Yamaha Dirt Bikes

[slowimport96]

I have noticed they are always cheaper than kawasakis or hondas, any reason why?

[TX21]

I never noticed they were any cheaper. Do you mean new off the showroom?

[slowimport96]

I never noticed they were any cheaper. Do you mean new off the showroom?


used i have noticed a big difference , new i dont think there is a price different.

[TX21]

Some Honda's are more because they have the fancy dancy aluminum frame, thats the only reason I can think of.

[big pappa pump]

yeah the older steel frames can be found a little cheaper. aluminum frames are staying up there. most of the 4 strokes are gaining value, 2 strokers are falling.

[slowimport96]

yeah maybe that is it.. hmm strange. I guess sometime in the next few months I might be going to a honda 450 or something not sure yet. I really like my kx 250 2 smoke though.

[slowimport96]

How often and what kind of maintanance do you have to do to the 4 strokes? Change oil every couple of races, air filter.. any rebuilding?

[AnotherRedHead]

Every 30-50 hours I like to go through my motor. I would put in a piston and do a valve job on the head everytime you pulled it apart if you had the extra 300 bucks. It keeps your compression high and your bike pulling hard and running like new. These single cylinders are beaters on the rings and they have alot of valve noise stock so check your shims often and keep in spec. For about 1000 bucks a year you can have your bike like factory. Always replace chains, sprockets tires every 15-25 hours, oil and filter every race, and air filter cleaned everytime. Get your suspension done every 30-40, thats full replacement of seals, bumpstops and fluids. And your bike will be like riding it off the showroom floor, everytime you get on it.

Nick
DFW Powersports

[Super Coupe]

All I have done is change my oil and filter and checked my valves once. All good so far but I don't have many hours on my bike at all.

[slowimport96]

Every 30-50 hours I like to go through my motor. I would put in a piston and do a valve job on the head everytime you pulled it apart if you had the extra 300 bucks. It keeps your compression high and your bike pulling hard and running like new. These single cylinders are beaters on the rings and they have alot of valve noise stock so check your shims often and keep in spec. For about 1000 bucks a year you can have your bike like factory. Always replace chains, sprockets tires every 15-25 hours, oil and filter every race, and air filter cleaned everytime. Get your suspension done every 30-40, thats full replacement of seals, bumpstops and fluids. And your bike will be like riding it off the showroom floor, everytime you get on it.

Nick
DFW Powersports


dang, almost have to be a rich man to do this.. some weekends I ride 15 hours. Doing the valve job is 300 for the shop to do it or myself? I assume that is all do it myself which is fine. Is it a pain/hard to service the top end on the 4 strokes? Thanks

[TX21]

dang, almost have to be a rich man to do this.. some weekends I ride 15 hours.

I'd stay two stroke if you don't want to spend a lot of money on maintenance

[Buick355]

Doing a top end and a valve job every 50 hours is bigtime overkill unless you're racing, or a richman like Nick. I rode my YZ250F over a hundred hours before I replaced the top end and it still had good compression and everything looked perfect when I removed it. The only reason I did it was to put a big bore kit in for more power. Yamaha 4 strokes run a long time on a set of Ti valves. Mine never needed a valve job, and the clearences stayed in spec. Hondas wear valves quicker. A lot of it has to do with the way you ride also. Bouncing of the rec limiter all the time is obviously going to wear the top end and valves quicker. I do cross country riding, so it's a little easier on the motor than MX. Maintenance can be a little steep if you pick a half worn out 4 stroke, so check the bike out well before you buy it. A 2 stroke is a lot cheaper to maintain, and I prefer them in tight woods riding anyways.


BTW, I just picked up a KTM 300 MXC. gonna have a blast on it!! ;)

[slowimport96]

Doing a top end and a valve job every 50 hours is bigtime overkill unless you're racing, or a richman like Nick. I rode my YZ250F over a hundred hours before I replaced the top end and it still had good compression and everything looked perfect when I removed it. The only reason I did it was to put a big bore kit in for more power. Yamaha 4 strokes run a long time on a set of Ti valves. Mine never needed a valve job, and the clearences stayed in spec. Hondas wear valves quicker. A lot of it has to do with the way you ride also. Bouncing of the rec limiter all the time is obviously going to wear the top end and valves quicker. I do cross country riding, so it's a little easier on the motor than MX. Maintenance can be a little steep if you pick a half worn out 4 stroke, so check the bike out well before you buy it. A 2 stroke is a lot cheaper to maintain, and I prefer them in tight woods riding anyways.


