14 YZ 450 anyone riding one

Moto619
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Moto619
Edited Date/Time 9/27/2013 5:11pm
Thinking of buying one and was wondering how the bikes are performing, are they reliable? I have ridden only CRFs for last ten years and haven't had any problems. Any help or advice would be great, thanks in advance.
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Crush
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Crush 9/24/2013 7:23pm
9/24/2013 7:23pm
The YZF engine has been really reliable for a number of years.

I think they went to a single oil system this year but that's what the CRF runs isn't it?

They're getting reviews of being definitely improved over the previous generation... You don't like your Honda - 13?
Moto619
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Moto619 9/24/2013 7:32pm
9/24/2013 7:32pm
Hey Crush yeah new YZ is a wet sump. Rode one at Yamaha launch at kembla and liked it. I'm a big boy and it felt pretty good. Rode a 13 honda and it was good but I'm so fat I need a little more motor. More worried about going to the Yamaha if it's not super reliable like a honda
Crush
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Crush 9/24/2013 7:39pm
9/24/2013 7:39pm
Oh how was that?

I wrote an email but never got a reply back - wouldn't have been able to go in the end anyways. You doing the KTM one?

Two of my mates had the 2010 YZF450 and they never had a problem with theirs... Just oil changes and what not and keep going... Definitely reliable and I'd say build quality as good as Honda/KTM... And still a fraction ahead of Kawi/Suzy...

They did the motor mount kits and suspension - they're both quite light guys, end pipe for top end, but I think a lot of that was addressed with the new one.

How big is big? My bikes usually look a little funky, tall bars, tall seat, low pegs etc haha.. I'm 197 and 115 atm... should be 105 but hey. Work!
Moto619
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Moto619 9/24/2013 8:05pm
9/24/2013 8:05pm Edited Date/Time 9/24/2013 8:08pm
Crush I'm about your height but weigh 106kgs. I just use tall bars usually but not at the moment. I don't run a tall seat as it makes it harder to tip the bike into corners, well so I've found anyways

The Shop

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Bigoldbeef 9/24/2013 8:20pm
9/24/2013 8:20pm
Moto619 wrote:
Hey Crush yeah new YZ is a wet sump. Rode one at Yamaha launch at kembla and liked it. I'm a big boy and it felt...
Hey Crush yeah new YZ is a wet sump. Rode one at Yamaha launch at kembla and liked it. I'm a big boy and it felt pretty good. Rode a 13 honda and it was good but I'm so fat I need a little more motor. More worried about going to the Yamaha if it's not super reliable like a honda
Yamaha is more reliable than honda.
Crush
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Crush 9/24/2013 8:24pm
9/24/2013 8:24pm
Moto619 wrote:
Crush I'm about your height but weigh 106kgs. I just use tall bars usually but not at the moment. I don't run a tall seat as...
Crush I'm about your height but weigh 106kgs. I just use tall bars usually but not at the moment. I don't run a tall seat as it makes it harder to tip the bike into corners, well so I've found anyways
Ya I found that with my old KTM, not gonna do a tall seat next time.... whenever that is!
DDMX18
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DDMX18 9/24/2013 8:26pm
9/24/2013 8:26pm
Hey guys, this must be the Aussie 2014 YZ450 thread!, I rode one at Kembla and picked mine one last week. Haven’t ridden it yet, just sorting out suspension and pipe etc. (funnily enough i'm 6ft and 100kg’s so in the same ballpark). Motor was good, smooth and mainly a mid range hit. My '11 has the GYTR piston and cams and full fmf exhaust so it was a little down compared with that but overall handling was better. It turned better as the only fix for my ’11 was 20mm triple clamp offset.
If you have an older YZF (10-13) not much transfers over except for chain guide, triple clamps, clutch cover, rear wheel and the fork springs are different so if you’ll need to run spacers if you use older model fork springs.
We’ll have to catch up for a ride at Kembla?
Moto619
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Moto619 9/24/2013 8:40pm
9/24/2013 8:40pm
DDMX18 wrote:
Hey guys, this must be the Aussie 2014 YZ450 thread!, I rode one at Kembla and picked mine one last week. Haven’t ridden it yet, just...
Hey guys, this must be the Aussie 2014 YZ450 thread!, I rode one at Kembla and picked mine one last week. Haven’t ridden it yet, just sorting out suspension and pipe etc. (funnily enough i'm 6ft and 100kg’s so in the same ballpark). Motor was good, smooth and mainly a mid range hit. My '11 has the GYTR piston and cams and full fmf exhaust so it was a little down compared with that but overall handling was better. It turned better as the only fix for my ’11 was 20mm triple clamp offset.
If you have an older YZF (10-13) not much transfers over except for chain guide, triple clamps, clutch cover, rear wheel and the fork springs are different so if you’ll need to run spacers if you use older model fork springs.
We’ll have to catch up for a ride at Kembla?
Hey Dave it's jake are you on holidays or "having a break" at work. Haha
DDMX18
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DDMX18 9/24/2013 8:45pm
9/24/2013 8:45pm
Heya, didnt recognise your "call sign", late lunch at work for me. Hows the shoulder? Dont forget the offer of some bench racing soon!
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JOHN CHOATE 9/24/2013 8:53pm
9/24/2013 8:53pm
I got one last month and it is totally BADASS!!! For the past 6 or 7 years or so, one of Yamaha's biggest attributes has been it's reliability and suspension(Kayaba SSS). I had the 2010 model and loved it once I did a couple minor mods to it. In 3.5 years I didn't even have to adjust the valves on it !! Just oil and air filter changes that's all.

