first time rider

[mike450]

how hard would it be to ride the yfz450. for a first time rider that wieghts 230 5'9 .

[Punk'd]

If your just starting out I wouldnt start on a YFZ, but thats just me.

[bozz]

If money is an issue' and you have to hang on to one quad for a long time. Go with the yfz' you could grow into it. just dont try and ride over your limit' dont get brave take your time to learn and go slow if you have the patience. other wise get a slower quad.

for a first time rider getting a yfz would be a pretty huge jump...i have a friend that jumped to a 400ex and had problems right away...but if you have the money and can work your self into all that power go for the yfz.. you will love it

[ny300exrider]

i dont think it would be that bad at all. i have friends who started on piped z400's and 400exs and could have easily started on a yfz if they had one.

take it easy for the first week or so and then by then id say they would be fine.

in my opinion, with the new bigger quads, it isnt worth getting a small quad to learn on anymore due to resale prices.

[Octane]

If you respect it's power, you will be just fine on a YFZ. Remember, your right thumb control the machine, not the other way around.
Start off slowly and try not to take too many risks untill you feel fairly comfortable on the machine and you will be just fine.
The last quad I owned was a '97 Polaris Scrambler 500 4x4 and I can hop on my friends' 450s and do just fine. The hardest part for me was mastering using the clutch and shifting gears.

[mike450]

no **** its a thumb trottle. I drove kawi lakota 250 before. also I can bench that quad 5'9 230

[mike450]

that yfz450

[tar]

:muscle: ^

[250r4life]

you can bench 400lbs?

put the steroids down, and walk away :D

the yfz would be fine for starting out... you just gotta be smart and not go balls to the walls... especially if it is stock... i had ridden various things, but i pretty much learned how to ride a clutch at the dunes on a nice 250r ATC that had been ported and pollished very aggresively, a bigger carb, etc... i did fine... and that was a 3 wheeler, and not near as much rideable power as a 4 stroke... you'll be fine...

if you get a yfz and have never ridden a quad before...FLOOR IT RIGHT OUT OF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND DONT LAY OFF......No not realy but they really arent that hard to handle after you get use to the power

write your death wish.... startin with a 450cc that is that fast is stupid.... I started with a 400ex and had no problems for 8 months until I started drivin it ballz to the wallz and then I hit a tree and a dirtbike in a 2 months span... Start with a 350 Raptor... and ride for about 1 1/2 years and then get the yfz..

yea my post above may not be great advice because i know somebody that did start out on a 400 and it wasnt a great decision(Lots of Wrecks)..but he wasnt to bright or as strong as you claim you are

[ny300exrider]

Originally posted by z400over400ex
write your death wish.... startin with a 450cc that is that fast is stupid.... I started with a 400ex and had no problems for 8 months until I started drivin it ballz to the wallz and then I hit a tree and a dirtbike in a 2 months span... Start with a 350 Raptor... and ride for about 1 1/2 years and then get the yfz..
i disagree, after a month he will be bored with a 350 raptor. just go with the 450 and be done with it.

[yfz450rider29]

Originally posted by mike450
no **** its a thumb trottle. I drove kawi lakota 250 before. also I can bench that quad 5'9 230
That was kinda rude... I think Octane was trying to say that your thumb controls the quad not the quad controling you.

[DieselBoy]

if you get a yfz and have never ridden a quad before...FLOOR IT RIGHT OUT OF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND DONT LAY OFF......

HAHAHAHAHA

[JIMTED79]

This is like saying do I want a dodge viper or a dodge neon. You know your limits get the 450 all day long.

[aman]

Originally posted by JIMTED79
This is like saying do I want a dodge viper or a dodge neon. You know your limits get the 450 all day long.

Exactly.......as long as you ride smart and take your time on it you should be fine......just make sure you dont try riding above your experience level, thats when bad things are more likely to happen

[jal232]

Well said!! Dont waste your money with something smaller...Just get the 450 I mean look at everyone ....they all have them..if they can you can..they learned some where to..Maybe not a 450 but prolly somethin that was big for them at first...It just takes soem time...Just ride around on flat ground for hours till you get the hang of it..then slowly progress to more and more...You will love it..have fun..be safe..and get on it!!!

[Octane]

Originally posted by yfz450rider29
That was kinda rude... I think Octane was trying to say that your thumb controls the quad not the quad controling you.
Exactly, I guess that one was over his head.
I had people tell me that YFZ would be too much for me too, but guess what, it wasnt. As long as you ride smart and dont exceede you abilities and the abilities of your machine you will be just fine.
I would not start out on a Raptor 350. The Raptor is a good machine, but you are going to get bored with it pretty quickly and then you will wish you had bought a YFZ in the first place.
As long as you give yourself time to get used to the power it shouldnt be a problem. Sure, if you hop on and ride it balls-out right away, you will probably crash. However, unless you are a total moron I dont see where you will have a problem.

[zeppelin]

i am sure that you would be able to handle it, but would you appreciate it. if you start out on a 400 you will become a more talented rider faster, and when you doo eventualy step up to the 450 you will be a MUCH better rider and appreciate the bike alot more.

[Octane]

Originally posted by zeppelin
i am sure that you would be able to handle it, but would you appreciate it. if you start out on a 400 you will become a more talented rider faster, and when you doo eventualy step up to the 450 you will be a MUCH better rider and appreciate the bike alot more.
Why?

[JIMTED79]

Originally posted by Octane
Why?

[Punk'd]

If you must then go with the 450, but I know for a fact most people who are first time riders on a 450 tend to get carried away and want to go fast and they end up getting killed or hurt because they are not experienced enough to handle it.


So I reccomend riding like a 400 untill you master it, get the feel of quads, what to do in certain situations.. etc and then move to a 450.

You will have alot more fun on a 450 if you know what you are doing.

Just my 2 cents.. I never want to see anyone get hurt

[DieselBoy]

yeah...alot of newbs jump on a 450 and they wipe out baddd cause they haven't a clue how to manage all that power.

[4TraxRider]

Riding a slower machine makes you a better rider. You learn to keep it "on the pipe", and carry speed through corners and not just brake in and blast out. A lot of people would benefit from a lower quad. Ride some friends quads first and see what you like and don't like. No sense in dropping $6000+ on something you won't like.

[250r4life]

i wouldnt beleive it if i hadnt seen it with my own eyes, but i was at glamis in october, and we were at china wall, and there was a group there and in the group were a dad, and his two sons, roughly 12 & 10 years old... they were all riding 450s, and the 2 sons were racing up china wall, and even doing wheelies up china wall... it was nuts... i was amazed at it, and surprised the dad would let his kids ride a 450, regardless of their riding ability...

[440racer66]

my sister was ridin my old 440 around the yard and i turn around and then i look back and shes dropping the clutch and popin wheelies and ridem i will have to get pics but she 11 and can ride a wheelie as good as me and when i was seven i rode my dads grizzly 600 all the time

I have a YFZ now and started with a 400ex and had it for 2 years and first week on my YFZ i picked up right where I left off.. the drag strip the goin fast, the accelerating really fast for no reason... yah it took me 2 weeks to flip it and I mean flip it... 7 times and cracker my fenders in 6 spots... bent handlebars, a-arms, tie-rod, bumper, and cracked fenders... overall it was a ride that should be at an amusment park... GOD I LOVE TO WRECK just as long as I get up and say holy **** that was awesome!

[jal232]

Well if thats hwat it takes for you to learn your machine...then have at it....Expensive method but okay!! Be careful