Fox Podium X - install

The Tarantula Performance Racing project YFZ450R build continues this week with the addition of our Fox Podium X rear shock.

The install begins with the removal of the stock rear shock on our 2009 Yamaha YFZ450R project quad. The rear shock on the YFZR can be easily removed by removing the lower linkage arm bolted to the frame, unbolting the shock and dropping it out through the swingarm. The first step is to loosen the top shock mount bolt.

Here, we loosen the top shock bolt. Yamaha's engineers put some thought into this quad, as many of its parts can be removed easily without un-bolting a ton of other parts, including the rear shock.

Next, we unbolted the lower linkage and removed the lower shock mount bolt.

The link knuckle, shown to the left, simply rotates back and out of the way so the stock shock can drop out through the swingarm. You have to remove the link arm, shown at right.

After removing the linkage arm that connects to the frame, you can remove the top shock bolt and drop it down through the swingarm. We had to wrestle a little bit with our Motoworks SR4 exhaust system by pulling on it slightly to wiggle the shock out of its upper mount. For the most part, the rear shock un-bolted very easily.




With the stock rear shock removed, the Fox Podium X slides easily up through the swingarm. Again, there's a bit of finagling required to get the shock lined up and in the upper mount. But again, our new Fox shock installed just as easily as the stocker was removed.




We did have some clearance concerns with the Fox shock. The reservoir on the stock shock has about 1/4-inch clearance to the exhaust. And Fox attached the reservoir for our Podium X to the shock body in the same location as the stock reservoir with the compression adjusters on the bottom. Fortunately, the reservoir on the Podium X actually has more clearance than the stock reservoir.

The camera angle is deceiving, but the reservoir on our new Podium X rear shock (at right) actually has more clearance for the Motoworks SR4 exhaust than the stock shock reservoir (left).

After sliding the upper shock bolt in place, we re-installed and connected the lower shock links before tightening the upper shock bolt.

Lining up the lower shock link (top) after installing our Fox Podium X rear and torquing the bolts to spec (bottom).

We used Loctite throughout the TPR project YFZ450R build for peace of mind knowing everything will stay intact while racing.

We expect the addition of the Fox Podium X rear shock will greatly improve the handling of the TPR project YFZ450R. We also added an RPM Dominator II axle to hold up to the bigger and faster hits the quad will now be capable of withstanding thanks to the new Fox suspension.


The build will continue with the addition of ATV Four Play's MGC MX long-travel a-arms and a set of Fox Float X Evol front shocks. Keep the TPR project YFZ450R blog bookmarked to stay up-to-date as we get closer to testing the build with ATVOnDemand.com.

Now that's a pro-level rear end set-up! Thanks to RPM, Fox and Galfer.

Stopping power - Galfer

I've said it before and I'll say it again ... Sometimes you have to slow down to go fast!

Galfer is handling the stopping duties on the TPR project YFZ450R by providing front and rear stainless steel brake lines for the quad. We'll start by explaining the rear line installation with a short how-to installation. We'll tackle the front lines when we get our shocks from Fox and bolt those on with our ATV Four Play a-arms.

Galfer sponsored the TPR project YFZ450R with a set of front and rear stainless brake lines.

The rear line installation started by disconnecting the parking brake cable from the caliper. The cable disconnects in the same manner as a throttle or clutch cable. Disengage the parking brake, take in the slack and pop the cable out of its actuator arm on the left side of the caliper. Do this before you loosen the arm itself.

Remove the parking brake cable from the caliper before you do anything else.

Next, simply loosen the two bolts and remove the parking brake lever from the clutch perch. Then carefully snake the cable through the frame and out the front. It helps to have all the plastic removed. Once the cable is out, you can remove all the small brackets on the engine and frame that held the parking brake cable in place.

Now, you can remove the actuator arm from the caliper. You'll need to have purchased a parking brake block off plate to install in place of the arm.

The next step is removing the stock brake line. First, remove the two brackets holding the stock line to the swingarm. Then remove the bolts attaching the line to the master cylinder and caliper. You're going to have some brake fluid spillage, so be sure to have a rag handy and work quickly to install the new line.

The Galfer rear line installed easily and pumped back up to full pressure quickly.

The Galfer brake lines come with the brake line bolts and washers to seal the hydraulic system. When installing the Galfer line, slide the bolt through the line fixture at each end, but be sure you have one of the supplied spacers located on the bolt on each side of the fixture. Thread the lines in and you're practically done!

The Galfer rear brake line adds to the sea of silver on the TPR project YFZ450R rear end. Galfer also labeled their line, so we knew which end attached to the master cylinder.

