New yz450 too much for woods?

[upnorthbacon]

I'm starting racing hare scrambles next year and the guys I ride with are "C" class. I'm as fast as them, I'm a bigger guy 6'2" 200lbs and 34 years old. I've been riding a long time, some of my previous bikes were kx250 yz250 and yz426. I'm trying to decide it I want to buy a Wr450 for hare scrambles or new yz450? My old 426 was a little too much in the woods so I put a FWW on it and then it worked great, although it was in need of a revalve. I've never ridden a newer 450 so I'm wondering if the yz will be too much power for me in the woods? Does the yamaha programmer allow you to really tame it down for riding in the woods? I'd likely put a FWW on it and revalve the suspension, maybe an EXP 2.0 rekluse as well. I like the idea of fuel injection and all the latest tech over the older WR.

[YamaLink]

Sounds like you're up to speed on the pros and cons of the big bikes, and the aftermarket mods to make it woods worthy. I know quite a few who do great in off-road racing from desert to tight woods on the 450. Age range from 14 to 65 and they love the big bike.

Having said that, are you Yamaha committed? Maybe a KTM 300? Or a YZ 250 two stroke with a big bore kit?

[upnorthbacon]

I'm trading in my roadbike on one at my local dealer. I'd like to buy from my local dealer they are good people and will give me a better deal on my trade in. They sell Yamaha and Honda and I considered the CRF's too. I like the yamaha reliability, I've had great luck with thier bikes, sleds, and quads over the years. I do really like the two stroke KTM's and if I can get a dealer around here to take my bike on trade I'd consider the 250 and 300 xc's as well. I did consider another yz250, I had a 9oz fww on my 2001 and it ran great in the woods. I'm just having a hard time buying a yz250 that hasn't changed much since 2006 but Yamaha still managed to jack the price up $1000 just because there only competition is KTM!

[Gunner354]

I'm trading in my roadbike on one at my local dealer. I'd like to buy from my local dealer they are good people and will give me a better deal on my trade in. They sell Yamaha and Honda and I considered the CRF's too. I like the yamaha reliability, I've had great luck with thier bikes, sleds, and quads over the years. I do really like the two stroke KTM's and if I can get a dealer around here to take my bike on trade I'd consider the 250 and 300 xc's as well. I did consider another yz250, I had a 9oz fww on my 2001 and it ran great in the woods. I'm just having a hard time buying a yz250 that hasn't changed much since 2006 but Yamaha still managed to jack the price up $1000 just because there only competition is KTM!

I've owned an 07 wr450, KTM300 and now an 09 yz450. Hands down love the yz the best. The 300 is over hyped in my opinion. The wr feels like it's 80 pounds heavier than the yz. I have a Rekluse pro and the tall first gear is non existent in tight single track. Get the yz and get the programmer to tame it to your liking. Install a Rekluse and go have fun.

[upnorthbacon]

Wow that's good to hear that you actually like it better than the 300. I've just always been a yamaha fan, even back to when I was younger and wanted to stay brand loyal, again because of the reliability they build into thier motors. Also that was my major concern about the Wr was how heavy it was going to feel compared to a 2t or newer 450 mx.

[Yamaryder29]

I think you'll be ok. I've done a couple hare scrambles with my 450 this year and have no complaints. There a very light weight bike and the power is very controllable. I think you'll like it.

[h0daka]

yo, im a big boy as well, 6'4" 205, I ride a '11 yz450 in the woods every weekend and I have no complaints. Completely stock motor, I only added hand guards, grips of choice, skid plate, radiator braces and went to a 50 tooth sprocket out back which gave it just enough grunt to rarely need first gear. Bikes got grunt and turns through singletrack well. In my opinion you never want to be short on available low end power in the woods. Get the big boy 450 and run it

[YZPaGuy]

I am 33 and race an 08 yz450 in harescrambles and it is good. I would either commit to a rekluse or get a WR though. The biggest pain is restarting them if you stall. I have riden 4 wheelers all my life and just started on a dirt bike last year. Like I said my biggest complaint is the stalling and restarting but I know allot of that is my lack of skills. I am sticking with no rekluse until I learn the clutch better.

Great all around bike though, i love it for trail riding with my buddies and no one can keep up with you in a harescramble in the open spots just a little tough in the real tight stuff. I went up on the rear sproket, heavy flywheel and had the suspension revalved for my weight. All a must IMO.

[ttr250dude]

The weight is way too much for wooded single track. I ride a YZ450f in hare scrambles and the weight wears you out fast. If I were you I would ask this in the "what bike should I get" forum to avoid biased feedback.

