Yamaha YZ400 vs WR400 ?

Is there a big difference between th Yamaha WR & YZ 400s....apart from the
wide ratio gear box..?

I may the opportunity to buy a YZ400 for a good price ( cheaper than the
WR ) but i really just want it for general trail riding...my ability ( about
15 years ) would be a bit above average "clubman" i guess....

To be honest...I really like the Suzuki DRZ400...( i know alot of gun riders
will think they're too cushy ) but for my level and application...that is
perfect....so I guess that's my yard stick for the YZ400...but i've never
ridden one...so any advice would be helpfull..

cheers,

Brian Canham

 

Doh...I should have mentioned the WR i'm looking at is a 400F ( 4
stroke )..

 

To be honest...I really like the Suzuki DRZ400...( i know alot of gun riders will think they're too cushy ) but for my level and application...

Then the YZ or WR would be shit for you. They are pure race machines,
not real good for social bikes.... Looking at a XR50 for son, i asked
about the used DRZ they had and had a good look over it, pretending I
was going to buy both there and then, he couldnt get me a helmet fast
enough!
Very nice machine.... So I had a ride on it. Only round the block but
nice smooth power... (you can tell the wife is in USA Still), as you
say, soft, not your pure offroad racer.

but having said that watching the supermotad on optus from Tassie I
think a DRZ won the meeting.


Also look at the parts replacement thing.. the new CRF's require new
piston every 15 hours!!
http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchives/2004/xr_ending.htm

Of course the XR250 can’t compete with the new firebreathing 250cc
four-stroke race bikes like Honda’s own CRF250R. What they do offer is
an incredibly long service life. With a change of oil and filters
every few months you can expect an XR to return many years of faithful
service. This is in stark contrast to the latest 250cc race bikes
which requires a piston change every 15 hours! An XR is more likely to
require a piston change closer to every 15 years!

 

WR is registerable hence the YZ's are cheaper

YZ has different cam timing so has a snappy bottom end , this is done by
IIRC the Exhaust cam is 1 tooth out compared to the WR so was quite an easy
and cheap
mod done on alot of WR's

 

Other way around, actually. The mod is to retard the inlet cam 1 tooth to
get more valve overlap and to reduce the interval between the inlet valves
closing and the sparkplug firing. That results in more top end, not bottom
end.

 

That's what i would have thought...the YZ would be more peaky up top .. but
I guess not "2 stroke" like ?

 

No. Bike journos resort to making comparisons between the YZ426F and a 250
2-stroke when they're stuck for impressive-sounding phraseology.

 

ok , I remember the YZ I had had stonking bottom end and the WR was much
more mellow

but then again the YZ only lasted about an hour before the death rattles
came about

 

what about "rec reg." can I get that on the YZ400 ?... I heard the laws in
Vic had changed over recent years..??

 

you can

AFAIK you need lights , so that means lighting coil and lights which means
$$ to spend unless its already Rec Reg hen no probs

 

cool..interesting point...the bike i was looking at...supposedly had rec
reg...but definitely no lights etc...hmmm... a loop hole maybe.. good to
know anyway..thanks

 

see
http://evilurl.com/bushshitSLASH

for details.

I didn't realise that rec reg bikes are allowed on some public roads,
and that you need a licence to ride one.

Moike

 

yeah cool..I have a motorcycle licence anyway...plus it would be good if I
could legally ride on some roads that join up the state forests too...!

 

that rec reg isn't really worth it, lots of restrictions, Not legal outside
state of Vic

The WR is a great bike , light and powerful, lots of info available , easy
to own.
DRZ / KLX 400 need suspension work, once thats done, great weekend hack,
reliable and user friendly
The kids bike XR50, if you can find a KLX110 , give it ago, a great
allround kids bike, 3 speed centrif clutch, throttle adjust. strong and
useful for a lot longer ie kids can get more years out of it

Mick Chester
KLX400
IT490
Z50R
KLX110

 

loved your vocal work in Pseudo Echo, Brian...

Joe M.