It's Beautiful!

[Stoneman]

What year is that? Is it the 'x' or the 'r'?

[R7]

What year is that? Is it the 'x' or the 'r'?

It's an 09 "R"

[R7]

Hope you have a fast connection, my camera was going nuts

So I had today off from work, I had planned to pick this up first thing in the morning, then some family stuff later in the day..plus I somehow got a nasty cold, so it all worked out.
I was at the dealer at 9am when they opened to pick up a new 2009 YFZ450R. It wasn't something they had in stock so they got it from another dealer, which is why I had to wait a bit. Big thanks to Manny at Razee's for another awesome deal I should also mention Yamaha had a "as low as 3.9% finance option" which i decided to try for once rather than pull from my own bank account. If you have perfect credit, you may be surprised at what rate they kick back at you...the as low as 3.9% turn into 1.9% for me It's a no brainer to finance at those rates IMO. As usual, I left a very happy customer!

Anyway, so i get home and unload the beast. Wow is this thing sexy looking
Gather up some gear and hit the trails in the backyard. Most of these trails I had cut wide ennough for my Raptor anyways, and during the week, I did get in there and cut a few trees that I knew would catch the tires in the corners.
First thing I noticed was it was geared high, which is to be expected for MX. I think a simple countershaft change will improve trail riding a lot. So yeah, I stalled it a few times, being used to the Raptor, you almost forget what a clutch is once you're moving. A quick adjustment to the clutch so I could have 2 fingers on the bars and 2 to pull in the clutch, and I was off again.
One of my concerns was ground clearance with the rocks, sections are almost brutal on the Raptor. To my surprise, it wasn't an issue, even though ground clearance specs are very close with the 2? My guess is the extended width may catch more stuff on the edge of the trail to keep the center clear? I don't know, but I was surprised and happy about that.
I managed to ride all the trails and only had to get off once to back it up....and to those that know my property (roots, rocks, and trees) that's pretty good! The front end slid in the snow and I hit a small tree, no damage other than a scrape on the rim. The front tires may be great on MX but I don't think they will be that great for trails, the rear seems to way overpower the traction. Again, hard to get a real feel for it in the snow, just kinda compairing to my Raptor.
The fuel injection seems smooth with no hickups or bogs. The engine can lug at a pretty low RPM and it will come alive instantly once you hit the throttle. Pretty impressive torque as well for a 450 MX geared motor. I never brought the RPMs up to high and never got it out of third, between the snow and not having a trail that allows speed I figured it best not to try.
I can't wait to try it out with no snow...and at the rate it's melting, that could be by the end of the weekend.

Now some more pictures..





Does this give you an idea what I have to deal with in these trails? haha





Another suspension flex shot, kinda cool looking



So, it was time to put it away. First I had to give it a quick bath, although it was mostly snow covered, there were 3 or 4 small mud spots

Next up was to try and fit a 48.8" wide ATV into a 46.3" opening. I knew Yamaha rear wheels were offset so I swapped the rear tires side for side and this gave me the width I needed in the rear. A bit of a pain to do this everytime I ride, but it may not be needed if I'm trail riding..ice and MX and it'll be a must to switch them back.
The front is where I had to get a little creative. I knew if I pick the front up, the front end gets narrower, but how do I hold it there to fit in the door? Hmmm, howabout a bike tie down? This worked VERY good and the front measured an even 46"





So there it sits with it's new family, nice and warm



Just some shots ..











The frame is really a work of art





Hmmm Interesting!



And for those wondering about the color of the seat vs the R1, well i'll let you decide. I do think a black seat would look better on the YFZ, and I'll keep my eyes open on ebay for a used one, or even YFZcentral

[Stoneman]

Hrrrrmmm...wonder how it'd be on ice?

[R7]

Hrrrrmmm...wonder how it'd be on ice?

Hmmm, I'm thinking it's gonna be pretty fucken awesome

[The Snowman]

Mark, you really have a disease don't you?

