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YFZ-450 front clip conversion
Posted by
El Diablo
on 26 Sep, 2012 19:53
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If anyone has any detailed pictures & instructions on doing a YFZ-450 front clip conversion, please post it up so we can make it a stickey. Thank you all in advance.
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#1 Reply
Posted by
Iceracer
on 27 Sep, 2012 19:28
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Sorry all the ones me and Al have done were all hand built and bent. Not just donor yfz bike clips and each a little differnt. Fanatic and Austin are the only donor clip based ones I know of.
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#2 Reply
Posted by
Iceracer
on 27 Sep, 2012 19:59
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Here's some pictures of Roy's frame we did.
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#3 Reply
Posted by
Iceracer
on 27 Sep, 2012 20:01
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..
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#4 Reply
Posted by
Iceracer
on 27 Sep, 2012 20:03
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.
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#5 Reply
Posted by
Gusdabus73
on 03 Oct, 2012 15:50
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hey Ice racer im interested in a conversion is there a way for you guys to fabricate this clip and purchase it?
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#6 Reply
Posted by
Dezsled
on 03 Oct, 2012 19:04
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That's nice clean work
Can a Zilla be modded the same?
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#7 Reply
Posted by
Iceracer
on 03 Oct, 2012 19:25
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Gus, not at this time, so far every frame that has been done was far enough off that if it would be difficult to do that and have it come out good.
Dez, I have not tried a 500 yet. I do have plans to look into it. may be another clip trx or ltr if Yfz didn't line up.
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#8 Reply
Posted by
Gusdabus73
on 03 Oct, 2012 20:47
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Well then what would it cost for you to do the mod on my frame if i were to ship it?
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#9 Reply
Posted by
PCS
on 05 Oct, 2012 13:18
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el diablo, have you started to look for the yfz clip yet
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#10 Reply
Posted by
El Diablo
on 05 Oct, 2012 13:49
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Not yet. Keep your eyes peeled for me.
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#11 Reply
Posted by
Golden250r
on 18 Nov, 2012 16:21
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I am planning to do a front clip soon I am getting a yfz frame for 150$ in the next week or so will post pix asap I have a master welder on my side and a crap patch job on a
**** frame so I am rather going to use this one or get a lt frame as well ... Any certain year yfz for the match up?
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#12 Reply
Posted by
Rider414
on 18 Nov, 2012 16:40
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#13 Reply
Posted by
B_Fuss
on 18 Nov, 2012 16:45
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Brian there is a yfz frame, on cl here in phx.
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So, what's the reasoning for the YFZ front clip as opposed to an LTR?
Seems like the LTR would be a superior setup, and in keeping with an all-Suzuki build.
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#15 Reply
Posted by
Golden250r
on 19 Nov, 2012 10:20
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!!excited!! going to grab a frame "05 yfz" this weekend coming up got pix only 80$$
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#16 Reply
Posted by
Rider414
on 19 Nov, 2012 17:17
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So, what's the reasoning for the YFZ front clip as opposed to an LTR?
Seems like the LTR would be a superior setup, and in keeping with an all-Suzuki build.
I assume its because there are a million YFZ out there since 2005 vs. the LTR. Its cheaper to get YFZ parts.
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Well, that's logical I suppose, but it's not like LTR stuff is half as rare as bone stock LT suspension components...and pretty much everyone with an LT has a set either on the bike or on the shelf.
Though stock LTR components may not be quite as cheap as YFZ stuff, I doubt that there's a significant price difference especially considering that you're spending a lot more money and effort building a new suspension.
If you're going through the trouble of building a superior suspension on an LT by radically altering the frame, why not use the best?
Just researched the price differences in aftermarket long travel a-arms from Lone Star, and the prices are identical...$1,199 for DC pro long travel kits.
The other question is why you would settle for stock a-arms when the whole point was to have superior geometry to use top of the line aftermarket stuff?
