New 09 YZ 450 F

[honda907]

Getting one today. What are some of the mandatory things to do to this bike? I am coming off 3 years of CRF 450's, and I loved the bikes, but my dealer gave me soooo much of the Yamaha vs the Honda, I could not pass it up. What do I need to look out for?

I'm not getting a pipe right away. Heck , I may even like a bike with a little less grunt than the honda. I'll try it anyhow.

Will my CRF R and D float bowl fit on my Yamaha. I could call R and D if none knows.

Change the oil as often as my CRF (like every ride) or can I go every other ride. It seems to hold more oil. I've always used Bel-Ray thumper oil and tranny oil in the CRF. Use thumper oil in the Yamaha, or do you guys use Rotella oil like lots of the CRF guys?

Any hints, tips, or how-toos on suspension, bike set up , etc, would be appreciated.

Greg

[DMC707]

I think the pipe you already mentioned is mandatory --- The Dr D is an excellent pipe for waking up the midrange while still retaining the bike's mellow feel. I believe the Akrapovic and PC pipes are better for peak power though (i use the D myself)

If you dont do the pipe right away, switch the rear sprocket to a 2 tooth larger model, --- also the stock chain only has a 5 hour lifespan (for me) - i replaced with a gold racing quality DID (about 100 bucks) You might even keep it on there after you install the pipe, as the Yammie feels a little soft on the bottom in certain situations

There are guys who insist on changing their oil every ride, but i am not one of those, unless the ride was epic. I change it every 2 hours and the filter every other change. 2 hours is a lot of time at the MX track, but even then, the oil still pours out clean. but thats just me -- if you are the type of guy that does long hare scrambles races or trail rides, then you might do 4 or 5 hours of riding in a day.

I use an hour meter and loosely base my oil change intervals around it (i'm not gonna panic if i put 3 or 4 hours on it if i have a super long track day or something)

LAst -- these things are finicky about sag --- more than most bikes--- mine is set at 105mm, and it is critical to keep it between 100 and 110 for optimum handling

[Kasjok]

I and many others have had better luck with race sag of 95 - 100 mm.

[grayracer513]

A note about sag and its effect on cornering. The reason sag effects cornering at all is that raising the rear end increases the steepness of the head angle, which makes the bike turn better.

As DMC said, the aluminum YZF's are sensitive to small changes, but what specific sag numbers work best for you is going to depend on how much the fork sags going into a turn, which will depend on your weight, spring rates, and riding style. A heavier rider using stock springs, or a rider who has added more spring rate to the rear than to the front to compensate for his extra weight, will find it less necessary to use less than 100mm of sag because his front end will drop farther.

It's enough to understand that decreasing sag and raising the forks in the clamps both reduce front end push, and if that's your issue, try it out. Worry less about matching someone else's specific numbers than about the relative adjustment to your bike.

[honda907]

well I finally picked up my bike today. I was going to pike it up earlier, but stuff got in the way. Then last week, the price went up! Then today they called and -- get this-- they made a mistake. no $hit. Now they have 750.00 rebates on them. Anyway, I got it, and hopefully I will get to ride it at NEMX this Sat.

[Wes Woodin]

Getting one today. What are some of the mandatory things to do to this bike? I am coming off 3 years of CRF 450's, and I loved the bikes, but my dealer gave me soooo much of the Yamaha vs the Honda, I could not pass it up. What do I need to look out for?

I'm not getting a pipe right away. Heck , I may even like a bike with a little less grunt than the honda. I'll try it anyhow.

Will my CRF R and D float bowl fit on my Yamaha. I could call R and D if none knows.

Change the oil as often as my CRF (like every ride) or can I go every other ride. It seems to hold more oil. I've always used Bel-Ray thumper oil and tranny oil in the CRF. Use thumper oil in the Yamaha, or do you guys use Rotella oil like lots of the CRF guys?

Any hints, tips, or how-toos on suspension, bike set up , etc, would be appreciated.

Greg

I was a die hard honda rider too. I absolutley love my Yamaha Yz450 F though. It's an 08. Best advise is to get an hour meter and take it apart and grease the swingarm headset ect. I am running a dr.d pipe and a R&D Powerbowl. This bike rips and your will too. Welcome to Yamaha country.???

