What to look for on newer used 450s?

Are you going to look at yz's?

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Are you going to look at yz's?

Yeah. Kinda missed that in the post but yeah.

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Are you going to look at yz's?

Alec138 wrote:

Yeah. Kinda missed that in the post but yeah.

I saw you said you were interested in yz's, but wasn't sure that's what you were actually going to look at.

Pop the air box cover off and look for dirt in the bottom of it. That'll tell you how well they've cleaned it. Look in the oil sight glass on the left side of the motor to see how bad the oil is. You already know where to check the frame for cracks I'm sure. Check all the spokes. Check the adjuster bolts to make sure haven't frozen in the swingarm. Try to pull the seat to see if they've thoroughly cleaned under the seat and the tank area. Check the chain slide and guide. Check wear points on the frame. If you have access to a tuner, take it with you to check hours on the bikes.

You look at the same stuff as any other bike. Make sure theyre cold and clean when you get there. Check the air filter. Start it up and note the kicks required to do it. More than 4 cold id be concerned. Let it warm up and take it thru all the gears. Park it and look underneath for leaks. Smell the exhaust and make sure its burning clean. Look at the overall condition of it. Yea theyre ridden in mud and wrecked but anyone who takes care of a bike will have everything in tip top shape.

Best advice I can give anyone is the hrs.. Personally I wouldn't buy a used 4t with over 10 hrs. on an hr. meter. That MO has worked for me in the past 10 yrs. & haven't had any issues when buying a used thumper. The only thing I've done before my initial ride is check the bolts, lube the pivot points & change the fluids. Good luck on your purchase.

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Are you going to look at yz's?

Alec138 wrote:

Yeah. Kinda missed that in the post but yeah.

mattyhamz2 wrote:

I saw you said you were interested in yz's, but wasn't sure that's what you were actually going to look at.

Pop the air box cover off and look for dirt in the bottom of it. That'll tell you how well they've cleaned it. Look in the oil sight glass on the left side of the motor to see how bad the oil is. You already know where to check the frame for cracks I'm sure. Check all the spokes. Check the adjuster bolts to make sure haven't frozen in the swingarm. Try to pull the seat to see if they've thoroughly cleaned under the seat and the tank area. Check the chain slide and guide. Check wear points on the frame. If you have access to a tuner, take it with you to check hours on the bikes.

Damn Matty, I won't be able to sell a bike to you, your way to thorough J/K

Good list and I would recommend the same thing.

Alec138 wrote:

Yeah. Kinda missed that in the post but yeah.

mattyhamz2 wrote:

I saw you said you were interested in yz's, but wasn't sure that's what you were actually going to look at.

Pop the air box cover off and look for dirt in the bottom of it. That'll tell you how well they've cleaned it. Look in the oil sight glass on the left side of the motor to see how bad the oil is. You already know where to check the frame for cracks I'm sure. Check all the spokes. Check the adjuster bolts to make sure haven't frozen in the swingarm. Try to pull the seat to see if they've thoroughly cleaned under the seat and the tank area. Check the chain slide and guide. Check wear points on the frame. If you have access to a tuner, take it with you to check hours on the bikes.

NeedMoto wrote:

Damn Matty, I won't be able to sell a bike to you, your way to thorough J/K

Good list and I would recommend the same thing.

Found a 17 yz450f with 35-40hrs on it since new for 4k. Guy wants to sell it to put a down payment on a 19’ ktm. Guy sounds legit as far as talking to him over the phone and such. Bike is all stock he said given suspension is setup for 175 and i weigh 200+. So it will need stifening up some for the woods if i get it.

Alec138 wrote:

Yeah. Kinda missed that in the post but yeah.

mattyhamz2 wrote:

I saw you said you were interested in yz's, but wasn't sure that's what you were actually going to look at.

Pop the air box cover off and look for dirt in the bottom of it. That'll tell you how well they've cleaned it. Look in the oil sight glass on the left side of the motor to see how bad the oil is. You already know where to check the frame for cracks I'm sure. Check all the spokes. Check the adjuster bolts to make sure haven't frozen in the swingarm. Try to pull the seat to see if they've thoroughly cleaned under the seat and the tank area. Check the chain slide and guide. Check wear points on the frame. If you have access to a tuner, take it with you to check hours on the bikes.

NeedMoto wrote:

Damn Matty, I won't be able to sell a bike to you, your way to thorough J/K

Good list and I would recommend the same thing.

Haha!!! Those things tell you how well it was taken care of, which I’m sure you already knew lol. I go through my bikes thoroughly as well as the bikes that I work on for my side business. Just want everyone to know my stuff ya taken care of and I look for that same stuff on used bikes. Some of those are red flags, especially the dirt in the bottom of the air box on the new yz’s and any bike for that matter. To me, if someone isn’t thoroughly cleaning out their air box, what else are they skipping on?

Suspension-If you are riding woods, then it should be fine or at least pretty close. One other thing, if the foot pegs have slop, then there is a lot of hours too.

BR8ES wrote:

Suspension-If you are riding woods, then it should be fine or at least pretty close. One other thing, if the foot pegs have slop, then there is a lot of hours too.

I was going to say the same thing about the suspension.

What others have said (cracked frame) also, at 40 hours there shouldn't be much roost marks on fork legs, front plate, front brake line. Check the wheels to make sure they are not bent. Check bolt heads on cylinder to see if they've removed. Check to see for substantial amount of smoke from pipe when you start it. Before riding make sure the axel bolts are tight (I happen to find the front nut missing before test riding?)
Check the vin # on bike to the pink.

wisey wrote:

What others have said (cracked frame) also, at 40 hours there shouldn't be much roost marks on fork legs, front plate, front brake line. Check the wheels to make sure they are not bent. Check bolt heads on cylinder to see if they've removed. Check to see for substantial amount of smoke from pipe when you start it. Before riding make sure the axel bolts are tight (I happen to find the front nut missing before test riding?)
Check the vin # on bike to the pink.

Good add in stuff to check out!

Oh and OP, look for mismatched bolts!