Well can-am claims to shave 5.3lbs off the frame, 3.3lbs off the front suspension, and 9.1lbs off the rear- That would mean that the ds450 should be at least 17.7lbs lighter than the next best competitor- provided that it uses an engine that weighs the same.

Back then, the yfz450 was the lightest quad, weighing in at 350lbs.

350-17.7=332.3lbs.

However, can-am claims that efi would add another 10lbs of weight to a carbureted machine- so make that 342.3lbs. That means the ds450 is still 2.7lbs too heavy compared to what it COULD be.

The honda motor looks really light when just looking at it sitting there- and it's a sohc which also shaves some weight over dohc. The ktm motor might also be much lighter than the ds450's powerplant.

BTW: how does ktm manage to make such good power with only 11:1 compression? is it because of its porting, pipe, and high-flo intake?

 

From what i've read on the ds450, they save weight everywhere else so they beefed up the motor a little more than anyone else so they can get more durability and time before it needs a rebuild. And for the KTM i read that it comes stock with a high flowing exhaust so its pretty much like having an aftermarket one on. So its not corked up like most stock atvs.

 

Lossing weight at the engine it not a good thing. I would not want to find out I have the thinest crankcase,lightest main bearings,rod ...ect.

 

that would be nice then- to not have to rebuild the bike as often.

Does anyone know what % longer it lasts than the others in time between rebuilds? How much heavier do you think that the extended chromoly a-arms (from epic i think) will be than the aluminum stock a-arms. Well i guess the gained weight could be shaved off again with a set of fox shocks without springs.

 

I don't know what the weights of the motors are. I'm with other's here in that I believe that they added the weight to the motor to create a more durable powerplant.

If you consider how light the quad is, there is not much room to shave more weight off unless you're building a hill shooter.

I believe the magic dry weight number on the 450 class will be 350 pounds for the forseeable future. So you have a light weight DS with a slightly beefier motor that only adds to the centralization of mass to improve handling and durability.

From what I understand during testing the DS motor lasted somewhere in the neighborhood of 15-20% longer than the next closest between rebuilds. They used the KFX, YFZ, TRX and LT-R motors for comparison (don't think they used the KTM MX motor because typically motors are altered for atv use) and went for power and durability.

The KEY here is power to weigh ratio. They were able to capitalize on the fact that while the DS gives up low end power to the other models, 1-1.5 HP, the power to weigh ratio makes up for some of it and mods do wonders to pull even while keeping the mid-top end power howling.

As for the Chome Moly arms, they all weigh about the same, and as I have heard, when you go with those arms, add Fox Floats, the change in weight is a couple pounds.

TPR

 

I thought ATV Sport just did a full on comparison and the KTM was the lightest with one gallon of fuel in

 

true but they might have been bribed.... or they might have been off a little.

even if it is lighter, it wouldnt matter because of the ds450's centralized mass

 

You dont really know who is gonna be on top with all this until they start really runnin them. All I know is that KTM, CAN AM, and with Polaris' huge improvements, those three really raised the bar on everyone else. Its gonna be very exciting to see what everyone else counters with. exciting time to ride sport quads!!!

 

Another thing, the YFZ doesn't weigh 350lbs and hasn't for awhile. They just don't change the numbers. Many have been weighed just under 390lbs full of fluids. There is no way there are 40lbs of fluids on a YFZ. I would say that the YFZ is about the same as the rest of the 450's in about 360lbs.

 

probably all with in fighting weight