2015 yz450 gearing

dweber401
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dweber401
Hey guys, so I've been playing with the gearing on my 450 when I bought it. It had a 13/52 I switched to stock 13/48 I don't like lugging the bike and these gear ratios have me rapping out in second except the 13/52 I went to a 13/49 and its the worst yet can anyone point me to what gearing they like best? I ride mx tracks nothing else. I'd like to be in 3rd gear more and not tapped out in second. Thanks in advance.
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Paw Paw 271
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Paw Paw 271 5/25/2021 12:53pm
5/25/2021 12:53pm
You may want to consider one of these....

These would allow you to stay in second longer...
13/45=3.46
14/50=3.54

These would let you get to third faster.
13/50=3.84
14/54=3.85

These bikes liked to be lugged for traction.

Paw Paw
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dweber401
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dweber401 5/25/2021 1:20pm
5/25/2021 1:20pm
Thank you, it's something I could see myself getting used to but is alot different coming from a 2 stroke
garasaki
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garasaki 5/26/2021 11:44am
5/26/2021 11:44am
I found gear selection on my 450 to be a big learning curve from 2 strokes.

Although, it's actually much much less critical to get it right.

Mostly I can ride mine in 4th almost all the time. I know you said you don't want to lug it, but that's the way it works best.

The more I rev my yz450f out, the more it feels flat, like a 125. The more I lug it, the more it feels like a 250 on steriods. The sound of the engine does not correspond to the power output in the same way a 2 stroke does. I've mulled over re-gearing mine as well, but in the end can't really come up with a good reason to - I feel I'd always end up with the same amount of shifting, just in different gears and/or different times.

I wouldn't necessarily encourage you to try to "fix it" - though gear changes for certain tracks might make sense.

Another observation I have is that gear selection seems to impact the handling of the chassis in corners, much more than it impacts my overall straightway speed or ability to clear jumps. I find downshifting to 2nd in tight corners helps tremendously in how the corner feels - but I don't necessarily think I gain much time by doing so.
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Rider 5280
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Rider 5280 5/26/2021 5:03pm
5/26/2021 5:03pm Edited Date/Time 5/26/2021 5:05pm
garasaki wrote:
I found gear selection on my 450 to be a big learning curve from 2 strokes. Although, it's actually much much less critical to get it...
I found gear selection on my 450 to be a big learning curve from 2 strokes.

Although, it's actually much much less critical to get it right.

Mostly I can ride mine in 4th almost all the time. I know you said you don't want to lug it, but that's the way it works best.

The more I rev my yz450f out, the more it feels flat, like a 125. The more I lug it, the more it feels like a 250 on steriods. The sound of the engine does not correspond to the power output in the same way a 2 stroke does. I've mulled over re-gearing mine as well, but in the end can't really come up with a good reason to - I feel I'd always end up with the same amount of shifting, just in different gears and/or different times.

I wouldn't necessarily encourage you to try to "fix it" - though gear changes for certain tracks might make sense.

Another observation I have is that gear selection seems to impact the handling of the chassis in corners, much more than it impacts my overall straightway speed or ability to clear jumps. I find downshifting to 2nd in tight corners helps tremendously in how the corner feels - but I don't necessarily think I gain much time by doing so.
Nailed it on EVERY level.

Suggestion ... just say to yourself "I'm gonna give this some time and ignore my instincts and see what lugging, etc., gets me."

I remember the same emotion when I switched to a 4-stroke in 2004 (2003 CRF450R). I found out quickly that using the torque all day long - which keeps the chassis calmer and more fluid by not revving it = speed. Big-time speed. Calming the chassis and riding in a way that feels like laziness INITIALLY = best way to ride a 4-stroke. Trust in that and you'll likely love it (and you will expend plenty of energy, you won't feel lazy for too long).

Ironically, and poetically, the "gentler" nature of the 4-stroke engine allowed me to learn how to ride better and in the end, I was faaar better at riding my 2-strokes, too. Life is kinda funny like that.
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dweber401
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dweber401 5/26/2021 5:50pm
5/26/2021 5:50pm
garasaki wrote:
I found gear selection on my 450 to be a big learning curve from 2 strokes. Although, it's actually much much less critical to get it...
I found gear selection on my 450 to be a big learning curve from 2 strokes.

Although, it's actually much much less critical to get it right.

Mostly I can ride mine in 4th almost all the time. I know you said you don't want to lug it, but that's the way it works best.

The more I rev my yz450f out, the more it feels flat, like a 125. The more I lug it, the more it feels like a 250 on steriods. The sound of the engine does not correspond to the power output in the same way a 2 stroke does. I've mulled over re-gearing mine as well, but in the end can't really come up with a good reason to - I feel I'd always end up with the same amount of shifting, just in different gears and/or different times.

I wouldn't necessarily encourage you to try to "fix it" - though gear changes for certain tracks might make sense.

Another observation I have is that gear selection seems to impact the handling of the chassis in corners, much more than it impacts my overall straightway speed or ability to clear jumps. I find downshifting to 2nd in tight corners helps tremendously in how the corner feels - but I don't necessarily think I gain much time by doing so.
Rider 5280 wrote:
Nailed it on EVERY level. Suggestion ... just say to yourself "I'm gonna give this some time and ignore my instincts and see what lugging, etc...
Nailed it on EVERY level.

Suggestion ... just say to yourself "I'm gonna give this some time and ignore my instincts and see what lugging, etc., gets me."

I remember the same emotion when I switched to a 4-stroke in 2004 (2003 CRF450R). I found out quickly that using the torque all day long - which keeps the chassis calmer and more fluid by not revving it = speed. Big-time speed. Calming the chassis and riding in a way that feels like laziness INITIALLY = best way to ride a 4-stroke. Trust in that and you'll likely love it (and you will expend plenty of energy, you won't feel lazy for too long).

Ironically, and poetically, the "gentler" nature of the 4-stroke engine allowed me to learn how to ride better and in the end, I was faaar better at riding my 2-strokes, too. Life is kinda funny like that.
I appreciate the feedback guys. I just switched the bike back to stock gearing tonight and I'm just going to start at the base and get use to the lugging of the bike. And go from there.
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