Author Topic: WR450F Scout Build Thread (Read 35579 times)

stlaser · « **on:** October 15, 2015, 04:59:01 PM »

OK, first I must apologize for the lack of participation on this board. Don will probably want to ban me a few times consecutively for my lack of DOTness aimed at him here lately. Anyhow I'll try to make this a short story and then get on to the build thread.

As most of you know I owned Great Lake Off Road which I sold in Jan. Then had a couple equipment auctions and finally sold my home / shop in Indiana as well. I resigned from my day job as GM for a large steel company after sixteen years and followed my wife along with our three girls to Colorado where she landed a job. First major move in our family ever, the wife and I needed a change of scenery. I wanted less to do and decided for a number of reasons early 2015 was as good a time as any to cash some chips in and try our luck somewhere else. There are times in life when a number of circumstances all converge that you need to step back take a deep breath and look at what is most important. In a nut shell this is what happened to us. I believe for whatever reason we were meant to be in Colorado, definitely not my first choice due to their communist gun laws but it seems to have played out well so far.

So on to the build thread, I will be building a 2015 Yamaha WR450F. For those of you not familiar the WR450F is basically a WR250 frame with a 450 motor sandwiched in to it. Its an agile trail riding machine that has the power and reliability to be very capable with a few tweaks here and there. As we speak it is being converted to DOT compliance making it road worthy. I am not doing it but letting professionals do this as it was part of the negotiation for purchase. Here in CO to be road worthy it needs a few things such as DOT approved tires, brake light, mirror and horn. Probably a couple things I left off but you get the idea.

If there is one big downside potential to this build it would be that it is fuel injected, great for the elevation changes here in CO but not so good against an EMP threat. My thought was if an EMP hits locally we have a lot of problems besides a bike that won't run & I still have my walking boots I guess.

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2015, 05:24:34 PM »

It's a build thread.......it will never be DOT proof........OH that was approved!! Now I get it! ;D

Glad to have you back Shawn, and glad you're all feeling you're in the right place! Learn from Don and don't go the sticker route for fenders etc!

Welcome back to RealMan, we've missed you!

Sammconn · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2015, 07:46:24 PM »

Hey Shawn, looking forward to this.

Lots of changes in your life this year. Good luck!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2015, 08:45:53 PM »

Anybody ever heard of this guy before I ban him again?

I once knew a Shawn...even made him a moderator here...Then he left the building and has never been heard from since!

Shawn, welcome back!

Have anything to complain about before you get in going here? :)

stlaser · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2015, 09:55:02 PM »

Never heard of him, ban him already............. ;D

Quote from: Flyin6 on October 15, 2015, 08:45:53 PM

Anybody ever heard of this guy before I ban him again?

I once knew a Shawn...even made him a moderator here...Then he left the building and has never been heard from since!

Shawn, welcome back!

Have anything to complain about before you get in going here? :)

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2015, 10:36:47 PM »

Welcome back! Sure hope CO works out for you. I love visiting there. It could be worse, I can still CC there.

KensAuto · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2015, 10:47:19 PM »

Man, you sure sold the farm! good for you.

Glad you're back.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2015, 11:48:24 AM »

Yea, it's good to have Shawn back

Now we need to get Ash on here more

Then those two can get to arguing again

and we can sit back and enjoy it all!

Sound like a plan?

stlaser · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2015, 03:33:11 PM »

Nope, he's to busy texting me texas weather reports. Complaining its hot or something down there?!? Who'd a thunk it that Texas was hot? :o

Quote from: Flyin6 on October 16, 2015, 11:48:24 AM

Yea, it's good to have Shawn back

Now we need to get Ash on here more

Then those two can get to arguing again

and we can sit back and enjoy it all!

Sound like a plan?

stlaser · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2015, 03:33:49 PM »

& to everyone else thanks for the warm welcome!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2015, 04:23:17 PM »

Is Texas hot?

When did that start?

stlaser · « **Reply #11 on:** October 16, 2015, 09:58:41 PM »

OK, so here is the bike in stock form. Thought I would start an imgur account and try my hand at posting pics.

