I'm getting into mx qaud racing and not sure what would be the best platform to start with. I'm looking at buy used and not sure if its a good idea to buy something that has been raced before.

I'v got a 03 660r modded right now and selling it. As for the make I'm open to what would be the best quad to start with.

I'm looking at a 08 KFX 450r thats bone stock, I'v been doing a lot of reading on it and it seems like a good option.

Thanks for your help.

 

Take a look at the Suzuki LTR450 it comes stock ready for Moto track running. I have one that I modified for desert riding and its a hoot to ride...Lots of speed and great in the bank turns and such.

 

Well,one of the 50" models will get you there cheapest. Suzuki, YFZ450R, KTM SX, or the DS450x mx. Otherwise any will work, it just comes down to how much you are looking to spend and who is looking to sell a quad. You mention an '08, are you going leftover or used? I see quads pretty much set up on CL from time to time.

 

Not sure about the Suzuki YFX 450R must be the older version of the current Suzuki LTR450 Quad Racer and as far as I'm aware it is the only factory stock true blue from the show room to racing track racing quad out there right now from Suzuki, it's the biggest 2wd production quad they put right now, trust me if they had bigger in the 2wd I would have it in my garage right now. When I purchased mine it came from the factory stock with MX racing tires on it.

However, as usual it's all a matter of manufacturor loyalty for the rider and how much are you willing to spend on your racing quad?

 

Well at this point I'v got 6 to 8g's to buy one and set it up

 

Any of the 450 will all be very close in just about every aspect! What I would be looking for are the little things such as parts availability for a certain brand quad in your area (Good Dealer) then there are little things like do you want reverse, EFI, and son on. I assume you are looking at used and for that most areas there will be plethora of YFZ450, TRX450R's to choose from.

 

Any benefits to having EFI for racing? or the standard float level carb is good enought?

 

Oops, I meant YFZ 450R, as in Yamaha. which is a true mx width machine as of the 2009 model year. IN 2010, Yamaha added the 450X, a 46" woods warrior, and dropped the original(insert crying smiley here.) Can AM also has an MX ready 450, as well as KTM(not sure on availability for these though.)

As far as efi vs carb, each has some benefits. A well tuned carb can perform better than the simple efi systems available these days. Several big race teams have converted efi machines back to carbs. You can buy every jet available for your machine a lot cheaper than it is to buy an efi commander. On the other hand, efi seems like it is less hassle after the initial sticker shock, and will have better latitude for temp and elevation changes. I would embrace either, the rest of the machine is more important to me.

 

Its a toss up some guys swear by carb I am a EFI guy myself as there are pretty much limitless things you can do with fuel mapping! All 450's (Except KTM and Honda) now are EFI if that tells you something! For a beginner tho a carb would prob the simpler way to go.

 

No problem Ya had me for a minute there. Question of EFI versis carb? We have both the wife has a carb on her 250 and I have EFI on my 450. The 250 has cold starting issues and needs to be choked just about every time its started, on the other hand my EFI starts in about 3 - 4 cranks every time and I have yet to choke it.

Now my opinion on looking for a stock off the show room floor MX ready 2wd quad. There are many out there that claim that theirs is MX ready from the show room floor, the Dealer tryed to put me onto the new Polaris 550 racing quad with the complete four wheel independent suspension - the price tag was right around 9K+ and it was not outfitted with the greatest racing suspension and it had the normal factory tires under it that they put on all their quads. I sat on it and it was like sitting on a marshmellow, I got a bad feeling just sitting on it as it felt very unstable.

Sitting 10 feet away was the Suzuki LTR 450 Quad Racer. It comes from the factory with a water cooled EFI engine, complete racing suspension, racing "A" arms, oil charged fully adjustable racing shocks all the way around, awsome shock travel for going over the mogals and wash boards, and a full set of MX racing tires/rims (8" rim rear tires and 9" rim front tires)giving the quad a 2" front lift (nose up profile) over the rear end to float through the bumps - basically everything you would be looking for if you want to take a stock quad off the floor and run it the same day on a MX practice track. I sat on it and it had that good fit to my 6-04 285 lb body size and it was on sale for $7500.00 new.

The only additions I have added to the quad is a steel MX racing handle bar (about $150.00), a thumb throttle extension ($10.00 or so), the emergency engine kill switch ($25.00) so if you get bailed off the quad the engine kills, Off road hand guards for brush ($25.00), full set of skid plates and front brush guard (about $300.00+/- total) and the big money was in desert racing tires and rims at close to $900.00 for the complete set.

If your going to race be ready to spend the bucks on top shelf safety equipment and quad parts until you get your quad tuned to your specific driving abilities. Everyone will tell you the 450 is a high strung engine and they are right, mine goes from zero to hair in the wind screaming like a school girl fast as quick as ytou demand of it; however, the trade off is it likes its fuel if you want fast you got it but I get about 50 miles of hard riding before I'm looking for a fuel can. Bottom line I love my high strung 450cc engine as it gives me everything I demand of it on the desert racing tracks and in the Califonia mountain trails.

Last note is Practice, Practice, Practice find a home MX track and drive it every time you possibly can to train your body to become one with the quad.

Have fun