Spaceace
02-15-2008, 09:07 AM
My last quad was a YFZ450, but I had to sell it over a year ago when I moved across the country for a new job. Now that I am settled, I went out to buy my toys... After some research I decided that I wanted the DS 450 X. I went and picked it up at the dealer a week or two ago. While I was there I noticed a left over 2006 YFZ SE on which the dealer offered me a deal I couldn't pass up. ...So I bought them both (and a trailer). I figured it would be nice to have a machine my friends could ride because I don't have any "atv friends" here yet.
Yesterday I was able to put a few hours on each machine. I rode the DS 450 1st. My initial thought was that it felt under powered. I tried to keep in mind that the YFZ I had previously owned was slightly modded ( Exhaust, Jetting, Airbox, Air filter ), but I figured that since i hadn't ridden anything in over a year, I would probably be blown away by the power, and I just wasn't. I will say that (once I got used to the difference in ergonomics from the YFZ), that it was comfortable to ride. The steering was precise and effortless. And it was apparent that it had a very high quality suspension.
Next I put the DS 450 up on the trailer and took the YFZ for a spin. Obviously the YFZ is still bone stock as well because neither machine is even broken in yet. I immediately felt the difference in power down low. The YFZ feels like it has so much power down low that it is on the edge. Like the difference between a crazed animal (YFZ) and a demesticated dog (DS 450). However between the way the power is delivered and the handling of the YFZ it is very "twitchy" in comparison to the smooth DS 450. The DS 450 feels very smooth and consistant in both power and in steering and handling. I would almost call the DS 450 forgiving except it wouldn't be forgiving if you mis-steered because the steering is so precise. If you point toword a ditch you will be in the ditch.
The bottom line for me is that there is a certain fun factor in having a lot of power and torque in the low rpm's that the DS450 is missing. If it had the power that the YFZ does down low I would be in love.
I hear that the bike wakes up well down low with a pipe, open airbox, and cutting the pink wire... But I don't understand why everyone talks about the enormous potential of this engine when it seems to be starting with a disadvantage to the YFZ motor. Does not the YFZ motor "wake up" even more with the same mods? Mod for mod will the DS 450 motor always be behind the YFZ motor in low end power?
Yesterday I was able to put a few hours on each machine. I rode the DS 450 1st. My initial thought was that it felt under powered. I tried to keep in mind that the YFZ I had previously owned was slightly modded ( Exhaust, Jetting, Airbox, Air filter ), but I figured that since i hadn't ridden anything in over a year, I would probably be blown away by the power, and I just wasn't. I will say that (once I got used to the difference in ergonomics from the YFZ), that it was comfortable to ride. The steering was precise and effortless. And it was apparent that it had a very high quality suspension.
Next I put the DS 450 up on the trailer and took the YFZ for a spin. Obviously the YFZ is still bone stock as well because neither machine is even broken in yet. I immediately felt the difference in power down low. The YFZ feels like it has so much power down low that it is on the edge. Like the difference between a crazed animal (YFZ) and a demesticated dog (DS 450). However between the way the power is delivered and the handling of the YFZ it is very "twitchy" in comparison to the smooth DS 450. The DS 450 feels very smooth and consistant in both power and in steering and handling. I would almost call the DS 450 forgiving except it wouldn't be forgiving if you mis-steered because the steering is so precise. If you point toword a ditch you will be in the ditch.
The bottom line for me is that there is a certain fun factor in having a lot of power and torque in the low rpm's that the DS450 is missing. If it had the power that the YFZ does down low I would be in love.
I hear that the bike wakes up well down low with a pipe, open airbox, and cutting the pink wire... But I don't understand why everyone talks about the enormous potential of this engine when it seems to be starting with a disadvantage to the YFZ motor. Does not the YFZ motor "wake up" even more with the same mods? Mod for mod will the DS 450 motor always be behind the YFZ motor in low end power?