18 yz450f ?
- Thread starter damx
- Start date
Dont let the intake be the decision maker between the two. There are good options to make both intakes work fine. A pod filter with the bottom of the airbox cut works great on the sxf. The yz with the CR design intake coming through the top is definitely the ultimate it breathability but damn loud. I was looking at doing an 18 yz as well but couldnt find much for reviews. There also isnt much available yet for big bores and PR2 has not released their ECU either so I opted to go with the sxf. You will be happy with either bike but a ton of great engine packages available for the ktm if you wanna squeeze a little more hp. It will likely come around next year for the yz as well.
If it was me i would get the 18 YZ450F. The intake along with a PR2 makes the YZ run perfect all day long. In deeper days the KTMs always seem to be running a little rich and boggy. Another thing to consider is the cost of engine parts. KTM is double th cost of Yamaha. Pistons, cranks, cyls, heads etc are pricier in the KTM line. Something to think about !
Have both in my crew
I have a 16.5 KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition with the ARO120, my buddy has the 18 YZ450FX with ARO137.
Both are strong runners with exhaust and ECU mapping. The PR2 isn't necessary unless you aren't going to take the time to make engine jackets, radiator covers, and install a thermostat. The engine is better off with all of these things done, once temps are controlled the ECU won't go into flood/choke mode. I had a PR2 on my KTM, it wasn't mapped right and was way to rich, had to send it back. That's a factory edition problem that Jeff hasn't worked out, others with them are super happy and it's a good ECU/Map for most bikes.
The YZ was pretty flat until the FMF full system and power tuner fuel / timing was adjusted. Both also benefited from the drive gears being swapped on the ARO to get the gearing closer to the proper runout for stock counter shaft sprocket. Now it can hang with the KTM for the most part... stock I was crushing it.
I went to a pod on the KTM, the airbox would fill with snow and soak the filter on every deep day. Yamaha is easier, drill 1 inch holes on the intake cover and put frogzskins on them 12-16 holes are perfect, then stuff the intake ports with foam and seal them off.
The YZ has a steeper rake and more over the bars feel than the KTM. The TSS needs to be dropped to the floor on the YZ, also the ball join can be shaved down a bit to get it to squat enough for good steering. (60 degrees of head tube angle is about perfect, we've landed there on 5 bikes now as the sweet spot for climb/turn/ski pressure)
Yamaha wins:
Exhaust is better for engine jacket fitment
Intake is very low cost to mod for snow
also has a kick starter in case of battery failure
motor is bullet proof, most reliable engine ever made
KTM wins:
20 pounds lighter
engine has more bottom end power
gearing is taller and shifting is less on this transmission
narrow and more comfortable cockpit (subjective to preference)
Steel frame has less vibration (snowbikes are often at high RPMs and it wears on you)
Kreft has revalve control that allows you to tune the fork from woods to snowbike valving with a knob (WP only) Air and the Kreft RC makes for a fork that doesn't need to come apart season to season. (Trio would resolve that, but you'll still need tuning on the stock suspension if you're demanding of ideal performance for track or woods)
Take what you will from the pros / cons but it's a matter of your needs... since you are going LT - it would seem weight isn't that important to you. It's why I went KTM... but at the end of the day the yamaha is a more practical snowbike platform.
Hope this helps a bit
I have a 16.5 KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition with the ARO120, my buddy has the 18 YZ450FX with ARO137.
Both are strong runners with exhaust and ECU mapping. The PR2 isn't necessary unless you aren't going to take the time to make engine jackets, radiator covers, and install a thermostat. The engine is better off with all of these things done, once temps are controlled the ECU won't go into flood/choke mode. I had a PR2 on my KTM, it wasn't mapped right and was way to rich, had to send it back. That's a factory edition problem that Jeff hasn't worked out, others with them are super happy and it's a good ECU/Map for most bikes.
The YZ was pretty flat until the FMF full system and power tuner fuel / timing was adjusted. Both also benefited from the drive gears being swapped on the ARO to get the gearing closer to the proper runout for stock counter shaft sprocket. Now it can hang with the KTM for the most part... stock I was crushing it.
I went to a pod on the KTM, the airbox would fill with snow and soak the filter on every deep day. Yamaha is easier, drill 1 inch holes on the intake cover and put frogzskins on them 12-16 holes are perfect, then stuff the intake ports with foam and seal them off.
The YZ has a steeper rake and more over the bars feel than the KTM. The TSS needs to be dropped to the floor on the YZ, also the ball join can be shaved down a bit to get it to squat enough for good steering. (60 degrees of head tube angle is about perfect, we've landed there on 5 bikes now as the sweet spot for climb/turn/ski pressure)
Yamaha wins:
Exhaust is better for engine jacket fitment
Intake is very low cost to mod for snow
also has a kick starter in case of battery failure
motor is bullet proof, most reliable engine ever made
KTM wins:
20 pounds lighter
engine has more bottom end power
gearing is taller and shifting is less on this transmission
narrow and more comfortable cockpit (subjective to preference)
Steel frame has less vibration (snowbikes are often at high RPMs and it wears on you)
Kreft has revalve control that allows you to tune the fork from woods to snowbike valving with a knob (WP only) Air and the Kreft RC makes for a fork that doesn't need to come apart season to season. (Trio would resolve that, but you'll still need tuning on the stock suspension if you're demanding of ideal performance for track or woods)
Take what you will from the pros / cons but it's a matter of your needs... since you are going LT - it would seem weight isn't that important to you. It's why I went KTM... but at the end of the day the yamaha is a more practical snowbike platform.
Hope this helps a bit
Have a 2018 yz450f with a yeti,35 hrs on it, it is much different than an fX. Very good power , I had the cr racing intake . Much to Loud .Removed airbox and installed yeti filter . Much better and hasn’t missed a beat and been in some of the deepest powder I have rode on a snowbike this year.
All in all two thumbs up.
All in all two thumbs up.
Pretty tough to beat the YZ for cost and durability. Personally I'm not a fan of the FX transmission but lots of guys like it. A straight up YZ would be my choice. E-start on the 18 would be handy at times for sure. I'm in the middle of buying a lot of KTM parts right now. They wont sell me just a cylinder I have to buy a cylinder and piston kit from them. I was planning on using a Vertex piston which is half the price of the Wosner but no such luck. KTM has you by the short hairs on parts.
M5
M5
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Any more info on this? So, he had ridden it for a while and then idling it locked up? Was this an 18?
What was wrong with the Yz? What year?
Did that guy just put in a Recluse??
When I did mine took it for a 1/2 day ride and changed the oil and filter after -- Could not believe the amount of crud in the filter from the new clutch plates. They say to brake in the clutch and change filter and oil right after they mean it. Changed the filter 2 rides later and all is clean again. That clutch sheds an unbelievable amount of fibres in the first couple hrs.
When I did mine took it for a 1/2 day ride and changed the oil and filter after -- Could not believe the amount of crud in the filter from the new clutch plates. They say to brake in the clutch and change filter and oil right after they mean it. Changed the filter 2 rides later and all is clean again. That clutch sheds an unbelievable amount of fibres in the first couple hrs.
No they won't. The cylinder is NLA by itself as per KTM. This is not my first rodeo buying parts.
M5
sorry guys, I dont got any info about the seized yamaha. I think it was a 16 or 17. we peaked a hill and seen his buddy trying to pull him out. said it locked up while idiling, wasnt even hard on the throttle when it happened. no idea anything after that.
