After every race I have a template and usually fill it out for my personal use for future testing. No matter what race this template helps guide me to improve upon any bike that I may be racing. Below is a raw look at what I used at the 2025 World Vet race as well as some rough notes I made for specific areas of the bike. Use this at your disposal and maybe try something similar for your bike when you go race so you can see if you’re moving forward or backwards with your set up. -KK
2026 Yamaha YZ450F:
Track: Glen Helen Dubya USA World Vet
Engine Hours 18.6
Track Conditions: Sandy topsoil with hard base
Mods/Parts:
Tires: Dunlop MX3S/MX14 13.5 front/12.5 rear
Tubes: Dunlop MX (Non HD)
Bars: Renthal KK Bend
Grips: Renthal Half Waffle Soft
Levers: Stock
Clamps: Stock
Races: FCP Race Cups
Engine Mounts: Stock
Wheels: Stock
Muffler: Akrapovic Evolution Full Muffler System (off of 2025 YZ450F)
Throttle: Stock
Seat: Guts Ribbed Cover w/firm foam
Gearing: 13/51 Renthal Sprockets/DID ERT3 Gold Chain (cut to desired wheelbase length)
Engine Mods: Vortex ECU Mapped By XPR
Engine Oil: Blud Racing 10/40 Pro Series
Fuel: VP RX96
Holeshot Device: WC Pro Launch 135mm setting
Graphics: DeCal Works
Suspension: Enzo Racing Test Fork/Shock
Air Filter: Twin Air Power Flow Kit
Plastic: OEM
Swingarm Pivot To Rear Axle Length: 596mm
Quick Notes:
- Works Connection Holeshot Device Set to 135mm. Was at 125mm. Preferred 135mm at GH to keep front end down for fast start.
- Dunlop Rear MX14 tire is like cheating off the start. Ground is sandy top soil/hard underneath. MX14 provided superb straight line acceleration and decent lean angle for most of both motos. Second motos track was hard/edgy but MX14 still provided enough lean angle grip with the soft berms GH has.
- Ran Vortex ECU off of my 2025 YZ450F test bike as this allows for a freer feel on the 2026 (on de-cel). Increased mid to top end pull and allows for 2nd gear to pull longer. With the 13/51 2026 gearing spec, the Yamaha likes to be in second gear through corners so the Vortex allows me to shift later (to 3rd gear) out of corners.
- Enzo fork has better small bump comfort with better lean angle initiation. 1mm fork height with 105mm sag.
- Stock clamp with FCP Race Cups allow for a better planted feel coming down the hills and gives me less movement off throttle into corners. I also prefer the stability I get with the FCP Race Cups. Entry of corners are better as the front of the Yamaha doesn’t want to dive as much with cups installed. Balance of the 2026 YZ450F is made better with the Race Cups. Stock 2026 chassis is more planted than 2025 but still has some nervousness off throttle when you’re going 60mph into a corner (AKA, GH) so getting the YZ450F longer is better for this track.
- Shape of stock seat hurts my ass. It gives me monkey butt and the edges of the foam are too thin and close to the subframe rails. This forces me to wear padding in my shorts. A firm GUTS foam is needed for me to be able to ride the edges of my seat without blowing through the foam and into the subframe.
- The 2025 AKrapovic muffler fits on my 2026 YZ450F so it went on for the race. Smoother roll on power with a broader/more linear mid range pull that allows for less on/off feel through corners. FMF 4.1 system provided smoother roll on power (compared to stock) which allowed more rear wheel traction out of choppy corners. FMF system helps with mid range hit as it smooths out the bottom to mid range transition.
Overall Opinion Of Setting (Notes) : Bike was stable at speed and had enough damping feeling (suspension) to attack down hills as well as being able to be aggressive over the many single jumps to flat (the World Vet course offered a lot of these). I do think some comfort was sacrificed and this could have been a cause of some arm pump for me. I usually NEVER get arm pump unless my setting is too stiff and for this course I might have been a little too tough on the damping side of the suspension. Chassis feel was improved from stock as the 2026 YZ450F had better control/planted feel off throttle and the rear of the bike didn’t step out (on throttle) as much as the stock shock setting did. Loading the rear end was more predictable as the shock didn’t unload as quick as the stock setting did. Front end didn’t dive off throttle (less engine braking as well as a stiffer fork setting) and this allowed me to be more aggressive with my corner entry speed. Engine delivery was smooth yet had more torque feeling than stock setting (with Yamaha Power Tuner map installed). With Vortex and Akrapovic the engine now had more low end pulling power (torque feel) but kept the smoother roll on delivery through shallow ruts (Glen Helen is known for this). Mid to top end pulling power was increased dramatically over stock and over-rev was also improved. I do think with VP RX96 inside machine, the mapping could be slightly improved for touchiness from 10-20% throttle opening. VP RX 96 has more low end snap than VPT4 and (to me) feels like the YZ450F is slightly touchier to my throttle hand (in the 10-20% throttle opening area) compared to T4.
Suspension Setting:
Fork: (Spec #KK244F)
Air Pressure: 37.5 PSI
C: 14
R: 12
Height: 1mm
Shock: (Spec #KK245S)
LSC: 15
HSC: 1.25
R: 12
Sag: 105mm
