Please be patient with me. Any tech help is appreciated.
Finally broke down back in 2020 and told my wife I had to get back on dirtbikes after a 14 year hiatus. Best decision ever. Started with a 250f. Been on a 2020 yz450 last couple years. I’m used to it. It’s what I’m used to but I’ve always felt like it’s hard to manhandle especially pushing it into corners where I want it. I’ve had buddies ride it and say it feels “cramped”. Again I’m just used to it. I’ll add my suspension is set by JM Racing and I think it’s great. I will admit that I feel I am timid on the bike and always felt it’s me being nervous with the power. I’m 35 and 6’1 over 200lbs.
This past weekend I rode a friends KX450sr and I loved it. Suspension is stock, so obviously a lot softer than what I’m on. There’s more power in the KX but it felt like I was on a 125 again. I could dog it and bully it wherever I wanted it to go. Loved it. I’m not buying a kawi.
Any recommendations to suspension changes, fork heights, bars, clamps etc. to get the lighter/more flickable feeling out of my Yamaha? I know they’re great bikes, I just don’t know where to start to make feel/comfort changes. Nor do I have 10 grand laying around to start over.
Please help. TIA
I’m 6’ and 185 lb., currently ride (and love) the 2019 - 2023 KX450’s. Had the chance to ride a Yamaha prepped GYTR YZ450F and was extremely impressed with the improvements. Stock, I had a hard time riding the previous YZ450F package: Ergos were weird, felt cramped from the seat down (even when the bars came in forward position aimed at opening things up), while the engine was fast but lacked torque and a proper ‘connected’ feel. A taller GYTR seat (or any aftermarket alternative achieving the same effect), 14-53 gearing, PT Evo SX Race bend bars with A’ME glue on grips, down/back Works Connection foot peg mounts, TP mapping( preferred 3 and 5) or the ‘Magic’ map, and a good front tire (MX34, MX3S, X31, MXMS, etc.) will transform your bike. I’m pretty picky, but wouldn’t hesitate riding/racing a 2020 - 2022 YZ450F with some of these basics mods. Throw a Works Connection clutch lever and WC Elite bearing throttle tube to that list, and it’s a comfortable package that’s tough to beat.
Hope this helps, with a little more insight here: https://www.dirtrider.com/story/tests/2021-yamaha-yz450f-gytr-mod-bike-…
Go here https://www.keeferinctesting.com in the search bar type in yz450 and look for his setups for your bike. Kris knows this bike pretty well. I tried his setup for my 22 and it was the best I felt on this bike, even though I am about 15-20lbs heavier than he is and ride in totally different conditions
Thanks for all the info! In addition to this thread I did reach out to keefer. Also consulted local mechanic we deal with.
Keefer suggested to start with confirming my fork height and sag. Forks were right, my sag was an inch off!
I looked at purchasing foot pegs from local mechanic. He steered me to go back and confirm my bars were all the way out and then start playing with clickers.
My bars were in the farther out mount holes, but were not turned out. I flipped my mounts to stretch as far as a I could there. I was overly stiff from where mechanic told me I should be. My fork compression were at 7… I wound up at 11, rebound to 9.
Bike was night and day. Crazy what a few clicker adjustments did to the pushing feeling out of the bars.
I bought the works connection aluminum footpeg brackets, a guts tall seat, and put windham bend pro taper bars along with the '18 yzf bar mounts that are 5mm taller and all that made a world of difference
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I’m on the ‘21. 6’2”, 180, 35 years old. Close enough to you that my set up might help.
1st, fix the ergos. I have the works connection footpeg mounts and the gytr tall seat. This opens the bike up quite a bit without making it feel too big. For bars, I run stock bend and slight roll forward with the mounts in the forward holes, rear setting. It may be comfy now, but ride one with a tall seat and lower pegs and you’ll notice a difference immediately. You’re not too high on the bike sitting and the transition to standing takes way less energy. The GYTR tall seat is only .75 inches taller and puts the seat to peg distance pretty close to the KX.
Suspension sounds like it’s worked out for you. Added spring rate is good. The bike has a softer front end and it can fall into the mid stroke and hunt a little bit if you don’t have it valved to compensate, but I don’t know what you’ve got. One big thing I’ve noticed on this bike is the balance needs to be set up first. If you’re pitched fore or aft don’t try to fix it with clickers, go to sag and fork height. That obviously assumes the front valving compensates for the front low posture.
For tires, my bike has done best with pirellis. I’ve had mx33 and 34 dunlops and neither has mad it feel as nimble or playful as the pirellis.
They are incredible bikes, but respond big-time to changes, it can be easy to get lost on setup.
Personally recommend: 110mm sag, +5mm fork height, stock springs, bar mounts in rearward triple clamp hole - and based on your comments use the "Linear Trq" preloaded map in the tuner app.
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