[primerib108]

Know a couple of guys (good riders) who went from a 2-stroke trail bike to the new YZ450F for tight single track.....they rave about the fuel injection, tuning flexibility, and most of all the suspension.

I had a WR and hands down my YZ is waaaaay better.

[YamaLink]

Okay, so part of your buying decision is based on principal and wanting to avoid remorse. I get it and would think the same on some purchases.

So what'd you decide on?

I'm just having a hard time buying a yz250 that hasn't changed much since 2006 but Yamaha still managed to jack the price up $1000 just because there only competition is KTM!

[cowboyona426]

I've owned an 07 wr450, KTM300 and now an 09 yz450. Hands down love the yz the best. The 300 is over hyped in my opinion. The wr feels like it's 80 pounds heavier than the yz. I have a Rekluse pro and the tall first gear is non existent in tight single track. Get the yz and get the programmer to tame it to your liking. Install a Rekluse and go have fun.

Curious what your complaints on the KTM 300 were? I've heard many good things about them.

[Hurricane]

Curious what your complaints on the KTM 300 were? I've heard many good things about them.

I agree with gunner. The best part of the 300 is the motor which I thought was incredible until I got my yz450, it still is good though. The motor makes great torque and can be lugged until you can almost count the strokes and then can be kicked in hard at will with a light touch of the clutch. My big problem with the 300 and pretty much all ktms I've ridden has always been handling. I have never jumped on a ktm and felt comfortable immediately, I've always had to ride it around for a 1/2 hour or more until I get comfortable at speed, any jap bike not so much. I would like to ride a new one with linkage to see if they are better but it really doesn't matter I can't get myself to shell out they cash for a brand new bike anyway. They are very easy to work on though.

[primerib108]

I would like to ride a new one with linkage to see if they are better.

They are! Next door neighbor just put together his 2012 250xc last week and he was all smiles.....puts out some incredible power too. Yamaha needs to update the YZ250 now to be able to compete.

[Hurricane]

They are! Next door neighbor just put together his 2012 250xc last week and he was all smiles.....puts out some incredible power too. Yamaha needs to update the YZ250 now to be able to compete.

What needs to be updated? I don't think you can fairly compare a yz to a xc.

[primerib108]

Engine.....KTM puts out 51hp (reportedly) and the ergos are impressive when you sit on one just to name a few. I bleed blue and Yamaha still has a great 2-stroke bike but it is quite apparent that KTM is putting in a lot of effort and it is showing.

[Hurricane]

Engine.....KTM puts out 51hp (reportedly) and the ergos are impressive when you sit on one just to name a few. I bleed blue and Yamaha still has a great 2-stroke bike but it is quite apparent that KTM is putting in a lot of effort and it is showing.

Honestly I think they have just caught up to Yamaha, the yz250 has always had an awesome motor and the ktm has been trying to make their bikes handle like any jap bike for years, that is why they finally gave up on the PDS shock.

[primerib108]

Honestly I think they have just caught up to Yamaha, the yz250 has always had an awesome motor and the ktm has been trying to make their bikes handle like any jap bike for years, that is why they finally gave up on the PDS shock.

That is why I think they should update the YZ and make them play catch up for another 6 years. ? They only need a small fraction of the time and energy they put into their 4 strokes and I will gladly line up and buy one. I don't like the fact that I have to drop almost the same $$$ for a 2011 yz250 compared to a 450f that is pretty much identical to my buds 05 yz250.

[Hurricane]

That is why I think they should update the YZ and make them play catch up for another 6 years. ? They only need a small fraction of the time and energy they put into their 4 strokes and I will gladly line up and buy one. I don't like the fact that I have to drop almost the same $$$ for a 2011 yz250 compared to a 450f that is pretty much identical to my buds 05 yz250.

Agreed a total new model would be awesome.

[johnny6speed]

I got a leftover 09' this spring. I do a bit of MX practice days, entered my first GP a few weeks ago, and did my first harescramble almost 6 weeks ago. Barkbusters, skidplate, FWW and I'm good to go. The only limitation is the rider. The bike feels light and handles well. I'm 5'11 255. I sprung it for my weight, and run everything full soft in the woods. For the many types of riding I do, its pretty darned good.

Though, the flameout issue is getting annoying. I've been holding back on getting a Rekluse for a few months and I am about to pull the trigger. Stalling then kicking this thing is a pain. I believe with a Rekluse, this bike will be a joy in the woods. Put it in 2nd, and tractor over the rough stuff! ?