So I may have the opportunity to get a yz426f, and I was wondering if what you guys think of them? Everything I have read makes them sound like a great bike, but my concern is that its a 9 year old 4 stroke, and I dont know the last time it was rebuilt (owner says it runs great though) and because it was only made for 3 years I dont know how hard they are to get parts for..


Please, any input would be great.

like you said i hear they are great bikes, i dont know anyone with a 426 but i know people with 250's and 450's mand they are great bikes.

the 01 part is iffy. Our 01 had an oil pump failure about 2 years ago out in the middle of the big bowls. 6 hours of tow back and 2 grand later and it is a great bike

you will probly be looking at a minimum of a top end, valves, fork seals, and a water pump seal with that bike just because of age and hours, especialy if its an original motor.

it will greatly depend on the kind of maintnence that was done on it by the previous owners.

With the age, and any used bike, i like to replace the chain first off because i have a tendancy of jumping on it, snapping the chain and poping a hole in the side of the motor.

If you do go to look at it, bring a compression tester with you, if they arnt hiding anything they will be willing to let you do it if you are willing to do the work.

a persons attitude and "posture" tells alot when they are trying to sell something

It depends how much you could be getting this bike for and what shape its in. They were very good bikes when new. The valve train rarely needs maintainance, the engine is powerful and very reliable, and its just an overall good bike. These bikes needed alot of maintainance though. Oil changes needed to be frequent due to the high revving engine and the air filter needed to be cleaned after every weekend trip. If it was maintained well, there is no reason to be scared of it. If it starts up easily, idles well, and pulls with no apparent gaps in the powerband, other than the bog off idle, all with no strange noises, it should be a good bike to buy. They are very fast. At that age, I would recommend having the valves checked.

I had one a few years back...it was a Great bike.
Mine was street legal. I should have kept it.

All the 4 stroke guys say all you do is add gas and drive maintainance is low and only the 2 strokes need constant maintainance.

it would be in trade for my banshee... ill take my compression tester, what numbers should i be looking for? considering taking it to a dealer and having them look it over. is there a way i can check the valves myself or should i have someone do that?

Good luck doing a compression test on that. It's damn near impossible to kick it over without using the compression release. I had one for a few months, if should start in 1-2 kicks, and idle smoothly, with no odd noises. Those motors are damn near indestructible. But they can be had for well under $2k in good condition, so it may not be worth your quad straight up.

I do want to reply to this thread as it is my 426 lol. Wondering if anyone could throw up a quick guide for a compression test on that bike as to make sure Im not having someone comeout, dissassemble my bike and not know how to get her back together lol, small side story about this bike, she was purchased in 08 actually and has only 1 ride on her, very smooth and clean bike with no gaps in the powerband and also he will be getting the following items on this bike




asv levers
aftermarket ppipe
moose racing bars
2 hot cams(retail at like 300 togetgher)-never used nor installed
extra set of triple clamps
pivot works shocker bearing kit bnib
pivot works swing arm bearing kit bnib
spare rear sprocket
motion pro bleeders
2 unused oil filters
4 unused pre oild air filters
1 twin air filter
carbon fiber fork covers
helix thermal tap
bnib never used back number plastics
unused time chain
swing arm guards
wheel bearing kit
grade 10 sprocket bolt kit
stock levers

any input would be also greatly appreciated.

What is this?
Its missing the number plate. Do you have the stock gas tank?
Do you mean you have ridden it once since you bought it in 08 from the previous owner or its only been ridden once in its life?

soprry left the e out on the thermal tape lol


dont have stock gas tank, only one that came with it, ive only ridden it once since i bought it in 08 the previous owner though never said how much use was on it, he was pretty on top of the work on this bike as he bought all of those parts for the bike, also same thing when i bought it , she did not come with a number plate.

chris,
do it
do it
do it
do it
do it
do it
lol

deal is no longer on the table

I have a nice YZ426 (2001) I'll sell ya. Runs like a top and I have a second front Excel wheel, subframe, and paddle mounted on a separate rear Excel wheel with a Renthal sprocket plus a new sprocket in the package and all the stock stuff (stator, tank, # plate to make it a track bike again) Bike is dialed in and ready to go and the front forks were just rebuilt with fresh springs, fluid, seals. The light setup alone cost me $900 but I have 2 quads and just got a new RZR S so I don't see this getting used much. $2500 for all.

thanks for the offer, but i am looking to trade. i don't have the cash to buy anything until someone buys my banshee.

I had a 02 426.. sold it to my brohter inlaw... when I get my new 2010... I am going to give him my 450 and take the 26 back.. I miss that bike.. great desert/mexico bike.. bullet proof motor...

I miss my WR426 as well.. was a great bike to me. 5 years of regular maintenance still started up on the first kick and was an all around great ride. I switched mine over to the YZ look and feel it just rode better that way but had the wide ratio gearbox to go with it Sold it to a GD.com member and havent heard anything from them since so i would imagine they are happy with it as well was his kids first bike.

this was your 426

dumb question? How much to buy it back cuz damn i miss it

dont own her anymore actually, she was traded for a banshee

DAMN...

I had one myself for awhile- I think it was on '01 (it's been a few years now since I had it). That bike had crazy amounts of power and ran great. It was hard as hell to start that thing when the motor was hot sometimes but it was probably operator error. It had the decompression lever and a "hot-start" plunger and I just never got it quite dialed in before I sold it.

looking at another one possibly, anyone else have anything they would like to add? so far, it seems like this bike will fit all of my needs perfectly, and have plenty of power to keep me happy (enough for me to hurt myself on ) the one I am looking at now seems to be in great condition, and very well maintained.

any comments/tips are appreciated..

thanks

-Chris

Here is my 01' WR426 basically the same, it has been a great bike.

Click to view attachment

I had 2 friends that had the 426 and both of them were hard to start when they were hot.
It use to make me tired just watching them kick those things over and over.

Once you figure out the method to it, its actually really easy... I love mine

Bansheeboy... how did ya do in Glamis on it? Everything working out okay?

I loved it. It leans out a little bit on the top end, about 5th tapped up the hill or down the drags, but we figure thats probably from sitting to long, so we're replacing the plug, and taking the carb apart to clean it all out, and then hopefully that'll go away.

Other than that, the bike is amazing. It handles great, and has far more than enough power to pull me through the dunes as fast as I want to go.

I can't thank you enough man

-Chris

if it leans out at WOT your main jet is to small.. not gettin enough fuel..

awesome thank you, ill have to look at that when i take the carb apart. possibly this weekend