ESR’s YFZ450 Sand Dune Monster [PHOTOS]

EnricoPavia

• December 25 2008
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[ Click Here To Check Out A Quick Video From The Photo Shoot ]

Eddie Sanders Racing YFZ 498 Sleeper

Application: 2006 Yamaha YFZ450

ESR Big Bore Kit with F-1 Piston $595
ESR 4mm Stroker Crank $699
ESR Head Porting $350
ESR Head Cut for Compression $75
ESR Airbox Eliminator Kit $74
ESR Pro Pipe $585
Keihin FXR 41mm Carb Kit $639
ESR Jet Kit $89
ESR Billet Reservoir and Throttle Cover $49
ESR Inline Water Temperature Gauge $69
ESR Billet Case Guard $45
ESR Billet Brake Pedal and Shifter Combo $149
ESR Brake Block Off $17
ESR Billet Front Hubs $289
ESR Aluminum Axle with Hubs $575
ESR Custom Batter Relocation Box $100
RIS Footpegs $175
RIS Tab Front Wheels $75 each
RIS Tab Rear Wheels $65 each
Streamline Front Brake Lines $93
Streamline Rear Brake Line $43
Skat-Trak 7 Paddle Glider Super Buffs $125 each
Skat-Trak Front Mohawk Superlite $72
Works Performance G-Series Front Shocks $599
Works Performance G-Series Rear Shock $839
Direct Drive Lockout Clutch with Cover $320
Miscellaneous Titanium Bolts $1,500

The Hop-Up Eddie Sanders Racing, best known for building incredibly fast two-stroke 250Rs, are now quickly making a name for themselves by building some of the fastest four-strokes, as well. They set out to build up this 498cc YFZ450 to be a fierce competitor at the dunes.

With the exception of the ESR aluminum axel and ultra soft Works Suspension, it appears to be your average duner with a pipe, paddles, and assorted aluminum parts. The aluminum axle and ultra-light tires and wheels are used to lighten the rotating mass as much as possible in order to get the most out of the engine. Titanium hardware and aluminum parts are used throughout for an overall lighter machine, as well. The A-arms and swingarm were kept stock for the sleeper appearance. And the Works shocks—they were bolted on to provide a smooth ride over the dunes that get notoriously rough on those holiday weekends.

The monster engine is anything but average. ESR teamed up with JE Pistons to design a super-light 470cc slipper piston with special razor-thin rings that cause less drag (letting the engine rev quicker while having virtually no ring flutter at high rpm). This F-1 series piston paired with a drop in ESR 4mm stroker crank kicks out a total of 498cc. ESR head porting and a quick cylinder shave bumps up the compression ratio to 14:1. The engine kit uses a huge 41mm Keihin FCR carb and ESR’s Pro Pipe with a stepped header. The big horsepower created by this engine is put to the sand via a Direct Drive clutch and Skat-Track paddles.

The Ride Riding this monster through the dunes was more of an E-ticket ride than a pleasure cruise. I’m sure the shocks would smooth out the rough sand if the front wheels were ever on the ground. With the combination of the engine work, the paddles, and a stock swingarm, anytime I got on the gas, there was no traction on the front end to be found at all. I literally had to let off in order to turn. When trying to rail a bowl the bike had the tendency to yank me straight and wheelie down the dune. The bike could be wheelied in any gear. It did not matter if I was in first or fifth gear—if I grabbed a handful, the front end was coming up. While I did not care for carving bowls on it, my time was easily occupied with half-mile-long fifth-gear wheelies.

When we got it to the drags, I could not wait to run it against the other machines. Even though I had to baby it off the line, it still easily outran all the other bikes that were there, While we were there on a weekday and competition was limited, every test rider felt that with a little bit longer swingarm they could give any other top four-stroke drag quads a run for their money.

Contact Eddie Sanders Racing, (805) 489-1999 or [ http://www.esr250.com ]

TOTAL ADD-ONS $8,654