I have a beautiful TRX 250R that is in showroom condition, however, I'm starting to be intrigued by the new 450's. How does a 450 compare? I've always said 4-strokes were for golf-courses and parades, but perhaps that is changing...

Thanks in advance.

Ken McLaughlin

 

The new 450's are awesome!
I like the Yamaha 450 better than the Honda, so I bought it!

I now own a 2004 Yamaha 450, a 96 Banshee, and an 88 250R.

I would have to say the new Yami STOCK is ALMOST as fast as my friends built 250R.

When I uncork the silencer, remove the airbox and re-jet I should get about 7 more H.P.

The YFZ should run away from this 250R at that point.

No flames please!
I speak the truth, as I OWN BOTH!

I will also QUALIFY this by stating that this was in the sand, at the dunes in Florence.
So I cannot say what would happen at a track.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

I bought the Honda 450r and sold my 86 250r. IMO there is no comparison. It would take several thousand dollars to make a 250r as fast and handle as well as the 450r( considering both are in stock form). The power of the 450r will allow you to run against mildly built Banshees and still win,same for the 250r. But once they start portin the motor the 450 will be behind a bike length or so at the end of a race. For Hill climbin the 2 strokes dont compare IMO. Line up at the face of a hill hit the gas and you'll smoke any 2 stroke do to their powerband. I also speak from experience as I have raced mine in the dunes and had various outcomes.

 

the YFZ's seat hurts[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Try not siting too long, the YFZ 450 seat has this thing about wanting not to be sat on. Speaking from experience.

 

I'm a diehard honda fan but I have to admit, those yzf450's are king now.

 

I'll never sell my 250R because I've got too much invested but I have made about 15 trips to my local Yamaha dealer toying with the idea of buying a YFZ.

 

Yup the 450's are pretty quick and that is always good. faster than my 88250R with bolt on sh*t? NO... My neibors have both and there are still a 4-stroke. Not as agressive ans snappy. The YFZ is better than the 450R from what I have seen I have to admitt. Piped 450's cant hang at the drags either. Im not lieing, truth only. They are pretty quick like I said. Average time so far (300ft) is 5.8. My stock cylinder R is at low 5.5's. I think once people start getting bolt on stuff for them (pipe, carb, ect) they will be pretty close to that.... Now slap on a 900$ 330 kit and the 450's will NEVER hang.

 

It depends on what you want to use it for and how much you want to spend total in the end.
If you want to put money into the 250R and make it so that NO four stroke out there will touch
even fully modified, stay with the 250R. If you want to be king, start with after market a-arms, axle and suspension.
After that, the ESR370 kit with ESR porting along with some G3 Power Curve Reed Valves and a carb about 40mm in size.
With that setup you will have an AMAZING handler of a quad, plus you'll be at about 80hp and still way ligher than
the four strokers out now. If you play your money right, you can get that setup for about the price of a new yfz, maybe
a little more depending on the brand of a-arms you get and suspension.

 

I don't know if I waould go as far as to get a 370 kit. I know two guys with a 330 kit and a friend with a 310 kit and the reliability is just not there. I only weigh 150lbs. so I really don't need a big bore kit to keep up with the new bikes but if I was going to do motor work I would just get the 265 Powervalve kit that all of the pro MX racers used to run before the new rules. They may only be a 265 but they can still rip!