Is the WR450F a good dual sport?

After riding the WR450F for 3 years as a dual sport motorcycle, I discuss the pros and cons of using it on and off-road. It's been a super reliable motorcycle for me and as long as you're realistic about your expectations, it's a great dual sport motorcycle.
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - What is a dual sport?
02:47 - Tires and Tubliss
03:57 - Engine
06:13 - Transmission and Gearing
07:25 - Seat
08:20 - Conclusion

[@DJbradchad]

all about gearing, im sure others have spoken about this on here but i daily an 05 WR450f. And i love it, all street and dirt miles are filled with nothing but memories!

[@erichardwick7491]

Just found your channel while doing some research on the WR400F. Love how you presented this information about the WR400F big brother the WR450F. Not too many video's about the WR400F. But because these bikes are pretty close I really appreciated your information. Looking forward to checking out some of your other videos. -E

[@johnorourke7484]

WR 450 is awesome. I had one for over 20 years and never had any issues. This will do anything and go anywhere

[@larrymoore326]

I converted my 06 WR Mainly to be able to do short stints on the road and be street legal.Some Enduro races do require short road traverses between trails etc...Not for long distance road trips at all. All your points are spot on as far as i can tell.

[@bIoodypingu]

It feels like this idea that they're high maintenance is just mythologized at this point. I had an 05 wr450 as my only vehicle for 2 years and the valves never needed adjustment. They were always within service specs even after doing 200+ mile highway only day trips. I did change the oil changes more frequently than you would on a true dual sport but people seem to think that you have to do valve adjustments all the time and I've never actually heard people needing to do this.

[@sdg1970]

I've just bought one for mild green laning (flat trail) in the UK and occasional short, secondary road trips. I haven't ridden in 25 years and can't wait to get going!

[@mrzulu1568]

Absolutely the best information on this bike and year 👌🏽 I would to here your feedback on a yamaha wr450f 2016 to 2023 . I have a yamaha wr250r . An want a unicorn 450 Supermoto

[@Farmer_1776]

Mikey! We have a common thread! Been riding a 07 250f hard here in the Rocky Mountains. Been looking into the 790/890 KTMs but will probably settle on a 450due to price. Hope you are having fun overseas. Its been a longtime since shop class.

[@earl6969]

I use a trail tech fan along with silicone hoses and run Evans coolant on my 2003 wr450f.devol oversized radiators with a super lite catch can prior to the overflow tank. I also run a boysen high volume water pump and use a finned twin air oil filter cap and a custom canister oil filter....even in the desert it dose not over heat. I dropped the compression and use a Tokyo mods cdi with a tuner switch to aid it with slow flame out. It's still a beast,but my favorite steel framed 450 bike with yz tuneability. Ride on rider

[@seatime674]

I have the '05 WR450F and was wondering if you took off the front radiator plastic fins directly in front if the radiator it might run cooler with more wide open air hitting the face. Seems the white fins restrict so much air even though it aims it in there..

[@change_your_oil_regularly4287]

Aluminum frame WR came out in 2007 (I have one) and was still carb fed for a few years after this

[@seatime674]

I have the '05 WR450F all street legal with plate, all free mods with pipe, enduro tires and 15 - 50 gearing. Its totally rips and is a blast. May get a new '23 Or looking into the Tenere 700😮....

[@fynn8252]

I was looking at the newer wr450's for an aggressive 85/15 dual-sport but decided to go with the crf450x instead. I liked Honda's approach to their 450 trail bike slightly more than what Yamaha did. The engine is quite different than the 450R; it has a different piston, lower compression, weighted fly-wheel, 6 speed wide-ratio gearbox and a little more oil capacity. I was scared of the Yamaha since it seemed so racey and a burden to ride in single track. For the newer WR's, it seems like all they do is take the YZ F motor and give it a different tune. Yes the suspension is valved differently and it has the exterior off-road features but it's still a race bike. I feel like YZ450F, YZ450FX and WR450F are almost all too closely related to each other. It would be nice if they mellowed out the power since it is an enduro, not a track bike.

[@ExpatonTwoWheels]

My 06 is really tractable, but I know there's been pressure to make it more and more racy. Here there are no street legal CRF450X models. A six speed would be nice. The 450L is nice, but they're still take expensive and rare here. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford one

[@vangrandvangrand928]

You thought yamaha as more racey? I personaly afraid of the honda cause when you close the throtle it does not engine brake at all..that means (at least) dangerous wheelies..

