help, please! confused about the new 450cc ATVs

[VIPER007]

ok i know this has been up a million times' but i'm new here and have not rode in like 15' yrs. so i need some help and advice



i ride with a bunch of people and all have there own opinions' on the 450 class quads' i want to know what you guy's think



i want to buy a 450 but don't know which one some have rev. some don't reliable is a key player here rev. would be great too a backup pullstart or kick start would be nice so many option's i'm lost i don't want a 500 or 650 we ride tight trails' and sometimes' wide open trails' i'm not racing but want a good feel i don't want to have to work my ass off to enjoy riding



any help info. would be great thanks a ton

[speedyquad]

i have a honda 450r...with electric start...i like it, but the starting when warm leaves something to be desired...i feel this is more of a carb tuning issue than anything else...

anyway here is the what you need to know

honda 450r-2 versions: one electric start, the other kick start...no reverse on either...a kick start can be added by you, NOT a dealership, for about 350; carburator

yamaha yfz450: e-start with kicker option, no reverse; carb

suzuki ltr450: e-start, no reverse, fuel injected

kawi kfx450r: e-start, reverse, fuel injected...

i am a honda guy for reliability reasons, although that really don't matter as much any more...all are very reliable( the kawi has only been out for a few months so it has yet to be truely tested)

all are pretty much equal, although the 'zuki was made more for an mx track.

there are also 2 newcomers....the can am ds 45 and the ktm 450...neither have been released to the public yet.

i will say this is that my 450r is pretty even with a raptor 700, but more race oriented than the raptor

[rpyfz450]

I have a Yamah 450 and would definitely recommend it. The harder you ride it, the more it rewards you. The center of gravity feels exceptionally low on this machine, like most of the mass is between the foot pegs. It's very "flickable". The rear suspension is excellent as is the motor (power and durability).

If I were to buy a 450 to replace this one, I'll first consider the Suzuki. No other manufacturer has put as many race features into their ATV as Suzuki has. If I wanted to be different, I'd consider the Can-Am 450.

I wouldn't worry about the Suzuki being 3 inches wider than the competition in the trails. Quite honestly, the only place those 3 inches are going to be noticeable is in the torture sections in hare scramble races. "Tight" trails during normal weekend riding is usually 5-6 feet wide anyway.

I also wouldn't worry about having a backup kickstart. I think it's overkill and expensive. The $350 you spend on a kick kit could buy numerous spare batteries. Replace the battery every other year instead of every third year and you'll be fine.

[VIPER007]

thanks speedyquad for the reply i was thinking the same thing honda does have a great record for being reliable.



as for the new kawi it is nice and feels' great comfortable saw one on sat. at a dealer pricey but he what isn't anymore



as for the new can am an polaris i can't wait to see them i think the can am has rev. but polaris with the ktm motor another big plus



i'm still undecided and taking in all the info. i can get thanks

thanks rpyfz450 i like the yamaha i have a 350 now and it is a good machine minor crap here an there but like all that is how it is



suzuki was never a big one for me besides the quadzilla but they have done well over the years' not a big honda fan either but again done very well



i do want something different that not everyone shows' up with but also don't want to be left behined

[user3657]

get a predator 500 and put a 450 head on it. u cant beat the predators they are the best bike out there.

[speedyquad]

i rode a very well maintained predator once...that was way more than enough...they don't jump well, the steering is indescribable, and that "ridge" down the center of the seat that is for the air box or what ever makes a family jewel cup a requirement...

my "everyday" trails are tight and i have actually had to make a new trail in a few places to get my 450r through at stock width...

to be honest, i would love to ride a yfz and see if it is any different than my 450r...i have never ridden on although i sat on a few...some before i bought the 450r that were sitting on the showroom floor...

in stock form the r felt better just sitting there, but after buying it, it did feel like the center of gravity was too high...now that i have the shocks revalved, it feels damn near perfect...since then, i have sat on a fully race prepped yfz and it felt like i was sitting on my modified 450r...i wish i had had a chance to ride it, but the guy was getting ready to race so i didn't get to...

when i was having trouble starting the 450r when hot( a jetting issue with the fcr carb...the air fuel screw was making the mixture way too rich)...i was ready to sell the r cheap and buy a yfz...but i got the problem solved and i am happy again

[Fordfreak$]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VIPER007 @ Jul 29 2007, 11:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

thanks speedyquad for the reply i was thinking the same thing honda does have a great record for being reliable.



as for the new kawi it is nice and feels' great comfortable saw one on sat. at a dealer pricey but he what isn't anymore



as for the new can am an polaris i can't wait to see them i think the can am has rev. but polaris with the ktm motor another big plus



i'm still undecided and taking in all the info. i can get thanks

thanks rpyfz450 i like the yamaha i have a 350 now and it is a good machine minor crap here an there but like all that is how it is



suzuki was never a big one for me besides the quadzilla but they have done well over the years' not a big honda fan either but again done very well



i do want something different that not everyone shows' up with but also don't want to be left behined[/b]

Hey Viper...I have been a yamaha fan for some time. I have had 2 YFZ's with almost no issues on either. I trail ride and race GNCC's. You really can't go wrong with the new Yamaha's or Honda's. My friend rides the Honda and also never has any issues. Honda + Yamaha have both worked out the issues with either machine in the last few years. The YFZ's definetely sits and feels lower then the Honda Stock VS stock. Any of the 450's will keep up with your friends. If I had to make a 3rd choice I would go Suzuki LT-450 R. Even though a lot of the new quads are F inj, don't let it fool you. FI is not going to save the world. I would give, Kawi, CAN-am, and polaris especially, atleast 2-3 years to work out some bugs. For example, bent frames and hard starting issues with the Kawi are pretty common. My friend has one and is already experienceing the hard starting issues. For more info about all these bikes, log on to the following:

yfzcentral.com---Once you in here, if you look at the top of the page, you will find links to the SuzukiLTr, Kawi450, Can-am450, and even Z400 sites.

yfztechforums.com---All Yamaha

TRX450R.org ----for the Honda

Start with YFZcentral.com, you will find a plethera of info pertaining to tricks, tips, general info, and current problems. Happy reading!!!!

[VIPER007]

my friend has a 500 and i don't like it at all the feel the way it sits' the ride all no's plus he is selling it right now and can't get ride of it at all noway 500 for me i want a 450

THANKS FOR WHERE YOU AT IN NJ I'M AROUND EAST BRUNSWICK AREA