[Tumblin]

I know most of these guy's swear by o-ring chains, but you have to be careful to not run too wide of a chain. It'll grind away at the inside of your aluminum frame when the chain flexes from motor torque and suspension action, or for what ever reason. I run a non o-ring on my 06 and doubt there has been any change to correct the problem on the 09.

[honda907]

Dealer didn't know where to get a pipe by Dr. D. I was looking at the GYTR pipe , and it looks realy good. Looks like one of those $1000 Akropovic pipes. They any good? I see Stewart runs them and so does Hill, but grant is using FMF and he'spulling it too!

Maybe anything but stock huh?

Also, anybody try just a slip on muffler? Will the gais be noticable? Just checking.

Greg

[PAdaytonaman]

Motofrugals.com

I don't know why you would go anywhere else. They are real guys taking the orders and they absolutely blow away anyone else's prices. They also will deal even more with big orders.

Great guys

Dr D full ss/ alum system for 479 shipped free

[PAdaytonaman]

Dealer didn't know where to get a pipe by Dr. D. I was looking at the GYTR pipe , and it looks realy good. Looks like one of those $1000 Akropovic pipes. They any good? I see Stewart runs them and so does Hill, but grant is using FMF and he'spulling it too!

Maybe anything but stock huh?

Also, anybody try just a slip on muffler? Will the gais be noticable? Just checking.

Greg

If you can get your hands on a stock 06 can, they really wake it up, cheap. I am in the process of cleaning and repacking my 06 can as we speak for the 08.

[YamaLink]

Check air filter, engine oil levels, spokes, tighten kickstart bolt (since I had an 08 ks bolt fall out on the first ride!), slap on Dr. D.

And then prepare to smile. A lot!

[DPW]

Dealer didn't know where to get a pipe by Dr. D. I was looking at the GYTR pipe , and it looks realy good. Looks like one of those $1000 Akropovic pipes. They any good? I see Stewart runs them and so does Hill, but grant is using FMF and he'spulling it too!

Maybe anything but stock huh?

Also, anybody try just a slip on muffler? Will the gais be noticable? Just checking.

Greg

Have you rode the bike with the stock exhaust yet? I would ride it first and then maybe go up a tooth or two on the rear sprocket and see how you like it.

I rode mine stock for almost six months and then finally put on a Akropovic exhaust.... awesome looking and performing system, BUT I don't think my lap times have dropped any.

Ride the bike first before you start changing stuff up...just me .02$

[honda907]

I'm going to ride it first, then see if it needs the exhaust. The R&D float bowl is on my DP CRF 450 R, but it's mostly a trail bike now, so I will take it off if I have any bog problems with the YZ.

Everyone I know sayz "Get Dr.D first. It needs it bad!" I'll ride it and if I can't do a large double or triple that I can on my old crf, then I will. Or if some fat 50 something keeps pulling the holeshot.........you get the picture!

Thanks for the help.

[Wes Woodin]

I know most of these guy's swear by o-ring chains, but you have to be careful to not run too wide of a chain. It'll grind away at the inside of your aluminum frame when the chain flexes from motor torque and suspension action, or for what ever reason. I run a non o-ring on my 06 and doubt there has been any change to correct the problem on the 09.

This is why I use a did 520 VT chain. The profile is more narrow that the other o ring chains.

[grayracer513]

The issue with the shorty exhaust on the Yamaha is that it severely softens the mid range around 5000 RPM. The best pipes can add as much as 7hp or more at this point, and almost anything will add 4-5.

The R&D float bowl is simply not worth $250, IMO. Not under any circumstance. Read:

https://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7159094#post7159094

[honda907]

I already have one on my DPed CRF 450 R. I don't intend to race that bike anymore so I will use it if I need it

The pipe is another isssue. I can get a GYTR pipe for 440 at the dealer. It looks like an Akropovic(sic) pipe with the little resonator chamber. The complete exhaust, not a slip on. Are the any good? Yes, I know DrD pipes are good, but I can get Yamaha parts cheaper (usually)

[grayracer513]

The only reason I would choose the DRD over the new GYT-R (which probably really IS an Akro) would be the spark arrestor question. I have to have one a couple of times a year. Otherwise, I would try the Akropovic immediately at that price. The concept, from a performance standpoint, of the chamber atop the header is pretty much the same from a functional standpoint as the Powerbomb/Megabomb headers. The chamber damps the shock and pressure waves traveling through the header in such a way that the engine is fooled into "seeing" the header as having a variable length, making the exhaust more efficient across a wider RPM range. And the Akro is as well made as anything.

