Yfz -vs- Trx450 Honda

[motorhead]

Im considering buying a yfz. Has anyone had the oppertunity to compare it to the new honda 450trx??? My buddy is trying to talk me into it instead of the yam.I pulled us the spec sheets on both and they are matched very close ,electric start on the yam will be nice. He said the yfz is all top end and will be no good in tight rough trails. Will appreiciate any advice

[ridnwarrior]

I race my YFZ in tight, twisty, rocky and very muddy trails.
I do hare scramble racing with it and I have finished every race with it.
Good luck kickstarting a hot 4 stroke quad over after it stalls.
There are some things that need to be done to the YFZ to get it
perfect but all quads need some stuff.
You need to raise the idle up from where it comes from the dealer also.
The YFZ isn't all top end.
It grunts off the bottom too.
I can take it into a 180 degree turn, come around and whack the throttle and I don't even have to slip the clutch like you would on a high powered 2 stroke. It takes right off.
Any other info let me know.

[rpyfz450]

Originally posted by ridnwarrior@Sep 28 2004, 10:28 PM
You need to raise the idle up from where it comes from the dealer also.

That's interesting. I do this too.

Unlike 2-strokes, I figured there was no harm in increasing the idle speed on a high performance engine that relies on pressure lubrication.

Do you do this to avoid stalling in the woods?

[CronicArt]

Raising the idle I have found gets rid of that little flat spot on the very bottom of the throttle that will cause you to stall.

There is a mod you can do that will shorten the accelerator pump spray and eliminate this problem. I have the instructions for the mod if anyone would like me to post them.

The mod came from Tim Ferrys factory mechanic and was posted on Thumpertalk.com

From what I have been able to tell on both these machines you will be happy with either if this is the type of atv you honestly need.

Another thing that does change things a whole lot is if you intend to stick with what the factory gives you and leave it stock or if you prefer to mod your stuff up.

When modded properly the performance of the two appears to be closer than either side likes to admit, but the YFZ does hold the advantage of being around longer and having more time for us to learn what mods work better and last longer etc.

One thing I think that is just honda's way is that if you want to get the engine to really scream your going to be putting in some more $$ and time than on the YFZ because the 450r just seems to be a little more on the conservative side (just like most of their products).

I still lean a little on the side of the model you missed, and guess I am a little bit into aluminum frames and fuel injection so I still think ATKcanondale or what ever it is know still has the most potential (If you can keep it running lol).

So either way you really need to address your needs in a quad and then move on from there and remember both these models are truely quicker and faster (and much better handling for yami) than what they have offerd before and unless your a serious rider or racer you may not need many mods at all.

[motorhead]

Thanks for all the info guys,You helped me make up my mind for good. Now I just have to get a buyer for my banshee so I can have enough scratch to put together for the yami. I never thought I would sell the banshee untill I started reading all the reviews.Ive ridden the raptor and it just felt to tall and bulky. I just want something lightweight that ripps , flys , and handles like a dream. PS. I have my banshee posted for $3500 but I will consider any offers. Thanks :smiliethumbup:

[rpyfz450]

Originally posted by 440ex4me@Sep 29 2004, 01:32 AM
I still lean a little on the side of the model you missed, and guess I am a little bit into aluminum frames and fuel injection so I still think ATKcanondale or what ever it is know still has the most potential (If you can keep it running lol).

Considering the amount of flex an ATV chassis has to accomodate, I tend to think aluminum frames are not the way to go for ATVs. Aside from that, bottoming out is always a concern and steel is going to hold up much better than aluminum.

Fuel injection is clearly superior as long as it's implemented well. I'm not sor sure how well it's been implemented on those Cannondales.

One thing that I don't like is how the cylinder is cast into the engine cases. I'm sure this means boring the cylinder involes a lot of disassembly.

I rode a stock Cannondale and it reminded me of old Polaris. I don't think it was the $11000 model, though.

[ridnwarrior]

Raising the idle does help when climbing over some really rough sections. It seems to stall less than before.

It also lessens the flat spot right off of idle like cronic said.

Originally posted by rpyfz450+Sep 29 2004, 09:22 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rpyfz450 @ Sep 29 2004, 09:22 AM)</div>

Considering the amount of flex an ATV chassis has to accomodate, I tend to think aluminum frames are not the way to go for ATVs. Aside from that, bottoming out is always a concern and steel is going to hold up much better than aluminum.

Fuel injection is clearly superior as long as it's implemented well. I'm not sor sure how well it's been implemented on those Cannondales.

One thing that I don't like is how the cylinder is cast into the engine cases. I'm sure this means boring the cylinder involes a lot of disassembly.

I rode a stock Cannondale and it reminded me of old Polaris. I don't think it was the $11000 model, though. [/b]

Actually I was pretty impressed with the strength of that frame and except for a couple of harware issues its one of the parts that doesnt have any problems at all.

I also think that for a frame to work best it needs to flex, and a frame that is too rigid is one that cracks. Sure you could design or build a frame with zero flex that is hard as a rock and will survive its own inability to flex but then its going to transfer all of the shock it would normally handle as flex to the rider and all the other parts etc.

Anyhow there all great machines especially when compared to what we have had to choose from since the 250r stopped production, but cannondale still produced a superior machine with a higher production cost than what were seeing now and since the newer "race" labled 450's are being listed real close in price I have to question those who thought the c-dales were so over priced?

[MarGinJoey]

A little late for a post, but every OFFROAD/ATV/DIRTBIKE magazine in the country did this comparo...

Just check the newsstands....

MGJ