Getting Into A 450SS

[razorboy814]

Hi Folks,

First post here.
Just wanted to introduce myself and my son Javelin Broderick to the forum. It looks like we might be building ourselves a SS for this coming 2009.
Right now, we are lurking trying to find out more about the economics involved in building one of these and trying to make certain that there is going to be some good support of the class in the various racing orgs.

Got lots of questions but for right now, I am still trying to the find the forums list. When I go to the homepage of the forum, there is no list that I can find to direct me to the various catagories. I made this post by reading new threads. Thats the only thing displayed when I go to the home page?

Great to be here and look forward to exchanging info on getting a SS up and running.

Cheers
Bernie & Jav

[maxcapps]

I want to say I have problems posting and reading messages but I am new to the web site. I am just finishing up my Kawasaki KLX450r It is working out very well there will be many parts available soon. I think this will be a very good racing class and I thint if lot of bike are built there will be lots of places to race them. Max

[chandler]

best part is wire a headlight and tail light. go to the bmv and get a body change form and itll change it from offroad to motorcycle. street legal curve abuse.

[geoff maloney]

Just joined the site - I'd like to introduce myself: Geoff Maloney (I own GPtech llc) - we started making conversion parts for the YZ/WR once the rules were anounced with WERA. We have raced our bike at a couple rounds (Grattan, and GNF) Our background has been with 250's and Formula Extreme 600's in the past - this just seemed like an affordable alternative. I have specs, contacts and plenty of info for anyone looking. If you just need to know how we did a few things we are happy to provide info or point you in a direction so someone else can help.

[yamadon]

Just joined the site - I'd like to introduce myself: Geoff Maloney (I own GPtech llc) - we started making conversion parts for the YZ/WR once the rules were anounced with WERA. We have raced our bike at a couple rounds (Grattan, and GNF) Our background has been with 250's and Formula Extreme 600's in the past - this just seemed like an affordable alternative. I have specs, contacts and plenty of info for anyone looking. If you just need to know how we did a few things we are happy to provide info or point you in a direction so someone else can help.
Geoff,

Since you offered, here are a couple of quick questions.
1. Which makes a better racebike platform, WR or YZ?
2. What did you do for suspension?
3. What did you do for gearing at a fast track with a long straightaway like Grattan?

[geoff maloney]

Geoff,

Since you offered, here are a couple of quick questions.
1. Which makes a better racebike platform, WR or YZ?
2. What did you do for suspension?
3. What did you do for gearing at a fast track with a long straightaway like Grattan?

1 - not sure really, the YZ has less weight (less wiring, etc), I'm unsure with the best transmission (maybe WR has the wider ratio that could help), The WR has push button start that could be helpful (YZ is very easy to bump start anyway, also a modified kick starter, longer, would help) I'm not sure which one is a better engine. We made everything for the YZ because Mach 1 thought it would be a better engine package (Mach 1 was our partner in the initial build - they run AMA motard under Graves - I just followed their advise on the better of the two in their opinion)
2 - Ohlins makes a shorter YZ shock (by 25mm) with slightly different valving. They actually make this shock specifically for the 450SS (they have a spec card on file) Spring is sold seperately. For the front we used 07 Yam R6 forks (revalved/resprung by Ohlins for around $300) We make a longer stem so you can use the R6 triples.
3 - 15 countershaft (largest sprocket that will fit on the YZ without hitting the cases)+ you want to get the chain as high as possible for clearance to the swingarm, 39T for the rear is the smallest you want tot go - again it is important to keep the chain off the swingarm as much as possible 40T works well also. Grattan was not nearly as bad as Atlanta - we were topped out at both tracks (you come onto the front straight at Grattan in 5th gear and hold all the way to turn one) These bikes pull well but the wind blast takes over and you just sit at top speed and drone along until the end of the straight (probaly around 120mph) We use a Graves chain guide - we may make something better than OEM swingarm gaurd in the future but nothing now (OEM guide/gaurd wears down eventually) We don't change the gearing anymore from track to track.

[ricracer16]

Hey Geoff,

I'm glad your here. I hope you remember me. You helped me with a load of different parts of the last 4 years.

