Convert or Buy

DSteg222
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DSteg222
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 12:37pm
have an 06 YZ85 for my daughter and she is growing now at age 14. She tears the track up pretty well on the small wheels and she can sit flat footed on the seat and is "looking" a bit big for the bkiek when riding with her friends that have big wheel 80s and 150s.

Since we have had the from "new", i was thinking of making it into a Big Wheel instead of buying one. Bike is well taken care of. Anyone on here convert their YZ into a Big Wheel YZ?? I know the cost will be around $1500 or so, which is half the price of a new one. Buy new YZ85L or make mine into one... that is the question!
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Tiki
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Tiki 4/27/2009 2:19pm
4/27/2009 2:19pm
She is comfortable with the bike already, so it would be easier for her to adapt. Just a thought on it?
DSteg222
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DSteg222 4/27/2009 2:55pm
4/27/2009 2:55pm
Tiki wrote:
She is comfortable with the bike already, so it would be easier for her to adapt. Just a thought on it?
To convert her current bike to an "L" model you mean?
newmann
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newmann 4/27/2009 3:13pm
4/27/2009 3:13pm
You shoud be able to find a nice condition big wheel bike for about the same money it would cost you to convert yours. Sell the YZ and keep your 1500.00.
drmarkr
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drmarkr 4/27/2009 3:50pm
4/27/2009 3:50pm
It's no $1500 deal on a Honda....bigger wheels, sprocket change and +/- a swingarm change. Best if you do change, but you can actually make it work with a small wheel arm.

Ebay for the items and you're way under 1500?

What's involved on a Yammie?

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MX Dad #27 4/27/2009 5:36pm
4/27/2009 5:36pm
drmarkr wrote:
It's no $1500 deal on a Honda....bigger wheels, sprocket change and +/- a swingarm change. Best if you do change, but you can actually make it...
It's no $1500 deal on a Honda....bigger wheels, sprocket change and +/- a swingarm change. Best if you do change, but you can actually make it work with a small wheel arm.

Ebay for the items and you're way under 1500?

What's involved on a Yammie?
Wheels, swingarm, sprockets, chain. At 14, because of the rule change she can race at Loretta's until 15, on a big wheel, Super mini (up to 105cc).
SteveS
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SteveS 4/27/2009 5:59pm
4/27/2009 5:59pm
To make the change (we did it) you need to get a swingarm from Yamaha. You can get the extended brake line from them or aftermarket. Then you need wheels and spokes. You should change the swingarm bearings when you do it. You don't actually need to change the sprocket if you are making a real supermini. I guess if you're leaving the motor an 85 you'd want to change gearing to compensate for the wheel size difference.

If she knows how to ride the Yamaha fast, she'll like the bigwheel on a Yamaha better than switching to a Kawasaki. If you supermini the motor, all the better to be on a Yamaha. I recommend Maxpower for the conversion of the motor (Rick Peterson's old RPM company was sold to Maxpower).

I have never seen a YZ85L at the store.
DSteg222
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DSteg222 4/27/2009 11:55pm
4/27/2009 11:55pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 11:37pm
Use the stock hubs and have relaced???? Bearing... good call! Have never done a swingarm, are the bearings pressed? Have good suspension mech that will do the work if needed. Bernabe has setup her suspension before and it works like a charm.

She rides pretty fast.... 75ft triple on backside of SW...






I have heard that the big wheel version definately handles and rides better. Not going to supermini the motor, not yet at least. Not worried about LL's. Was told by a few people last year she would make it (one was David Bailey), but because of a move the kids stayed with their mother, who wont let her ride. Bummer for her, so she is a couple times a month girl now, instead of the 4 times a week kid she was.

Anyway... How many teeth would you change? I am assuming change the rear only and leave front alone. We changed the front when she first started to give her more giddy up out of corners.. but that no longer is a problem and we changed it back to stock after about 6 months. Go up on the rear 1, 2, 3 teeth? Is there a ratio chart according to rear wheel size on renthal or any other chainwheels manufacturers websites?

Thanks for all the comments (even yours Tiki....) Wink

SteveS
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SteveS 4/28/2009 6:03am
4/28/2009 6:03am
Yes, you use the same hubs and just lace on new rims.

The bearings are a bear. I think the guy that did ours used heat and hammering with something that fit the space--can't remember if it was a giant socket, piece of pipe or what.

The forks and shock don't require any different setup other than setting sag. We used the same mod suspension we had on it before the conversion.

We had already supermini'ed the motor before making the conversion, so I don't know what ratio change is needed, but I'd guess 2 teeth.
DSteg222
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DSteg222 4/28/2009 9:30am
4/28/2009 9:30am
Thanks!!!!. I will let my suspension guy do it then!!! All I need to do is screw up a new swing arm!! Same suspension is cool, she has a mod suspension as well and would hate to have to change that. He will probably know what to do with th gearing as well.

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