wr 450 reliable for road miles?

[Wilma397]

Appoligies if you've answered this question before guys but i've searched the forum and can't seem to get a straight answer! Im looking to upgrade my drz for a new bike thats going to spend most of its time on the road. I recently took a wr450 for a test drive and have fallen in love being uncomfitable isn't a problem but can these bikes withstand constant road use? I'd convert the bike to sm and can cover anything up to 200 miles a week. Or are the constant oil changes just going to be too much and will i be rebuilding the top end again and again before i know it? Aso i've been advised to get a larger ktm lc4, does anyone have an opinion on these bikes? Can they put the same smile on your face as the wr?

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys

[djv5]

I have covered 10,000 miles on my 2003 WR450 since I purchased it back in February of 2003. About 5,000 Supermotard street miles and 5,000 dirt/sport touring miles.

Here is my maintenance log since new:

16 oil/filter changes

2 valve checks (only 1 adjustment)

2 sets of brake pads front and rear

1 set of front wheel bearings

1 battery

1 weap seal replacement (cold weather coolant leak)

2 sets of sprockets & chain

5 front and rear dirt tires

2 front and rear street tires

You might want to read up about the Honda XR650's. They are bulletproof, and do very well on the street, but are heavier and old school technology.

I am geared to about 95mph top speed in street setup, the bike cruises nice at 65mph. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure:

[MaxPower]

I dont know how you cant find an answer in a search

Every other post is about riding a WR450 on the road

[MaxPower]

what kind of tires are these and what kind of wear are you getting from them?

[djv5]

The 17" Excel SM wheels have Maxxis rain tires. I get 2,000 miles of street riding off the rear tire before the center tread runs out. That includes gravel and paved roads. Fronts last alot longer, but I change them out at the same time.

I also run Maxxis ProMaxx street tires mounted on the stock 21" & 18" rims. They are super sticky, and I can wear them edge to edge. Cheap too, about

$120 for the pair. A great way to have fun on the street for little investment.

[PenGun]

The 17" Excel SM wheels have Maxxis rain tires. I get 2,000 miles of street riding off the rear tire before the center tread runs out. That includes gravel and paved roads. Fronts last alot longer, but I change them out at the same time.

I also run Maxxis ProMaxx street tires mounted on the stock 21" & 18" rims. They are super sticky, and I can wear them edge to edge. Cheap too, about

$120 for the pair. A great way to have fun on the street for little investment.

You got a cush drive on that back wheel?

[Thumper_Bloke]

Thats a great ad for Yamaha! 10,000 miles and 1 valve adjustment!

I used to live in Michigan, where is that pic taken with the "S" curves?

[djv5]

No cush drive for the rear wheel with the 17" wheels. The 17" wheels are heavy, and seem to slow the bike down, and it is hard on the transmission. I take extra care when downshifting on the pavement, to avoid rear wheel lock-up. I like the stock 18/21 rims with street tires better.

The s-curve pic is from Deals Gap in North Carolina/Tennessee, here are some more:

and my big bike:

[face_plant]

well i stated b4.. i have about the same maintainance schedule

12-14k miles

1k mi oil changes ( so 11 filters) or so

about 10-12 sets of dirt tires 1 set of street(18/21) and my motards

2 valve checks O adjustments

water pump seals and berrings

top end noise turned out to be , it needed rings did complete top end while i was in there.

i ride year round and its my main vehicle in the spring summer fall

here is my .02

if you want a kick a$$ machine that you may or may not have to work on

or a dog that you cant give it heroine to get it moving....

but thats why i have a wr

[drewpeacock]

Djv5, I saw a wr at Fontana Village early summer with Michigan tags. I think it was the week of the fz sv rally. That you?

BTW, nice bikes.

[Albie]

I like the stock 18/21 rims with street tires better.

That's good to know. I already have 2 bikes that are motarded with 17's. I stumbled on to a set of regular wheels for the WR for a great price, and picked those up with the intentions of running street tires on them. If I ever get my dang seat back from Renazco I'm gonna try a set of those ProMaxx's.

[haskell]

I also have a high milage 2006 WR450

A YFZ 450 clutch(four wheeler clutch with torsional springs for dampening) does a great job of smoothing the single cylinder power stroke a very good improvement for street riding

teamed with a Recluse clutch, 15t / 46T gearing and other things, makes a great bike for moderate trail use and short road trips, longest one day milage 320 miles trail and road!

Be sure to balance the tire and wheel assembles

have a great ride

[MaxPower]

I got a hub from a quad like you Haskell. You posted about this a while ago and I bought one from ebay. Did it bolt right up? Thanks

[love2strokes]

any one know how many miles/ hours you can expect to get off-road on a top end by chance on an 07 WR? Didn't want to start a new thread for a small Q.

[haskell]

You have to use the primary drive gear from the YFZ450(four wheeler) with the driven gear on the clutch, they have a different pitch on the teeth compared to the YZ/WR primary drive gears, the gears about $30.00 every thing else is the same.

remember in 2007/2008 the primary ratio was changed to a 2.6 so if you use this setup in a late WR or YZ your primary ratio will be 2.8 like the 2006 and earlier. No big deal just change your final gearing (counter shaft sprocket to a 14t rather than the13t)to a 2006 final drive ratio

[MaxPower]

So you are talking about the little gear at the end of the crank needs to be changed also right?

I have a 04.

You came up with a good idea, Im surprized no one else has done this.

Its cheaper than a cush hub.

[haskell]

You got the idea Maxpower

The primary drive gear,on the crank, the gear that engages with the big gear (driven gear) that is attached to the clutch basket. The gear needs to be from a four wheeler, YFZ.

Another big plus of using the YFZ four wheeler gears is you will get rid of the knocking sound that the original gears have. If you ride on the road or even hard on the dirt the clutch gear moves off center causing excessive backlash between the teeth at the time of power stroke causing a knock.

have a great ride

[MikeOK]

Sounds sweet, been thinking about getting an on/off road bike.

[ckroto]

Nothing like resurecting an old thread, but I recently started riding my 07 about 50 miles a day and I'm glad to see its gonna hold up. Glad to find this thread hanging around. Anyone tried avon Distenza tires? They seem to look decent. ?

[zorroz]

I've done 6,000km on my 07 Wr450 and ride it to work everyday, then ride up the bush on the weekends. I hope to get 20,000km before a rebuild! Drop the oil every 1000km and wash the re usable oil filter. I think that just having 2 sets of wheels are great, saves the dirt tyres and handles great with road tyres.