did you get to do any hill climbing? If so, which bike (yfz or R) was able to pull it easier?

 

How would you compare the engines power output? Low...mid...top.

 

did you get to try it with the HRC kit? if so was it a big difference? Also, how does the stock suspension of the R comare to the big name aftermarket suspensions like the elkas on your ex? Sorry for all the questions man but we're starving here lol

 

To me I thought the 450R was a little sluggish down low, but mid range through top end it had alot of power and torque. Given its tall gearing you kinda have to ride it like the 250R. The YFZ felt a little more stronger than the 450R down low, but I think that the YFZ is geared a somewhat lower than the R. It just had that feeling. They are both strong motors.

 

No HRC kit - This was a stock shootout. Some day we'll put that kit on it and I will report back. By the time we get that kit everyone will probably have theirs and have it installed and will probably post their results before me. As for the suspension, I was very impressed. Both front and rear felt very plush and soaked up every bump and jump.

 

so did the R feel like it had a bit more mid range punch than the yfz, and was the seat any softer than the yammie's?

 

How hard / easy does the Honda start? I personally like the 450r without a battery and no electric start.....less potential problems. How does the Hondas lights compare too the YFZ? How would you compare wheelie ease?

 

To me it did feel like it had a bit more mid range, but not much. Both of the motors feel very simmilar in stock trim. For testing purposes in the future I would like to just re-jet the carb and put a pipe on both of them to see what they feel like. Yes, the seat on the 450R was softer than the YFZ. Also, the YFZ had a really stiff thumb throttle. Not sure if this was b/c the YFZ was rolled off the showroom floor and into the trailer brand new with zero hours on it. I haven't had the opportunity to ride a broken in YFZ to see if that was the cause of the stiff thumb throttle. After two days of riding I did not feel that it got any easier. If anyone else has experienced the stiff thumb throttle let me know I would like to hear about it b/c I'm still wondering if it was just an isolated instance with the one we used, or are all of them made that way?

 

The 450R starts right up when cold, but when hot you need to hold the Hot-Start button to kick it over. I watched one of our guys kick start it while sitting down and it started right up. We did not have the opportunity to ride in the dark. Both days were very long, when the sun started to go down that's when we packed up for the day and by that time we were pretty tired.

 

which bike felt like it would be more comfortable for a larger rider. Someone over 6ft? which suspension soaked up bumps the best? Which bike sounded louder? How fast did they feel compared to a banshee? Thanks for all your input by the way