[Paul_E_D]

I think it would be easier to build a shed for that badboy.

[typeone]

boy, Razee must looooove you sick looking machine, congrats

curious, why do they wrap the front shock springs real tight up top like that? think i've really only seen that on quads (?)

[lopycam]

Mark, you really have a disease don't you?

Oh yes he does.



Mark,
That thing looks sick.
What is up for sale now? Raptor?

Nathan

[lopycam]

That front end looks wide as hell!!!

[R7]

Mark, you really have a disease don't you?

I never once told anyone I was normal and don't deny the fact that I have a sickness

I think it would be easier to build a shed for that badboy.

I have a shed, and when it starts getting used a lot, that's where it will stay. Until this soupy mud dries up a bit, it can stay clean and dry in the basement I also have that basement door project I want to do anyways, so storage won't be an issue in the future.

boy, Razee must looooove you sick looking machine, congrats

curious, why do they wrap the front shock springs real tight up top like that? think i've really only seen that on quads (?)

I'm not 100% sure, but I think that's called a double rate spring. I know there are triple rate springs for ATV MX racing and the outer spring looks like mine, but there's an added inside spring to make the third.

Oh yes he does.
Mark,
That thing looks sick.
What is up for sale now? Raptor?
Nathan

That front end looks wide as hell!!!

I'm keeping the Raptor, so nothing is up for sale. I sold the KTM 525 and replaced it with a WR450, and sold the SXV and replaced it with this...so the only thing that's changed is, there's no odd brands in the mix anymore

The front end is 48.8" wide at static sag

[Paul_E_D]

I fondled your SXV last night

[R7]

I fondled your SXV last night

It's a sexy bitch, isn't it

[Paul_E_D]

she's dirty

[R7]

she's dirty

I lived with it for 10 months, you don't have to tell me

[Tricky Mike]

you and your damn basement full of sex.

[phreak]

nice ride.

just watched the 450 mx shootout on www.atvondemand.com. seemed the consensus was the yfzr is very comfortable and the shocks have a wide range of adjustability.

[R7]

nice ride.

just watched the 450 mx shootout on www.atvondemand.com. seemed the consensus was the yfzr is very comfortable and the shocks have a wide range of adjustability.

Thanks! Let me know when the track opens and you are planning on going, I want to ride MX101 and MX207 this year

[R7]

Just about a month old now
So far I have only been trail riding it and have been impressed. It does stall easy unlike the Raptor, but that seems to be clearing up more and more after each ride.
I dropped 1 tooth on the countershaft and that seemed to help some as well. I wanted to drop 2, but they don't make a 12 for it. Once I get the rear swingarm skidplate, I'll see how much clearence there is to add teath to the rear sprocket.
A skidplate is on order now, probably in, I just never made it to the dealer to pick it up. I may also order a fuel controler, not sure yet. I took the airbox lid off and it really woke it up, so i can just imagine a pipe and a fuel controler would be crazy

Today I rode a bunch of laps around my property with it. Gave it it's first oil+filter change, greesed the front end and took the slack out of, and lubed the chain.
Then it was bath time. Simple green and a 4" paintbrush for the wash, and the electric leaf blower for the dry









That didn't take long, I love the look of black rims...when they are new

[seth399]

looks like painted steel wheels? if so, pull em off and have them powdercoated to last nice...unless ofcourse you gouge them against horrible stuff

[The Snowman]

That's it, you nicked the rims. Time to sell it.

[breakdirt916]

the low shot is the best

[R7]

looks like painted steel wheels? if so, pull em off and have them powdercoated to last nice...unless ofcourse you gouge them against horrible stuff

Doesn't seem like paint, I'd say they are "coated" aluminum wheels. Powder coating will do the same thing, there's horrible stuff (rocks) in the trails

That's it, you nicked the rims. Time to sell it.

This ones a keeper

the low shot is the best

Thanks, I like that one as well and is my new wallpaper I took a similar one with my R1 but it was to sunny and it came out like shit