So far the new model feels really good even with the stock pipe on it. After reading MXA's test in the Oct. 13 issue about the YZ 450, it's no wonder why it feels so good engine wise. It makes the most HP of any production 450 MXA has ever dyno'ed. The tranny was a little notchy when I was first breaking it in but it is starting to feel much better with some time on it. I will start to mess with the suspension settings when I practice next but so far I am very impressed and that's from someone who had the previous model and loved it.
Moto619
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Moto619 9/24/2013 8:54pm
9/24/2013 8:54pm
DDMX18 wrote:
Heya, didnt recognise your "call sign", late lunch at work for me. Hows the shoulder? Dont forget the offer of some bench racing soon!
Hey mate keen to catch up for sure a few beers a few tall stories. Shoulders better still sore off work for 2 weeks doing exercises etc
MMCDan
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MMCDan 9/24/2013 9:10pm
9/24/2013 9:10pm
Moto619 wrote:
Thinking of buying one and was wondering how the bikes are performing, are they reliable? I have ridden only CRFs for last ten years and haven't...
Thinking of buying one and was wondering how the bikes are performing, are they reliable? I have ridden only CRFs for last ten years and haven't had any problems. Any help or advice would be great, thanks in advance.
I've had one for about two months now and love it. Came off a 2013 RMZ450 and feel that the Yamaha turns almost as good and is much more stable. The backwards engine does have a different feel but I owned a 2012 YZF450 and knew what to expect.

The suspension is great; I used the settings MXA recommended in their review (with the exception of only adding 5 cc's of oil to the forks and I did not install a link) and it is working well for me at 6'2" and 190 lbs (sorry, too lazy to convert to metric).

I installed Windham bend ProTapers, an oversized front disc, a 50-tooth rear sprocket, FMF pipe and had Dan Crower perform some work on the cams and the bike hauls ass.

No reliability issues but I've always had great luck with Yamaha. Only issue I have is how slow aftermarket parts are hitting the market. Many of the 2010 - 2013 parts fit but not the plastic and OEM prices are ridiculous with shrouds going for over $300 a set and side panels running over $120 for both. I love the molded in graphics but c'mon Polisport/Acerbis....

