Yamaha WR site, Big Dog Adventures

The Yamaha WR250R site of the weekend is from Big Dog Adventures:

Click HERE

WR250R Rick Ramsey great site!

Yamaha WR250R lowering link site of the, um, month:

Rick Ramsey's very thorough modification page: HERE

Yamaha WR suspension lowering tech post

Yamaha WR lowering post of the day:

Lately we've had a few overseas Yamaha WR250 and WR450 riders order the wrong YamaLink part. They've shipped over a 2005 lowering link when in fact their bike is a 2004 model. Here is the big difference: the 2004 stock suspension rocker looks like the picture attached. It has TWO large pivot bushings and pins. The 2005 and newer has smaller bushings and separate pins.

If your Yamaha rocker looks like this you do NOT have a 2005 YamaLink coming your way. You should have a 2004 or older YamaLink.

2010 Yamaha YZ450 James Stewart US Open

Found this vid last night. At about the 53 second mark #1 does a crazy triple/triple. I like the "reaction" the guy in the stands has, almost like "Oh, okay, will this be over in time for my 10:30 showing of Cirque du Soleil?"

Yamaha WRF lowering spring rate discussion

We're often asked if a rider should get a heavier spring with their YamaLink. Our reply is always "if you're on the border of needing a heavier spring with the stock setup you will most definitely need one with the YamaLink."

Why?

The WRF stock spring rate of 5.3 is set up for a rider around 175 pounds BEFORE gear. When you put on your boots, helmet, riding pants and protection you're getting pretty close to needing a heavier spring to achieve 3.9 to 4.1 inches of sag. Add a tool pack and backpack and things get even closer to needing a heavier spring.

The YamaLink has an increased leverage ratio which means it will make your bike a lot more plush on the square edge and choppy stuff in addition to making it get better traction because the tire can bite into the ground better. It also means the leverage will make the rear wheel move through its suspension easier which can lead to much easier bottoming. This is where the proper spring rate comes in.

If you are about 180 pounds before gear and are an aggressive rider, you will need a heavier spring even without a YamaLink. Add the YamaLink and, well, you know the answer. Someone on ThumperTalk recently posted his WRF and YamaLink experience. Click HERE to read about it. Too lazy to click? Okay, here is what the Colorado-based rider wrote:

"Just an fyi based on personal experience-bought and installed the YamaLink and resprung (from 5.3 stock to 5.9). Static sag and laden sag are now perfect, and the bike is transformed. Rear wheel slides are dial-a-slide easy with the throttle, the suspension is plush but not saggy, and overall riding is great. I'd recommend it to anyone, even if you aren't doing it to lower the bike.

BTW I'm 6'2", 180 w/out gear so the stock stuff was real close already. I do mostly trail riding with a rare track day."