YZ450... The Rest of the Story

GuyB
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GuyB
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 5:59pm
Hey, I posted the video this morning, but here's all the rest. We had Broc Tickle out as a guest tester, and he was having a blast on the bike, as you may have seen in the video. But here's all the scoop on the newest YZ450F.

http://www.vitalmx.com/features/Inside-The-2010-Yamaha-YZ450F,2998
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Lightning78
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Lightning78 9/25/2009 7:33pm
9/25/2009 7:33pm
Nice....looks like they hit the nail on the head with this one. Might be one of the greatest first year bikes made. I want to ride one for sure it makes the other bikes look dated in both design/engineering and looks. IMO its gonna be a bad year for anyone not on the blue 450.
gt80rider
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gt80rider 9/25/2009 7:56pm
9/25/2009 7:56pm
1.6 gallon tank......... whoa....
ky_savage
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ky_savage 9/25/2009 8:02pm
9/25/2009 8:02pm
gt80rider wrote:
1.6 gallon tank......... whoa....
That's 0.1 gallons more than the Honda
nmanley
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nmanley 9/25/2009 8:11pm
9/25/2009 8:11pm
Sweet report. Looks great even to an old fart like me. I sure hate think what they will ask for it when it's available. $10K maybe Yikes..!!!

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GuyB
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GuyB 9/25/2009 8:22pm
9/25/2009 8:22pm
$10k? Blue/White ($7,990); White/Red ($8,090)
JOHN CHOATE
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JOHN CHOATE 9/25/2009 8:26pm
9/25/2009 8:26pm
I want the white w/black rims and then put some retro yellow plastic on it!!!! Feel like I'm about to get my "O" face.
ky_savage
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ky_savage 9/25/2009 8:44pm
9/25/2009 8:44pm
Close enough to 10K.
oldx
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oldx 9/25/2009 9:02pm
9/25/2009 9:02pm Edited Date/Time 9/25/2009 9:03pm
ky_savage wrote:
Close enough to 10K.
Kinda like everything else thats not sold at Wal-Mart.However you can get a nice Chinese bike cheaper.
6ixeight
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6ixeight 9/25/2009 11:36pm
9/25/2009 11:36pm
Does the blue come with black rims?
GuyB
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GuyB 9/25/2009 11:59pm
9/25/2009 11:59pm
Nope, blue comes with silver.
TerryB
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TerryB 9/26/2009 12:00am
9/26/2009 12:00am
It' really exciting to see Yamaha push the envelope and be so forward thinking with this bike. It really is pretty cool (for a 4-stroke).

And I'm a fan of the new look- especially in white.
Lightning78
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Lightning78 9/26/2009 2:37am
9/26/2009 2:37am
GuyB wrote:
$10k? Blue/White ($7,990); White/Red ($8,090)
With tax and "fee's" you will get dam near 10k especially if the demand for the bike is good
Loose
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Loose 9/26/2009 2:57am
9/26/2009 2:57am
TerryB wrote:
It' really exciting to see Yamaha push the envelope and be so forward thinking with this bike. It really is pretty cool (for a 4-stroke). And...
It' really exciting to see Yamaha push the envelope and be so forward thinking with this bike. It really is pretty cool (for a 4-stroke).

And I'm a fan of the new look- especially in white.
Forward thinking?

Only time will tell, think 97 CR or linkless orange bikes.

Come to think of it Cannondale were forward thinking, weren't they?
teggers
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teggers 9/26/2009 5:29am
9/26/2009 5:29am Edited Date/Time 9/26/2009 5:36am
GuyB wrote:
$10k? Blue/White ($7,990); White/Red ($8,090)
If you get White/White, will they knock a few thousand off? I liked the video...very nice.
GuyB
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GuyB 9/26/2009 2:20pm
9/26/2009 2:20pm
Thanks, Tim.
ns503
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ns503 9/26/2009 2:29pm
9/26/2009 2:29pm
I'm kind of curious about the offset cylinder/crank thing. It's more or less glossed over in the PR, only gets a quick mention. Seems to me it could be as big a deal as the flipped around head. Has anybody tried that trick before? I don't recall seeing, hearing, or reading about any engine with a piston in it that does that.
kawboy388
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kawboy388 9/26/2009 2:30pm
9/26/2009 2:30pm
TerryB wrote:
It' really exciting to see Yamaha push the envelope and be so forward thinking with this bike. It really is pretty cool (for a 4-stroke). And...
It' really exciting to see Yamaha push the envelope and be so forward thinking with this bike. It really is pretty cool (for a 4-stroke).

And I'm a fan of the new look- especially in white.
Loose wrote:
Forward thinking?

Only time will tell, think 97 CR or linkless orange bikes.

Come to think of it Cannondale were forward thinking, weren't they?
Isn't this really "backward" thinking ? If this works good will this be the norm ? Younger guys still give me odd looks when I refer to modern forks as upside down forksGrinning .
bvm111
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bvm111 9/26/2009 2:47pm
9/26/2009 2:47pm
its still not as cool as my 2000 KX250.... just sayin!

