Fitting a YZF450 radiator

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EGG
Newbie
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 3:42 pm

Fitting a YZF450 radiator

Post by EGG »

I figured I would put this up as most of the other posts on the subject skipped the gory details on installing this.

You're going to want the 2014-2016 Quad radiator. I'm unsure if other years for the Quad will suit, the YZF450 dirtbike radiator will not suit as it's a split unit.

It will need some work by an aluminium welder. Some lugs need to be removed and some brackets need to be moved in order to get it to fit in.

Both radiator hoses will need to be replaced with longer pieces. The LHS piping needs to be an S-bend as the radiator outlet now points straight down, not towards the engine (which the old one did). I've used a couple of pieces of curved hose with a plastic L-shape in the middle.

End result fits ok:

Image

Two last things:
  • The thermostat on these bikes opens at 65C. I've removed mine as I'm in a fairly hot part of australia, but if anyone lives anywhere warmish, they might want to consider drilling holes in the thermostat instead.
  • The temperature gauge on these bikes is really untrustworthy. I've been using a hand-held infra-red temperature sensor on mine to try to figure out how hot it really is. But if you can feel significant heat around your legs, chances are it's too hot.
I might look into some kind of contact-based digital temperature sensor for the bike. I have a digital aftermarket gauge for my RGV, but it replaces the existing coolant sensor and means you have a defunct analogue gauge from then on.
Last edited by EGG on Wed Aug 21, 2024 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
EGG
Newbie
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 3:42 pm

Re: Fitting a YZF450 radiator

Post by EGG »

Ok post-script to the above.

You'll need to fit the upper brackets in around the middle of the radiator, not at the front as per the original radiator. If you have them at the front, the whole unit will squeeze part of the wiring harness. And potentially cause your indicator wiring to pull off the solder points.
I've moved mine forward using some nuts as spacers.

Image

Otherwise, this is a pic of one section of the S-bend needed in the radiator hose. I've made this from a combination of Ford coolant hoses and garden reticulation parts. Unfortunately the engine inlet points straight up and the radiator outlet straight down.

Image
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JanBros
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Location: the land of Francorchamps

Re: Fitting a YZF450 radiator

Post by JanBros »

YZF = dirtbike
YFZ = Quad
My ultimate goal is to die young as late as possible !
RickNC30
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Re: Fitting a YZF450 radiator

Post by RickNC30 »

The 2004-2008 model YFZ450 radiator is a much better and simpler fit on a KR-I/S - check this thread...

viewtopic.php?t=46885&start=15
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