Long time YZ450F riders: input needed

user760a
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user760a
Edited Date/Time 7/24/2015 9:07pm
I have been a Kaw KX450F nut since 2009, but I am not going down the idiotic air fork road. I last had a YZ450F in 08. it was an 06 model, though. I had no issues with the bike aside from the vague front end feel...but that was a major problem for me.

yamaha guys: is the 10-13 model as bad as the 06 was where front end traction is concerned? I live in an area with a lot of hard red clay turns...the worst for a yamaha.
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ben990
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ben990 7/24/2015 11:03am
7/24/2015 11:03am
My riding buddy has a 2007 Yamaha YZ450F and a 2013 Yamaha YZ450F. He is over 40, a C rider, and races mx and hare scrambles every once in a while.

He just can't come to terms with the 2013. He has tried suspension setup and different fuel map settings but the bike still frustrates him. He rode it last night and stalled it three times in a 10 minute practice moto.

He would choose his 2007 to race over his 2013 any day of the week.


nadeauracing229 7/24/2015 11:08am
7/24/2015 11:08am
I had a 2011 and the bike turns just fine, the rumors get in everyone's head about the bike and it's nowhere near as bad as they say.
Motofinne
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Motofinne 7/24/2015 11:08am
7/24/2015 11:08am
I rode an 2012 yzf450 with Öhlins suspension, GYTR engine and all i can say is that the engine was amazing. The suspension was amazing. But the bike itself is really wide. I'm 174cm tall with short legs and i had problems with the width of the bike.
mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 7/24/2015 11:28am
7/24/2015 11:28am
I rode a 13 yz450f at our local hard packed track and found it wasn't as bad as people made it out to be. But I'm also 6'2 and 185lbs and from what I've been told bigger guys can make the 10-13 yzs work, if you are a smaller guy you might have some issues. But if you can get a 14 or newer I highly recommend it! I love my 14.

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Rideyz102
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Rideyz102 7/24/2015 11:43am
7/24/2015 11:43am
I currently have a 11 yz450 and have owned a 06 in the past. The 11 definitely turns better than the 06. Just different the 06 tended to push on entrance for me and the 11 is a little vague but more controllable for me. I will say revalved the suspension and put a litespeed engine relocation kit on my 11 and thought it was awesome but then I rode my dad's 14 stock and that bike handles and turns way better than the 11.
Adam43
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Adam43 7/24/2015 11:55am
7/24/2015 11:55am
The handling quirks of the YZF will drive you crazier than any air forks will.
Springcreek
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Springcreek 7/24/2015 12:45pm
7/24/2015 12:45pm
Had a 2006 and now a 2012 and it works fine at Milllville.




Zycki11
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Zycki11 7/24/2015 12:59pm
7/24/2015 12:59pm
It's a bunch of crap when people say it handles poorly. Ride like normal and put your balls on the tank and the thing handles great. For those who say it's bad, they generally make this comment coming from another bike. It doesn't handle the same way a honda or Suzuki does. However, the bike turns great and is stable. As for the width, you can always get the cycra powerflow kit and that narrows it to "honda" standards. I have zero issues with the width on my 14
Anthony Siracuse 7/24/2015 1:06pm
7/24/2015 1:06pm
Zycki11 wrote:
It's a bunch of crap when people say it handles poorly. Ride like normal and put your balls on the tank and the thing handles great...
It's a bunch of crap when people say it handles poorly. Ride like normal and put your balls on the tank and the thing handles great. For those who say it's bad, they generally make this comment coming from another bike. It doesn't handle the same way a honda or Suzuki does. However, the bike turns great and is stable. As for the width, you can always get the cycra powerflow kit and that narrows it to "honda" standards. I have zero issues with the width on my 14
For real my yzf handles just fine.
1stSSPZ
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1stSSPZ 7/24/2015 1:12pm
7/24/2015 1:12pm Edited Date/Time 7/24/2015 1:14pm
I have ridden nothing but the YZ 426/450f since 2001. (01, 03, 06, 09) Currently on a 13'. It took a while but I have it dialed in to where the front sticks as well as my 03 CR250r smoker! Here is my trip to track perfection:

GYTR 4.4 oz flywheel weight (took the bark off the bottom with no more flameouts)
Lightspeed engine relocation kit
Reed/Henry bend bars
Pirelli soft terrain tires (I used the XC on the front as you can get it a little wider)
Applied 20mm offset clamps
Recluse 3.0 clutch

The last two items are game changers on this bike.

Set the forks flush with the top clamp and run 103-105mm of sag.
kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 7/24/2015 1:16pm
7/24/2015 1:16pm
user760a wrote:
I have been a Kaw KX450F nut since 2009, but I am not going down the idiotic air fork road. I last had a YZ450F in...
I have been a Kaw KX450F nut since 2009, but I am not going down the idiotic air fork road. I last had a YZ450F in 08. it was an 06 model, though. I had no issues with the bike aside from the vague front end feel...but that was a major problem for me.

yamaha guys: is the 10-13 model as bad as the 06 was where front end traction is concerned? I live in an area with a lot of hard red clay turns...the worst for a yamaha.
The air forks are the best thing since sliced bread!

