Jeremy Van Horebeek's Monster Energy Yamaha YZ450FM

Pit Bits 2016 - MXGP GH
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Jeremy Van Horebeek and Romain Febvre's Monster Energy Yamaha YZ450FMs are great examples of what Michelle Rinaldi and his team are capable of doing to a bike.

There are some differences between each rider's bikes, although not as many as we observed last year. One of the biggest is the differences in their airboxes. Febvre's appears to be a modified stock version, with cutouts in the rear and front for more air intake volume. Also, both bikes feature wider lower radiator shrouds.

We overexposed this photo so you can see the large openings in front of the fuel tank. Not the two holes by the fuel line, but the openings in the back of the airbox in front of the tank. You can actually see the foam of the air filter here. Also, we've seen a few of the US teams cut out this same area.

Now here's the difference for Van Horebeek, as he runs a complete carbon fiber airbox that extends down to airboot, until it reaches the throttle body. We didn't see this one opened up, by we imagine if they went through this much effort that the shape and flow inside the airbox must be quite a bit different than stock. Which could create a much different power curve and characteristic.

The team has also built a one piece seat for Van Horebeek, which leaves a lot of area behind the airbox for extra airflow for its cutouts.

Moving back to Febvre's bike, which we found with the seat off, so you can get a solid look at the CRM Karbotank and subframe, which house the battery and wires for Rinaldi's own sourced electric starter.

Another view inside the subframe.

A view of Rinaldi's custom ignition case, which features an electric starter motor that sits on the front of the engine case.

See? No kickstarter here. It's been a good three or four seasons with the Rinaldi Yamaha team running this kit now.

That beautiful, magic button.

Even though the team uses X-Trig ROCS clamps, they have them made with only one bar mount position and setup to take a stock, rubber mounted Yamaha bar mount set.

You'll find KYB PSF1 air forks on both Febvre and Van Horebeek's bikes.

At the end of these forks, you'll find some billet lugs, based off the stock Yamaha/KYB ones, with a Kite hub placed in the middle.

As mentioned above, both bikes have wider radiator shrouds with more "scoop" are to them. These appear to be off the FX cross-country model line from Yamaha, which are made to gather air more efficiently at lower speeds.

Last year, Febvre had this shock while Van Horebeek had the "laid down" body we've seen in the All-Japan Nationals. This year however, both riders were using the more typical stand-up full billet shock with high-speed and low-speed compression, with low-speed rebound. High-speed rebound adjustment being found on the shock shaft clevis. 

Down below the shock we found a C2P HSL (HoleShot Link), with what appeared to be linkage bolts that had some sort of coating on them for wear and stiction purposes.

For years, Rinaldi has outfitted his bike with hydraulic clutches, and this one was guarded with a handguard mount.

While the slave cylinder, made by Rinaldi, is a bit hard to find behind the exhaust headpipe.

The Akrapovic systems on the Yamaha are very interesting to look at, as the resonance chamber follows the initial curve out of the exhaust port and around the side of the cylinder head.

Their ECU has been moved to the left side of the cylinder head, which is normally under fuel tank and mounted to the airbox, for easier access.

Speaking of Akrapovic, they're celebrating 25 years of creating motorcycle exhaust systems.

Last year, both riders had different gusseted swingarms, this year they've both decided on the same version.

Romain Febvre has one gnarly saddle... 

And some carbon goodies to finish things off.

Credit
ML512
Vital MX Pit Bits: 2016 MXGP of USA
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