06 YZ450F Ride Report

[Satch0922]

I finally got to spend some time on an 06 YZ450F yesterday. It was DPW's bike and I put in some laps at Nocona MX.

Here is his set up:

1. Dunlop 952 front tire
2. Rejet
3. Pro Taper Windham bend bars
4. Chain and sprocket upgrades

Other than that the bike is basically stock.

1. Starting....THIS BIKE STARTS! I know there have been posts here that the 06 was hard to kick and hard to get started. This bike kicks easier than my YZ250....no joke. Also...if came to life the first kick. NICE!

2. Ergos.....the bike is very comfortable. The bars DPW runs are the same ones I have used for several years so that made me feel at home right away. The tank/shroud/frame design is very comfortable and not hard on the knees like some other aluminum framed bikes......

3. Suspension....the 06 suspension is better stock than the 05 stuff even after a revalve. The forks seemed soft at first but they never bottomed and soaked up the braking bumps with ease. The rear never kicked and the bike is very stable and planted on the straights. VERY NICE!

4. Motor.....this is a do all motor. If you want to short shift it you can...it has enough torque to get your around the track and over obstacles with ease. If you want to rev it....it will rev...but get ready because it moves into hyperdrive! This motor reminds me of the KTM525 (which is a huge compliment). All it takes is the twist of the throttle to get what you want out of it. If I owned the bike I would jet it and leave it stock. It's that good.

5. Weight/Handing. I would like to dispell another myth....this bike DOES TURN!! DPW put a 952 on the front and raised the forks MAYBE a few millimeters (just barely below the caps) and of course he set the sag. The bike turns as good if not better than my YZ250. If you want to carve the inside it will do it. I did feel any push or wandering. It was very predictable and went where I wanted it to go. The bike feels a lot lighter in the air and in corners compared to previous YZ450F's. Gone is the "flying brick" syndrome! If feels almost as light as my YZ250 however it felt more planted. I was grinning from ear to ear!

Well that is about all I have. This is not a sales pitch or a purchase justifcation from me....I don't own one of the bikes. My plan though ....2007!

DPW...thanks for letting me take it out on the track. My wife was not too happy about it though! LOL

[JohnLorenz]

Satch
Thanks for the write up, I can not wait to get to ride mine since its been in the garage since I bought it

[kwmotocrosspunk]

it will be exciting to see more and more of the new bikes out at my local track, does any one have an 06 crf250?? i hate to do it but i really want to see one being rode

[DPW]

I'm glad you liked the bike. Good review!

[Aus_Rider_22]

Awesome review Satch!

Sounds like a winner

[yzernie]

Nice write up Satch....now I'm going to have to schmooooze the lovely woman!!

[MxMike393]

I kinda like the new crf250r. I have seen 2 at splendora since they came out.

[kwmotocrosspunk]

have you rode any of them?

[UnsafeHaven]

Thanks for the review satch, the more i hear about all these people that liked it, and easy kicking and what not, the more i think that maybe it was just the freezing conditions that i had to ride it in. I need to ride one in good weather on a good track. Thanks for the review though!

[wFo250]

DPW not using the Fasst.co bars?

[Dirtbikindad393]

Well there isn't much more I can say but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night!

Actually I finally got to ride the '06 YZ450F yesterday for an hour and a half. We took a loop around the same area where Billy Ekholms will be racing. We covered approx 35 miles and covered 1st loop terrain. Rocks, hard pack sand with whoops til your heart is content, sandwashes and tight trials type stuff around boulders as big as you ford excursion and some as big as a small house. Throw in some rain for traction and dust control and this is my impression.

The bike I rode is bone stock except for the suspension which had been resprung and valved for a 230-240 lb rider. The sag was set before the ride and away I went.

The bike feels like a heavy 250 with the 450 power plant. No joke folks! This ride is so nimble it's unbelievable. The cylinder is not at as much of an angle forward as my 426 and previous 450's. This brings more weight back onto the rear and changes the center of gravity. Speaking of the center of gravity they have lowered the center of gravity in the frame also.

The bike felt good from the first twist. The power is everywhere and like Satch said even if your in the wrong gear or not high up in the revs you snap the throttle and the bike takes off but without the hit of a 426. The power rolls on very steady and even. Its a strong motor with out a doubt.

One thing I liked is being able to steer the bike with power as well as the bars. It turns better than any big yamaha I have ever ridden. I wanted to put this bike through it's paces to know if it was something I would buy for myself.

I took the long whoop sections at higher speed than I would on the 426 and that was because of the handling and power combined. It lofts over the whoops like a butterfly. When ever I needed power it was there. As I would crack the throttle to loft the front end and gain speed doing it it only felt better. I never got out of shape in the whoops and never slowed down due to dropping in which I did several times. The big rollers I would bounce the suspension on the pegs and as I hit them and then crack the throttle and fly oh so smooth.

In the sand the bike was slightly twichy but.......with no stabilizer all I did was sit back further to lighten the front end and the twichy's went away.

I fell in love and want a Yellow one asap.

There it is from an offroad point of view. It's a dream bike and I recommend if you have any interest in owning this bike RIDE IT first.

[DPW]

Originally Posted by wFo250

DPW not using the Fasst.co bars?

The bars are on the girlfriend's bike...she loves them!

[MotoMan]

Excellent write up Satch...I will join you in the 2007 purchase.

[Satch0922]

Originally Posted by MotoMan

I will join you in the 2007 purchase.

[Dirtbikindad393]

April I think I will take the plunge for a Yeller one.

[JohnLorenz]

Originally Posted by Dirtbikindad393

April I think I will take the plunge for a Yeller one.

DBD
There are only Two Per Shop being Delivered and then thats it, If you dont get yours this year that is is no more. They Ship Two LE 250's and Two LE 450's Only for this year.

But you can buy the Plastic kit Front Fender, Shrouds and the 50th year Logo on the Rear for $270 minus the Seat

Yamaha did not Serialize the LE's all I got that will substantiate or define mine as an original is a letter congratulating on My Being a 50th Annyversery Limited Addition.

[Dirtbikindad393]

Originally Posted by egoallenpoe393

DBD
There are only Two Per Shop being Delivered and then thats it, If you dont get yours this year that is is no more. They Ship Two LE 250's and Two LE 450's Only for this year.

But you can buy the Plastic kit Front Fender, Shrouds and the 50th year Logo on the Rear for $270 minus the Seat

Yamaha did not Serialize the LE's all I got that will substantiate or define mine as an original is a letter congratulating on My Being a 50th Annyversery Limited Addition.

Thats good info John thank you! I did not know any of that. I do know my friend that let me ride his says the shop where he bought his has a yeller one sitting there. I better jump on that........"Honey I need to buy that bike real soon". :

[yzernie]

Originally Posted by Dirtbikindad393

"Honey I need to buy that bike real soon".

Boy....I've said that one many times over the years!!!

[JohnLorenz]

Originally Posted by Dirtbikindad393

Thats good info John thank you! I did not know any of that. I do know my friend that let me ride his says the shop where he bought his has a yeller one sitting there. I better jump on that........"Honey I need to buy that bike real soon". :

In my home its easier to get forgivness then it is permission

[Dirtbikindad393]

Originally Posted by egoallenpoe393

In my home its easier to get forgivness then it is permission

Well when you don't have access to the money you have to ask permission or start selling a lot of parts and or live in the trailer.