Sammconn · « **Reply #12 on:** October 16, 2015, 10:02:58 PM »

Looks like you've got it figured Shawn.

stlaser · « **Reply #13 on:** October 16, 2015, 10:05:46 PM »

A little more insight. Prior to the move I was setup fairly well as far as being prepared in transportation. Well, that was turned on its head. So in a lot of regards I'm back to square one. One of which is off road capability. Before I had numerous off road vehicles that were extremely capable. From ATV's to 73 EB crawler, to an 04 Rubicon to 4609 MF tractor. As it stands I have a bone stock (other than a 9K winch) 2008 JK. Now I do have plenty in store for it as well, however I wanted something with some immediate off road prowess. So enter the Yamaha WR450F. Now you may ask why I am making a perfectly legit dirt bike into a street capable machine? Because of laws, there will always be those pesky guys in uniform following laws and this is one less thing I have to worry about now or in the future.......

stlaser · « **Reply #14 on:** October 16, 2015, 10:06:26 PM »

Quote from: Sammconn on October 16, 2015, 10:02:58 PM

Looks like you've got it figured Shawn.

copy that! ;)

& thanks to overwatch_09 for the helpful insight via the picture posting thread for knuckleheads like me!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2015, 12:32:25 PM »

That thing looks like it will rip a hole in the fabric of time/space

Flyin6 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 17, 2015, 12:33:29 PM »

Only way I'd stand a chance against that thing in a race with my DR is if he ran out of gas, and we were racing off the ramp of a C130 at flight level 2-1-0

stlaser · « **Reply #17 on:** October 17, 2015, 01:35:13 PM »

Was originally looking at the dual sport WR250R until I started talking with 24yr old sales/racer and he sold me on this. Just seemed easier to modify this for street than beef up the other to try and do what I wanted. This has a lot of good qualities that I will detail shortly that were OEM.........

I also read your build before purchasing, a lot of good info and direction there.

Quote from: Flyin6 on October 17, 2015, 12:32:25 PM

That thing looks like it will rip a hole in the fabric of time/space

Flyin6 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 17, 2015, 02:47:02 PM »

Man, I'm Mr. Quote master !

Get Ash talkin' on here!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 17, 2015, 02:55:30 PM »

Shawn, I looked at them too.

Back then I was riding (Sometimes) a DRZ 400 suzi. One stock and one built...definitely two different bikes.

So I could see a 400 is plenty fast. A bit faster, well, probably a bunch faster than my steam powered DR650. So I was looking back then considering a DRZ-400, the WRF 450, and a KTM 520.

I was going to put a street kit on them, add a second tank and tear up some dirt roads that needed it. I never took that step, but now a bit wiser, I realize my chances of keeping up with anyone with anything newer than a 73 super beetle, approaches zero. So the steam power got the nudge. Thing is I'll never finish first (or second, or third...) but I will finish. With that in mind straight up air cooled 70's technology won the coin toss for me.

When I would teach people high altitude landings I used the ridges and peaks west of Colorado Springs. Sometimes when I would go to a certain confined area up around 12,000 feet, some guy would pop out of the trees on one of those things and putt around the Chinook. Kinda a "What's he doing here?" thing.

Saying: There were no trails I could see up to there and only operational and wrecked aircraft were to be found there, but somehow that those crazee off road bikers were up to the task.

We'll have to try it someday!

stlaser · « **Reply #20 on:** October 17, 2015, 06:40:45 PM »

I looked at KTM as well, however the initial price tag & increased maintenance to me was a no go. I don't need the fastest bike so imo reliability & decreased maintenance trumped speed.

Armalite · « **Reply #21 on:** October 23, 2015, 11:11:55 AM »

Well, most of you have never met Shawn. I've had the pleasure of meeting him on more than one occasion... And this is all I can picture when he said he purchased a dirt bike... :o

Armalite · « **Reply #22 on:** October 23, 2015, 11:13:55 AM »

And yes, it's been hotter than the gates of heck down here.... We broke two daily high temps in one week. Hit 94 one day, then 98 a few days later. I know it's fall, but feels like July to us... Hasn't rained since May. Finally supposed to get 3-5" this weekend. ;D

stlaser · « **Reply #23 on:** October 23, 2015, 12:18:12 PM »

Quote from: Armalite on October 23, 2015, 11:13:55 AM

And yes, it's been hotter than the gates of heck down here.... We broke two daily high temps in one week. Hit 94 one day, then 98 a few days later. I know it's fall, but feels like July to us... Hasn't rained since May. Finally supposed to get 3-5" this weekend. ;D

Told ya he was a whining! ;)

Nice pic btw young un.........

edit: & for the record I do still own a CR50 with training wheels! Only offroad vehicle I kept for my daughters for their kids some day. Didn't want you getting any ideas...........

