Sure, I'm partial to the old zingers (I have 2 Tecate 4s and an R) but does anyone here run into or know people out on the trails who own these new 450 quads from Honda and Yamaha?

I personally have driven a z400 and a 400ex and came away rather unimpressed...not just power-wise but also in terms of handling and overall "feel". It seemed to me than 12-15 years didn't do much for performance quads in terms of handling...let alone power which went backwards. But now we have 450's based on 450 motocrosser engines.

I know these new quads kick a$$ and don't dispute it but anyone have 1st hand knowledge or experience with these 2 generations side by side (Qracer included? I'm curious.

I'm not only talking straight line speed because I figure the 2 strokers will take them in the upper gears if not near the bottom midrange as well. I'm also talking about handling and the overall feel of the quads under different riding conditions.

Do new frame geometry and suspension in these newer quads make the rider a better rider than if he were riding an R or a T4?

any thoughts on this clash of 2 eras?

And BTW, I'm talking more or less stock. I'm sure the souped up and ultra-moded 450's the pros are using are very very impressive.

Plus, it would be interesting to see a mag like DirtWheels do a "fantasy shootout" but I know they would be very biased to the new ones whether they deserve it or not. This new crop is what is "IN" and the mags can be somewhat of a lapdog spokesman for the status quo...meaning that what's in style and "who is who" matters a bit...

 

first things first


the tecate was an awesome machine and anyone who still has one should consider themselves lucky

next these new quads are MUCH better than the 400cc quads
in all aspects...I can promise you would love either one, but comparing apples to oranges
well one is sweet
and the other is sweet

get what I'm saying

 

stock for stock the 450s will win in almost every category

 

From what I have seen, I agree with the above statement. The new 450's are pretty polished right off the showroom floor. The suspension is way better then what was offered stock on the 250 racers.

 

who has a stock 250r?

 

nobody i know has a stock anything. the only complaint i have about my 450,or rather where i ride my 450,is that alot of the trails are not yet wide enough. mostly a bike place.it you wouldnt think so but 2" wider from my old 400ex proved to be a challenge on already narrow trails. but ill deal.most of my riding is done in dunes anyways.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I have a stock 250r three wheeler and i have a friend that has a stock trx250r and we have both raced n the fields drag race jumps.. And the 250r stock for stock wit the 450s will clean them ya they how there own water but stock for stock the 450s r tipsy. We have been wonderin the same thing as every one if the old bikes were as good as the new ones...we proved it we rode in atv rodeos and trails. If you have a bore kit n a 250r bored to a 310 its no match. Plus you have to look at it this way u have 250cc compared to 450cc BIG differance n for a bike half the size to be runin that good it would be crazy to see the 250r bored to a 450r two stroke.

 

to call a 450 tipsy is like calling a fat man skinny. 450s are far from tipsy,twitchy maybe, but only under high acceleration. and i run 310s drag racing at pismo with no problem. a 330 on the other hand walks away. the way YOU need to look at it is a power to wieght ratio and just plain rider experience.

 

Im not sayin like majorly im saying that cornering u can just gas it n go u kinda gotta play wit it wit the rs the sit lower n have a lower center of gravity. we have swapped bikes n we feel the same bout it. And ? if the 450s r soo dang good then y is there such a want for the Rs the sale for how much still being 20 years old they r still prize bikes

 

you know any body else makin a 2 stroke quad that easy to upgrade. banshees are good for making alot of power but i dont know why yuo would do any thing else besides making a straight line dragster out of one. my 450 was pronr to to much traction in a slide with the stock tires,they have way to much sideways bite, but a set of kenda claws give me just as much all around traction without the "tipsy" feeling of the stock tires.