First off is there any changes to the 05 450R? I heard the front end of the 450R is really light off the line and out of corners, did Honda do anything to eliminate the problem? YFZ450 too expensive and suspension too stiff (read Yamaha made some changes to front suspension for 05), so my choices are either the 450R or 660. Which would be the best dune & trail bike? Factory Honda racers seem to be winning majority of the races in 05 so far.

 

get what makes you ride better

therefore, test both

 

You live in So. Calif., so I am not quite sure what you mean by "trails". Then you mixed "dunes" in there, so I am pretty confused. If you are refering to trails that are really tight (like you might find in the San Bernardino Mountains or Hungry Valley), that is way different from desert trails which are more open. And, then there is a whole lot of fast, wide open desert roads out there, which I can't believe you never ride. Eastern riders are going to assume you are looking for a "woods" machine, but if you want that kind of riding, you have to really go looking for it.

I have several friends with Raptors, so I have put in some saddle time on this machine. I find it to be way to narrow and tippy, with the weight kind of high up in the frame. You really have to be on your game (shifting your weight) in turns, much more than you do on other machines. One firends solution was to put four inches of wheel spacers on the back, and he also turned the front rims around for a few extra inches of width up there. I would have to have wider a-arms, a wider axle, and new shocks ($3,000), before I would ever consider owning this bike. That motor will pull to the moon however (which is nice in the dunes), but on a tight "trail" all that power is just wasted.

The 450R is my choice for fast desert and more open trail riding. It has a great "trail" frame, but the machine is geared tall and you have to really work the clutch when the going gets slow. This engine likes to rev, so you have to ride it up there in the powerband.......not unlike a 2-stroke. For any type of slow technical riding, this isn't the machine to choose. The machine has a light front end, but no way is it at all wheelie-happy!

As a So. Calif. rider, I pick the 450R for the open desert. For medium trail riding, I pick the Z400 (this motor likes to rev too!). For semi-technical trails, I pick the 400EX (this motor doesn't mind being lugged down and ridden slowly). And, for full-on technical stuff, I take the Rancher.

By far the best all-around machine out there is the Z400! Take a very good look at it before you make a purchase. It is the bike that will do everything pretty well (after you hop the engine up a little), here where we have so many varried conditions! I highly recommend it!

 

450R, More ***** than the Z400, and its honda built... so it can put up with some crazy abuse, and in my opinion raptors are too tippy and..i just dont like them. Go with the R, you'l be pleased I think.

 

Thanks for your input. Yes, your right about the "trail" riding in California. Poor choice to words. We ride Dumont and Pismo twice a year, mainly ride Dove Springs and Cal City. I'm coming off a semi-modified Blaster (high compression piston, toomey pipe, work shocks), the guys at our local Yamaha dealership told me that the YFZ450 is the closest bike out there to my Blaster with a lot more power. The comparison is to where the power band hits and low center of gravity. Is that true?
I've ridden the Raptor, and I agree that it is top heavy and the suspension was mushy. I liked the power of the 4 stroke from the bottom to the top. A couple of buddies have the Z-400 and KFX400, mostly suspension mods that total out to the same price as the YFZ450. I liked what I read about 450R. Suspension, power, and the ability to turn on a dime without a lot of body english is what I'm looking for. I need to make my decision quick, I'm looking to pick-up a bike this weekend. Thanks again for all help.

 

I ride the same areas as you and both my quads do equally well. On some of the whooped out "trails" the R can be tough, only because of the gearing. I may try a smaller front sprocket like I did on the Z and see if that helps. The suspension can be a little unpredictable at times also. One second I'm fine the next it's trying to buck to the moon!! I had the same problems with my Z until I had the suspension revalved and set up for me and my style and now it's excellent. I haven't had the R that long(Nov) so I'm still getting used to it but I can tell once I get it set up and some more seat time it will be bad a$$....