How is your 2010 450 holding up?

[cwtoyota]

I currently ride a two stroke YZ250.

I rode a 2010 YZ450F on my track a few months back. Considering buying a 2011 model when they become available.

How have your 2010 450s been holding up? would the average weekend motocross racer be able to get 2 seasons out of the engine without any problems? Would that be no problem, or would that be pusing it?

I realize the 4T takes more attention with things like valve train maintenance and oil changes. I'm ready for that. I just wonder what kind of service life real world guys (not the magazines or service manuals) are getting out of these engines when racing them hard.

[BBrown626]

Hi Chris!

Hope all is well over there.

My bike is not holding up well at all. I keep having to put gas in it and change the oil and clean the filters!!!

I have had zero problems with mine. I am riding fairly regularly and raced it 5 or 6 times. Kris rides it quite a bit too, but not as fast as me :-)

[Davey762]

40 hours on mine... great bike and the only problem is the valve cover gaskets. On my third one now, hopefully they figure it out soon.

[cwtoyota]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping to hear.

Brent, things are good here. I'm thinking I can use a 450 in the Vet class now that I'm 30. The fact that it's pretty maintenance free is good to hear.

You may be faster but Kris is a smooth rider, he has good bike handling skills. If he develops a little aggression or attitude on the track, he'll have no problem smoking both of us.

Check your inbox, I sent you a PM last week.

[CaptainKnobby]

40 hours on mine... great bike and the only problem is the valve cover gaskets. On my third one now, hopefully they figure it out soon.

20.5 hours on mine but I have had no issue with the valve cover gasket, yet!

Ive heard the piston is suppose to last longer than prior years. I had 50hrs on miy 06 when I replaced the piston and rings and the piston wasnt worn any. I raced my 06 for four years with only one rebuild but I was out most of 06 and 08 due to injurys.

It has 105hrs on it now (sold it to a friend) and still is strong. Im thinking this 2010 should be good to 100hrs.

[tech24]

20.5 hours on mine but I have had no issue with the valve cover gasket, yet!

Ive heard the piston is suppose to last longer than prior years. I had 50hrs on miy 06 when I replaced the piston and rings and the piston wasnt worn any. I raced my 06 for four years with only one rebuild but I was out most of 06 and 08 due to injurys.

It has 105hrs on it now (sold it to a friend) and still is strong. Im thinking this 2010 should be good to 100hrs.

100 hrs is when I plan on doing mine....well as long as there are no problems between now and then.

[YamaLink]

My friend purchased it 10 months ago. Races at least twice a month. Trail rides every other weekend. Practices like, well, a college kid with no job. Easily over 100 hours. And he's not the greatest wrench in the world so that says a lot; always cleans the filter and changes the oil frequently.

[Cable Stretcher]

I have about 40 hours on mine and I have a problem with the the bars, they keep bending I also loose a brake or clutch lever every now and then too... (talk about junk)

I have not had any problems with gaskets but my wheel barrings did just go out in my front.

[cwtoyota]

Front wheel bearings will go in a season on a YZ... Even a two stroke. I'm used to that.

Thanks for the reports guys. Yamaha four strokes have that reputation for reliability. It's good to know it has carried over to the new 450F engine.

[moto278]

noticed a 'tick tick' noise coming from my motor while its running. hear it at idle but dont notice while riding. power is still all there, nothing noticable in oil or filter during oil changes. no its not the intake noise. any thoughts? someone said tonight it sounds like a crank goin.... makes me nervous...

[tylern10]

My sons been racing a 2010 450 since they first came out. no real issues, we change the oil every other weekend and check the valves once a month. Only thing that happened was the kill switch went out and caused the bike not to run. Other than that, its a great bike and he loves it.

[rcmxracing]

Only 5 hours on mine - no problems. Knee injury has got me sidelined, but should be pounding out moto's soon. If you get one be prepared to spend $$ to get your suspension dialed in. The bike is real stink bug and it needs a link - spring rates out of balance too. In the past my suspension tuner (Chad from Total Control) always skipped links in favor or valving and springs, but for the '10 YZ450 he says it's a necessity. You could just run a crap ton of sag and get away with it ghetto style. The link lowers the rear 10mm! The issue stock is that it's jacked up in the rear and wants to knife/tuck on the entrance to corners. I'll be curious if they change the link and spring rates for the 11's...if not I'll be they will for 2012 kinda like Honda '09, now tweaked for '11.

[Cable Stretcher]

I would say that the suspension depends on your weight/riding style..... All the magazines rave about the suspension on the 10 but they do talk about stink bug a bit too. I run my forks all the way down and I think mine handles fine. I am 190 and intermediate rider.

P.S. Reynard WON the 25+ class at Lorettas on a bone stock yz450f (pc pipe) with stock suspension under it. (no link, no revalve, stock springs)

[cwtoyota]

My track is sandy and technical with a lot of elevation change and tight turns. When I rode that 2010 YZ450F I had a bone stock 1996 YZ125 and a tight, stock 2007 KXF250 for comparison along with my trusty 2002 YZ250.

The 2010 Yamaha had a reprogrammed ECU and the suspension had been set up for a taller heavier rider. He also had the bars moved farther forward and the footpegs lowered and moved back.

The engine character is what has me interested in the bike. The EFI has a quicker punchy power that I liked. I thought it had perfect suspension, but it turned like crap compared to both two strokes and the 250F. I assumed the tendancy to knife was due to the handlebar and footpeg relocation on this bike and what it did to my body position.

rcmxracing Only 5 hours on mine - no problems. Knee injury has got me sidelined, but should be pounding out moto's soon. If you get one be prepared to spend $$ to get your suspension dialed in. The bike is real stink bug and it needs a link - spring rates out of balance too. In the past my suspension tuner (Chad from Total Control) always skipped links in favor or valving and springs, but for the '10 YZ450 he says it's a necessity. You could just run a crap ton of sag and get away with it ghetto style. The link lowers the rear 10mm! The issue stock is that it's jacked up in the rear and wants to knife/tuck on the entrance to corners. I'll be curious if they change the link and spring rates for the 11's...if not I'll be they will for 2012 kinda like Honda '09, now tweaked for '11.

[thestuz]

they stall like a mofo. i crashed my mates due to a stall on slippery surface... wasnt impressed. but they do haull arse.

[rcmxracing]

I would say that the suspension depends on your weight/riding style..... All the magazines rave about the suspension on the 10 but they do talk about stink bug a bit too. I run my forks all the way down and I think mine handles fine. I am 190 and intermediate rider.

P.S. Reynard WON the 25+ class at Lorettas on a bone stock yz450f (pc pipe) with stock suspension under it. (no link, no revalve, stock springs)

I would be surprised if he had stock springs, especially fork, he's kind of a big dude. But yea, he's a pro. John McEnroe would whip any top amature tennis player with a wooden racket! Me, I need all the help I can get and dialed suspension gives me the confidence to go faster and keep it on two wheels.