TRX450R Honda MX Debut at Glen Helen

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Originally posted by Jnine
Well, thats a little difficult to answer in some ways. Since it is a new frame, I'm not sure what I would consider as "extra". After talking to the R & D Engineering guys and from seeing it myself, I know they were extremely careful in how they placed any gussetts, and even the shape of those gussets. Too many makes the frame overly stiff, and they definitely wanted it to flex. The frames I saw came from the production tooling, yet after looking at the welds I could see a few places where they had "cleaned them up" with a little extra hand welding or by taking a disc sander to them. They like the tube joining method they used on the EX, (Cheap!) and they are doing that again with this frame. The ones I saw were OK. Nothing to write home about, and definitely not as clean as an aftermarket frame, but OK for production, and it will be like an EX quality frame in production. It will probably be OK for most guys, at least for a while.

You know who has a great looking frame? I really have to give Suzuki credit for their welds on the LTZ frame. They use a LOT of robotic welding on that frame, and that part looks excellent. However, they can't weld everything that way, and they have to finish it up by hand. Probably can't get the torch in some of the tight areas around the front end. Unfortunately, they used an upper tube that is too thin and is not a large enough diameter, and it screws the whole thing in a very short time. There is just not enough strength in some of their tubes. We've sold quite a few frame braces to fix it. Yamaha did a pretty good job as well. The YFZ looks great in many areas.

As for the latest Dirt WHeels, even though I write for them, I kind of take exception to some of their statements this time, especially about the power. I liked it, but I think it still has somes serious issues. I guess I was riding something else.

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Thanks John. I appreciate the time you take to answer the many questions you get. I am completely on the fence as to which machine I will buy this year so I'm trying to get as much good info as possible.

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Why is it that everytime the 450r comes out on top the YFZ riders try to find a way to make it look horrible

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Its won 2 events so far, and i'd hardly call winning in a 30+ a pro rider an accomplishment, I give it credit for the baja, but would be rather easy to blueprint the motor use the hi performance cam and a pipe. Rider makes alot of difference in those races too. Just finishing is an accomplisment. I like the 450r, not as much as the yfz, but I'm hardly a biased rider. I've ran a honda, gasgas, suzuki, yamaha all in the last 2 years. This yfz has everything I want. It's good to see someone like mr.arens come here and give a fair professional opinion from someone who has actually touched, and rode the machine, paper races suck their unfair and biased. Noone will know how the 450r does until it actually becomes available. Right now all this my 450r is better than your yfz450 is ridiculous, you cant even have a 450r yet, unless your one of the chosen ones. I know i've talked to a couple of pro's and none seemed to impressed with the 450r. I'd have to say the reason yamaha has so many models is choice. Honda doesent have a bigbore trail sport atv.. Nor do they have a sport model that a larger rider can ride and feel comfortable on. so i would have to say variety is the spice of life i guess honda hasnt figured that out yet. While suzuki probably has the broadest range of affordable performance with the least amount of models.

Here is a question for Mr. Arens......if you were to buy and race either quad, but were going to leave it pretty much stock (except for pipe,etc.....) - stock suspension, stock shocks......which would you prefer to race and why?

Thanks! :)

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Originally posted by jmoney45
Thanks John. I appreciate the time you take to answer the many questions you get. I am completely on the fence as to which machine I will buy this year so I'm trying to get as much good info as possible.

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ditto.

great info - thanks John!

Hello again:

That is the big question, isn't it? Which one to own...

I absolutely LOVE the power and handling of the Yamaha. The YFZ quad is so easy to go fast on. It just oozes down the track. Nail the gas, everything to the side get blurry, and before you realize it you have to jam on the brakes for the next corner. And when you get to that corner it will carve it's way around like a starving cheetah after a baby gazelle. It's like nothing I have ever been on, and it's the only quad I would pick over my 250R. However, the new Honda is very good as well. Very predictable, although a little less exciting, but Honda all the way. Feels EXACTLY like sitting on on EX, with a little more power, and a pretty good set of stock shocks with a LOT of adjustment. They both have their place, and I really don't think you can go wrong. If you are going to buy one mostly for racing however, the Yamaha will be almost impossible to beat on the track, and there is very little work it will need to really wake up the motor. Turn the cam 1 notch, pop off the airbox lid, install a pipe, and let loose the baby gazelles.

You won't be disappointed with either however. Should be a great year!

Jnine thanks again for stepping up and letting us know about things. Its horrible being left in the dark. And it's nice to finally come on and read something constructive. You are a welcome voice to the things I want to know about

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Originally posted by Jnine

And when you get to that corner it will carve it's way around like a starving cheetah after a baby gazelle.

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You must really love the Discovery channel! :D

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Turn the cam 1 notch, pop off the airbox lid, install a pipe, and let loose the baby gazelles.

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Not to nitpick but you forgot the all important Jetting that it so deperately needs even in stock form.
Just trying to help:p

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Originally posted by Jnine
Hello again:

That is the big question, isn't it? Which one to own...

I absolutely LOVE the power and handling of the Yamaha. The YFZ quad is so easy to go fast on. It just oozes down the track. Nail the gas, everything to the side get blurry, and before you realize it you have to jam on the brakes for the next corner. And when you get to that corner it will carve it's way around like a starving cheetah after a baby gazelle. It's like nothing I have ever been on, and it's the only quad I would pick over my 250R. However, the new Honda is very good as well. Very predictable, although a little less exciting, but Honda all the way. Feels EXACTLY like sitting on on EX, with a little more power, and a pretty good set of stock shocks with a LOT of adjustment. They both have their place, and I really don't think you can go wrong. If you are going to buy one mostly for racing however, the Yamaha will be almost impossible to beat on the track, and there is very little work it will need to really wake up the motor. Turn the cam 1 notch, pop off the airbox lid, install a pipe, and let loose the baby gazelles.

You won't be disappointed with either however. Should be a great year!

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Thanks again for always being there to answer our questions!! A full-time job I am sure!! ;)

This choice is killing me people........I have Honda in my veins.....I adored my 440.....it was like a part of me. Every Yamaha I have ever been on just never felt as much of an extension of my body as my Honda did. With my Honda, I forgot I was even on a quad most of the time!!! I didn't think about shifting, throttling, braking, turning.....I just thought about my race. Hard to explain, but some of you might get it. Not to mention I never doubted for a second that my quad would start - make it through a race - and be ready for another one without having to touch a wrench to it.

And now Yamaha had to go and come up with THIS!!!!:macho What are they trying to do to me??? Right when I had my Yami loving boyfriend convinced that the Honda was the way to go.......:grr: :rolleyes: What a decision.........I keep waiting for a major flaw to pop up....something to make this choice easier for me......but NOOOOOOO....everyone LOVES it!!! :) ;)

So.....my major dilemma is this.....my instincts say to go with the Honda - what I am most comfortable on and what I've had such excellent experience with. But I don't want to have a power disadvantage. I don't want to lose a race because my quad is not fast enough. On the other hand......when have I ever actually raced a quad to it's full potential??? So....the power advantage would be a moot point for me!! Right?? Then why do I still care about it??? Wouldn't it make more sense for me to get the quad I am most comfortable on??? Then why do I still think about the Yami???

Does this choice have anyone else as messed up as me? Cuz it's making me nutz.......:grr: ;)

perhaps you should ride both, saying your most comfortable on the trx450r is kinda hard to say since it isnt out yet. Its not hard to get comfortable on the yfz especially if you have a small frame ;) which i'm sure you do :) Even tho the seat is kinda hard.. but we wont go there :D