2000 yz426f

[clarkie]

I am pretty serious about gettin one of these bikes and I would like to know if there is anything I sould watch out for and some of the good thing about these bikes.

 

[YZThumper]

I owned this bike a few years back and it was very, very dependable :cool: . The valves never needed adjusted in the three years I owned the bike. I think Yamaha went to Ti Valves beginning with the 2001 model. The bike is a little heavy and all the weight is near the top of the bike. The clutch is a little grabby, and the fix is to use the last spring plate and fiber plate from the 2001 or 2002 model of the same bike. Keep an eye out on the chain buffer on top of the swing-arm. Yamaha manufactured them a little long, so the chain buffer has slack on the top of the swing-arm. The chain slapping the buffer slowly eats away at the top of the swing-arm and if left unattended can eat right through it. I fixed it by gluing a piece of tire tube between the buffer and swing-arm. Change the oil and filter often and she'll be a reliable ride for you for a long time !!!

 

[clarkie]

Are they too heavy for hitting jumps and probably doing a bit of racing on? And do you think that $2800 canadian is a reasonable price for this bike?

 

[JST122]

Are they too heavy for hitting jumps and probably doing a bit of racing on? And do you think that $2800 canadian is a reasonable price for this bike?

Definitely not, thats what they were designed to do. Doug Henry can vouch for that, he won his championship on a 98 YZF400 but very similar bikes anyway. It is not going to be as good as one of the current 450's because they have come a long way in just the last six years of development, but it is a more than worthy track bike. Good luck with the starting rituals though. I had a buddy who got so used to his he could start it in his sleep but everytime anyone else took it for a burn it was a real endeavor getting it started if they stalled it with the whole top dead center, decompression lever, hot start ritual. Im not sure what the current exchange rate is but you could expect to pay somewhere between $2100-$2700 US here for one in good condition.

 

[clarkie]

I heard there is kind of a nack to getting them going. I hear a lot of dirrerent ways to make it easier. It seems like a half decent price so I just gotta scrounge up a bit more cash and hopefully I can have my self a bike again.

 

[YZThumper]

Certainly not too heavy for track riding. My only point was they aren't as light as your modern day four-strokes and compared to a two stroke the weight is noticeably heavier. Most of my riding was in the woods, and by the end of the day I was beat up because I was man handling that weight all day. On the track it was a very nice bike.

I think $2,800 Canadian is about right, as that converts to $2,339 U.S. Dollar. However, I would start by offering him about $2,400 Canadian and work from there. Remind him the bike is 6 model years old.

 

[clarkie]

I'd say he'll go down to 2500 can. There are some slight mods done as well like fat bars, gold chain and some small stuff like that. What are these thing like on gas because I will do some trail riding as well and just wondering what they would be like for that kind of stuff. And is there any problems with the valves or anyhting with this years modle? I think I can see a new bike in the near future.Thanks alot guys, Andrew.

 

[YZThumper]

This bike is great on gas. I think I was getting better than 40 miles per full tank of gas. The 2000 model bike had steel valves which last much longer than Ti valves. Also, the 5 valve design of the Yamaha's allows more air intake with a less dramatic cam profile. In other words, the cam doesn't have to slam the valves open and shut to get make that four stroke power and rev, thus the valve tranes on a Yamaha last longer than most. Believe me, I owned a CRF450 and that bike not only required regular valve adjustments, but a whole new set of valves and springs at the end of each season. My 2000 YZ426 didn't need a single valve adjustment in the 3 years I owned the bike !!!

The ONLY reason I sold my 426 was because it was just too heavy for woods riding. The weight wouldn't have bothered me except that it held the weight very high on the bike. Combined with my short legs, when the bike began to lean, I couldn't stop it from hitting the ground.

 

[clarkie]

Thanks yzthumper you have been a great help for me.

 

[NacNac250F]

You can buy an exhaust cam from hot cams that will eliminate the starting drill. It'll make it a heck of a lot easier to start. www.hotcamsinc.com

 

[clarkie]

Yeah I heard those bikes were really really hard to get going. how much for one of those hot cams?

 

[OldMaiconut]

I just put both intake and exhaust Hotcams in mine when I did my top end a while back. I think they cost me about $230 bucks. Now it starts just like the new 450's just kick it and go. Oh and as to weight.. I've had mine on a scale with about a half tank of fuel it was 247 lbs. I have a lot of aftermarket carebon fiber goodies..airbox etc. and a Dr. D pipe that cuts some weight. The new ones go about 230 dry, so the weight isn't that big a deal for me.

 

[YZ426 Rider]

Great info. I just picked up my 01 YZ426F from a guy up the street. I couldn't believe the condition for an 01 but WOW. I rode the bike a few weeks back when I went with him to a local area that people ride and I told him that if he sells it, I want it.

Starting it cold is a pain but once its been running its easy. I will look into those cams and see how companies charge to install them.

Got any pics of your 426s?

Mike

 

[Matt90GT]

every year the 426 is vastly upgraded from 00-01 and 01-02. The newer the bike the better it will be.

These are must does for a 00 model:

upgrade to the 01-02 clutch updates
install a new 03+ nissin master cylinder and lever, and CR brake routing
JD jetting kit works really well, or the 02 AP diaphram and needle
BK mod to the carb


Then for all models you will probably need a suspension revalve. And the 03+ 450 exhaust cam or hotcams with autodecompressor.