Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128222
2003 OR.O Yamaha YZ450F Many times, it takes signifieant effort to keep the front wheel on the ground. It ean be a monster if you twist l1ard enough. Even though it wants to drop the front end in the air just like any other four·stroke, the VZF is actually a pretty neutral jumper once you get it down. The Enzo suspenders give confidence as well. pleased to find that, once I adjusted it away from the bar (for more leverage), it seemed much easier to pull. The brake lever was easier too, although it wasn't much of a problem to begin with. I encountered another, rather unforeseen, benefit of the ARC brake levers the first time I rode the 450 upon completion at Perris Raceway. I wasn't yet acclimated to the power and speed of the thumper, and the first time I jumped the track's biggest double, I seriously overjumped it. When I hit the ground, I landed with such force that my right hand slipped off the front of the bar, but instead of slamming it in between the brake lever and the grip (as it likely would have with the stock lever in place), the lever gave way, allowing my hand free - not only keeping my hand from getting injured, but also allowing me to get a grip on the bar and avoid a certain crash. The levers are yet to bend, even though the bike's been on the ground a few times since. The YZ's engine doesn't need any help - the thing makes tons and tons of power - but the flywheel weight did help the tractability a lot. The gigantic DR.D exhaust canister helped spread out the power a bit as well, plus it subtracts a bit of weight from the machine - the exhaust note was the only thing that takes some getting used to. Even with a helmet on, I need to wear earplugs on the machine - although it's not all that much louder than stock. But with earplugs installed, it's perfect - still plenty loud enough to hear, but not so loud that your ears ring all the way home from the track. 40 JULY 9, 2003' cue • .. Though the engine didn't need much help, DR. D's workshop roommate Enzo Racing jumped in to help out with the handling before the big test of the machine took place at the 6 Hours of Glen Helen. Enzo boss Ross Maeda is responsible for all of the factory Kayaba suspension on the U.S. factory circuit, so it's easy to assume that he knows what he's doing. His Enzo suspension provides the damping for such top teams as Boost Mobile/Yamaha/Troy Racing, Mach 1 Yamaha, Team Solitaire, Star Racing and more. Maeda and his team are arguably the best in the biz. Enzo installed a set of its signature Sub Tanks on the forks and revalved both ends. They even went up a bit on the springs both front and back, although that turned out to be a mistake on my part - the stock springs were just right, but I overestimated my weight by some 20 pounds when I dropped the bike off. Even though it was oversprung, my teammates and I had a blast on the big blue bike at the 6 Hours. The team consisted of myself (Intermediate), Arek Meyer (Novice) and Jason Abbott (Expert), and the three of us hammered out something like 27 laps around the gigantic GP circuit in the allotted quarter of a day, winning our class in the process. At every pit stop, we backed the suspension off at both ends until we ran out of clickers to click, and we ran it that way until the finish. Even though it was oversprung, all three of us were amazed at how well the back end soaked up acceleration bumps on the fire roads. After I got the stock springs put back on the bike the week after the neVllS race, it was even better. Actually, eyen though I don't have much four-stroke experience and I'm much, much more comfortable on two-stroke 250s. once adjusted to the 450, I feel like the Enzo suspension is probably the best stuff I've ever ridden. Part of the 6 Hours course sent us up and over Mount St. Helens and along the ridge-top trail that leads away from it, and we were allowed a heck of a run at the hill. The YZ450F didn't need the run. My teammates and I hit the hill in third gear every lap, and we practically had to sit on the gas cap to keep the front end down - and sometimes that didn't even work. If you can't get a holeshot on it, you're doing something wrong. Bottom line. The thumper made it through the' entire 6 Hours, and all we did was put in gas and tighten the chain when it needed it. It was extremely reliable we didn't have any problems at all. Tag Metals T2 bars wlpad Fasst Co. bar inserts ARC levers DR.D hour meter DR.D Honda-routing brake kiL DR.D neutral-switch cover DR.D slip-on exhaust canister DR.D 4·ounce flywheel weight DR.D Hot Start Relocator DR.D graphics Ceet Air Gripper seat cover Applied Oversize Bar-mounting Kit Enzo Sub Tanks Enzo Suspension Revalve (including parts) Enzo Rear·Shock Bumper Kit Springs Abbott started the event for us, -and he succeeded in completing five laps at approximately 12·13 minutes per lap with the stock tank! I was previously unaware the kind of fuel econo· my the YZ450F was capable of - and Abbott wasn't putting around by any means. The tank was basically empty when he returned to the pits, though. With just a few changes, we turned the YZ450F into a serious motocross machine· but I do believe that, if you are a long-time 250cc rider, you need to seriously commit yourself to the big four-strokes (no matter the brand) in order to learn to ride them. However, it's easy to see why DR.D Racing is so successful - its parts help make good bikes great bikes. And what's even better is that the YZ450F has seen minimal changes for 2004 - at least where Dubach's 'parts are concerned - so it's easy to assume that his products will be just as effective in the coming year or years. eN $95 $49.95 $69.95 each $36.99 $119.99 $27 .99 $378 $89.99 $48.95 $59.95 $59.95 $164.95 $350 $240 (fork), $185 (shock) $50 $90 each end if you need springs Dubach Racing Development Applied Racing 1420 Ritchey St., Suite D 530 Opper Street, Suite C Santa Ana, CA 92705 Escondido, CA 92029-1018 714/953-7561 800/853·0555 www.dubachracing.com www.appliedrace.com Enzo Racing 1420 Ritchey St., Suite D Santa Ana, CA 92705 714/541-5218 Tag Metals America 5433 Gaines Street San Diego, CA 92110 619/299-6255 www.tagmetals.cc Mr. Dirt-USA (Arc Levers) 1428 E. Borchard Santa Ana, CA 92705 800/204-7411 Fasst Co. 25 Savona Walk Long Beach, CA 90803 562/439- 1025 www.arclevers.com www.fasstco.com