A good set of a-arms and shocks for a stock LT front suspension will get you nearly to the level of a stock YFZ, so why go through all that frame welding just to be marginally better?
It's like spending several thousand bucks on engine porting and pipe and rejetting the stock carb because they're cheaper than a 48 Lectron...yeah, you get some performance out of it but you're also severely restricting yourself in the process.
I dunno, just speaking for myself here.
It sounds like there are reasons for using YFZ geometry other than price, and I'm curious as to why...
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#18 Reply
Posted by
Iceracer
on 19 Nov, 2012 19:29
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I Used the yfz because of three reasons .
Front hubs interchange between the 250 and yfz spindles both ways. Hence people could keep their wheels Lt Run YFZ or change to Honda pattern .
Upper shock mount and steering stem mounts lined up correctly.
,And finally parts availability is way better.
Also when I do a front end there are features I can build into it not available when you cut off a oem chassis from a yfz. I am able to modify spindle geometry to make the front end turn faster initially and mellow out from jumps. This is somthing I can do with any front end design.
Ltr stuff is great, but not as avaliable and usually brings more of a premium price. Not to mention new Suzuki has had price increases second to none lately.
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#19 Reply
Posted by
Iceracer
on 19 Nov, 2012 19:58
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This sounds really harsh:
Just for the record the only other person who is qualified to answer the questions in this post on the YFZ clip's aside from Me n Al would be Mike Steiner. He used a oem frame section on his hybrid while I was redesigning the front half. We never did compare notes as to why.
Everyone else is doing it because they heard it works.
There are other front ends out there on LT's, some work good. I have helped a couple of guys with stuff they picked up and cannot identify to get there setups working correctly.
The LTR YFZ and any version TRX are not Ideal either all need tweaking to get them the best they can be. The major limiting Factor is the ball joints they us on tie rods and spindles they have limited angular movement in there ideal safe ranges. Here's the trade off ball joints and Heims are inexpensive to use and easy to get, so there readily accepted by the General Public.
My suggestion IF YOU REALLY WANT the absolute best front end money can buy FIND a Laeger T pin protrax and work from there.
Its the only real long travel setup available, bear in mind they were designed around oem frames so there are some limitations. You will not get a setup that can handle more travel than one of these due specifically to the spindle design. The Arms mounting configuration is the Sole reason travel limited.
Diablo I believe has a unique front end on his machine, designed for maximum ball joint travel. I think if you look hard enough I believe you would find Dean Sundahl may have built it for a customer, If not him then a Buggy company did it.
Read this in no way as I am the EXPERT ON suspension designs. There are plenty of smarter people than I. It just happens I did a lot of home work and research for MY YFZ setup and settled on what I believed most people would actually buy. At that point Al an I went to work and the results were very good, I am extremely happy with how they handle.
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#20 Reply
Posted by
Heminutt
on 20 Nov, 2012 07:45
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i have a custom frame with a unique front end.
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#21 Reply
Posted by
Iceracer
on 20 Nov, 2012 10:59
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Ya your front end is different, Id like to know who built it, it looks a lot like a narrow Laeger clipped to a stock frame.
Basically a Honda with longer lower arms. Good setup. It needs a little more bracing if you didnt run in the sand. If it ever clipped a tree or something solid you would have the same flex and bend issue as a 500.
In the end you got a great setup for a good price though.
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#22 Reply
Posted by
Dezsled
on 20 Nov, 2012 11:26
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i have a custom frame with a unique front end.
Nice set up right there.
When will someone come up with that chromoly frame..... Long travel front, no link rear
Where's that toe tapping smiley
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#23 Reply
Posted by
Iceracer
on 20 Nov, 2012 11:55
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Dez, Its not marketable. I been over this with a few people. I am looking into a possibility to get them mass produced. Don't hold you breath.
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#24 Reply
Posted by
Heminutt
on 20 Nov, 2012 16:52
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mine has a no link rear also
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