BTW, I just picked up a KTM 300 MXC. gonna have a blast on it!! ;)


Well I ride mainly motorcross and ride hard, but I do maintain things. So all the yamahas have ti valves? How do you check out a used four stroke?
Do a compression test? Make sure within factory specs or on the higher end
Check fork seals make sure not leaking
look @ chain/sprokets for excessive wear
Check air filter- see if it has been cared for
Anything I am missing?

[AnotherRedHead]

If you want your bike to run good and not be worn out, its not overkill at all. I can feel my kickstarter getting easier after 25 or so hours on a new high comp piston install. I ride hard, MX and SX I am constantly flogging this bike so it needs all the maintenence I give it. I dont have to be rich to want my stuff to run like a factory ride. The longer you let your valves go, the worse your stuff is gonna get, the more HP your gonna lose. Not as big of a deal on a 450, but on a 250F, where HP counts, and revs are MUCH higher, I replace everything in that time span, sometimes faster. And on a 250F you cant forget about the crank, that thing is spinning and getting leaned on too. But cranks and rods are cheap about 229 bucks.

Just because you rode your bike for 100 hours and nothing happened means nothing. If you are hucking your bike on big jumps where you need confidence and certainty in that your shit is gonna work and keep you alive and safe, theres no amount of money that can replace peace of mind. Would you want to have a problem and your bike seize cause of a ring, rod, valve failure? I sure as shit dont wanna be 30 ft high and then nose over cause my motor decided to shut off. The operation of these bikes is imperative to the safety of the riders, so I take all the necessary precautions. Read your owners manual, they are even more picky on maintenence.

Nick
DFW Powersports

[AnotherRedHead]

I just noticed you said cross country. There ya go. Your bike hardly leaves the ground, so your not doing panick revs to lift your front on a long jump or hell, blitzing the whoops in 4th and loading the shit out of that 250F. You know it too, in MX these bikes take a beating.

[slowimport96]

If you want your bike to run good and not be worn out, its not overkill at all. I can feel my kickstarter getting easier after 25 or so hours on a new high comp piston install. I ride hard, MX and SX I am constantly flogging this bike so it needs all the maintenence I give it. I dont have to be rich to want my stuff to run like a factory ride. The longer you let your valves go, the worse your stuff is gonna get, the more HP your gonna lose. Not as big of a deal on a 450, but on a 250F, where HP counts, and revs are MUCH higher, I replace everything in that time span, sometimes faster. And on a 250F you cant forget about the crank, that thing is spinning and getting leaned on too. But cranks and rods are cheap about 229 bucks.

Just because you rode your bike for 100 hours and nothing happened means nothing. If you are hucking your bike on big jumps where you need confidence and certainty in that your shit is gonna work and keep you alive and safe, theres no amount of money that can replace peace of mind. Would you want to have a problem and your bike seize cause of a ring, rod, valve failure? I sure as shit dont wanna be 30 ft high and then nose over cause my motor decided to shut off. The operation of these bikes is imperative to the safety of the riders, so I take all the necessary precautions. Read your owners manual, they are even more picky on maintenence.

Nick
DFW Powersports


I am not doubting your knowledge of bikes by any means. I agree the MX bikes take a beatin if you truely ride them. You said that every 25-30 hours you do a top end, meaning... 3 angle valve job and new seats, piston and rings, Anything else? How often do you check out the crank and the rod? Is the piston floating or not? Any advice on maintanance on my kx 250 perhaps I am not aware of.. I heard something about the powervalve but forgot what it was. Thanks

Crank and rod $229 for parts.. does this include a new bearing?
New seats and valve job .. unknown amount $30 maybe if the head is already off
New piston and rings what maybe $100..
So every 30 hours you spend $359 for upkeep, not including crankcase oil and air filters etc..

[Buick355]

Exactamundo. MX is a different story. I still feel that for the average weekend MX rider doing a top end and valve job every 50 hours is overkill. If you choose to do so to keep your bike running like new then that's your choice, but it's not neccessary. Go to www.thumpertalk.com and make a poll about it and see what others are doing on the Yamahas. Honda is a different story. They eat valves with a quickness.

I just noticed you said cross country. There ya go. Your bike hardly leaves the ground, so your not doing panick revs to lift your front on a long jump or hell, blitzing the whoops in 4th and loading the shit out of that 250F. You know it too, in MX these bikes take a beating.

[davbrucas]

My 2007 CRF450 has 39hrs on it and it still feels new. Valves are perfect. The newer hondas arent going through valves like the older ones. I used to have a 250f as well, but the maintanence is a PITA on those things...especially if you are 200lbs and ride them like I do.

