Thinking about an '01 WR426 $3500

[swarthyredbeard]

Check this out and tell me what you guys think.

http://humboldt.craigslist.org/mcy/463248064.html

I called the guy and asked when the valves had last been done.

-Never-

He is the 3rd owner. Said the first guy had a ton of bikes and was the original street license converter, the second guy thought something was wrong with it and hardly ever rode it because he couldn't start it. The guy who has it now said he just fired it up easy having known "the sequence." Says it starts 1st-2nd kick every time.

Sounds a little sketchy having so many owners, but I'm checking it out tomorrow. Maybe it is in really good shape?

What you guys think?

[dirtrider115]

Stay away those things were beast and hard to start.For not much more you could get a slightly used wr450.twice the bike, engine and suspension and an e button.my 2 cents worth.

[dmg426]

They really are not that hard to start if you get use to the procedure. I have an 02 WR426 and have but the WR450 auto decomp exh cam in it and it is super easy to start.

As far as the valves are concerned, I used to check the valves every oil change (2-3 rides) and the clearances never changed. I go to the point that I check them twice a year, and I have never had to adjust them (except when changing the cam). The Yamaha motor is one of the most durable motors of the 4 stroke bunch, IMHO.

By the way mine is CA plated and is for sale for $3200. Check the for sale area for details if interested.

[07thommi]

My dad has a 2002 WR426 which I frequently ride. The valves have never moved and are still in spec. Never changed to the 03 cam, just get use to the starting procedure and it will start easily. Out of my dad's 06 YZ450F, my 05 YZ250F, and the 02 WR426, the WR starts the easist and 9 out of ten times on the first kick! My dad's WR426 has been one of his best bikes ever. No complaints about the WR426 here!

-mt-

[dmoney1074]

Am I the only one to notice that the chain and kickstand is on the right side?????????? The picture must have been taken in a mirror or somthing... weird!

[Birdy426]

Am I the only one to notice that the chain and kickstand is on the right side?????????? The picture must have been taken in a mirror or somthing... weird!

All the pictures are backwards...look at the plate. Probably took slides and scanned 'em in backwards or the photo folks placed the negatives on the platten to print em upside down.

As far as the bike, they WILL run forever, and once you know the drill they are not hard to start. If you don't know the drill, though, you're screwed. That one looks pretty stock. Check the oil, look in the airbox for general condition, etc. You may also want to run a compression check if the owner will let you. If it's in good shape, 3500 may be a bit high for anywhere but Cali. Plates here are worth anywhere between 500-750 extra as long as they are legit (plated before Feb 2004) plates. NADA says it's worth between $2075 and $2730, add for the plate and youre looking at between $2600 and $3480. Not a great "deal" at 3500 bucks, but a great bike!

[xrmarty]

sounds high at $3500. It has the plate though which is nice, but it could also mean that the bike has a gazzilion miles on it. As said above, for a little more you could find a nice 450.

[swarthyredbeard]

So I just checked it out. Bald tire, kinky chain, leaky fork seal, dirty as a motocross track. Had some desirable extras on it, but by the time I got it ready for baja riding, I'd could buy a nice ass bike.

Oh well, going to look at a plated xr650r this evening.

Thanks for the input.

[Nostalgic]

That price is too high, even for Cali. MY 03 WR450 with TONs of upgrades was $2500.

[ophir]

Too much $$$. Get him down to 2,800.

[creeker]

I had an 01' WR426 and the thing was a beast... I bought it new in 01' and never once had to touch the valves. It was just very heavy, but was never hard to start. People make a huge deal out of these things for starting, but it's not that hard to figure it out.

By the way... I sold mine for $2250 last year

[byggd]

The guy is in MI from the area code. It may be a problem bringing it into CA plated.

[surfer]

Just paid 3500 for a 04 street legal oregon plated wr under 1000 miles great shape. Keep looking mine was 5 miles away.

[mikeythefokker]

I don't see any turn signls or mirrors on that thing. The cops can pull you over if they feel like it for that. My buddy rides an 02 yz426 and has for two years, and I'm pretty sure that the valves on his bike have never been done. It might not be that big of a deal. The old 426's are heavy, and they are a bitch to start. Once you get the hang of it it gets easier. A 2001 wr is worth 3000 tops. That bike with no plate can easily be had for 2500, even less if you have a bit of hussle and haggle in you. If the plate is really something that you need, then that does change things, but if not I bet you can save 500 to a thousand bucks.

[Roger_Steck]

$3500 is too much. I sold my 03' one owner last year for $2800. I just sold my 05 WR450F one owner low hours with a CA lic plate for $5300.

[Gandalf_WR450]

Check this out and tell me what you guys think.

http://humboldt.craigslist.org/mcy/463248064.html

I called the guy and asked when the valves had last been done.

-Never-

Sounds a little sketchy having so many owners, but I'm checking it out tomorrow. Maybe it is in really good shape?

What you guys think?

I paid $1800 for my 03 WR450, great mechanical shape. Its easy to double the cost of these cheaper bikes in bringing all bearings and parts up to snuff- check it out carefully , check airbox condition, chasis bearings for lack of grease and rust. An -01 would have to be immaculate to be worth that.

[WildRide]

sounds high at $3500. It has the plate though which is nice, but it could also mean that the bike has a gazzilion miles on it. As said above, for a little more you could find a nice 450.

I believe he would have to go to an 05 WR450 to get a green sticker and it would be a lot more $ if it was plated also.

03 and 04 450's I know are red sticker in Cali and are actually worth less than a 02 426 in this area because of the green/red thing.

I have a 01 WR426 and I can't kill it, it runs like stink. I put two shims in after break-in and it has needed nothing since (5+ years!) and it always starts on the 1st or 2nd kick, plus I have never had to buy a battery for it because it doesn't need one! Just tires, gas and oil.

[pjriss]

Plate or no plate $3500 is too much for an '01 426. I paid $3200 almost 3 years ago for for my '02. If you're bound and determined to buy is just make sure you can't kick through the compression stroke without the decompressor. If you can, it's worn out. Other than that the '01's had carburetor issues that you may need to address. Nothing that can't be worked out but not by me. Nobody can screw up a carb like me.

[dmoney1074]

Plate or no plate $3500 is too much for an '01 426. I paid $3200 almost 3 years ago for for my '02. If you're bound and determined to buy is just make sure you can't kick through the compression stroke without the decompressor. If you can, it's worn out. Other than that the '01's had carburetor issues that you may need to address. Nothing that can't be worked out but not by me. Nobody can screw up a carb like me. ?

Ya, I paid $2300 for my '01 last year in arizona... on the carb issues.... I dont know what your talking about. Installed an fmf Q2 w/ powerbomb, and a JD jet kit made it run like a beast. Will pull the front tire up 1-3 on throttle, and I'm up a tooth in the front!!! Id say with a plate in cali... no more than $3k