I would have to say the YFZ is a better machine for racing and screwing around, and I love the Pred. I would say the Pred is better for flat out racing, similar to the Raptor and DS. However, after a few friends experiences with Yamis (blown up Shees, Grizz in often, Vstar in often) I would have a hard time buying anything from them. I know every manufacturer has thier problems but it seems a bit much to me that everyone I know who has a Yamaha has it in the shop often.

The one guy is trading in his Vstar soon for a Harley, at least with being in the shop so much already he is accustomed to owning a Harley also.

On a side note: I just shot some vids this weekend of my friends Raptor with pipe-jetted against 2 piped-jetted Preds, and a built up Scrambler racing both. I hope to transfer them onto the computer soon.

 

The YFZ blows it away , the October DW has a shootout with the YFZ vs. Z440 vs. Pred at Pismo YFZ takes all the glory .

 

LMAO @ "at least with being in the shop so much already he is accustomed to owning a Harley also."

Well said! Although he will miss the power of a Vstar compared to ANY Harley.

 

Was this the race track test where it "blows away" the Pred?

 

Did not get to read the whole thing , one of the riders that did the testing brought it by and said there was no comparison between the Pred and Z440 to the YZF.

 

Isn't the Predator about 150 lbs heavier than the YFZ? I know Predators don't do too well when raced against 250Rs, hopped up 400EXs and Cannondales that race MX and TT around here.

 

Somewhere around 60lbs heavier. My opinion of the Preds and other new sport quads not doing well against 250Rs and so on is this: People are buying these new sport quads thinking it's all machine, if you have a great machine you will do great. Well that's not the case. The people that ride the 250Rs and so on are seasoned riders that if they got on a Pred, Rap, DS, .... they would rock, such as Ellis and Rath have done. First couple times out they had wins and did very well.

Also, these guys are taking thier basicly stock, most of the time bone stock, new machine against race modified machines. It'd be like running a new 4.6 Mustang GT against a highly modified 5.0 owner who bought the thing new 15 years ago.

Just because a person gets on a new YFZ doesn't mean he's going to win a race. Look at the KFX700. The mags say it's a turd and not a great performer, yet you look at cross country results and they do very well.

Again, this is my opinion and what I have seen at the tracks.

 

Good point. I agree completely that the better riders are on the proven performing machines, but wouldn't they have something else if it was a better machine to race? I'm looking at various forms of 250Rs, 400EXs, YFZs and Cannondales making Predators and Raptors look silly on a MX track every weekend. Raptors fare better on the oval and TT races, but it's still 250Rs and 400EXs with crazy engines running the show in the Pro Classes.

 

I think it will take a long time for some of the older riders to switch over to the new equipment, especially since it still works very well and the aftermarket is huge. Most 250Rs have very little to do with what it was stock. Many think that nothing could ever compare to a 250R and never will. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.

 

I can't wait to see what machines come out in the next couple years. The new YFZ is already taking off strong replacing the Hondas nicely, and I'm sure the new Honda 450 won't disappoint either.