The best way to describe Honda is like a really hot chick. You know they got the goods to
rock your world, But they just won't put out. So you got to go find it elsewhere. Although
I will admit (as much as I hate to) The grass is is starting to look really green on the other
side of the fence.

 

6900 us
raptor is 6200

 

6900 u.s.
6200 for raptor

 

This is just my opinion but I don't think Yamaha gives a rat's @$$ about Gas Gas. Gas Gas couldn't imagine having the market share Yamaha has or the ability to even make enough units to think about it. I think they see the success of all the new sports quads and have been working on this quad for 4 years which is long before the Gas Gas. I think watching the Z, Pred and even Cannondales in the last couple of years prompted them to make sure they did it right and to get it out there. It may have taken 4 years because of durability testing and after seeing the new quads in it's class they wanted to make sure it was better.

 

I agree with Dirt. At this point I honestly think that the only people Yamaha has to worry about is Yamaha. Like somebody said earlier they used the field of dreams approach. Build it and they will come. Now, the reason that Yamaha only has to worry about themselves at this point is because nobody else is marketing a quad like the YFZ right now. Another reason is if they created another "time bomb" like they did with the '01 Raptor their reputation as a reliable ATV manufacturer will be destroyed. I think Yamaha realized this and made sure they put out a solid machine. At least I hope for my sake....LOL

 

yea, that’s true. I think when they saw all the quads being released like cannondale, predator, Z, kfx 700, that made them realize that they needed to put out a quad of its own, a 450, 4-stoke, liquid cooled , and this is where gas gas comes in, doesn’t it sound like the gas gas 450. however I now don’t think they made this to compete with them, just the others like I mentioned. I also hope Yamaha has put time into this one to make sure it will be built better than their previous ones they have produced. we don’t need another raptor. with this quad they are creating a new market for 450s. the price is way beyond anything they have marketed before. this might put them in the lead if this quad lives up to what it should be, the toughest, most nimble, well crafted, most power efficient quad that they have ever created. they could be on to something. it could be a total success or blow up in their faces. what do ya think?

 

Did any of you guys read Korry Ellis' review at atv scene? If not check it out.

 

By all means it should roost over a 400EX, but that remains to be seen. Nobody has even ridden one, nobody has weighed one. I doubt if it is as light as they claim, but I hope it is. It will give Honda something to shoot for and upstage when they release their CRF 450 powered quad. Honda has shown they always make the best product. It took them a few years to compete with the YZF dirt bike but when they did, whoa! It was awesome. Same thing will happen with quads. I'm holding on to my money and not buying the flash in the pan YFZ quad.

 

How can you say flash in the pan do you think it's going to be produced for a year and then go away? I've been waiting for the last 2 years for this new Honda and it never shows up. I'm not brand loyal because the brands aren't loyal to me the just take my money. If your into Honda and willing to wait that's cool but I'm not getting any younger and Honda isn't in any hurry to hook us up. Honda also has quite the reputation for detuning the XR400 motor lost 9hp from the bike to the quad and it wasn't outrageously powerful like the CRF450r motor to begin with so you probably would be lucky to recognize the power in a CRF motor after they got done detuning it. Kory Ellis said with a pipe, filter and jets the YZF ripped. I will still have to test ride one to form my own opinion and I'm not buying until the second model year so if Honda comes out with something to one up the YZF in every way then I'll probably stay Honda if not Yamaha it is. It's not like I'm the kind of guy to keep a quad for 5 or more years anyways 2 or 3 years and I'm ready for something new. I guess I would freshen up whatever quad I had if there was nothing better out there but I don't see myself riding the same quad 7 or 8 years down the road.

 

BTW pretty much no quad lives up to it's claimed dry wieght 400ex included.

Kory Ellis road the quad and has a review on atv scene and he rides a Suzuki and said the Yamaha will smoke it so someone has ridden it. There are a bunch of other people in the industry with set riding dates so there should be reviews a plenty before they even hit the show room.