Yamaha WR450F Review: Specs You MUST Know Before Buying

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The Yamaha WR450F is an awesome dirt bike that can do almost everything well, but it's a TERRIBLE bike for beginners for a few reasons, which I'll explain later.

In this article, I'll cover the practical info you need about it, why it may or may not be the best bike for you, and where to go from there. 

Who is the Yamaha WR450F for?

The WR450F is great at a lot of things, so it's a good dirt bike if you want a trail bike with plenty of power that can potentially be raced off-road or ridden on the street. 

Engine characteristics

The engine platform for the WR450F has changed over the years, with one major change in 2016, but it's always been reliable and produces good power. 

From 1999 (WR400) until 2015, Yamaha made the same basic 5-valve engine with some updates throughout the years to make it more reliable while producing more power. 

The 5-valve engine is known to be one of the best and most reliable 450 dirt bike engines ever made. It may not have the most peak horsepower, but the low-end and mid-range torque, combined with its durability, make it extremely user-friendly.

Not only is it easy to ride and control for a 450, but it’s going to last a long time before needing a rebuild if you do simple maintenance.

2012 EFI Update

It still has the same 5-valve engine as the previous years, but Yamaha gave the WR450F electronic fuel injection and an updated chassis in 2012, although it wasn't perfect "out of the box".

The EFI is somewhat "corked up" and needs some tuning, but after that, it's a fantastic bike because you get the reliability of the proven 5-valve engine, as well as the EFI, which compensates for elevation and temperature changes so you don't have to deal with the headache of changing messy jets in a carb!

2016 reverse engine updated

The 2016 and newer engine is based on the 2010+ YZ450F motocross bike engine. The engine is reversed, so the intake is in the front of the cylinder head and the exhaust comes out the back. Yamaha was able to get more power out of this setup, which is why they changed it and still use this style of engine to date.

The piston/cylinder bore is a bigger diameter, and the stroke is shorter; this generally makes more horsepower because there’s a bigger surface area for ai,r and the piston doesn’t have to travel as far each revolution.

The result? The 2016+ WR450F makes slightly less low-end torque but makes more horsepower on top.

This doesn’t mean it’s gutless down low like a 125 2 stroke, but it’s enough of a shift for it to be noticeable. Is it a deal-breaker? Maybe, maybe not… It depends on what your needs are and what other new technologies you want on your bike.

Only 5 gears in the transmission?

The WR450F has always had 5 gears, and it works well for riding almost any terrain. With a low 1st and 2nd gear and a taller 4th and 5th gear, you can do tight trails while still being able to cruise on a gravel road without winding the engine out.

With that said, if you're riding on the street, changing to taller gearing is helpful because it feels like it could use that extra gear on top if you're riding above 60 mph.

Suspension

The forks and shock have always been solid on the WR450F. They’re a little soft if you’re a bigger guy or are trying to race it at high speeds, but it’s comfortable and works well for multiple types of riding.

The suspension is fully adjustable, so if you don’t like it as it comes, you can do a lot of tweaking to get it more comfortable - for free!

Yep, the most important things to get right are the spring rates for your weight and then setting the sag so that the suspension is balanced. Then it’s just adjusting the compression and rebound clickers to get it to your liking. External suspension adjustments are very simple.

Handling

Compared to a 250 or a medium-sized trail bike, the WR450F is a brute if you’re riding tight trails. It’s a good handling dirt bike, but the tighter and slower you ride, the harder it will be to handle and turn.

It handles best on moderate-speed trails that aren’t completely whooped out. Can you ride it on hard enduro trails? Yes, but it will wear you out quicker and overheat more easily if you don’t have good clutch control.

Size & weight

Not only does the WR450F weigh slightly more than the average trail bike, being a 450cc engine makes it feel heavier because of the rotational inertia. Yep, bigger engines make the bike feel heavier, even if it’s just a few pounds difference in actual wet weight.

Seat Height - Hard to reach the ground for short riders!

With a 37.6" seat height, a stock WR450F will feel very tall if you're under 5'10" unless you have long legs. If you need to flat-foot on both feet, forget about it.
I'm 5'6" with a 27" and can barely tiptoe on one foot. But for casual trail riding, that's totally fine if you have reasonably good balance.

It's when the trail gets technical that having short legs makes it challenging and intimidating because it's hard to reach the ground, even if you're using these "short rider" techniques.

