hello, i've never posted in yamaha before & i've never been partial to yamaha quads in particular, always been a polaris guy. i plan on buying a quad soon & i was/am hear set on an '05 predator, the '05 has reverse, tranny was fixed & so on. but latly i've been thinking & the yfz450 is beyond lookin over. i ride trails & fields, even ocasional mud, but the draw back to predator is the weight, i think that's the singled draw back., plus to yfz450 is light weight & powerful engine, BUT drawback for me are, do u shift on trails a lot? & also does ground clearance come into play & how is the reliability.
-has anyone rode the preddy & the yfz450, & is the difference very noticable a side from weight, also can u take yfz through trails w/o constantly shifting, which i don't want, please let me know & sorry for the lenghtyness.

 

I've never ridden an 05 Predator but, I hear that 5th gear is way too tall! I've also herd that the YFZs suspension is to hard for casual trail riding. You may want to take a look at a KFX/Z/DVX400, or a Rapter.

 

The Predator is a great trail quad, if you are worried about the gap between 4 & 5 then get the Std. Pred Everybody knows the pred is not lacking power, I don't think it lacking anything. I have heard they are comming out with the Predator L.E. it has the gas shocks up front, and the Std tranny. You will not go wrong with the Predator, go and take a ride. And the Pred has reverse, and the yfz does not. That right there is a big + in my book.

 

oh the predator is a great trail quad. the yfz is a race quad. DONT pick the yamaha! i doubt that you'll be very happy with it. with the riding that you'll be doing it wont do well. the only yamaha that is made for the trails is the raptor, but that is very top heavy and isnt as good.

 

Either will work pretty well on trails. I have never ridden a Pred, but it seems like the new 05 models are better for all day riding and slower trail riding. The YFZ has crazy power(Pred is no slouch) but definately has a harder edge to it. I love my YFZ, but might have picked an 05 Pred if they would have come out a tad sooner.

 

The power is about equal between the two. Stock, the pred is the best at the trail. Then you've got the 400 clones and the raptor. Third I would rate the honda, only because it doesn't have electric start or reverse. If the Honda had electric start or reverse it might be the number one trail. the yamaha 450 would have to be last for the trail. While you might be the quickest, you had better get a big lead and then take a long break from rough ride. Of course if price is a factor then the 400 clones would be a first pick then the pred.

 

If you use 5th gear on the trails your alot better rider than most!

I loved the YFZ feel..it was light feeling in the front..the steering was super fast and it sounds great with the stock exhaust.

The Preddy TLD is faster..........in reverse...IMO for trail riding the preddy is the better choice..but I guarntee you this...you will be happy with either machine..until you need to back up.

 

I seriously doubt you can beat the Pred on the trails (stock). JMO

Dirt Wheels rates the 2005 Pred (stock) as the best on the trails.

I have ridden 5 different YFZ450s. They have a bit more raw power (stock) than the Pred, but the ride is harsh (you could soften the suspension somewhat), the seat is a board (the 2005 is a little bit improved but still too hard), it likes high rpm so is not as good torqueing on trails, tends to give you a HOT right leg from the exhaust, stock tires are not as good as the Pred Maxxis, and it has more bump steer than the Pred. You will be shifting more on the YFZ. The YFZ engine has more vibration, from its high revs. ANd no reverse. The YFZ is a race bike....Pipe it, jet it, and fly...in the wide open spaces. The Honda 450R has nearly the raw power as the YFZ, and a much better ride for the trails than the YFZ....but no electric start and no reverse.

You can lighten the Pred with some aftermarket changes, and a simple sprocket change and easy to install CDI will make it Fly!

These are all good quads, pick the one you like, and HAVE FUN!