Just got back from St. Anthony Idaho with my new YZF 450 and I came away very surpised and amazed.
First off, uncork the stock pipe and remove the lid from the airbox to let it breathe. I'm not in to hillshooting but I wanted to see what it would do. Took a ride over to Thunder Mountain and raced two piped Raptors to start off. To my surprise I beat them both quite easily. I raced my buddies 250r that is running an LRD pipe, 39mm. Mikuni, ported by K & T, with a Tassarini reed cage. I pulled him by roughly 5 to 6 quad lengths. I then raced my brothers Cannondale with a moto map and Graydon pipe and I beat him easily as well. I finally raced several piped Predators with the same results. Most everyone was blown away, especially when I ran neck and neck with a Banshee with coolheads and Toomeys up Choke Cherry. I did get beat by a Raptor with a pipe, cam, and piston however. I also got beat by another 450 with a different paddle set up, and he was about 60 lbs. lighter than me.
Most people that know me, know that I'm not brand loyal to any manufacturer. I owned a Cannondale, Raptor, and Z before my 450 and they don't run like this new Yamaha. I have a full LRD pipe, filter, and Hotcams in my wifes Z and it's no contest when it comes time to twist the throttle.
The stock suspension is excellent. It is a firm ride but it responds great when you push it hard. I was jumping about 6 to 10 feet high and only bottomed the front one time due to a flat landing. I had Houser long travel arms on my Dale with TCS shocks and it's pretty close in comparison. I was hoping the Yamaha would have been wider with a little more travel. The machine is small in stature but it turns great and hammers through the whoops good. It is a light feeling ride and you can toss it around quite easily.
This is by far the best quad I've owned bar none. The starting line will be full of YZF's before long. I plan on keeping this one for quite sometime. Don't laugh Brad. I didn't think there would be anything out there to replace my Cannondale, but I just found it. Very pleased with my purchase. My brother may add a respone a later and give his thoughts.

 

That sounds pretty impressive there Buddah. One question: did you get used to the seat and riding position? Sitting on one at the local dealership it felt like I was propped up on top, and the seat was hard. I would need to put taller handlebars on it to feel right and I'm only 6 feet tall, not real big.

 

I'm amazed as well. I watched the YFZ spank everything that didn't have internal mods. Only the internal motor mods of any brand could best the 450.. I was clocked at 22mph up Choke Cherry and Buddah was at 26-27 on the same radar gun at 3/4 hill.. I had 20 seconds seat time on his 450 and a Toomey piped Banshee says I want to race YOU! I say okay... We race up Thunder Mtn and I pull him by a half length off the start and that's where it stayed to the top.. Boy was him and friend amazed,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,as well as ME!!! My Cannondale did not win any speed contests all weekend. You sit on TOP of the YFZ and IN the Cannondale.. I did not get comfortable enough on it to jump or push the handling area. It's not my quad and I sure don't want to damage it. I think if the flywheel was lighter in the Dale it would rev quicker w/ less torque like the YFZ.. What's Southbays number again???? I have videos I will be posting on other sites since we can't post here to put all the speculation aside. They are all on Choke Cherry Hill..

 

interesting information sounds good to me[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

yfzracer, did u get ur yfz allready?

 

ShadyRascal. You indeed sit on top of the YZF, but it doesn't take long to adapt once you get a little seat time. I'm 5'11'' 205 lbs. and I feel comfortable. The bars do have to go for sure. They force your elbows to ride in a weird position. I would feel more comfortable with a taller and wider bar. The seat is hard but not as bad as the rear padding on the Raptors. For racing it won't be a factor, but for trail or casual riding it's not the best. Oh, one more thing, the twin piston front brakes have excellent feel and will slow you down quick. I can't wait to get a pipe on this thing and some other fast goodies.

 

That sounds great. I have mine broke in I need to make it to the sand dunes now. What paddles where you running and did you like them? i need to get some new paddles and want some opinions on the best paddles for the YFZ. best allaround that is I like to hillshot but I love to trail ride the dunes as well so I like a paddle that will let you turn

 

does anybody know the top speed on the yfz ?

 

your stories have my drooling..... I NEED ONE

 

jetjock16

Laughlin AFB, 1973-1977, brings back memories of the old days in Del Rio. Rattlesnake roundup in Brackettville, waterskiing at Lake Amistad, so on and so on. Are you an instructor or in training?
We used to drag race on one of the old strips on base, man what a hell of a time I had there.
Thanks for bringing back the memories.