So I read the article in Dirty Wheels Saturday in my local 7-11...(Don't buy it, just read the magazine, put it down and wash your hands...LOL)
They did a pretty good write up on it, though we are all familiar with DW's writings...
They said the power was at least on par or better than the big 4, but can't tell for sure till shootout time...they liked that the power delivery was very smooth and controllable with no hard hit anywhere.
They said it felt as though the steering was heavy, then realized that it wasn't heavy, but that the front end actually sticks in the corners and tracks with little kickback they are used to, so from the sounds of it, it feels like it's got a steering stabilizer without having one.
It feels very light everywhere, their concern about all the aluminum dissolved when they saw people launching off a ski-type jump hitting ungodly air on a stock machine.
They loved the suspension, said it has to be the best stock suspension ever...bunch of sag, takes the small stuff smooth and then takes the big hits no problem. They also attribute the great handling and less jarring effect on the light suspension not "bouncing" as much as heavier units that need stiffer shocks to control wheel movement, somthing before the DS that wasn't discussed. Since the quad is lighter, and components are lighter, the shock doesn't have to work as hard and can offer up the better ride.
Their only complaint was a matter of preference, the taller riders said they could use a +1" stem to bring the bars up, but that's no biggie.
Surprising, later in the magazine, they had the big 4 shootout and the "Best stock quad yet, the Kawasaki KFX 450 from last month" didn't win this shootout...nope, it's a shocker, but the YFZ is still the "Best overall stock 450" available followed by Honda.
Wonder if we will get an unbia$ed comparison when this thing takes apart the vaunted YFZ, when their publication, Dirty Wheels is behind the words....
TPR
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