After installing the line, bleed the rear brake to adequate pressure and you're ready to ride.

As you can see, we've still got some work to do. So the TPR project YFZ450R will be in the garage for at least a few more days...

Get hosed

The next addition to the TPR project YFZ450R includes a set of CV4 coolant hoses and a Hinson Racing billet clutch cover. We started the build with a set of Cycra handguards and Spider SLT grips on our stock Pro Taper handlebars.

For the hoses, we started by removing the stock pinch clamps with a set of pliers.

The stock hoses weren't difficult to remove, but they weren't easy either. The silicone hoses should remove much easier for maintenance and other work.

We used a special type of hose clamp for the pure silicone hoses from CV4. Because the hoses are pure silicone, the material can actually be squeezed through the slots found in typical hose clamps. Our clamps feature a liner that covers the slots to keep our hoses from being damaged.





The silicone CV4 hoses slid right on to the radiator and engine ports. The blue hoses definitely look cool, but they also improve flow and can withstand hotter temperatures than the stock rubber hoses.

CV4 sponsored the TPR project YFZ450R with a set of their coolant hoses, which installed in minutes and add performance and style.

Both hoses are visible from each side of the engine. The pure silicone hoses greatly improve the looks of our project quad.

Our last step in installing the hoses was to re-fill the radiator with coolant. Our stock coolant had been through a top-end rebuild and dyno runs at ATP Racing Engines, so we opted to replace it with Honda's pre-mixed coolant solution. We have run HP coolant in the past with great success compared to some of the costly coolant options out there that claim to reduce operating temperatures.




We also added Hinson's billet clutch cover to improve the looks of the TPR project YFZ450R and increase the protection for our clutch components. Hinson also sponsored the build with a clutch pack and heavy duty springs, which we'll install after we run through the stock clutch.

In addition to the hoses, Hinson's billet clutch cover really makes the engine in our project quad stand out and look stylin'.

The Hinson and CV4 products improve both the looks of our project motocross quad and its performance. We'll continue the build with a complete Fox Shox suspension set up, a set of Galfer brake lines front and rear, an RPM Dominator II axle, a set of TPR nerf bars and a TPR front bumper. Stay tuned.

Heaven for your hands - grips and guards

The wrenches are spinning on the TPR project YFZ450R.


We've started replacing the stock parts on the Tarantula Performance Racing project Yamaha 2009 YFZ450R motocross build with performance products from our sponsors. In this post, we'll show you how we upgraded our hand protection and comfort with some parts from Cycra and Spider Grips.




The YFZR comes stock with a decent set of aluminum Pro Taper handlebars, which are much stronger and have a lower, race-oriented profile compared to the stock bars most quads once rolled out of the factory with. We're sticking with the stock bars until we have to replace them out of necessity. But we wanted to improve our grip and add some protection for our mits.

First, we stripped the stock grips and removed all the controls and switches to add our Spider SLT grips. We sprayed the inside of our grips with brake cleaner to install them. The brake cleaner helps the grips slide on, but it also corrodes the rubber grip and helps it adhere like glue to the bars.



Next, we added a thin layer of eletrical tape where all the controls and lever mounts attach to the bars. The tape keeps the bars from getting scratched through metal to metal contact.




We also left all the levers "loose" on the bars, so they remain tight enough for riding but will rotate rather than break during a crash. The electrical tape helps here by allowing the controls to spin rather than snap.

Our Cycra Stealth handguards offer adjustable mounting options for optimal protection by mounting either over or under the levers. We mounted our guards over our levers. The guards bolted on easily and provide a wide coverage area without cluttering up our handlebars.

The Cycra guards add some style and protection to the TPR project YFZ450R handlebars.

The Spider hand grips are a much more comfortable option than the stock grips and help reduce vibration. And the Cycra handguards fit the looks of the YFZR well while helping protect our hands from roost. Both products will help us ride harder, longer.

We'll be cleaning up our quad even more throughout the week with the addition of front and rear Galfer brake lines, a parking brake block off, RPM Dominator II axle, CV4 silicone coolant hoses and a Hinson clutch cover. Check back for updates as we continue building the TPR project YFZ450R.

SKID E-Z - single-bolt chassis skid

The Tarantula Performance Racing project Yamaha YFZ450R motocross quad features many of the ATV industry's most trick and top of-the-line products, including some brand-spanking new parts being designed specifically for this build.

One of the slickest products we're running on the TPR project YFZ450R comes from B-Tek Performance based in Syracuse, N.Y.

B-Tek is sponsoring the project with their new SKID E-Z full chassis aluminum skid plate. This chassis skid plate is like no other on the market. The trick part about this skid plate is its single-bolt mounting system.