[TX21]

I heard something about the powervalve but forgot what it was. Thanks

They collect gunk on the KX250 like no other, worst design I have seen on a power valve. The two vertical rods can get so gummed up they wont move, and cleaning them sucks big time. Have not seen any late model stuff though the one I had was a 98'.

[slowimport96]

They collect gunk on the KX250 like no other, worst design I have seen on a power valve. The two vertical rods can get so gummed up they wont move, and cleaning them sucks big time. Have not seen any late model stuff though the one I had was a 98'.


I have a 95 or 96 model and also a 2000/01 model. I love the 2k model. I have never cleaned the powervalve. Does it make a huge difference?

[slowimport96]

My 2007 CRF450 has 39hrs on it and it still feels new. Valves are perfect. The newer hondas arent going through valves like the older ones. I used to have a 250f as well, but the maintanence is a PITA on those things...especially if you are 200lbs and ride them like I do.



Nice bike there sir, Wish I could afford one, but I am trying to pay off my credit cards before buying a 4 stroke, Another few months and I might make the leap. Any complaints with it? Have you ridden the 06/07 kx450?

[TX21]

I have a 95 or 96 model and also a 2000/01 model. I love the 2k model. I have never cleaned the powervalve. Does it make a huge difference?

I think they only get bad if you dont ride really hard. Pull your pipe off and look at them while moving them by hand via the rod on the right side of the motor. You should be able to see some metal, if its all caked over I would clean them. Have to pull the jug off to clean them right.

[slowimport96]

I think they only get bad if you dont ride really hard. Pull your pipe off and look at them while moving them by hand via the rod on the right side of the motor. You should be able to see some metal, if its all caked over I would clean them. Have to pull the jug off to clean them right.


well if I get rained out this weekend I will pull the jug and go ahead and do a top end and clean the powervalve..

[davbrucas]

Nice bike there sir, Wish I could afford one, but I am trying to pay off my credit cards before buying a 4 stroke, Another few months and I might make the leap. Any complaints with it? Have you ridden the 06/07 kx450?

I have ridden all of the 07 model 450s. The Honda is the best by far. The RMZ turns awesome but feels like a boat and the ergos do not fit me...the bottom end power is lack luster. The YZF has a great motor and suspension but I just cannot get the thing to turn. It pushes more in the front than my old 04 CRF450. This is with offset clamps and good suspension settings. The KXF is a nice bike. If you are over 6'1" I would go with this bike over the CRF...the only reason is the ergos fit a taller person better. It is wider than the CRF and you really have to force it over in turns...but it stays where you aim it. The CRF is just too easy to ride. Corners well...likes ruts. Great motor and excellent suspension. I had it revalved and sprung for my weight and ability but it is awesome off the showroom floor. Only thing I would change are the chain and sprockets and springs (if you weigh more than 190lbs). I am getting the 08 model this winter and my 07 will be for sale for relatively cheap. I made one lap on the KTM and hated it...

[CodyY]

some weekends I ride 15 hours.

15 hours of actual running time? You know Erzburg and Baja aren't every weekend, right?

[slowimport96]

15 hours of actual running time? You know Erzburg and Baja aren't every weekend, right?


Sometimes I ride 2-3 hours during the week and then saturday and sunday maybe 10 hours of run time (pending weather is nice).

[slowimport96]

I have ridden all of the 07 model 450s. The Honda is the best by far. The RMZ turns awesome but feels like a boat and the ergos do not fit me...the bottom end power is lack luster. The YZF has a great motor and suspension but I just cannot get the thing to turn. It pushes more in the front than my old 04 CRF450. This is with offset clamps and good suspension settings. The KXF is a nice bike. If you are over 6'1" I would go with this bike over the CRF...the only reason is the ergos fit a taller person better. It is wider than the CRF and you really have to force it over in turns...but it stays where you aim it. The CRF is just too easy to ride. Corners well...likes ruts. Great motor and excellent suspension. I had it revalved and sprung for my weight and ability but it is awesome off the showroom floor. Only thing I would change are the chain and sprockets and springs (if you weigh more than 190lbs). I am getting the 08 model this winter and my 07 will be for sale for relatively cheap. I made one lap on the KTM and hated it...


Let me know how cheap you decide to sell it. It will more than likely be more than I can spend @ the moment on a dirt bike but just let me know. I am 6 foot, but 220 pounds, so dont know which bike would be best. I have heard great things about both.