Yamaha WR450F Info Wanted

Mik_RX125 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Karma :

I've got around £3000 to spend on a bigger bike, and these look great and I've heard good things from reviews, but what about the people that live with them?

1. What are these like on light green laning?

2. How much more fun are they compared to other enduros?

3. Are these any good for commuting or road riding?

If I can scrape enough money together I'll probably get a set of SM rims for it too, as I'll end up doing more road miles than off-road on the bike I get.

Mik
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Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Good for offroad, no competition spec bike is going to be much good for commuting, very high maintenance etc. The Yams are a bit better on mainteance compared to KTM's etc but they still need a hell of a lot of maintenance etc.
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Mik_RX125 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Karma :

I'm not the most practical person on the planet. As long as any maintanance can be done in a day, and doesn't cost a fortune to keep tuned I don't care. It's all about performance on my 7 mile commute to college and the 10-20mile play on the way home Very Happy

I just hate the idea of getting a typical commuter or a plastic rocket. They do nothing for me.

Mik
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Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Korn · Admin Joined: 01 Feb 2002 Karma :

How good are you with a set of spanners? The basic maintenance one of these bikes needs isn't particularly difficult, they are quite simple to work on compared to say sportsbikes. They can be prone to blowing up but if you lavish mechanical TLC on them things are pretty reliable.

Oil + filter changes are done all the time, as are various more complicated bits like valve clearance checks. Top ends don't last very long, expect to be changing things like rings, camchain, piston and valves at the same intervals as you would be giving a roadbike a major general service... parts costs won't break the bank but as Sparks said labour can get expensive if you don't do the work yourself.

Remember that it's the sort of bike that is designed to be used for a few hours in harsh competition, then checked and serviced methodically. If you treat it like any other road bike and just go out riding it lots without this in mind it won't be long before something goes kaboom, and then it gets very, very expensive! Razz

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Mik_RX125 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Karma :

I like to think myself a handy person with a set of spanners. I take my bike appart often enough, and replaced the piston, rings and little end bearing a few weeks ago. I just get sandwich bags to put all the various pieces with their screws so I know where it all goes back Very Happy

I give my own bike a good looking at ever other weekend so I can't see it being too hard. At the end of the day I just want a nice looking fast bike. How many horses do these put down? I'm currently on a restricted licence as I only did my test last month and I can't find that info anywhere on the internet.

Mik
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Korn · Admin Joined: 01 Feb 2002 Karma :

Sounds like with a half decent workshop manual you shouldn't have any problems looking after one. I think the 450 WRs make around 55hp or so, though not sure if an easy method/kit is available to restrict them...
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Mik_RX125 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Karma :

lilredmachine · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Karma :

lol.

The Wr450 is pretty much a high level competition bike. The ktm is soft Very Happy

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jayluvmito · Crazy Courier Joined: 15 May 2004 Karma :

i bought a gsxf600 for commuting and road riding. the mx is going to go for a high spec sm later.

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

You can't really compare a WR450 to a 640 LC4.

Completely different types of bikes in a way.

They may be the same power, but the WR will be a hell of a lot lighter and more revvy etc..

Compare a WR450 to a KTM 450 and we're in a diff ball game Wink

For me the KTM would be the one to have if you want fast and mad, but the WR is good all rounder and far more reliable (IMO) than the KTM, but still needs a lot of maintenace and its still a very fast bike.
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

Mik_RX125 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Karma :

It seems I've been talked out of getting a WR450F by my step dad. Git. With needing it to get me to college reliably, and trying to get one restricted, which seems almost imposible, I'm going to have to get a more down to earth bike.

So the Suzuki DR-Z400SM seems like the way to go. Good thing will be I might just be able to stretch and get a new one. None of this wondering whether the bike has been run in properly or anything. Also I won't need it resricting either. Maybe I'll get a WR450F in a couple of years when I don't have my restricted licence.

Mik
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