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2010
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11/9/2011
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Denver Metro, CO
US
Edited Date/Time
7/25/2022 7:01am
Guys - I'm after some input.
For those of you that have tried the FCP engine mount kits designed to improve handling, how did you like them?
I'm considering these kits for my 2016 YZ250F and 2020 YZ450F, but any and all inputs ARE WELCOME!!!
Here are the kits I am considering:
https://fcpracing.com/product/yamaha-yz450f-fx-2020/ --- $429
https://fcpracing.com/product/yamaha-yz250f-2014-2018/ --- $289
I look forward to hearing about your experiences!
For those of you that have tried the FCP engine mount kits designed to improve handling, how did you like them?
I'm considering these kits for my 2016 YZ250F and 2020 YZ450F, but any and all inputs ARE WELCOME!!!
Here are the kits I am considering:
https://fcpracing.com/product/yamaha-yz450f-fx-2020/ --- $429
https://fcpracing.com/product/yamaha-yz250f-2014-2018/ --- $289
I look forward to hearing about your experiences!
Keep it coming boys!
They definitely can change the feel of your bike. Depending if you ride soft loamy dirt or more hard pack dry tracks it could change which kit you want.
Also when you actually try them, install them at the track after doing 2-3 moto of the stock stuff. Much better way to feel the difference.
*** So I just learned that there's an FCP (Factory Chassis Parts) company and a WCL (Work Chassis Lab) company that both make specialty engine mounts to improve handling … I think I thought they were the same company until just now … any idea which of these companies knows their stuff better? ***
The Shop
I had an 18 rmz450. I ordered works chassis labs mounts for.
The upper mounts arrived weeks before the front or lower mounts arrived.
So I rode it stock/stock , wcl uppers/stock lowers, and then wcl/wcl
The lowers had the option for soft and medium.
I chose soft as I wanted to feel the difference and it not just be something tiny, that you could kind of maybe feel.
Well I liked it wjth the wcl uppers and stock lowers the best.
With that combo I felt it softened up the feedback to my hands and body thru harsh chop and landings without changing anything else negatively.
With the soft lowers and the uppers installed I felt it had a bit of a wallowy feel when the bike was leaned over and hitting bumps, I could feel what felt like it loading up and then springing back. Not confidence inspiring.
But that is most likely exactly why they offered the soft and medium lowers, and me being a heavier rider only riding Moto, was probably not the ideal choice choosing the soft lower.
So they definitly make changes, and sometimes not all positive.
https://workschassislab.myshopify.com/
So, it looks like I'm looking at:
(2 8 $8.46) + ($10.64) + ($9.84) = $37.40 to try a complete set of new mounts … ($37.40)/($430) = ~ 9% of FCP kit.
So, a GREAT suggestion - much appreciated, I'll let you guys know what I find out with this experiment.
Lastly, note that I 100000% respect the R&D that goes into development of products like the engine mounts from WCL/FCP, so if I see a positive/large difference with the YZ450FX parts, I'll likely buy WCL or FCP for that extra level of performance and I will again share the delta.
Paw Paw
I may just purchase the FCPs once there is a sale since my time to ride/experiment is quite limited.
Kris at FCP was super easy to work with, gave me torque settings to try, and was just so customer service oriented I decided against my more time-consuming OEM mount experiments (had planned to try the thinner 450FX mounts). Moto companies that are easy to work with will get my money dang near every time!
I'll drop my thoughts in here later this summer once I have a chance to try them out.
P.S. I tried to give WCL some business, too, but after multiple attempts to get them to respond, I gave up. No one ever got back to me.
Pit Row
(1) Install does require removal of the exhaust system (no biggie - I was installing a new exhaust)
(2) Install does require removal of a coolant hose (no biggie - I was replacing coolant with Engine Ice)
(3) FCP recommends you torque the UPPER hangers up to 5 foot-pounds LESS than their spec if you want a slightly softer feel. The FCP specs are FRONT: 25 and 40 ft-lb, UPPER: 25 and 33 ft-lb ---> I went with FRONT: 25/40, UPPER: 22.5/30
(4) Ride review: The bike is slightly softer feeling/more forgiving. As far as cornering accuracy, for me it was hard to tell, but it wasn't worse. Maybe slightly better, but the biggest overall improvement was the overall softening effect. They didn't remove accuracy of the chassis, just made it more tolerant of track debris and rider mistakes - which I was seeking.
Would I purchase them again? I'm on-the-fence. I think the late-model YZ250F/YZ450F bikes are less improved with the mounts than some KTMs, Hondas, and Suzukis.
What would I do different? In my opinion --- on the 2020 YZ450F --- this product is for riders who are pretty good who can push their bikes more than I can and get the frame to flex in ways that I don't where the benefits begin to appear. For my riding level (Vet B/C, 175 lbs), I'd try the Yamaha FX model mounts first to see if their additional softness is "good enough" for the $$$. If the FX mounts are going in the direction you like, then I would purchase the FCP mounts, as they are engineered even further.
I got the WCL mounts for my 19 Honda 250. Could feel the difference immediately in the Ti front mounts. Could feel the tire much better. Mind blowing amount of feel given with a piece of metal. I could feel when the tire was just about to slip and reel it back in and not eat it. The top mounts made the bike feel much better coming out of corners with choppy accel bumps. Helped with lean in a touch. Would I get them again? Absolutely.
I plan on getting some for my 21 YZ250F eventually. Rode this bike bone stock for a year and now year 2, I am looking to make some changes. Suspension is getting done in the next couple weeks, engine mounts will probably come after. Then after that, probably wont do anything other than tires.
Why? I can only guess that the stock hardware replaced on the 2016 YZ250F was waaaaay beefier so there was a lot of room for improvement. Like almost 2x thicker.
The result? A much more forgiving front end and much better steering.
Summary:
It seems some bikes benefit dramatically from these kits, some bikes less so, but in both cases I saw improvement. For the bikes that really benefit: WOW, really nice improvement.
Unproven tip:
It seems the more different the aftermarket mounts are than the OEM design (and/or the longer the bracket span), the more change you can expect to feel. Earth shattering tip? Nope, but it's a layman's tip if you're on-the-fence ... on a sample of 2, so take it for what it's worth ($720 for both bikes in this case).
Comparison test complete (enough)!
Getting curious about KTMs as I gear up to purchase one in the next year some time and wondering if I ***NEED*** FCP engine mounts + MAKO 360 bar mounts + Pro Taper ACP bars + FasstCo Impact pegs. I am an office jockey who types more than rides, so my baby soft skin and wimpiness need a lot of attention.
My 2006 KX250 will make your hands go pins and needles though!
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