Devon TRF Group Forum

Newmie · Clubman B

Yamaha yzf426 and Yamaha WR400

Pete · Devon's Best

I would advise you to be wary of any competition machine advertised as 'road legal' unless a proper silencer has been fitted to comply with construction and use regs as regards road use. Motox and enduro machines are allowed to produce a great deal more noise than purely road going machinery and you may be disappointed to be turned away from rides because your bike is too noisy.

the 426 "sounds wicked"
both 400 "FMF powercore 4 exhaust"

I have no idea what these actually sound like but I have come across countless examples of machines which produce in standard trim well in excess of the amount of power you will actually use in the lanes, and with aftermarket exhausts make yet more (unuseable) power along with excessive noise and a corresponding loss of low down power (where you need it in the lanes), so beware.

Neither are really ideal bikes for someone starting green laning, but If you plan to race without and trail ride with a baffle insert these might suit you if you are very tall and experienced at riding away from tarmac.

If you are neither then buy something you will be able to handle, by which I mean you can reach the ground and use all the available power so you can learn how to use it

delvey91 · Devon's Best

I would really wait for something with electric start. There is a knack to starting them but it still is a pain. Especially when stalling in narrow gullys etc. Ive praised my Leccy start on my 450 on many occasions! I have a PC4 on mine and its only really intrusive if you give it the beans, on tickover and low revs not that bad at all

Pete · Devon's Best

delvey91 wrote:
on my 450 ... I have a PC4 and its really intrusive if you give it the beans

Lath Ktm Holvey · Clubman A

I found my yzf426 on the lanes wasn't to much of a pain to start when stalled, my wr400 on the other hand was a bugger to start. And the bikes are very easy to handle, they sink about 50inches into the mud with every twist of the throttle so no worrys about grip, and if your racing someone your favoured to win because the mud you have given a new texture to gets chucked up into anyone who is behind pretty much blinding them.

if you can pick up either below 1000 pound and Road legal (enough) then I'd say go for it as you never get bored riding a wr/yzf

Gump · Sportsman

I have a wr400 , it's a 2000 model and I can say that it's awesome ! The 1 main problem is starting the beasts but once you know your machine you should be able to start it second kick every time , plus they have just the right amount of torque for everything , I'm running a 14/48 sprocket and it flies ! If you do get a wr400 I do have a rekluse clutch that would work freeing up gear changes , but equally I would say that the 450 is an equal machine but who knows ! Good luck !

Newmie · Clubman B

Experiance is just over 15 years both on and off road, off road is experiance of a few years green laning. 2 seasons motox and many years of riding around fields and wastelands ect... so happy to give any bike a go. When I was green laning I had a elec start WR250f and found it a bit tame to be honest.

I also want 1 that will have some power on the road, thats why I like the idea of supermoto as I'd use it to do a 5 mile commute to the gym and back.

What do you think about the prices?

2000 WR - £1950

1998 WR - £1650

YZF 426 - £1300

I will never race any of these. just occasional light green lane use, moorland trails and light commuting

delvey91 · Devon's Best

Pete wrote:
delvey91 wrote:
on my 450 ... I have a PC4 and its really intrusive if you give it the beans

Indeed but never any need to "give it the beans" at all on lanes?

Lath Ktm Holvey · Clubman A

toast is boring without beans...

doh ! · Clubman A

wouldnt touch the 400 as they were well known to have starting issues to the extent my mate broke a bone in his foot trying to start his at an event (and yes he was wearing good boots)

Lost · Expert

wrf/yzf hi i had a 1998 wr400 f reliable sound bike yes i had issues on accasion starting after a cough stall wished ide had a E-boot altered cam timing to YZ went very well and ifound when nearly all was lost ! when intight going a touch of the throttle and what ever it was was now behind me lol altered mine to slim tank and seat a big plus there Later 400 models had steeper sharper steering and the slimer ergos a plus, again they can be very reliable ? and a hot start convertion helps alot

YZF well there going to be well ridden and if they have been looked after then ok piston changes etc if not the piston and rings can wear and flip at high rpm thats norm terminal engine time you see the pistons have no skirts ?there about 2inchs deep so ??? on the 400 425 450 same

450 has that E-boot nice .warning ive heard some of the big yams had damaged the kick start caseings on accasion when booted into life ?

Also consider 250 there very good have E-boot after 2002 lost aww

Newmie · Clubman B

Yeah I used to have the Wr250 (06) but worried i'd regret buying another 1 as i'd like something more powerfull

Gump · Sportsman

Touch wood never had any major starting problems with my 400 once I knew how to do it and there is a main technic but they all alter slighty after that ! Wr400 at nearly £2000 sounds alot . Should be in top condition for that price but good bikes , just getting new piston fitted in mine already for another 15000 miles lol ! No to hard on oil changes either , I usually do mine every 3000 miles as I was doing more regular but not needed ! Sweet winter is here time to play lol !

Newmie · Clubman B

I thought £2000 sounds alot, bearing in mind the supermoto wheels what price would you put on it?

delvey91 · Devon's Best

Gump wrote:
No to hard on oil changes either , I usually do mine every 3000 miles as I was doing more regular but not needed ! Sweet winter is here time to play lol !

