We have also learned how to make the WR into a real bike. This means we replace the throttle stop so it now opens all the way and the gray wire to the ignition box is disconnected, only the smallest insert in the stock exhaust is removed and the air box snorkel is taken out. All of this makes the WR the bike I rode at the Racetown 395 WORCS (www.racetown395.com) race.
The only other performance modification we did to the WR was to ditch the heavy stock battery with a lightweight Ebatt (www.ebattonline.com). It's easily two pounds lighter and has been working well despite our attempts to wire it incorrectly and fry it to death. The weight loss is felt ten fold since the battery is located so high in the chassis. It makes a difference, for sure. We also bolted on a set of Enduro Engineering hand guards (www.enduroeng.com) because we like our fingers.
We're sure there will be an all-new WR model in Yamaha's lineup in the next year or two with fancy bells and whistles and sweet stickers. And we're excited to see what that brings. But thanks to Yamaha for building such a versatile machine, we're not overly eager to give up our 2007-2009 versions.
MSRP: $7499
Claimed Weight (tank full): 271 lbs.
Actual Weight (Tank Full/empty): 273 lbs.
Seat Height: 38.6"
Footpeg Height: 15.7"
Ground Clearance: 12.6"
Street Legal (y/n): No
Fuel Capacity: 2.1 gal.
Transmission: 5 speed
Manufacturer Website: www.yamaha-motor.com
 Why does Ryan Orr have to...  Why does Ryan Orr have to jump every bike we give him? Well, luckily for him, the WR is now set up to handle these kinds of antics. |  The 2009 Yamaha WR450. We're...  The 2009 Yamaha WR450. We're not sure what 2010 has in store for Yamaha's historically durable and proven off-road ride. Whatever it is will have plenty to live up to. Our slightly modified bike shook up the shootout for sure and is easily within the grasp of any modern-era WR owner. |  Jesse Ziegler's lungs were...  Jesse Ziegler's lungs were hurting, but the WR made the log-crossings somewhat doable late in the WORCS race. |
Opinions:
Yamaha WR450
Ever since Yamaha put the aluminum frame on the WR450F it has been a favorite of mine, and that is understandable considering my attraction to the YZ it s based on. The Yamaha hides its weight well with a low center of gravity. The power is smooth, useable and energetic, and best of all quiet. It is a fairly easy bike to maintain, and it stays feeling fresh and new for a good while. It is a little bit of a rolling wedge in ruts, and it is wider and lower at the peg mounts than the KTM. The riding position works for short guys without really bothering me, having Factory Connection fine-tune the suspension simply raised the caliber of the entire package. I like it.
Karel Kramer
6'1"/225 lb. /B rider
First off, the only big bikes that I have ever owned have been orange, that being said I am very biased and think that KTM motorcycles rule the land. However, I hopped on the WR and was blown away at how great the bike worked. It had a surprisingly light feel and I could easily move around on the bike. The first section of trail that I tested the bike on was basically a twisty rut track through the desert. The motor was very strong and that was something that I was not expecting. In the past I have always read about how you have to take off the stock exhaust and make several adjustments to the carb and airbox to make the bike run. The motor pulled great off the bottom and would even rev out pretty far but I found that it liked being in the lower part of the power band. The suspension soaked up the braking bumps and although it felt a little soft on the bigger hits I would much rather be able to charge through chop and slow down for a big g out than get my bones rattled on the small stuff. Next up was the extreme test and once again the bike worked great, the harder I pushed the bike, the better it worked! On the way to the next section of trail which was the longest and I think most challenging loop I stopped at the Yamaha truck to visit with Randy Hawkins a little and tell him that I had a new thing for the blue bikes. Randy and the rest of the am pro team laughed and I took off up the hill to see what else this bike could do. This section had a lot of sharp off camber corners as well as several narrow creek beds littered with rocks. I kept waiting for the clutch to get a little soft or the bike to overheat but nothing ever happened. The clutch action was great the entire time and I was surprised at how easy the clutch pull was. Overall the bike was great. I didn't want to get off of it and I think that I spent a good two or three hours on the bike, it was that much fun!
Cole Kirkpatrick
Ride impression from our Annual Torture Test Event