Did a MX magazine convert a WR450 to YZ?

[rkwfxd1]

My buddy told me that a couple of months ago one of the motocross magazines took a WR450F and removed the lights and did a bunch of other stuff to it in an effort to make it more like a YZ450 with e-start. He could not remember the magazine. I have searched via google but can not find the article. Did anyone see it and does anyone know what magazine did it?

Thanks

[jswr450]

Yes. Dirt Bike magazine in the August issue.

[FORMA MOTO]

My buddy told me that a couple of months ago one of the motocross magazines took a WR450F and removed the lights and did a bunch of other stuff to it in an effort to make it more like a YZ450 with e-start. He could not remember the magazine. I have searched via google but can not find the article. Did anyone see it and does anyone know what magazine did it?

Thanks

Dirt Bike did not convert a WR to a YZ, they just wanted to make a WR less 'foo-foo' like, and race ready. They succeeded, and were very happy with the results. They removed all the lights, stock harness, and emissions, and went to town on the suspension and motor.

[tribalbc]

Being Canadian I was just reading this mag last night ?

They didn't put much effort into weight loss. They removed the kickstand but didn't even switch to a YZ peg mount. There's more weight savings in that peg mount then the kickstand.

Interesting motor work though. Same as SJMCDon has suggested with swapping just the intake cam and adding a high compression piston. They went the Hot cam route rather than the YZ though.

[rkwfxd1]

Thanks, I will look for that issue.

[KodaKourage]

Wouldn't it be easier to drop a WR bottom end into a YZ frame? Hide the battery around the airbox and go?

[123BigcoopDawg576]

Wouldn't it be easier to drop a WR bottom end into a YZ frame? Hide the battery around the airbox and go?

Of course but in CA it wouldnt be green sticker ?

[Looks450]

IS there anywhere i can see this article. I cant get the mag?

[rkwfxd1]

IS there anywhere i can see this article. I cant get the mag?

You are not missing much. 13.5:1 piston with stock bore, Hot Cams intake cam, Dr.D Exhaust and jetting to make it all work. Stiffer springs and re-valve on the forks and shock. Remove head light and kick stand and replace rear fender with YZ fender. Fast flex handle bars, carbon fiber skid plate, steering dampner.

Can't remember any other changes and my son just left with the magazine.

[tribalbc]

Head porting and a bit of valve work.

The article does seem to point to the idea of intake cam swap, HC piston being a good mod for our motors.

[J_mad18]

They said it was over 50 ponies... and E-Start! Sounds like a fun bike to me!

[erickdj]

I gotta say that I think I've done a much better job than those magazine guys at "converting" my WR. 1.) They used a hotcams intake cam & a high comp piston, along with porting to boost the power. Their bike still ended up feeling "soft". Instead of a high comp piston and porting, I chose to install BOTH cams for an 06 yz. The bike is pretty darn responsive and not "soft". Something tells me that the stock wr exhaust cam is holding them back. Makes me wonder how my bike would work with the yz cams plus a high comp piston and porting. 2.) They revalved and resprung the stock wr forks & shock, not surprisingly they didn't find it too adequate for jumps. I went with an easier and cheaper approach by swapping to a complete 07 yz suspension, I really like the results.?