Specs & Dimensions

Engine	449cc liquid-cooled 4 stroke
Transmission	5-speed
Seat Height	37.6”
Weight	273 lbs.
Horsepower	45 HP (‘03-’15)/50 HP (‘16+)
Top Speed	95 MPH

Is the WR450F street legal?

In North America (U.S. & Canada), the Yamaha WR450F is NOT street legal from the factory. It has a headlight, tail light, brake light, and a speedometer, but it requires registering/titling to convert it to a true dual sport that's legal for riding on the road.

However, last I checked, the WR 450F is street legal in Australia because it meets their regulations.

Model year history

It originally came out in 1998 as the WR400F, transitioned to the WR426F, and then Yamaha updated it to be the WR450F in 2003. Here is a brief history of the model years and any major changes it received:

• 1998: First year of WR400F
• 2001: Updated model name to WR426F
• 2003: First year of WR450F - 450cc engine, electric start added, auto-decompression cam, side-access airbox
• 2007: New frame/chassis, updated bodywork, detuned engine for better low-end torque
• 2012: Added fuel injection, updated chassis (stiffer 250F frame), new bodywork
• 2016: New engine (YZ450F reverse-style), new bodywork
• 2019: Kickstarter removed

What’s the best year WR450F?

It really depends on what you’re looking for. If you don’t mind a carburetor and want the best low-end torque, then 2007-2011 were good years.

For the best overall performing WR450F, 2016 and newer is the best because it has the most power and a better fuel injection system with good handling.

With that said, the 2012-2015 models have great potential with proper EFI tuning and "uncorking" because it's a reliable engine with smooth power.

Common problems?

It never had any major problems. Yamaha has updated minor parts in the engine to make it a little more reliable over the years, but the overall build quality of the WR 450F is as good as it gets.

Bottom Line: Is the WR450F a good dirt bike?

Yes, it’s a great dirt bike if you are experienced enough to handle the power. Most riders don’t need 450cc of power unless you’re an expert or absolutely need the most torque and horsepower for your type of riding.

Here are some practical pros and cons to help you decide:

Pros:

• Plenty of power that’s smooth and broad
• As reliable as it gets
• Electric start
• Maintenance is easy if you’re just a casual rider
• Holds its value
• Does well for virtually all types of riding
• Wide-ratio transmission with great gear spacing (even though it’s only a 5-speed)
• Can be turned into an awesome supermoto dirt bike for street riding

Cons:

• Hard to handle the weight and power on tight trails
• Not a good beginner bike
• Harder to work on the engine (aluminum frame models ‘07+)
• Hard to find them for sale in the used market

Is the WR450F a good dirt bike for beginners?

No, I recommend choosing a true beginner-friendly dirt bike here if you're new to riding off-road for a few reasons. The WR 450F has more power than 99% of riders need, and if you're learning how to ride in the dirt for the first time, it will be challenging to control the throttle and clutch, especially in tight areas.

It's very tall, making it hard to reach the ground and build confidence if you're under 6'0". It's heavy, making it hard to pick up if you fall, and exhausting to ride on tight or technical trails.
It also requires more maintenance than an air-cooled 4-stroke, such as oil changes and air filter cleaning/replacement.

WR450F vs YZ450FX - what's the difference?

The main difference is that the WR450F has softer suspension and a wider ratio transmission, as well as smoother power than the YZ450FX, making it more comfortable and easier to ride on trails if you’re not an aggressive rider.

If you want more of a race-bike feel with "snappier" power and stiffer suspension, go for the YZ450FX. But if you want a smoother-running bike with a wider-ratio transmission and plusher suspension, then the WR 450F is the better choice.

Still can't decide what size dirt bike is right for you?

Grab my free "Size Chart" guide to choose the right size dirt bike based on your height and weight! I want you to be happy and safe by choosing the best dirt bike based on YOUR specific needs.

If you're new to dirt biking and getting recommendations to start on a motocross bike, 300cc 2-stroke, or 450F enduro bike, please STOP. Those are not only more power than you need, but they'll get you in trouble with one twist of the throttle if you're not careful. If you care about safety, please choose a beginner-friendly dirt bike to start on!

If you’re a complete beginner, I HIGHLY recommend that you don’t start on a Yamaha WR450F. It’s one of the most common mistakes that beginners make because they think: “I’ll grow into the power of a 450”...