WR 450 price

fox · Spanner Monkey Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Karma :

Im in the process of looking for a trail bike for greenlaning and a bit of off roading.
I've got my heart set a Yamaha WR450 as I will also get a set of road wheels to supermoto it.
I've seen a few on ebay ranging from £ 2500 to £3000. This is for a 03-04 bike with around 6k on the clock.
Would this be considered a fair price or do you think its a bit ambitious for the seller?
Cheers
____________________
Sold: 2003 satin black Yamaha R6
Current rides: 2006 blue Triumph Sprint ST 1050, 2003 Yamaha WR450F

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Wouldn't use for either of the reasons you've listed.

I'd rather grab a KTM 300 EXC or similar, WR is good fun and powerful but servicing intervals and the equivalent repairs are enough to make me worry every time I take it out.

Far cheaper to grab an EXC too, then you can buy the SM wheels and relevant gubbins to go with it and have change Shocked

fox · Spanner Monkey Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Karma :

KTM was on my initial list but to be honest I've always been a blue boy so my bias is towards a yammy.
I've done a bit of research into the 450 and it's meant to be rock solid as long as you keep it maintained. Oil change is a 15 minute jobby and the valves need to be checked once a year.
____________________
Sold: 2003 satin black Yamaha R6
Current rides: 2006 blue Triumph Sprint ST 1050, 2003 Yamaha WR450F

fox · Spanner Monkey Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Karma :

KTM was on my initial list but to be honest I've always been a blue boy so my bias is towards a yammy.
I've done a bit of research into the 450 and it's meant to be rock solid as long as you keep it maintained. Oil change is a 15 minute jobby and the valves need to be checked once a year.
____________________
Sold: 2003 satin black Yamaha R6
Current rides: 2006 blue Triumph Sprint ST 1050, 2003 Yamaha WR450F

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Once a year, I'd be anticipating more checks than that if you take to the road with it in sumo trim. You'll find the wheelies and sustained speed will probably want a little more looking after.

I had one in the shed for a while, alright to work on, engine runs through the frame and there are 2 radiators, first time bleeding it may have you in tears/worrying your tits off Laughing

FWIW I only had a TTR600 on the road which is not as powerful as the WR, but I have ridden a YZ450F in sumo trim, which was a handful... I wouldn't have used it for anything as its just not suitable Laughing

However an EXC in sumo trim would be an excellent A/B road tool and then switch the muddy wheels back on for the off road lols. I'm currently using a KTM 144 off road and its fantastic fun... I'd not think twice if one popped up at a decent price (300 that is) Thumbs Up

Oh, I'm a Honda fag btw... Wink

fox · Spanner Monkey Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Karma :

Had a quick look on ebay and the exc300s seem to be as rare as rocking horse excrement! The price seems to be very high too. Am I missing something?
____________________
Sold: 2003 satin black Yamaha R6
Current rides: 2006 blue Triumph Sprint ST 1050, 2003 Yamaha WR450F

nathan k · Spanner Monkey Joined: 28 Mar 2012 Karma :

I think paddy is a little bit biased Laughing

Although having no personal experience, my understanding was that a wr 450 can be a reliable weekend bike if maintenance is kept on top of.

You haven't mentioned the most important factor with supemotos, how often / hard do you want to use it?

Weekend use will be no problem, daily use might call for a 650 single.

The other issue is price, well looked after WR's might cost a bit.

fox · Spanner Monkey Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Not biased at all. Green lanes to me require a nice light reliable bike, ktm ticks those boxes.
I'd have a sumo for the road, if there was a 300 ktm, I'd take it. If there was a drz for the same price...even though I would prefer the DRZ, I'd take the ktm. I can't think of a 4 stroke that would be fun enough to enjoy.