Here's a photo of my bike with your various parts sprinkled all over the bike.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/ricracer16/P6160039-2.jpg

But I do have some questions as well. I see that you do make parts for the YZ & WR, and that you used a R6 front end on your project.

Can I use a 04' Gsxr fork on a YZ or lets say a Suzuki 400SM? This is what I have.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/ricracer16/25.jpg

Can you guys make a steering stem to fit? So that I can use those same trees?

[yamadon]

Geoff,

Don't you guys have issues with the engine bouncing off the rev limiter? How often between rebuilds?

Donald

[Kris VanOrden]

Can I use a 04' Gsxr fork on a YZ or lets say a Suzuki 400SM? This is what I have.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/ricracer16/25.jpg

Can you guys make a steering stem to fit? So that I can use those same trees?


You just have to make the steering stem from the dirtbike triple tree fit the forks and it doesnt matter, I dont have the weights of different factory front wheels but I am pritty sure the R1 is pritty light. GPTECH is using Galespeeds if I remeber correctly.
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/1/l_7ac872fc48ad4f02ba1b3420daa70091.jpg

[geoff maloney]

Geoff,

Don't you guys have issues with the engine bouncing off the rev limiter? How often between rebuilds?

Donald


It doesn't really bounce off the rev limiter - all the time I have actually been on the bike you just shift when it stops making power (normally I am short shifting because I want a higher gear for the next turn anyway) On the straight it just pulls until it can't go any faster (never on the limiter) wind blast stops the bike from actually going any faster. When Mike Barnes rode the bike at the GNF he said it only hit the limiter a couple times (he could get behind the draft of some SV's and he said it hit then) A paved race coarse seems pretty easy on things. These bikes DRONE on - never rapping of the limiter like an inline four. (we don't even run a tach)

We have not rebuilt yet. Oil always looks good (I change after every other weekend) No metal shavings in the pan and the valves are still within spec. We ran the bike (so far): 2 practice evenings (estimated 4 20min sessions each night), Grattan Wera national (Thurs practice - all day, Fri practice, Sun race), Apex2Apex weekend (2 days with 30 min sessions - 6-8 each day), STT weekend (2 days with 30 min sessions - 6-8 each day), Atlanta GNF (Fri 2 sessions, Sat 2 sessions, Sun 1 practice, 1 race), about 1 hour on the dyno at Atlanta, Apex2Apex day (1 day with 30 min sessions - 6 sessions) I ran the bike full tilt from day one - I have not been easy on the engine at any point. (I should have put an hour meter on the bike but never thought about it until just lately) I don't think they are as fragile as everyone thinks (I don't have any 450 experience so I am only going off what we are learning about singles)

I'll keep you posted when our engine needs it. (I plan on studding the tires, high rise bars and removing the lower/upper for ice riding this winter)

By the way: we have crashed this bike twice and it holds up much better than I thought it would. Benny Carlson at Grattan, Me at Grattan (same turn) - bar bends, brake lever breaks, foot peg breaks

[geoff maloney]

Hey Geoff,

I'm glad your here. I hope you remember me. You helped me with a load of different parts of the last 4 years.

Here's a photo of my bike with your various parts sprinkled all over the bike.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/ricracer16/P6160039-2.jpg

But I do have some questions as well. I see that you do make parts for the YZ & WR, and that you used a R6 front end on your project.

Can I use a 04' Gsxr fork on a YZ or lets say a Suzuki 400SM? This is what I have.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/ricracer16/25.jpg

Can you guys make a steering stem to fit? So that I can use those same trees?


Good to hear from you - thanks for running the stickers

Yes you can run that setup- we don't make anything but I can sure help (we could do the machining or anyone else can)

All it takes is measuring - you want to use the YZ bearings and the complete stack for YZ stem. Our stem is longer than R6 (same legnth as YZ), larger OD at bottom (fits R6 lower triple), 1 spacer that fits OD of new stem and ID of R6 upper triple, same top threads as YZ (so we can use std YZ nut).

Your setup may be slightly different but it is the same basic idea.