08 vs. 09 YZ450

Titan1
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Titan1
Edited Date/Time 7/18/2012 3:38pm
I'd love to hear some real world feedback on both of those bikes. I'm looking at one of each, and can't decide between the two...

Thanks in advance!
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newmann
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newmann 7/17/2012 10:33am
7/17/2012 10:33am
Was the 08 the one Langston couldn't get lined out and claimed the 09 was so much better?
mxrose3
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mxrose3 7/17/2012 10:45am
7/17/2012 10:45am
newmann wrote:
Was the 08 the one Langston couldn't get lined out and claimed the 09 was so much better?
your thinking of the 07' vs the 08'. They shortened the stearing head and made the frame flex more on the 08'. The 09' is the same bike as the 08' with some minor changes from what I remember.
Titan1
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Titan1 7/17/2012 10:52am
7/17/2012 10:52am
In reading some archived MXA articles...the 09 is way down on horsepower to the other brands, and about 3 lbs of unsprung weight lighter than the 08 yzf (due to a change in the swing arm or something). The only beef that MXA had with the 09 was that it was down on horsepower and very slow (much slower than the 07 yzf. They loved the suspension, and ergo's...

Does anyone know how they compare, long term, wise? Faulty parts, valve issues, etc that are common to either/both bikes?
AS64
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AS64 7/17/2012 11:07am
7/17/2012 11:07am
08 and 09 are pretty much the same except for the swingarm I believe.

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mxrose3
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mxrose3 7/17/2012 11:32am
7/17/2012 11:32am
Titan1 wrote:
In reading some archived MXA articles...the 09 is way down on horsepower to the other brands, and about 3 lbs of unsprung weight lighter than the...
In reading some archived MXA articles...the 09 is way down on horsepower to the other brands, and about 3 lbs of unsprung weight lighter than the 08 yzf (due to a change in the swing arm or something). The only beef that MXA had with the 09 was that it was down on horsepower and very slow (much slower than the 07 yzf. They loved the suspension, and ergo's...

Does anyone know how they compare, long term, wise? Faulty parts, valve issues, etc that are common to either/both bikes?
I've got an 06' in a 08' frame. Over 100 hours on it and its been bulletproof. Just recently for my own peace of mind, I had the head recut, new valves, timing chain, piston/rings, ect, and it runs like new. Put an accessory exhaust on it, and you'll add about 3 hp compared to the corked up exhaust that came stock on the 08' and 09'. The suspension is awesome.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 7/17/2012 11:43am
7/17/2012 11:43am
I rode with a friend that was on an '09 in Baja this last weekend...the bike had great torque, suspension and endurance: Motor had over 200 hours on it with all the CORRECT maint. Valves adj. religiously. Re-ground once. Piston & rings once. 2 clutches (Lots of tight difficult trails , Beach sand and hills you wouldn't believe.

A surprisingly GOOD Off-Road bike.
Titan1
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Titan1 7/17/2012 12:36pm
7/17/2012 12:36pm
TeamGreen wrote:
I rode with a friend that was on an '09 in Baja this last weekend...the bike had great torque, suspension and endurance: Motor had over 200...
I rode with a friend that was on an '09 in Baja this last weekend...the bike had great torque, suspension and endurance: Motor had over 200 hours on it with all the CORRECT maint. Valves adj. religiously. Re-ground once. Piston & rings once. 2 clutches (Lots of tight difficult trails , Beach sand and hills you wouldn't believe.

A surprisingly GOOD Off-Road bike.
"A suprisingly GOOD Off-Road Bike."

That is the reason I'm looking at them. I've heard the 09's make awesome off-road bikes (which is what I do). The lack of horsepower might hurt it on the track, but it's not as big a downfall in the off-road world.

My brother has an 09 that is a dream in the desert (but he only has about 40 hours on it)....and so I wanted to find out if the 08's were similar, and about the long term reliability.

And thank mxrose3!
IWreckALot
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IWreckALot 7/17/2012 1:32pm
7/17/2012 1:32pm
I have an 08 YZ450F.
Literally, the only thing I've had to do to my bike is change the oil and clean the air filter. It starts first kick. A lot of people didn't like the shorty silencer on it claiming it robbed some of the horsepower but to me, it just made the power more manageable. I've put my bike through the ringer and even sank it in water at one point. I race hare scrambles and my biggest complaint is, once it's hot and you stall it, it might take awhile to restart which might kill your race. I think that's a 4 stroke thing and not necessarily the bike in particular. I think a heavier flywheel weight will help with stalling if you find yourself stalling a lot.

I believe the 08 is when they changed to the KYB suspension which really improved the handling.
MX558
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MX558 7/17/2012 1:36pm
7/17/2012 1:36pm
The 09 is the best Yammie made. I made the mistake of trading it for an 11 pos.
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MOTOXR12 7/17/2012 2:19pm
7/17/2012 2:19pm
I am in my third season with my 2009...it is a great bike...I added an FMF slip on this season- made a big difference.
It may not be as quick in some ways on the track, which is all I ride, but it is quick enough that I am competitve against all of my friends with their 2011 and 2012 KXF and CRF 450's. The suspension is soooo nice.
Check this article out:

http://motocrossactionmag.com/Main/News/The-Yamaha-2009-YZ450F-Suspensi…
Titan1
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Titan1 7/17/2012 2:41pm
7/17/2012 2:41pm
Ya'll are confirming my decision....

