I finally got to race one today so I can answer that. I bitch slapped it. The rider was at least 60 lbs lighter and there was no compariosn. I kicked his A$$ up and down the drag strip. In 4th gear I just walked away. By 5th, it was a big gap. He was an 87 with a pipe and other mods.
Then we got out on the open trails. I was flying in 4th and 5th and would just widen the gap every time I hit the gas. After about 2 miles he was over 100 yards back. It wasn't even close. Nice guy and gave me some props.
I also got a race against one last weekend, but was more worried about the modded Banshee between us. I got the shee by a couple lengths and the 250R was somewhere behind him.

 

I've dragged them (YFZ 450) on pavement a few times. They come out the hole fast but by the time I was in 3rd gear I was gone. In one race I was ahead by 10+ bikes lengths in about 1/4 mile but most of the time it's more like 3-5. These were stock with airbox and exhaust mods, anything more and I would be toast.

They are increadibly fast though, I have a lot of mods.

 

do you realize you are comparing a Ed Sanders Racing 310r to an almost stock yfz?
if you only beat them by 3-5 lengths then I consider that very quick for the yfz......cause your should be STRONG!..........

 

I raced a 330R that was geared down one tooth up front for hill climbing, with a bone stock yfz, on pavement, straight away, 500ft. I took the holeshot, but he passed me when I got to fourth, but he only got about 2-4 quad lengths away. This is two races. Now, with the cam mod and the lid off, jetted and exhaust, I don't think he can keep up, unless its longer than a 500 ft drag.

 

hah are you kidding me you could easily find more than that to spend on a 250r. Other than the banshee that is a close second for some of the most parts available for a sport quad. there are loads and loads of things you could spend money on for a 250r

 

Yeah, that's pretty ignorant post. I could spend that just on a suspension.

 

$2000 for a 250R?!?! Here in AZ, as long as it's in good shape, you are looking at $3500-$5000 for a R.

As for R's being so great, why have so many pro racers switched from R's the past few years? Of course now the pros can't race them at GNC's but when they had a choice, most dumped them. I think that says something about their limited days....

 

The pros are dropping them because they want to get sponsored by the factories and next year gnc pro will be production only. But as far as performance, look at the last round of GNC. Bill Balance was winning everything in sight. He switch to a four stroke and lost every race. Finally he went back to the 250r to go race the ironman and won it.

250Rs won first and second place.

Don't get me wrong, I like the 450, I've even considered selling the R and getting one.

 

I agree that in the last year that was the Pro's motive but starting about 3 years ago they started dropping YZF and DRZ motors in quads before there was any kind if hint the factories would start supporting quad racing.

For New Years I was surprised to see almost no 250r's at Dumont. They are a good quad but they just can't hang when the mods are even. I raced a couple on the YFZ and it wasn't even a race. Most of the people I ride with though have 310-350 kits and they will give the YFZ a good run but I only have $450 in mods and they have thousands invested.

 

Wow, something's wrong with that 330. I re-ported my wife's 330 to my liking and I weigh right at 200lbs. A good friend has the yfz with the pipe and airbox mod,etc., and he is a scrawny 145lbs. We have a long flat dirt/sand mix that is about 1300 feet long. Well, I can holeshot that Yammi and literally run away from it and put 5-6 lengths in 300 feet, then when he's topped out I click 6th gear and keep walking hard from him. If a 330r cant put a dozen lengths on a yfz, then it is not ported or tuned correctly. Still bad, though that people compare a 450 to a 250 that is over 14 years old. I wonder why that is???????????/