn throttle and its an amazing mod for $60 bucks. I jetted it to a 48/170 and ran race gas in it at the last race and the bike worked great.

I am going to grab the tall seat next. I dont hear enough good things about it.

[ZMoney520]

Great review. Question? I have a pro circuit ti-4 system on my 07. Should I try and move it to my 08 or should I wait until pro circuit comes out with the ti-4 system for the 08? Don't they dyno the new stuff? I would think it would be the same w/ WB systems.

As easy as it is to change out the pipe, I would do it and give it a try. It won't hurt anything. You pipe may end up being the same pipe that they offer for the 08. The WB for example was the same pipe for the 06 and 07. I imagine since it bolts on it will be the same again this year. My guess the only change WB will make is adding the new pipe Langston is running right now, the new TI-Pro full exhaust system.

Stick it on and let us know how it works. If you don't like it you can be back to stock in less than 10 minutes.

[torque_demon]

being a sport biker, I am not liking the twist required to pin the throttle. I was hoping going from my 250F to this new 450 would make it less of an issue. I think only a person who rides street bikes a lot would understand this feeling sport bike riders get when on a dirt bike throttle. So I bought a G2 throttle cam to reduce the amount and it feels just like a sport bike now ? Hope it helps me on the straight aways ?

[steve_97060]

being a sport biker, I am not liking the twist required to pin the throttle. I was hoping going from my 250F to this new 450 would make it less of an issue. I think only a person who rides street bikes a lot would understand this feeling sport bike riders get when on a dirt bike throttle. So I bought a G2 throttle cam to reduce the amount and it feels just like a sport bike now ? Hope it helps me on the straight aways ?

I like the throttle the way it is, I still fight the tendency to ride it like my old 125 days, pinned, or off.. getting better at this whole roll the throttle on thing...

That Cam might help on straight aways, but hopefully you don't end up grabbing a handful of throttle at some inopportune time and getting launched..