EL TATE · « **Reply #24 on:** October 23, 2015, 05:36:54 PM »

Brings a tear to my eye to see you two at it again. Please get a shot of the 50cc w/ trainers. I've got to get one like that for Sophie. Looking forward to see the progression Shawn.

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #25 on:** October 23, 2015, 10:13:25 PM »

Ash, I'm up working this weekend at my place and I'm praying for a ton of rain....my pond is down almost 3 feet

Flyin6 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 24, 2015, 08:57:37 AM »

Well, to my Texas friends, you're gonna get it or so it would appear. Barring the chance the earth stops and starts rotating backward, the tropical storm from the hurricane is almost there
Batten down the hatches!

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #27 on:** October 24, 2015, 09:15:22 AM »

Ready. Weapon cleaning day.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Flyin6 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 24, 2015, 09:43:22 AM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on October 24, 2015, 09:15:22 AM

Ready. Weapon cleaning day.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yup read your weapon cleaning comment/thread

Kinda fun dotin up Shawn's bike thread

A fella could get used to this

If we could only get him and ash publically arguing on here again...That would be the day!

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #29 on:** October 24, 2015, 10:09:47 AM »

I heard Shawn said people from East Texas don't have all their teeth but they do have six toes and marry their sisters...

(Sits back and waits)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Nate · « **Reply #30 on:** October 24, 2015, 12:17:12 PM »

facepalm

Flyin6 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 24, 2015, 12:34:40 PM »

^^^ That should stir him up!

stlaser · « **Reply #32 on:** October 24, 2015, 01:19:09 PM »

Nah, to live in East Texas you have to have screwed up haircut or funny teeth. Never had screwed up hair cut (albeit I do have less hair now) and teeth ain't never really been a problem......... ;D

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on October 24, 2015, 10:09:47 AM

I heard Shawn said people from East Texas don't have all their teeth but they do have six toes and marry their sisters...

(Sits back and waits)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

stlaser · « **Reply #33 on:** October 24, 2015, 01:21:28 PM »

Here you go Tate, Honda CRF50 with trainers. You should be able to find one used at a good price low hours like ours. I know a lot of guys were buying them for pit bikes or to ride around swap meets........

JR · « **Reply #34 on:** October 24, 2015, 09:09:05 PM »

How did I miss this build thread to DOT up???

We brake a few records out here too. Heat and no rain!

Armalite · « **Reply #35 on:** October 26, 2015, 02:40:13 PM »

Geeesh... I make a small comment and look what happens...

Job accomplished I guess?? Now that I have completely derailed poor Shawn, maybe I should jump over to Dons thread. That old non-running pile of money hasn't seen much talk lately... :P

stlaser · « **Reply #36 on:** October 26, 2015, 02:57:15 PM »

Quote from: Armalite on October 26, 2015, 02:40:13 PM

Geeesh... I make a small comment and look what happens...

Job accomplished I guess?? Now that I have completely derailed poor Shawn, maybe I should jump over to Dons thread. That old non-running pile of money hasn't seen much talk lately... :P

& it ain't running is right! :'(

Armalite · « **Reply #37 on:** October 26, 2015, 03:06:12 PM »

Quote from: stlaser on October 26, 2015, 02:57:15 PM

Quote from: Armalite on October 26, 2015, 02:40:13 PM
Geeesh... I make a small comment and look what happens...

Job accomplished I guess?? Now that I have completely derailed poor Shawn, maybe I should jump over to Dons thread. That old non-running pile of money hasn't seen much talk lately... :P

& it ain't running is right! :'(

Maybe he saved some of the Vaseline left over from the Craigslist Man that sold him the motor... Applied behind the tires, he could at least drag it around with the chevy... ;D

And.... that should put Ash back on the board with at least 3 points....

Flyin6 · « **Reply #38 on:** October 26, 2015, 03:57:53 PM »

Quote from: Armalite on October 26, 2015, 02:40:13 PM

Geeesh... I make a small comment and look what happens...

Job accomplished I guess?? Now that I have completely derailed poor Shawn, maybe I should jump over to Dons thread. That old non-running pile of money hasn't seen much talk lately... :P

Definitely not...stay here!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #39 on:** October 26, 2015, 03:58:59 PM »

Quote from: Armalite on October 26, 2015, 03:06:12 PM

Quote from: stlaser on October 26, 2015, 02:57:15 PM
Quote from: Armalite on October 26, 2015, 02:40:13 PM
Geeesh... I make a small comment and look what happens...

