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Looking to build yz500 by BRC racing, I have a 2016 yz250x and I am planning on using it for the build. BRC uses transmission, water pump and such out of the 250. Curious as to if I should swap over to the yz250 transmission from the x model. I plan for the build to be based more for a track rather than woods, but would honestly be used on both. Also my “woods” riding is more like gncc and harescramble than hard enduro. Curious is to thoughts about that and any other input yall might have.
I wouldn't put an 8 year old transmission in a new 500cc build!
Kinda felt the same, but the motor isn’t crazy hours actually just rebuilt it a few months ago top and bottom end and everything looked good that wasn’t replaced. so I hate to throw it away would kinda like to keep it. So I’ve wanted to find a basket case yz250 and just make sure everything they need is good and send it off. Right now just exploring options and getting some ideas from others before I jump in head first and spend and waste money in areas I didn’t need
I would think the wider (top 3?) ratios of the X motor would be better for a 500. The Xs I.ve ridden had no problems with the ratios , so a 500 would benefit from the wider range - no shortage of grunt available.
As another has said here, you'd want to be sure whatever gears you use, are healthy. Getting them checked (magnafluxed?) and treated, would be wise, even with brand new parts, from the troubles I've read on the YZs, over the years.
I'd kill for the higher gears of the HRC gears for my CRE500, in any type of riding I do, but, I've not found a supplier I trust to make such a thing properly.
Appreciate the advice! What reputable companies would be willing to do treat and magnafluxed for the transmission its something I’m not educated at all on
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Common problems on YZ250s are bent/worn shift forks. Those wouldn't be too much to replace, along with your 2nd dog and anything else that's worn.
For transmissions, I know Trick Eng/Clayton Miller does treatment. I'm not sure if he does that inhouse or not, but a lot of SX race teams use his service.
Cryoheat definitely does it inhouse and they've built the gears for MXrevival. MXrevival actually has a yt series on their BCR build.
if the gearbox is ok you can use it
Can't help you with that, I'm in another country to you!
YZed250 gave some good advice there.
rwj500's comment about if the gearbox is OK - well, other than the glaringly obvious of visible wear on things, well, there can / will be stresses put through it you can't 'eyeball' . I'm a pretty 'easy on the bike' rider, but, my leg problems really give gearbox selectors etc, a very, Very hard time, so, with a few of my bikes, I routinely replace some parts that cop a hiding from me.
You are (I assume) spending quite a deal on such a conversion, so, I'd say it's Not a time to cheap it out.
I can't recall, correctly, But TWToyota ????? here - something like that, I've gone blank on his handle, sorry - who makes a Lot of stuff, has commented a fair bit about YZ Gearboxes, and, I, and I think others have encouraged him to do another project with regards to the YZ Gearbox ailments. But, I think he's always got a lot on.
I think with all of their 500 / 511 kits, BRC addresses gearbox stress a bit with Primary gear ratios that help reduce the forces - after all, they are originally only made to take the abuse of 250 / 300 Torque and Power levels.
Yeah it’s gonna be expensive and I wanna do it right, but also wanna save money where available and to be honest I never through about the transmission being weak. I’ve been riding bikes for well over 15 years and never had the issues with transmissions so just something I never thought of and I also haven’t been around too many yz to know they are know for there transmission issues.
I just bought a YZM500 off of a guy who built it himself. He started with a yz250 and bought the parts to switch the transmission over to the X transmission. He told me that BRC recommended it as the better setup for the 500s.
I obviously did not talk to BRC myself but just passing along the info from the guy who built mine.
I was hoping to find someone who’s had experience with them. I’ve already got an x model so looks like I’ll be using it I would say. How do you like the bike? Any advice on certain aspects of the bike that I should be aware of or anything?
I have only gotten to ride it once. Weather in Ohio makes it tough this time of year. It is very fast but smooth. Going to be a fun bike that’s for sure. Sorry I don’t have much more feedback I’ve only had it a few weeks
All good man I live in WV close to the Ohio river I feel the weather
I'm the one who does some limited gearboxes. I wrote up a thread on it by request on the tech forum last year. If you search under my username it should come up.
I don't know what the BRC cases look like and if it is possible to do the same upgrades, but most likely it can be done.
When I first saw the BRC kit announced I shook my head at the idea of running a 500cc engine through the YZ250 transmission.
Currently I'm building a pile of YZ250 upgrade stuff... The parts are getting less common and more expensive every year.
I was 1 letter out, CW . Sorry about that. Alliteration / Phonetics, got my feeble Bear Brain in a twist.
With so many YZ250s out there, there's quite a market for 'bits' for them. Heck, even if, somehow, Yamaha decided to adopt the Fantic / Minarelli 'solution', I think there is still a heck of a lot of crossover.
Awesome sounds good man I’ll definitely look into it
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