See anything strange about this skid plate? Only one bolt holds the B-Tek SKID E-Z chassis skid plate in place. In six years of testing, the company has experienced no failures.

Bill Barth, the co-founder of B-Tek Performance, explained the single-bolt mounting system to TPR and how it works on the YFZ450R.

Aluminum brackets at the back of the skid plate near the rear frame rail slide into the frame itself, and a single bolt located near the front of the frame keeps everything tight. Barth said he's been testing the SKID E-Z for the past six years with A-level motocross riders in New York and the SKID E-Z has not experienced one failure. The welds have held up and the test models have never come loose.

The SKID E-Z is superior to other chassis skid plates that require six to eight bolts or more, plus cumbersome brackets, to keep the skid plate in place. Those systems require a lot of wrenching to remove and install and often loosen up.

Barth said his SKID E-Z installs and removes in seconds without the hassle of standing the quad on its grab bar.

"It’s been just an amazing discovery I’ve come across, because I’ve used traditional style skid plates where you’ve got to fight either with the nuts and bolts or the aluminum clasps," Barth said. "The last thing you want is to have to fight with a skid plate."

B-Tek's SKID E-Z is available for most popular sport quad brands, including KTM, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki.

Check out B-Tek Performance online at http://www.webspawner.com/users/btekperf/

Under Construction - project update

We're getting closer to unveiling the Tarantula Performance Racing project Yamaha YFZ450R.

Right now, some of the performance parts from TPR are under construction. Fox Shox are also in the midst of building and setting up the suspension for the TPR project YFZR to match the ATV Four Play a-arms.

For those of you who don't know, Tarantula Performance Racing has been putting together its project Yamaha motocross quad for the past three months by assembling products and sponsors. We've been recording the progress of the build here. Click through the blog archives and sponsor links at the right to see the evolution of the TPR project YFZ450R and its sponsors.

We've been keeping the actual quad under wraps, but look for detailed photos and write-ups of the build and the ride review in the next few weeks.

Check out the post below for a quick summary of the build and comparison to QUAD magazine's GYT-R prepped YFZR.

Aftermarket versus the Factory

In their August issue, QUAD magazine tested a full GYT-R prepped YFZ450R loaded with performance parts bearing the factory brand. The QUAD YFZ450R provides an interesting comparison to the completely aftermarket prepped Tarantula Performance Racing project YFZ450R.

In 2009, an interesting debate has surfaced. Thanks to Yamaha, you can now buy a YFZ450R, which is one of the most track-ready ATVs available, and purchase a host of GYT-R products from your local dealer to make your quad a truly competitive motocross racer. But will these 'factory' performance parts stand up to the tried-and-true performance all but guaranteed from the aftermarket companies, which kept the sport alive during the factories' absence in the 1990s?

Let's compare and see how a 'factory' quad really stacks up to its 'aftermarket' competition!

Engine

ATP Racing Engines machined our head and installed our engine performance parts.

Let's start with the engine. Florida-based ATP Racing Engines took the stock Yamaha YFZ450R, which cranked out 44 horspower to start, and obtained a 20 percent power increase with a combination full Motoworks SR4 exhaust, Motoworks FMI, Twin-Air Power Flow filter and intake, JE piston and aftermarket cams plus port work.

ATP installed our Motoworks SR4 full exhaust and Twin-Air Powerflow air filter system.

ATP then dialed it all in on their dyno. Now, the TPR project YFZ450R makes 52 horsepower on an engine that was built for reliability and not to push the envelope. All this came with a price tag of about $1,500.

ATP used Motoworks' FMI tuner, which sells for less than the GYT-R ECU, to dial all the engine work in on their dyno at an affordable price.

The TPR project YFZ450R already has the GYT-R version beat in the price department. The GYT-R head alone costs $2,246. If you include the factory equivalent of all the engine performance parts we installed, the price tag on the 'factory' motor tops out above $3,500 in parts alone.

QUAD magazine didn't include dyno numbers on its project, but we're willing to bet both their model and the TPR project YFZ450R are even in the power department despite ATP holding back and not pushing the engine's limits in order to keep our quad reliable.

Suspension and Chassis

There's no doubt the TPR project YFZ450R has its 'factory' competition beat in the suspension department. Granted, the stock suspension on the new YFZR is some of the best available straight from the factory. The quad comes at 49 inches wide and features 11 inches of rear travel and 9.8 inches up front with hi- and low-speed compression, rebound and pre-load adjustments.

RPM signed on to sponsor the TPR YFZ450R with a Dominator II Axle, which is adjustable and allows us to widen the quad to 50 inches.