How about this, the 08 is for $3500 (its the traditional blue), the 09 for $3800 (its the white one). Both have similar hours (which is less than 10 hours) on them and are all stock. Which would you take?
knobby101
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knobby101 7/17/2012 2:43pm
7/17/2012 2:43pm
i have had every model since the alum frame.. my currant scooter is a 06 frame 09 engine, swingarm and forks & shock with 06 exhuast cam... this is the best combo yet i have found... it remains stable in a straight line, but turns better the all the rest.. the 06 cam makes a big diffence .. the 07 was just as fast though..

knobby101
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knobby101 7/17/2012 2:47pm
7/17/2012 2:47pm
Titan1 wrote:
Ya'll are confirming my decision.... How about this, the 08 is for $3500 (its the traditional blue), the 09 for $3800 (its the white one). Both...
Ya'll are confirming my decision....

How about this, the 08 is for $3500 (its the traditional blue), the 09 for $3800 (its the white one). Both have similar hours (which is less than 10 hours) on them and are all stock. Which would you take?
I you look thru the Las vegas Craigslist there are dozens that come and go .. the anniversary are really common, most that i have found have klittle if any time on them!.. and there cheap, cause no one has money there !!!
newmann
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newmann 7/17/2012 3:02pm
7/17/2012 3:02pm
09 had the ice cream cone baffled exhaust stock didn't it? A/M pipe would cure those issues.

BAD10
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BAD10 7/17/2012 3:38pm
7/17/2012 3:38pm
definitely get the 09. easy decision
Titan1
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Titan1 7/18/2012 9:06am
7/18/2012 9:06am
09 it is! It will be in my garage this weekend (unless when I get there the dude hasn't been straight up with me)! Can't wait to test it out! It's my first "new" bike since 2005 (I've been riding my 06 CRF250R since then), and I can't wait!

I also can't wait to turn it into an off-road machine: Desert Tank, Rekluse, Stabilizer, Hand Gaurds, Skid plate, radiator braces, suspension revalve...it's going to be awesome!
lumpy790
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lumpy790 7/18/2012 1:06pm
7/18/2012 1:06pm
newmann wrote:
09 had the ice cream cone baffled exhaust stock didn't it? A/M pipe would cure those issues. [img]https://ic2.pbase.com/o3/20/347520/1/89103034.y06uA26j.YZ450FMuffler1.jpg[/img]
09 had the ice cream cone baffled exhaust stock didn't it? A/M pipe would cure those issues.

08 had that too
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lumpy790 7/18/2012 1:09pm
7/18/2012 1:09pm
IWreckALot wrote:
I have an 08 YZ450F. Literally, the only thing I've had to do to my bike is change the oil and clean the air filter. It...
I have an 08 YZ450F.
Literally, the only thing I've had to do to my bike is change the oil and clean the air filter. It starts first kick. A lot of people didn't like the shorty silencer on it claiming it robbed some of the horsepower but to me, it just made the power more manageable. I've put my bike through the ringer and even sank it in water at one point. I race hare scrambles and my biggest complaint is, once it's hot and you stall it, it might take awhile to restart which might kill your race. I think that's a 4 stroke thing and not necessarily the bike in particular. I think a heavier flywheel weight will help with stalling if you find yourself stalling a lot.

I believe the 08 is when they changed to the KYB suspension which really improved the handling.
I put a Dr D exhaust on my 08 and it really woke the bottom & mid up.

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Highsider
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Highsider 7/18/2012 1:59pm
7/18/2012 1:59pm Edited Date/Time 7/18/2012 2:00pm
07 was when the better suspension began.
08 and 09 had milder cams.
I raced mx on an 07 for 4-years & no problem.
I bought a new 09 last year, added an R&D bowl with adjustable leak jet. (no bog)
The 09 muffler helps the bike (seriously) hook up, doesn't spin as easily and therefore tires last longer.
I still pull a holeshot on occasion in 30B and 40B.
knobby101
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knobby101 7/18/2012 2:56pm
7/18/2012 2:56pm Edited Date/Time 7/18/2012 2:57pm
Titan1 wrote:
09 it is! It will be in my garage this weekend (unless when I get there the dude hasn't been straight up with me)! Can't wait...
09 it is! It will be in my garage this weekend (unless when I get there the dude hasn't been straight up with me)! Can't wait to test it out! It's my first "new" bike since 2005 (I've been riding my 06 CRF250R since then), and I can't wait!

I also can't wait to turn it into an off-road machine: Desert Tank, Rekluse, Stabilizer, Hand Gaurds, Skid plate, radiator braces, suspension revalve...it's going to be awesome!
When you get it all done bring it down here and will test it!!
Titan1
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Titan1 7/18/2012 3:38pm
7/18/2012 3:38pm
Titan1 wrote:
09 it is! It will be in my garage this weekend (unless when I get there the dude hasn't been straight up with me)! Can't wait...
09 it is! It will be in my garage this weekend (unless when I get there the dude hasn't been straight up with me)! Can't wait to test it out! It's my first "new" bike since 2005 (I've been riding my 06 CRF250R since then), and I can't wait!

I also can't wait to turn it into an off-road machine: Desert Tank, Rekluse, Stabilizer, Hand Gaurds, Skid plate, radiator braces, suspension revalve...it's going to be awesome!
knobby101 wrote:
When you get it all done bring it down here and will test it!!
Sounds like a plan! I've got to sell my 250, to get the money for all the parts....but I'm always up for a St. George ride (and I'll need a local to show me around...)

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