Bleedy hell i do my 450 every 300 miles confuse Guess mine will last for ever haha

Biff · Expert

Get a stroker - more fun / power , less hassle biggrin

Biff

jt · Powermonger!!

+1 wink

RichT4 · Champion

- 2 biggrin

TTR · Powermonger!!

-3 wink

grouty · Expert

I would avoid the older four strokes like a bad dose of the pox. You are only buying into someone elses trouble and possibly bad maintenance. If it's from a dealer with a short warranty then that would be better, but still not good.
I have had all manner of various green lane, enduro and motocross bikes since I was 12. I have raced, and still have large open class enduro bikes (old ones). They are NOT suitable for green laning ..... trust me. A novelty to start with, a blast when you have got a bit more used to it, then a pain as the speeds in the lanes are very low compared to a full blown enduro (and I don't mean a 3 hour hare and hounds). They will take off when not required, pee off the neighbours, frighten horses and do our cause no good at all.
A 250 2smoke is plenty. They are quiet if kept in standard trim, and have an abundance of power if required. Maintenance is easier compared to a four stroke and cheaper.
The best green lane bike I have had is the old 1981 KLX250 (yes a four stroke), but it is old technology. Air cooled, two valve and fairly gutless. But it will go where a modern bike will struggle, do 50 mpg and costs peanuts to fix. It is still not bad on the road, considering most places have a 30mph limit.

My two pence worth ........ but you pay's yer money and takes yer chance. Whatever you get, enjoy it.

jt · Powermonger!!

grouty wrote:
I would avoid the older four strokes like a bad dose of the pox.
A 250 2smoke is plenty. They are quiet if kept in standard trim, and have an abundance of power if required. Maintenance is easier compared to a four stroke and cheaper.

Ha - I think we are now back to +1 thanks Grouty wink

Newmie · Clubman B

I did have more fun on my kdx220 than I did on my Wr250, it Used to get on my tits mixing the fuel each time thou

Biff · Expert

No probs with marked bottle biggrin

Biff

Newmie · Clubman B

Hassle of carrying fuel for long rides or alternative is to mix it in the tank at petrol stations. Maybe tempted to get 1 if it had a seperate compartment to take the hassle out. Got the Wr as I was to envious when the 4 strokes would just roll into petrol station, fill up. Done! :)

Gump · Sportsman

The price I think should be around 16-1700 me thinks , unless perfect with every thing done and listed at regular service intervals ! Yeah my bike has done some harsh river crossing ( seat deep and it runs like a trooper ! I personally do not believe the slander towards bigger bikes , if your not a biker all bikes are annoying , plus let's be honest Joe public will do any thing to ruin any body having fun ! If they can moan about kids playing football on council land then us bikers have no chance ! But most of the walkers and riders I have past are very polite and I return the compliment ! So I just hope it stays that way !!! No one should be able to say that if your exhaust/bike is road legal that you cannot ride !

grouty · Expert

Biff wrote:
No probs with marked bottle

Biff

Yep, indeedy ...... road tested my latest bottle when we went out the other weekend.

A cleaned out "Reggae Reggae" bottle. Marked off in 1 litre increments. So perfect !

Why couldn't someone have invented that sort of bottle back in the 70/80's smile

danno82 · Clubman B

Gump wrote:
Sweet winter is here time to play lol !

WHEN???? yawn

Gump · Sportsman

When the parts come in lol !

Lost · Expert

plenty of input here then ! --- +++ lol as ive bored the pants of people saying in the pass i recently converted a wr250f its cam timing to YZF like i did in the pass with my wrf400 years ago i can only say as it was for me one of the best bikes ive ridden the extra zip when needed was brill and yet the thing would still bimble the newer alloy framed models are nice touch but not a must ? yamaha had some jetting issues with 05/06 models its just needs a diff pilot jet no need to even remove the carb ! diff standard engine performance well early 02/03 softer at low rpm ?flatter ? 05/06 pull allot harder like a TTR 250 ! but are lighter and have better more modern feel and more top end only down side there not 6 speed or have hydro clutch ,now thats a nice touch on a bike you have to go european for that ?

p.s i am willing to change anybodies cam timing takes about hour half on the wrf

you could consider ?ktm400 or honda crf450x

good luck lost aww

here we go wye do i do this wait for the comments [children ! ] my gas gas 450 is back together up and running hurra now loading the bike into the van one thing i noticed its alot heaveir than the T2 TM 250en ?

ok up side to early ktm rvf400 engine freinds got one very nice no probs so far just change oil/filter reg his has done 140hrs and he is no slow coach his is the 05 ltd edition with 06 rame tietanium rear spring axle pullers and so on the pistons in the racing world last double the jap recomended service life the engine just needs valves cheaking reg and that hyro clutch is brill abuse no fad and very light you will be surprised how much more you will use the clutch lever when its this light ? 450 more engine ! better laneing than compitition 400/450 top fun 525? is your name knighter ?

-- Edited by Lost on Thursday 17th of November 2011 05:39:03 PM

Newmie · Clubman B

Yes I do like the idea of a ktm400 but slightly put off with what people say regarding their reliablility

delvey91 · Devon's Best

An RFS engined ktm if looked after correctly is easily in the same reliabilty group as even an xr400 All depends if you get a good one or not!