[@mertkaptan3849]

since it is a dual bike can you give some info about the maintenance periods

[@chrissahlstrom8939]

I've got an 07 wr450f with the aluminum frame.. awesome bike. Suspension and brakes work great. I dont think its heavy at all. Great trail bike so far. My engine is stock but if you want more power definitely alot of free mods to open it up.. I would say a harder hit when opening the throttle is the only thing I'd change. Other then fuel injection I dont think the newer 4 strokes are that much better imo.. glad you are enjoying yours also 👍

[@ExpatonTwoWheels]

From looking at the outside and power figures, I think the newer engines are pretty much the same, they just added fuel injection. For me, I do a lot of slick technical stuff, and a harder hit would mean I'm just spinning and not going places. I like the smoothness and tractability of the engine.

[@chrissahlstrom8939]

Agreed.. a hard hit is fun on more open trails tho forsure.. also I'm running a trials tire on the rear and cant believe the traction I get out of it.. got caught on a really steep sandy single track section and it chugged all the way up no problems

[@da7062]

I sold my 07 WR and got a 2019 with 1 hour on it. Has the power tuner app and GYTR ECU, Yosh exhaust, you can totally adjust the power throughout the range. Best bikes ever IMO! Just made mine street legal with Tusk kit. Heading down to Tail of the Dragon this weekend and some offroad riding in Tellico Plains TN!

[@da7062]

@@chrissahlstrom8939 been wanting to try trials tire...

[@chrissahlstrom8939]

Da - I have a trials tire on mine. Works great

[@paulwatson5965]

I’m hearing the yz250x is one of the best for technical riding

[@konstantinrybin]

Hi. Thanks for the interesting video. May I ask which baggage rack you use on your bike? I got wrf450 from 2004 and nothing fits there on such narrow sub frame. Perhaps you could sent a picture of your rack, please? Thanks!

[@ExpatonTwoWheels]

It was on the bike when I got it. I have no idea what it is.

[@lifeoff-road280]

Whereabouts are you based, fella? Thailand? Vietnam? Indonesia?

[@lifeoff-road280]

I just test rode a 2008 WR450F today. It has HILARIOUS POWER. As in HOOLIGAN amounts of power. Absolutely ridiculous fun. Gets very hot quickly though, even with a fan installed. In addition, I also rode a WR250, back-to-back. The 250 felt like it could the same things and more than the 450, although albeit with much less power, but still very fun also. I'm torn between the 2 as they're both the same price. Hilarious, hooliganish fun at the expense of fine control in the tight, stuff? Or sure-fire all-around weapon, at the expense of high-speeds on the road (and fast trails)?

[@zzxx33mh]

Go for 450..more is better,..you won't regret..#soloride_zx

[@ExpatonTwoWheels]

I've never ridden a WR250F, but my friend reckons it's better in the single track than a 450. I love the low end and midrange power on the 450. It lugs down really good. You get used to the size and it'll tractor up anything without much work.

[@lifeoff-road280]

@@zzxx33mh hahaha not always more is better, but the 450 does get my juices flowing faster than the 250 hihi

[@lifeoff-road280]

@@ExpatonTwoWheels Do you run a fan on yours?

[@ExpatonTwoWheels]

@@lifeoff-road280 yes. Necessary for slow stuff

[@hpoints187]

My question that would kill the sale is if it still has hour maintenance instead of mile maintenance like a wr250r. If it is mile maintenance bike I would first want to put a rally tank for extended rides.

[@ExpatonTwoWheels]

The manual says 1000 km for oil changes and 20,000 km valve clearance checks. Of course it doesn't have an odometer, only two trips that reset, so I don't know how you tell when it's been 20,000 km. I guessed on mine

[@hpoints187]

@@ExpatonTwoWheels so this in essence would be a reliable bike more for tearing up trials and quick road to trail transitions not for dual sporting more enduro depending on the area you live and ride in.

[@ExpatonTwoWheels]

@@hpoints187 correct

[@joshbutler6750]

I’ve gotten my 18 wr over 100mph. Uncorked with gytr competition ecu

[@ExpatonTwoWheels]

Wow. The 2018 must have a lot more top end. Can you ride rocks and technical stuff in first gear with that gearing?

[@johnmclaughlin4802]

👍

[@dappa4608]

lol talks about vibration but xt 660 lol

[@Damian-xt6xl]

G'day mate i have a 2022 wr 450 and in Australia they are sold street legal with registration I'm running stock 13 / 50 and it peaked at 166km on a private tar road but riding in the bush i run it on the detune button and that is more power and speed than my mates freshly rebuilt yz 250 two stroke

[@Bruno-my9uf]

Best enduro bike ever !!!

[@Bruno-my9uf]

I reduce rear sproket by 2. Or 3 toot same off road if not better . onthe road way better bit more to speed. . less rpm . it made it better bike !! Olso changes street legal . just ride a bit on country roads lots of funn . like supermoto . i like michelin cross .

[@Bruno-my9uf]

50k back and for . no more