WR 400 F "F" is for fantastic!
Written: Jun 16 '01
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Pros: Wonderfully versatile off road machine.
Cons: Stock head pipe blocks oil filter access.
The Bottom Line: If you like a true race quality bike for tracks or woods riding buy the WR 400-426 You won't be sorry!
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| opinyun's Full Review: 2000 Yamaha WR400F |
As stated in a previous opinion the Yamaha WR 400F is not a beginners bike. If you have never owned an off road motorcycle do yourself a favor and try a Yamaha TTR 250 or 225 first.
I found the WR 400 F perfectly suited for my riding style and experience level. Having been a MX racer in the past I have owned a series of motocross bikes. Once you've become accustomed to power to weight ratio of a fast production race bike it's hard to go back to a tamer bike.
While no John Dowd, I still like to ride aggressively sometimes....well most of the time.
If you're like me when you grab a handful of throttle there had better be some real power-to-the-ground result. You want that Dunlop 739 throwing sand and gravel 30 feet in the air while digging a trench deep enough to plant spuds in!
If you have the same expectations or even higher ones the WR 400F will not disappoint you!
I started out riding 4 stroke bikes Honda SL 70's -125's. Going back to a 4 stroke bike was like a homecoming for me.
I traded in a Husqvarna WXE 350 4 stroke for the Yamaha WR 400F.
There is little to compare between the two bikes. The Yamaha is superior in every way.
One of the things you will find most interesting about riding the WR 400F is you don't really realize how fast you are riding when you roll it on.
Running some hot laps around our back yard track with my brother-in-law on his CR 250 I figured I'd get blown away. Not so! The WR 400 stayed right there and was noticeably faster than the CR after a couple of gears.
I have always thought that a 250 2 stroke motocrosser had a fairly wide power band. Yes you have to keep it on the pipe but it's much easier to keep in the power band than a 125.
The WR 400 feels like a 250 motocross bike hitting it's power band right away. The difference is there IS no peak!
When you would anticipate the power to be used up and the need to go to a higher gear coming on the WR 400 just keeps building!
The thing just pulls and pulls! Hey if you want to shift go ahead but it isn't a necessity with the 4 stroke.
The weight distribution is different as well. The center of gravity SEEMS higher on the WR 400 than the 250 motocross bike.
Maybe it is the mass of the engine or the piston stroke,the counter balance,it just doesn't seem like you have a large displacement engine under you.
The bike is so stable feeling and forgiving under power
you will actually feel like you're a better rider!
I know that sounds like a line but it is true. You will ride faster,smoother and with more confidence than you ever have before.
The workmanship on the bike is first rate. Nice smooth TIG welds everywhere. Fit tolerances are close so there are not a lot of washers,shims and spacers to deal with.
The forks and shock are excellent. Easy to set up and adjust.
I have had no trouble with dialing them in for the way I ride. Fast racers may want to look into re-valving to stiffen things up a bit.
As stated in another opinion the stock handlebars are low quality steel. They look like the same bars Yamaha used on the '69 DT-1's!
I guess they figure that everyone has a pet after market style they prefer so generic ones are fine for starters.
Cabling is good with well thought out routing and adequate guides.
Excell rims are standard.
Front and rear disk brakes are sensitive but not overly so. A light touch and you'll feel a hefty amount of braking force. You'll probably find yourself using the front brake more than you're used to so as to avoid locking up the rear wheel and stalling the engine. Engine braking is another feature of the high compression 4 stroke you will learn to love. It is gradual,smooth, and predictable and does not require clutch feathering to avoid the front end dive as with downshifting a 2 stroke.
Starting is easy once you learn the routine. Follow the suggested ritual as described in the owners manual and you will have no trouble getting the WR 400F to light up.
Buy yourself a couple cases of good 4 stroke oil and some filters. The oil should be changed quite often. After just one day's riding on fresh oil it will be quite dark with the tell-tale smell of exhaust and clutch burn mixed in. Along with the gears,valves,and clutch the ignition also runs in the oil bath. Keeping clean oil around the flywheel and stator is a must!
The only complaint I have with the bike at all is the fact you must remove the entire exhaust system,header included,to access the oil filter cover. It is not a hard job. Be sure to keep putting anti-sieze compound on the stud and bolt to help with removal the next time.
This minor oversight has been corrected on the '01 YZ,and WR 426
The stock silencer also has a very restrictive, useless baffle which makes the WR sound like a moped,though it cuts down the power considerably. Remove the baffle and the neighbors will be calling the police... Your decision!
I think a good compromise is an after market high header (for oil filter access)and a spark arrestor muffler. There are many on the market ranging from about $225 for aluminum to over $600 for titanium.
The stock headlight is adequate to get you home after dark though you'll need to go to a DOT approved light system if you want to register the bike and ride to the trails.
E-line and Baja Designs make a very light weight high quality dual-sport conversion kit for the WR 400 (and many other bikes).
You'll receive all of the parts necessary(except tires)to bring the bike up to DOT standards should you want to register it.
That pretty much covers it!
With all the after market add-ons,parts,tanks,graphics,plastic,engine mods etc. etc. the WR 400 F will be a bike you'll never be bored with and will probably keep for a long time.
That's my opinyun!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 5450
Condition: New
Model Year: 2000
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Epinions.com ID:
opinyun
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Member: Timothy Connolly
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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