Since that original failure we've experienced zero problems with it snapping off again, not for lack of trying mind you. While on the trail after a spill the WR has had some serious backfires emitted while trying to re-start. This used to leave a knot in my throat every time while pressing the electric start button. Now I just shrug my shoulders, push the button and tell myself "don't crash so often stupid". From all accounts the 2004-2005 models have no issues with this problem.

Other then that one and only glitch the 2003 WR450 has been a pleasure to own without even a hint of another mechanical snafu. There is one part that hasn't failed but the test of time has taken its toll, the battery. After sitting for a month or two the battery loses charge and will light the LCD light but not the motorcycle. Good thing it has a back up kick starter and fires rather easy, although, after a day of riding the battery will build enough charge to start the motorcycle. 

There might be an aftermarket company out there that manufactures a more powerful battery but as of yet I've not come across it.All of the aftermarket products used in our project worked out quite well with the exception of the IMS 3.2 gal tank. It's not that it's a bad tank, I just didn't like the way the fuel lines from both sides came so close to the exhaust and motor. 

It bugged me so much I wrapped the gas lines with heat resistant tape. Then while on a ride in Mexico the right side fuel line came off with gas spilling all over the hot engine. This was more then likely my fault for not zip tying it properly. If IMS had put a petcock on that side it might not have been such a big deal but gas is precious in the middle of Baja.

To get you folks off my back and update this project we've left the bike in the able hands of technicians at Big Gun exhaust systems. It's not that we weren't happy with the way the bike ran for casual trail riding; it just didn't have the bark of a true race machine. Big Gun exhaust founder Mike Young has told me he could perform 'magic' to the WR making it faster yet still reliable. After talking with Mr. Young his philosophy is that you don't need to raise the cylinder compression with a bigger piston to gain power. One of the problems with a higher compression engine is the added stress tends to break expensive parts as well as having to buy race gas at seven bucks a gallon. Here are the modifications that Big Gun says will turn the WR into a fire breathing race bike that runs on pump gas:

• YZ cam
  
• Titanium spring top kit
  
• Port Head
  
• Radius Seats and Back cut valves
  
• Squish Head Chamber
  
• Set Up
  
• Wiesco Piston
  
• Thermal Dynamic Head Dissipating Coating for head
  
• YZ/WR 450 Low Boy exhaust System