Now the TPR project YFZ450R measures in at an even 50 inches wide thanks to our ATV Four Play MGC long-travel a-arms and RPM Dominator II axle. We also upgraded the front suspension with Fox Float X Evol shocks, which will give us 10.5 inches of travel up front. A Fox Podium X rear shock is bolted on to the TPR project YFZ450R stock swingarm and linkage.

Fox Shox Float X Evol fronts (above) and Podium X rear (below) are far superior to the stock YFZR shocks. The Floats also weigh about half as much as the stock shocks and increase the travel considerably with the addition of ATV Four Play a-arms.

In the suspension department, the TPR project YFZ450R will be able to tackle whoops, corners and big hits smoother and faster than the 'factory' version thanks to our aftermarket sponsors. And the money saved by choosing ATP over the 'factory' engine will allow you to upgrade the suspension on your new Yamaha.

Tires and Wheels

DWT's Champion in a Box kit helped Dustin Wimmer win the title last year.

The Tarantula Performance Racing project YFZ450R features Douglas Wheel Technologies' Champion in a Box wheel kit, which includes two rear Ultimate G2 beadlock wheels, two Rok'N Lock front beadlock wheels, four mud caps and a DWT hat. The Champion in a Box kit retails for about $600, which is a great price for four of the industry's best beadlock wheels. We wrapped those wheels with Maxxis Razr MX soft-compound front and rear tires, which carry a combined price tag of about $250.

Pictured are Maxxis' medium-compound Razr MX rears and Razr Cross fronts. We're also running Maxxis' soft-compound Razrs front and rear on the TPR project YFZ450R.

For less than $900, the TPR project YFZ450R features a set of wheels and tires that helped Dustin Wimmer win the AMA ATV National Motocross Championship last year.

On the flip side, the QUAD magazine GYT-R Yamaha tire and wheel set up costs more than $1,000 (depending upon which tires you choose) and only includes a standard rim up front. Adding to that, the 'factory' tires have yet to prove themselves and help win a motocross championship.

Nerfs and Bumpers

Pictured is the youth version of the Race Safe TPR nerf bars. A version of these will run on the TPR project YFZ450R for adult quads.

The 'factory' quad doesn't stand a chance here. Tarantula Performance Racing offers customization options for its front bumpers, so racers can add their name, number and sponsor logos to their interchangeable center plate. Point aftermarket. TPR offers endless color choices for its nerfs and bumpers. Point aftermarket. The TPR front bumper and nerf bars retail for less than the 'factory' options. Point aftermarket.

The TPR Race Safe front bumper, pictured on a youth DRR ATV, features a removable and completely customizable center plate.

TPR also offers a much safer nerf bar option for the YFZ450R. The TPR line of Race Safe nerf bars feature a pocket for the rider's feet to keep a competitor's wheels out and the rider safely planted in the saddle.

Accessories and Controls

The 'factory' accessory options are limited for the YFZ450R to a few anodized plugs, plastic glide plates and bland graphic kits.

Aftermarket accessory options are virtually limitless. For the TPR project YFZ450R, we stuck to the basics. Our quad will feature a graphic kit from Racing Armor, a B-Tek performance aluminum skid plate, Cycra hand guards, Spider grips, CV4 hoses, a Hinson billet clutch cover, Galfer stainless brake lines and a Quadtech seat cover.

A Hinson clutch pack will be protected by their billet clutch cover.

The accessory options on the TPR project YFZ450R come at a minimal price but add huge performance gains. The Quadtech seat cover features additional padding compared to the stock cover and has better grip and style.

The CV4 hoses are manufactured from pure silicone and will help keep our engine cooler than the stock hoses and hold up to higher temperatures longer.


The Galfer stainless brake lines will hold their shape longer than the stock rubber lines and will improve performance.

Our Spider grips are much more comfortable than stock, and the Cycra Stealth handguards will keep our digits safer than racing without guards. And the aluminum B-Tek skid plate installs with only one bolt and will protect our frame and engine cases better than the GYT-R plastic guard.



Conclusion

Yamaha continues to advance the racing market for sport ATVs with this year's release of the new YFZ450R. And the GYT-R line of performance products and accessories help take the sport to new heights by giving a rider the option to literally go straight from the dealer to the starting line.

But the factory still has a long way to go.

The aftermarket engine work on the TPR project YFZ450R is much more affordable than the same level 'factory' mods available. And the money saved can help pay for the suspension components needed to keep up with the increased horsepower.

With today's economy, the aftermarket offers the more affordable option to improve the performance of your YFZ450R.