You don't have to send your forks to anyone to dial it in!
BAD10
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BAD10 7/24/2015 2:07pm
7/24/2015 2:07pm
1stSSPZ wrote:
I have ridden nothing but the YZ 426/450f since 2001. (01, 03, 06, 09) Currently on a 13'. It took a while but I have it...
I have ridden nothing but the YZ 426/450f since 2001. (01, 03, 06, 09) Currently on a 13'. It took a while but I have it dialed in to where the front sticks as well as my 03 CR250r smoker! Here is my trip to track perfection:

GYTR 4.4 oz flywheel weight (took the bark off the bottom with no more flameouts)
Lightspeed engine relocation kit
Reed/Henry bend bars
Pirelli soft terrain tires (I used the XC on the front as you can get it a little wider)
Applied 20mm offset clamps
Recluse 3.0 clutch

The last two items are game changers on this bike.

Set the forks flush with the top clamp and run 103-105mm of sag.
Like he said. I had the engine relocation kit on my 2011 and have it on my 2014. Wouldn't think so, but makes a huge difference. Had my 2011 dialed in to work very well. The 2014 is even better than the 11 ever was.
SPYGUY
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SPYGUY 7/24/2015 3:24pm
7/24/2015 3:24pm
1stSSPZ wrote:
I have ridden nothing but the YZ 426/450f since 2001. (01, 03, 06, 09) Currently on a 13'. It took a while but I have it...
I have ridden nothing but the YZ 426/450f since 2001. (01, 03, 06, 09) Currently on a 13'. It took a while but I have it dialed in to where the front sticks as well as my 03 CR250r smoker! Here is my trip to track perfection:

GYTR 4.4 oz flywheel weight (took the bark off the bottom with no more flameouts)
Lightspeed engine relocation kit
Reed/Henry bend bars
Pirelli soft terrain tires (I used the XC on the front as you can get it a little wider)
Applied 20mm offset clamps
Recluse 3.0 clutch

The last two items are game changers on this bike.

Set the forks flush with the top clamp and run 103-105mm of sag.
C'mon bud. Just pay for the damn photo.
Torco1
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Torco1 7/24/2015 3:51pm
7/24/2015 3:51pm
Here's a list of bikes I've had in the past few years.....06 YZ250, 09 CRf250, 11 KX250f, 11 KX450f, 12 KX450f and I've also ridden a lot of other bikes including older YZ450's. I have a 13 YZ450 right now and I love that bike.....more than the bikes I listed. A lot of people that say they're crap are people that never even rode one. I understand that there really are people out there that don't like it and cant agree with it, but that's the case with every single bike.....I happen to be one of those people that love the 10-13 YZ450. The whole "10-13 YZ450 sucks ass" deal has been blown waaaaaay out of proportion.
DDMX18
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DDMX18 7/24/2015 4:03pm
7/24/2015 4:03pm
Have to agree with most of the comments above. I've had a 2008, then onto a 2011 and now 2014 & 15. The 2010-2013 seem to suit bigger heavier riders (I'm 6ft 220) and it suited me well. The motors are awesome and bulletproof. I ride mostly hard pack being from the east coast of australia, not much loam around these parts. They seem vague at turn in if you are not spot on with your body position, if mine washed out or didnt grip, i'd quickly analyse that i was sitting in the middle of the seat and not forward enough. I ran the 20mm x-trig clamps and they certainly made a big difference. The 14-15's certainly turn much better but the 2010-13 is a good solid bike.



dereck519 7/24/2015 4:35pm
7/24/2015 4:35pm
I have had Yamahas for a very long time now. On the 10-13, I felt the item that helped the most as far as turning was the Ride lowering link, which allowed me to raise the forks in the triple clamps. This lowers the whole bike enough to make everything feel more settled. I know that's a vague answer to how it feels, but I felt it was definitely worth the cost. I now have a '14, and without a doubt once I had the correct springs for my weight, this bike is significantly better then the 12 I had.
RY9MX
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RY9MX 7/24/2015 6:51pm
7/24/2015 6:51pm
I love my '13 yz450. It does everything excellent in my opinion. I do think there is something that makes the bike work for bigger riders. I'm 6'1" 215lbs. I have the suspension done by six12 race tech, hi comp piston, pipe, agressive map, and race fuel and the thing is just awsome. I actually like the wider feel. I can grip the bike much better and actually be comfortable doing it. My last bike was a rmz450 and could never get that comfort I now have. I feel I can turn this bike as well as my rmz and never have the vague or wondering feeling people tall about. It's solid.

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erikmx91
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erikmx91 7/24/2015 7:58pm
7/24/2015 7:58pm
I had a 12 yz450f loved the motor, suspension, and reliability...but the bike is wide makes it tough to slide up on the seat.That is my only real complaint about the bike.
The front end wasn't all that bad and the bike is easy to throw around feels light in motion.
MX558
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MX558 7/24/2015 8:27pm
7/24/2015 8:27pm
08 09 and 14 rocks 10 through 13 sucks balls
DA498
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DA498 7/24/2015 9:07pm
7/24/2015 9:07pm
Springcreek wrote:
Had a 2006 and now a 2012 and it works fine at Milllville. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/07/24/98654/s1200_BDMX_2.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/07/24/98655/s1200_viking_clash_1.jpg[/img]
Had a 2006 and now a 2012 and it works fine at Milllville.




Nice looking bike JD, I have a '13 and at first the front end freaked me out but Ive played with set up and have learned how to handle it. Id like to try some of the mods, (lowering link, engine relocation) Im not a big guy, 5-10, 170lbs. Mostly hardpack around here and IMO that's when the front feels light to me. Nice trophy by the way! your lucky I moved, ive had your number in the past! Whistling

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