Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

(Above) A support crew periodically met up with the group at various points during the rides, just as they do with Moto Adventure's tours. Here, Mechanic Marco (center) enlists some local assistance for refueling. (Right) The newlywed author at play in a Costa Rican river. He liked the country so much that he wants to retum for his (belated) real honeymoon. Yamaha's pitch was that one of the best off-road bikes in the world deserves to be debuted in one of the best off-road riding areas in the world, and while this line is unadulterated marketing hype, that does nothing to diminish the fact that it's also true. The WR400F is an extremely good offroad motorcycle, a fact that becomes UPDATES E.GI.I • Crankshaft web is changed to improved engine balance • Changed valve spring for better engine response • New Keihin FCR carburetor with throttle-position sensor is uti- lized. The red hot-start button is now integrated, as is the air-cut valve. • Joint between carburetor and airbox is now lightweight resin (previ· ously aluminum> abundantly clear on the awsome trails and dirt roads of Costa Rica (see "Moto Adventure" sidebar). As alluded to before, the WR is not new, and it hasn't even been altered much since its intro back in '97. Still, the simple fact that Yamaha takes the bike seriously makes it a special case. For example, whereas most Japanese motorcycle manufacturers unveil offroaders that are several steps down the seriousness scale compared to their motocrossers (read: steel parts instead of aluminum; mushy suspension instead of firm; funky ergonomics instead of sleek, etc.), Yamaha's are at exactly the same level as their MX brethren, with the only distinguishing characteristics being features that actually improue the off-roaders for their respective realms. For example, the WR gets things like a spark arrestor, a big tank, a kickstand, an odometer and head- and taillights - all of which are welcome additions off-road. As for the Perhaps even more important than Yamaha's willingness to build a good throttle stop and the muffler baffle, you can easily remove both, though doing so makes the bike annoyingly loud. bike is its habit of improving it; whereas most manufacturers don't touch their off-roaders for several years after Chassis • Frame's main tube is now lighter, stronger HT-780 high·tensile steel tubing • Head pipe is moved rearward, shortening wheelbase by 5mm to . make bike steer more quickly • Handlebar mount is moved forward lOmm on upper triple clamp to open up rider compartment • Lower triple clamp is 5mm thicker, • and a reinforcement rib is added Fork now has an aluminum piston rod, low-friction dust seals and outer tubes with low-friction interior (same fork as 2000 VZ125/250> • Rear shock now has separate adjustments for low- and high-speed compression (same shock as 2000 VZ1251250> • Holder for the bearing that slides on the shock shaft is now aluminum (previously steel) Other • Clutch has higher capacity • Shape and leverage ratio of clutch lever are changed, creating lighter pull and less free play. Also, a one-touch adjuster is added • Characteristics of digital ignition are changed • Redesigned front fender cue. e n e vv s FEBRUARY 2, 2000 11

• Cover