The shootouts in the mags are going to be a little more interesting. It's a true racer with no reverse.
Only 350lbs you could drink a beer as you turn it around. I see that they also reduced the price of the Warrior to $4699. The 300EX retails for $4799. Yamaha also has a 350 utility now w/ select 4x4. The Bruin

 

What i am saying is, no quad that any of the major companies produce come tuned in good. I mean you know everyone and there mother will want this thing and inexperienced riders will buy it, yamaha nows that just like they knew it with the rappy so why would they make this thing scream stock. Maybe i saw the glass a little bit on the half empty side when i said in the 30's hp range, but they will not make it produce 50rwhp stock. It just wouldn't make sense to me. How many sport quads come stock with 40hp, that aren't tanks. my guess is it is tuned in for 37-42rwhp stock. You guys can quote me later if you'd like because i may have wedged my foot in my mouth on this one, but i think im right!

 

All I know about this thing is my z400 has been wanting to come in the house and sleep with me at night. I think she's scared of something.

 

I think you might be close with 37-42. The 55hp on the YZ450 motor is to the crank i believe. So it really has like 50 to the wheels. I cant believe they did it. only destroked to race in Nationals. They did drop the compression from 12.5 to 11.9. I dont know how much you loose there. The stock exhaust on the motorcycles is a lot better than the ones they put on quads so that will cut some hp. becides that its pretty badass. It will compete well with the Gas Gas 450 stock for stock. Its also a couple grand cheaper than the gas gas.

lets hope the first year ones arent lemons.

 

A friend of me rode yet with it on the Europe press release. He says it has 48 HP on wheels. It's a real beast. Big dual brakes in front and rear, perfect suspension, no reverse, much aluminium, low gravity point. He says it will beat every quad, only Kawa 700 will beat in top speed, not in pulling power.

 

its early in the am here on hte right coast and it says it has 5 gears which means its not a YZ motor which has 4 gears. the WR had 5. regarless a whole hearted motor. detuned to 37 hp maybe from 55 plus. more info as the day goes on

 

I can see it now!

exclusive front page of DirtWheels: YFZ450 vs Z400 vs KFX400 vs Predator

Conclusion:
Although the YFZ450 beat down all competition in every catagory very easy we are still going to give the win to the Z-400 due reverse and low sticker price.

 

I did a post here a few weeks back, a friend of a family member sort of thing. This quad was tested out at Racetown (old Sunrise seen in Huevos 4) the reort I was told is in stock form it's very fast, handles great and the test rider cleared everything on the track except a 105' step up (what a sissy). I know the information is third hand so take for what it's woth. Also I will know today for sure, but I was told last night Sand Sports did an arcticle on it also.

 

Hey Alaska---good one[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]---I heard the THUD too, although I thought it was the used Raptor market (new retail 6199). Yamaha changed everything with the Banshee. Then with the Raptor. Now again. Gotta hand it to 'em. Just like they changed the whole bike industry with the original YZF400, we owe it to them that in a couple of years there will probably be several bikes like this to choose from.

 

Also it will be interesting to see any differences on the internals. The pistons on these 450 class bikes have very short skirts (sometimes a good thing[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] ) for light weight and quick revving. With the load shocks different (higher) on a heavier-than-bike quad with more traction I wonder if piston and rod are any different, as well as flywheel mass, crank weight, and of course tranny gears. All this stuff cumulatively affects torque curves and revability and horsepower. Or maybe I'm just full of crap, looking for something to say.