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GuyB
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GuyB 9/26/2009 3:31pm
9/26/2009 3:31pm
ns503 wrote:
I'm kind of curious about the offset cylinder/crank thing. It's more or less glossed over in the PR, only gets a quick mention. Seems to me...
I'm kind of curious about the offset cylinder/crank thing. It's more or less glossed over in the PR, only gets a quick mention. Seems to me it could be as big a deal as the flipped around head. Has anybody tried that trick before? I don't recall seeing, hearing, or reading about any engine with a piston in it that does that.
ns, here's the diagram from Yamaha's press materials. While not pretty, it diagrams what they're talking.

stillwelding
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stillwelding 9/26/2009 3:33pm
9/26/2009 3:33pm Edited Date/Time 9/26/2009 8:24pm
GuyB wrote:
$10k? Blue/White ($7,990); White/Red ($8,090)
With Ca. sales tax (9.75%) and DMV fees, it's 10k. Why the "What 10K" look? Sorry Lightning 78, missed your post.
GuyB
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GuyB 9/26/2009 3:37pm
9/26/2009 3:37pm
My bad.
flapper
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flapper 9/26/2009 5:23pm
9/26/2009 5:23pm Edited Date/Time 9/26/2009 5:23pm
How about in Canada,$ 9,699.00+frieght +pdi +12.5%tax=oooouuuucccchhh!!
Justin314
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Justin314 9/26/2009 5:35pm
9/26/2009 5:35pm
6ixeight wrote:
Does the blue come with black rims?
From what Ive heard, it will in Europe. The blue/white version comes with silver rims here. Im not sure about Aus.
ns503
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ns503 9/26/2009 5:45pm
9/26/2009 5:45pm
ns503 wrote:
I'm kind of curious about the offset cylinder/crank thing. It's more or less glossed over in the PR, only gets a quick mention. Seems to me...
I'm kind of curious about the offset cylinder/crank thing. It's more or less glossed over in the PR, only gets a quick mention. Seems to me it could be as big a deal as the flipped around head. Has anybody tried that trick before? I don't recall seeing, hearing, or reading about any engine with a piston in it that does that.
GuyB wrote:
ns, here's the diagram from Yamaha's press materials. While not pretty, it diagrams what they're talking. [img]http://www.vitalmx.com/images/stories/2009/09/092609offset.jpg[/img]
ns, here's the diagram from Yamaha's press materials. While not pretty, it diagrams what they're talking.

Hadn't seen that, but it was what I was picturing, more or less.

So has anybody tried this before? That seems to me to be more innovative than exhaust out the back - they've had that in their sleds for years.
The Rock
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The Rock 9/26/2009 7:12pm
9/26/2009 7:12pm Edited Date/Time 9/26/2009 7:27pm
Loose wrote:
Forward thinking?

Only time will tell, think 97 CR or linkless orange bikes.

Come to think of it Cannondale were forward thinking, weren't they?
Cannondale also didn't develop their bike for almost a year before releasing it.



ns503-Regarding the offset cylinder/crank deal this is not a new concept...it is the first time anyone (to my knowledge) has had this much offset.
JOHN CHOATE
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JOHN CHOATE 9/26/2009 7:57pm
9/26/2009 7:57pm
Wouldn't there be a frictional loss/side loading(opposite side of arrow in diagram) as the rod is trying to push the piston back up? I know the object of the offset is for the power stroke but the angle looks pretty steep on the exhaust and compression stroke where the rod is pushing upward. It seems like a decent amount of side loading on the piston. Just an observation.
stillwelding
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stillwelding 9/26/2009 8:26pm
9/26/2009 8:26pm
flapper wrote:
How about in Canada,$ 9,699.00+frieght +pdi +12.5%tax=oooouuuucccchhh!!
When the AMA mandated the "Production Rule" it was inevitable that a production bike would have the capability to win a SX or National and only 1% of the public can utilize those capabilities. Now were all paying for it. Literally.
Lightning78
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Lightning78 9/26/2009 8:38pm
9/26/2009 8:38pm
ns503 wrote:
I'm kind of curious about the offset cylinder/crank thing. It's more or less glossed over in the PR, only gets a quick mention. Seems to me...
I'm kind of curious about the offset cylinder/crank thing. It's more or less glossed over in the PR, only gets a quick mention. Seems to me it could be as big a deal as the flipped around head. Has anybody tried that trick before? I don't recall seeing, hearing, or reading about any engine with a piston in it that does that.
GuyB wrote:
ns, here's the diagram from Yamaha's press materials. While not pretty, it diagrams what they're talking. [img]http://www.vitalmx.com/images/stories/2009/09/092609offset.jpg[/img]
ns, here's the diagram from Yamaha's press materials. While not pretty, it diagrams what they're talking.

Also what seems to be overlooked with this design it that it looks to help drastically reduce the force of piston rock and since these 4 stroke pistons have such short skirts that would be a good thing ....I think they did it for performance first but a second benefit is the reliability. I doubt this bike will follow under the "First year lemon rule" but who knows? I have a feeling it won't.
casper
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casper 9/26/2009 9:06pm
9/26/2009 9:06pm
I tried to find some info on the offset design and from what I read, it sounds like the design helps with efficiency, but does little to change power. One car to have it is the Honda Insight.
Lightning78
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Lightning78 9/26/2009 9:52pm
9/26/2009 9:52pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 2:23am
flapper wrote:
How about in Canada,$ 9,699.00+frieght +pdi +12.5%tax=oooouuuucccchhh!!
stillwelding wrote:
When the AMA mandated the "Production Rule" it was inevitable that a production bike would have the capability to win a SX or National and only...
When the AMA mandated the "Production Rule" it was inevitable that a production bike would have the capability to win a SX or National and only 1% of the public can utilize those capabilities. Now were all paying for it. Literally.
You're forgetting inflation and exchange rates, they are more influential to price than the production rule is. Now we are also paying for the Mgf's to recoup lost R&D costs. In the article written one of the chassis engineers said they tested numerous chassis designs and each one cost the equivalent of a decent sized car! Im sure Yamaha dropped big bucks developing this bike.

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