Keefer's 2009 YZ450 test

That’s on my hit list of bikes to own. I recently bought an ultra pristine 2008 CRF450R and it’s so astounding how good it is. I put a pro circuit exhaust on it, had a carb built to spec for it by Jet Labs, and had the suspension sprung for my 160LB weight. It’s so good. And honestly it is easy to start, I haven’t been through a hard crash or lengthy tipover with it yet, but I have stalled it and it fired up first kick. I’m no longer scared of the carbureted 450’s. I’d love to get a 2008-2009 YZ450F and give it the same treatment. 

What make you say the engine on the 08 is better than your 2020?

I had a 2008 YZ450f and kept it for a few years. The only thing I can remember about the bike was pretty soft suspension and it being down on power to everything else. I remember my 2003 being more powerful. It was a friendly bike but left a lot to be desired.

Rode the wheels off my 09 YZF 450. One of my favorites. 

Bubba was untouchable on that 2009 Yamaha. Its criminal he sat out outdoors in '09

I went from the 09 YZ to an 09 KXF and loved that bike also because of the efi. 

The ‘09 is a great bike. I got a little carried away with this one, I ended up putting too much money into it. The motor was a little soft on the stock bike, but Tokyo Mods did a great job with their mods. 

MANNNNNNNNN!!!  That is beautiful! 

I remember when these bikes were current models and MXA seemed to always mention playing with triple clamp offset to get the front end traction right. As a Vet 40+ B rider, I have tried every triple clamp imaginable as I am a glutton for wallet punishment. I could never tell a difference. Wow factor for sure, but nothing I could feel on the track. How do you feel about the PC clamps on your bike vs the stock clamps? 

I rode an '08 for about 5 years.  

Changed the pipe, did the "O-ring mod" to the FCR and that was about it.

That is probably my favorite bike that I've had.  I dont ever remember the valves needing adjustment when I checked them.

Interesting, I don't notice multiple hits on my 19 but it does feel like it's got more bottom than my 24. A 14 tooth CS sprocket, throttle tamer, some tuning app adjustments, and a spark arrestor makes it way easier to ride on wet rocks and roots. My 24 I just did the tamer and tuning app, and the 19 still feels like it's got more bottom end. 

My 07 was a light switch and it made it hard to climb anything steep because it was prone to wheelie at the wrong times. The first time I did a gnarly climb in new Mexico on the 19 it was immediately apparent that it was easier to get it lower in the rpms and just tractor up loose rocky climbs without flipping over. I was laughing going up because it just kept going and finding traction. 

They really nailed the suspension tuning with that gen frame geometry. Soooo comfortable. They feel a little wide and bottom heavy though. 

Yes, it has the wide ratio which spreads the power out more. Personally I think most people would be better off with a cross-country bike than a pure mx version. You could probably do ~20mph at redline in first on the fx with stock gearing, it's not as low geared as some West coast reviews make it out to be. My 07 was a WR, so it had the wide ratio as well. 

Mellower, more gradual power build, less jerky tip in throttle wise. But pretty solid still, vibrate a good bit more than some newer models. Touch down on power everywhere but still very usable.

Feel overall on the track is good, ergos are good, little narrow between the legs when standing, but feels natural overall. Corners ok, brakes are ok, it’s all pretty just solid and consistent I’d say.

It’s not lightyears off that’s for sure. And depending on your build and style it won’t give up as much power wise, I’m heavy and like low end, so I’m working against its strengths. I’d say it’s strengths are smoother roll on and traction. 

I just picked up a 2011 WR450F which is similar in some ways to the 09 YZ, but probably more similar to the 06 as far as I can tell. Can't wait to hit the trails on this thing, gonna be a long winter...

For sure, and the WR from that generation is a great enduro👍

These bikes is the legacy of Stefan Everts!

Possibly his 2006 factory bike became the 2008 production bike, the 2008/2009 were awesome. Oh, the muffler on the US models sucked tough.

https://motocrossactionmag.com/forgotten-motocross-tech-inside-secrets-…

Says above EFI, but from this bike I went on to own an 11, 2-13’s (250 and 450), 16, 21 and now a 24 KX’s if that says anything 

There was a guy who was a former GNCC XC-1 Pro who was winning and running up front in the local A motocross classes on one of his old '07-ish YZ 450 race bikes not long ago around my neck of the woods. You can probably win at the local level on anything made in the last 30+ years.

Maybe Keefer got a little backlash from the manufacturers over his Honda test because they thought it would hurt new bike sales? Or maybe he's just busy doing other things. 

Coming off 30 years of riding 2 strokes, in 2006 I bought a YZ250 and ended up also getting a 2006 YZ450F at the same time since most the guys I ride with switched to 4 strokes.  I tried to get used to the 450 but I had a hard time with all that engine braking, weight and all the power that went with it and for me, I didn't like the way it cornered either.  Also had issues with it occasionally flaming out or me just being a dork and stalling it (no electric start either).  Essentially, I didn't mix well with the YZ450 and within a few months I had 4 times as many hours on the YZ250 as the 450.  Ended up selling it that same year to a friend who was my age and he ended up handing it off to his son to ride who's a pretty fast A rider and he loved it!  

Sixteen years later , I finally got another 4 stroke but went with a 2022 350 this time and now the tables have turned...I've not ridden my YZ250 since getting the 350. 

I had an 09 YZ450...loved it...I kept it all the way until 2015 I liked it so much.  Then I bough a 15 KX450 and that bike made me like that 09 even more..lol

That 09 was smooth, planted, and just easy to ride.  Great bike!   Yamaha should go back to that bike, and change nothing but EFI and an e-start...I'd buy one.  HA!

(Full disclosure, I rode mine primarily in Hare and Hounds...and it was an awesome desert bike.)

In the last 6+ years ive ridden a handful of carb'd and efi 450s to include a 2006 Kx450, 2008 crf450, 2009 kx450(mod) 10 rmz450, 10 yz450f, 18 yz450, 24 kx450, 26 yz450.

the older carb 450's are just as fast, out of the crate they just arent as crisp but modded carb clears it up. the new chassis's...i would say are different, not worse and maybe a little better. the suspension was better on newer bikes but the older stuff is good with revalve

 06 kx450 motor was one of my favorites, 4 speed with easy usable power. i like the larger chassis feel but the forks were the worst

08 crf chassis is stable and a great outdoor bike,  on a tighter track it feels a little too planted but the motor has great power fast riders will  like

10rmz solid chassis, motor feels like an under power v8. just resists getting going, but it wont get away from you

all the yz450fs has a similar motor feel, very snappy and fun, liked it in off road sections. the 10 chassis weight distribution made itnot planted. up till the past few years didnt like how they felt sitting on them

the lates kx450 feels stable and i felt comfortable in turns too. probabaly one of the easist to ride