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THE NEW YAMAHA'S LOOK GREAT FOR SNOWBIKING!

KAWGRN said:
I rode a WR in the snow for a day trans is not right in my opinion! so if its the same as a WR that's a deal breaker for me ,,the video says close ratio with a tall 5th for the roads but cant confirm that on paper???
Click to expand...


All the articles and the Yamaha website say wide ratio, not close ratio, for the FX. Only YZ has close ratio; FX and new WR have the same wide ratio 5 speed tranny. I've not seen each gear ratio published so don't know if ratios are same as the old WR or if the new WR/FX have new ratios.

Hey, at least they didn't go with a 4 speed like they tried in the MX bikes. Ha. My guess is 5 speeds can be marginally lighter and cheaper than 6 speed and, on wheels anyway, the four stroke can pull the wide ratio 5 speed fine for the intended purpose so no need for the 6th. When they share the ratios, will be fun to compare to the various KTM transmissions and interesting to see the overall spread (how low 1st is and how tall 5th is). If 1st is so low that it becomes worthless on a snowbike, then there are 4 useable gears. But then, with regearing the mountainhorse, one can raise the overall final drive gearing to make 1st useable. but then it also effectively raises the rest of the gears so might screw those up. Won't know until we see ratios published...
 
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Chadx said:
All the articles and the Yamaha website say wide ratio, not close ratio, for the FX. Only YZ has close ratio; FX and new WR have the same wide ratio 5 speed tranny. I've not seen each gear ratio published so don't know if ratios are same as the old WR or if the new WR/FX have new ratios.

Hey, at least they didn't go with a 4 speed like they tried in the MX bikes. Ha. My guess is 5 speeds can be marginally lighter and cheaper than 6 speed and, on wheels anyway, the four stroke can pull the wide ratio 5 speed fine for the intended purpose so no need for the 6th. When they share the ratios, will be fun to compare to the various KTM transmissions and interesting to see the overall spread (how low 1st is and how tall 5th is). If 1st is so low that it becomes worthless on a snowbike, then there are 4 useable gears. But then, with regearing the mountainhorse, one can raise the overall final drive gearing to make 1st useable. but then it also effectively raises the rest of the gears so might screw those up. Won't know until we see ratios published...
Click to expand...
Something to consider guys, yes the FX has the same tranny as the WR but it has a FAR stronger powerband, so the gear gaps might seem a bit smaller when you lay the power too it. Personally, im REALLY excited for it. I like my YZ, but the button is a really nice feature.

the new FX tranny shares 3 and 4th gear with a YZ for ratio so just a little bigger gap on 2-3. 1st is whatever, I dont even use it. I had an 11 YZ which had a similar gap between 2nd and 3rd and it was a little hard to jump but the newer (14+) YZ motor has so much more grunt it seems to jump it with ease.
 
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gears

on my dead stock wr450 the wide ratio transmission gaps between 2nd 3rd and 4th were unfriendly

as I upped performance with pipe, then cams, then carb and better gearing , the gaps became less and less a problem

when I talked with a couple of Yam turbo riders on YZ's , one complaint was when on boost you ran through the gears and gearing so fast you were right into the rev limiter. so I agree with the observations that with better power, better kits more efficient and less weight, transmission ratio preferences will change.

Although, after adding a 2.5"lug track last year, I had a few humbling moments where I had a LOT MORE HOOK than power and sometimes track spin can be your friend............so we will see.
 
Coldfinger said:
If possible, would different sprockets improve the FX for snowbike use?
Click to expand...


Gear spacing is gear spacing. If they are further apart then it's harder to make the jump between gears regardless of sprocket changes.

The only way to make the jump between largely spaced gears is more power. But most 450s still lack the mid range grunt to make a wide ratio work. The bigger 500s lack the rpm but have the mid range. The sweet spot is a close Ratio box with high peak power like a 450 or a modded 2 stroke of some sort.
 