Hope this helps.
Crush
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Crush 9/24/2013 9:37pm
9/24/2013 9:37pm
MMCDan wrote:
I've had one for about two months now and love it. Came off a 2013 RMZ450 and feel that the Yamaha turns almost as good and...
I've had one for about two months now and love it. Came off a 2013 RMZ450 and feel that the Yamaha turns almost as good and is much more stable. The backwards engine does have a different feel but I owned a 2012 YZF450 and knew what to expect.

The suspension is great; I used the settings MXA recommended in their review (with the exception of only adding 5 cc's of oil to the forks and I did not install a link) and it is working well for me at 6'2" and 190 lbs (sorry, too lazy to convert to metric).

I installed Windham bend ProTapers, an oversized front disc, a 50-tooth rear sprocket, FMF pipe and had Dan Crower perform some work on the cams and the bike hauls ass.

No reliability issues but I've always had great luck with Yamaha. Only issue I have is how slow aftermarket parts are hitting the market. Many of the 2010 - 2013 parts fit but not the plastic and OEM prices are ridiculous with shrouds going for over $300 a set and side panels running over $120 for both. I love the molded in graphics but c'mon Polisport/Acerbis....

Hope this helps.
Interesting... Definitely seems to be a theme of some taller/bigger guys like the new Yamaha design.
Yamiguy51
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Yamiguy51 9/26/2013 5:15pm
9/26/2013 5:15pm
Bike is very good I'm very happy with it have had it for over a month and have about 20hrs on it and no problems
GuyB
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GuyB 9/26/2013 5:52pm
9/26/2013 5:52pm
Bad10 got one. There's another thread floating around in here where he talks about it.
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Skerby 9/26/2013 11:39pm
9/26/2013 11:39pm Edited Date/Time 9/26/2013 11:40pm
I've seen a lot of old guys riding them. I think Yamaha is finally overtaking ktm in the "vet bike" category. In my opinion, the Yamaha appeals to men who have more responsibility and less ego.
Collin_Beverly 9/27/2013 4:45am
9/27/2013 4:45am Edited Date/Time 9/27/2013 4:46am
I


I love mine. Suspension is pretty good for bigger guys (like myself) right of the box. The motor is great but was a little soft hitting for my liking but was easily changed with the gytr tuner. I think I have about 18 hrs on mine.
IWreckALot
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IWreckALot 9/27/2013 4:59am
9/27/2013 4:59am
Collin_Beverly wrote:
I[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/09/27/32828/s1200_image.jpg[/img] I love mine. Suspension is pretty good for bigger guys (like myself) right of the box. The motor is great but was a little soft...
I


I love mine. Suspension is pretty good for bigger guys (like myself) right of the box. The motor is great but was a little soft hitting for my liking but was easily changed with the gytr tuner. I think I have about 18 hrs on mine.
I like the white yamahas especially when they're stickered right. Where did you get the decal kit? It looks good man.

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Sandberm
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Sandberm 9/27/2013 5:46am
9/27/2013 5:46am
Collin_Beverly wrote:
I[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/09/27/32828/s1200_image.jpg[/img] I love mine. Suspension is pretty good for bigger guys (like myself) right of the box. The motor is great but was a little soft...
I


I love mine. Suspension is pretty good for bigger guys (like myself) right of the box. The motor is great but was a little soft hitting for my liking but was easily changed with the gytr tuner. I think I have about 18 hrs on mine.
That's a nice looking bike. Well done Collin,

I like the white Yamahas better too.
Surfinglbi23
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Surfinglbi23 9/27/2013 8:21am
9/27/2013 8:21am
I really like the way these look ... interested in longer term reliability, most likely will be very strong
IWreckALot
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IWreckALot 9/27/2013 9:00am
9/27/2013 9:00am
I've bought my 2008 450 new and have had to do nothing to the motor. It starts on the first kick every time and doesn't have any problems. I'm almost afraid of touching it because I don't want anything to start to fall apart.
nc_mx_kid
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nc_mx_kid 9/27/2013 5:11pm
9/27/2013 5:11pm
I had a 2013 and now have a 2014.

The 2014 turns better and more power. The Yamaha is known for reliability.

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