I'd go for it, if it were me, as long as the thing with the sparky wasn't a problem.

[honda907]

Started my bike for the first time last night. It was like 10 degrees. After two hours I finally got it to start! Man, was my leg tired from kicking it! I finally got smart, took the torch and warmed up the cylinder and header! after about 10 minutes, she started!

Man does that silencer sound really tinny. Sounds like a blown out silencer, only quieter. It is like a mechanical muffler also right? Also, how do you get the plug out with the supplied wrench? After 10 minutes, I gave up getting the wrench out of the spark plug hole with the spark plug inside the provided wrench. Looks like the carb is much easier to work on than my CRF. That's a relief, as that bike was difficult to work on the carb and also the air filter.

The air filter is really easy to access too.

After kicking the bike so long last night I had dreams of being in a race and I couldn't get my bike to start on the line. Then everyone of my buds told me(in my dream) after the race, "Oh yeah, Yamaha has the same problem. Stewart can never get his bike to re-fire! We all Told you to get another CRF 450 with fuel injection!" All my buds wanted me to get the CRF 450, but I chose this bike because of the suspension , handling, and hopefully, less engine maintenance. The only Mods I plan are an exhaust and that is it. Oh and a holeshot device also, and maybe my R&D float bowl off of my 08 CRF.

[Daltoneious]

i'm still riding and 07 yz450 unfortunately, so i can't way good or bad about the new stock shorty silencers. i think being quiet is a bonus depending upon where you're riding. my stock 07 pipe was quiet so it was decieving as to how fast the bike was. i pulled holeshots in the B class with a bone stock motor and pipe. i have a full stainless drd on there now and it does rip. gears pull longer and its snappier. the honda's have their tranny oil seperate from their motor oil with the idea of not contaminating it as fast and therefore more time between changes so every ride on the honda probably wasnt necessary. the yamaha's share the oil so all the contaminents from the clutch are going through the motor, thats why it holds more compared to the honda. i ride pretty hard and i go roughly five hours according to my hour meter between oil changes. thats usually one race, then practice during the week once or twice, then fresh oil again for the next race. i've never really had a hard time getting my bike started hot like other people have said. use the hot start lever and make sure the bike is jetted properly. another mod you may want to consider doing, that you can do urself, is "wiring the carb". u need to get your jetting close first, but it makes a difference. i dont have the link to the step by step thats on here somewhere, maybe someone else knows where to find it.

[grayracer513]

...the honda's have their tranny oil seperate from their motor oil with the idea of not contaminating it as fast and therefore more time between changes so every ride on the honda probably wasnt necessary. the yamaha's share the oil so all the contaminents from the clutch are going through the motor, thats why it holds more compared to the honda.

The CRF also only holds 700cc of oil, so the oil is recirculated more frequently, and should be changed at least as often as in a YZF. It is true the the Honda has no clutch debris in the oil, and that the engine oil is not subjected to the shearing dished out in the YZF transmission (which is the main source of oil breakdown in the blue bike), but it should have been built with more capacity.

... another mod you may want to consider doing, that you can do urself, is "wiring the carb". u need to get your jetting close first, but it makes a difference. i dont have the link to the step by step thats on here somewhere, maybe someone else knows where to find it.

Without intending to offend anyone personally, wiring the AP linkage is gorilla technology (not guerrilla). If one insists on this kind of thing, at least have the technical grace to use an O-ring rather than wire, or better still, use the stiffer AP spring from Merge racing. Frankly, if you learn how to work the throttle like a thumper pilot instead of snapping it open like a kid on a two-stroke, you probably won't ever have a problem with the accelerator pump performance at all.