Wheel House Motorsports said:
Something to consider guys, yes the FX has the same tranny as the WR but it has a FAR stronger powerband, so the gear gaps might seem a bit smaller when you lay the power too it. Personally, im REALLY excited for it. I like my YZ, but the button is a really nice feature.

the new FX tranny shares 3 and 4th gear with a YZ for ratio so just a little bigger gap on 2-3. 1st is whatever, I dont even use it. I had an 11 YZ which had a similar gap between 2nd and 3rd and it was a little hard to jump but the newer (14+) YZ motor has so much more grunt it seems to jump it with ease.
Click to expand...

I dunno how much I like this. My '10 yz450 I really need that higher speed in second for climbing, in some instances third is too fast. Ideally I would like first to be slower, and fifth to be faster. But other wide ratio bikes I have ridden, the gap between 2nd and 3rd is so horrendous it makes it hard to do what you can with a motocross bike.
 
Posted from Timbersled Mountain Horse Snowbikers on Facebook:

2016 Yamaha YZ450FX Transmission Specifications
Wide ratio 5-speed transmission
Primary 60/23 = 2.609
Secondary 50/13 = 3.846

1st gear = 29/12 = 2.417
2nd gear = 26/15 = 1.733
3rd gear = 21/16 = 1.313
4th gear = 21/20 = 1.050
5th gear = 21/25 = 0.840

http://www.yamaha-motor.ca/products/details.php?model=4739&group=MC&catId=80&year=2016#ts

2014 Yamaha YZ450F Transmission Specifications
Transmission type: Constant mesh 5 speed
Primary reduction ratio:

1st Gear: 27/14 = 1.929
2nd Gear: 23/15 = 1.533
3rd Gear: 26/20 = 1.300
4th Gear: 24/22 = 1.091
5th Gear: 20/21 = 0.952

http://www.ridejbi.com/2014-yamaha-yz450f-specifications/

2012 WR450F Transmission Specifications
Transmission type:
Primary reduction ratio:

1st gear: 29/12 = 2.417
2nd gear: 36/15 = 1.733
3rd gear: 21/16 = 1.313
4th gear: 21/20 = 1.050
5th gear: 21/25 = 0.840

http://mxpmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Press-Intro-2012-WR450F-May-15.12.pdf
 
Thanks for posting Tillbuilt!

...I assume the 36, in the old WR specs, is a typo (and should be 26) so might want to edit that in your post above....

1st gear: 29/12 = 2.417
2nd gear: 36/15 = 1.733
3rd gear: 21/16 = 1.313

Interesting that the Canada site has the ratios and the US site does not.

So the new FX and new WR have the same ratios as the old WR. That jump between 2 and 3 that folks say is too big of a jump for the old WR may not be too horrendous with the presumably extra oomph of the 450 in the FX (and maybe even the new WR). Proof will be on the snow come November. Will be fun to find out. Someone in Bozeman set one up so the rest of us can try it this winter. Ha.

Will also be interesting to start seeing rear wheel hp dyno charts for these so we can make some comparisons with existing bikes with similar transmission ratios so we can speculate how they will feel before the first ones hit the snow.
 
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just because it will make the jump between gears doesn't mean its fun too do so! I really like the thought of this 450FX, but that wide ratio is a deal killer for me. Been there on a Berg 501, and its just too much gap between 2nd and 3rd. Takes the fun out of riding when you are always concerned about bogging out in 3rd or spinning the chit out of 2nd. I want gear choices, not do-or-die scenarios. :face-icon-small-sho
 
Thinking of pulling the trigger on the new 450fx been on a 2010 yz450 last couple seasons sure be nice to have the button. Im just little worried about the wide ratio tranny. Hope it pulls the gears okay
 
Up here I keep getting told any week now? Might have to go orange if they dont come in soon
 
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I looked at one on the showroom floor at Snake River Yamaha in Boise on Saturday (yesterday). Spoke to the salesman about it. He said 58 HP and ability to get it to 61-62 HP with tuning.
 
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