Job accomplished I guess?? Now that I have completely derailed poor Shawn, maybe I should jump over to Dons thread. That old non-running pile of money hasn't seen much talk lately... :P

& it ain't running is right! :'(

Maybe he saved some of the Vaseline left over from the Craigslist Man that sold him the motor... Applied behind the tires, he could at least drag it around with the chevy... ;D

And.... that should put Ash back on the board with at least 3 points....

Everyone: I had to ban Ash...I'm sure you can all understand why! ;-)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #40 on:** October 26, 2015, 04:02:55 PM »

Quote from: stlaser on October 26, 2015, 02:57:15 PM

Quote from: Armalite on October 26, 2015, 02:40:13 PM
Geeesh... I make a small comment and look what happens...

Job accomplished I guess?? Now that I have completely derailed poor Shawn, maybe I should jump over to Dons thread. That old non-running pile of money hasn't seen much talk lately... :P

& it ain't running is right! :'(

Yea, but it's clean! And has a pretty aux fuel tank!

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #41 on:** October 26, 2015, 09:03:13 PM »

Sounds like a liberal Don. All about diversity, inclusion, and tolerance....until you disagree with them....then they want to shut you down...

stlaser · « **Reply #42 on:** October 26, 2015, 09:27:34 PM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on October 26, 2015, 09:03:13 PM

Sounds like a liberal Don. All about diversity, inclusion, and tolerance....until you disagree with them....then they want to shut you down...

Don, the back story to that Vaseline comment is that we call that homoslist back in Indiana. Cause no one ever sells anything on there. You just get guys texting you with no money who want to trade you for some video game or a set of bald tires from their moms 84 Honda. In the end I really think they're just trolling for a date.....

Flyin6 · « **Reply #43 on:** October 26, 2015, 09:42:58 PM »

Well, I don't know what's wrong in hoosierville, but here in the Tucky you put something on Craigslist and somewhere in all the offers to trade for an old beetles LP is usually a cash offer. I've sold a ton of stuff on Craigslist.

KensAuto · « **Reply #44 on:** October 26, 2015, 10:34:50 PM »

Out here we just have idiots selling worn out "clean never been used" rv generators to other idiots with cash and the readiness to belief anything someone tells him (me).

Dawg25385 · « **Reply #45 on:** October 26, 2015, 10:43:53 PM »

I also buy/sell on Craigs quite a bit out here in WA... biggest pain is lowballers.

Just had my old wheels and tires from the LBZ on there for $400, and can't even count how many texts i got that said "will you take 200?".. no hello, no hi i'm interested in your tires... just straight lowball fishing offer. One of these times i'm going to say "sure dude meet me at ____ at 9pm and you can have em"... and then wait for the next text from my recliner ;D ;D ;D

stlaser · « **Reply #46 on:** October 27, 2015, 08:52:47 AM »

Quote from: Dawg25385 on October 26, 2015, 10:43:53 PM

I also buy/sell on Craigs quite a bit out here in WA... biggest pain is lowballers.

Just had my old wheels and tires from the LBZ on there for $400, and can't even count how many texts i got that said "will you take 200?".. no hello, no hi i'm interested in your tires... just straight lowball fishing offer. One of these times i'm going to say "sure dude meet me at ____ at 9pm and you can have em"... and then wait for the next text from my recliner ;D ;D ;D

Buddy of mine flips used vehicles on there. Every time he gets a will you take this amount he adds $500 to original price and counter offers........ ???

Sammconn · « **Reply #47 on:** October 27, 2015, 05:49:19 PM »

Quote from: KensAuto on October 26, 2015, 10:34:50 PM

Out here we just have idiots selling worn out "clean never been used" rv generators to other idiots with cash and the readiness to belief anything someone tells him (me).

The one I've had a lot of laughs over is one I see a lot.
Slightly Used xxx snowmobile Pistons...

Now when I have to part with cash for a rebuild, pistons are not a place to go 'used' in any fashion.

JR · « **Reply #48 on:** October 27, 2015, 06:56:22 PM »

Shawn, do you have following on CL?????

Some strange stuff on there for sure.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #49 on:** October 27, 2015, 09:03:46 PM »

I wonder if those slightly used pistons will fit my DR-650? :o