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Is the 2016 Worth $500 Over a New 2015?

By HwyChile,
in YZ400F/426F/450F/450FX

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HwyChile

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I will be picking up a new bike Tuesday (trading in my 2011 YZ250F for one).  Yamaha is giving $500 off the 2015.  Is the 2016 worth the extra $500?  I have always bought new leftovers (prior year models), but this has me thinking maybe I should change my strategy.  I only ride off-road and I do not really need the launch control.  I weigh 220 pounds and I understand the springs are lighter on the 2016.  Given I don't need the launch control and I need heavier springs, maybe I should stick to my past buying strategy to save a few bucks and get the 2015.  What do you think?  A dealer here in town says that they have the 2016 on the floor, so unless they sell it before Tuesday I could get it.  That is the choice.

 

By the way, this will be my first 450 and I have never even ridden a 450.  In case someone suggests gettting the WR or the FX, I prefer the extra light weight of the YZ. I used to own a WR250F and  I much prefer giving up the electric start and other things for the light weight.

 

Thanks for any thoughts.

Edited by HwyChile
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Bremer120

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If the difference is only $500 I would go with the 16. The 15 is not obsolete but that is a small amount of money to get a handful of changes. Like thumper said the cams are probably a big bonus especially if you ride off road. At 220 pounds I would think you will need springs with either bike.

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GHILL28

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At 220 you'll be almost spot on with the stock springs of the 2015.

 

Also nobody has conclusively found that the geometry changes of the 2016 are actually better yet (springrates and suspension setups being as equal as possible).

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HwyChile

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That's easy get the 16 yamaha also offers 500 blucru for the 16 yamaha made alot of changes to frame and suspension better cams for smoother power etc..

I don't race, so the blucru won't work for me.  I read about the changes, and that is what has me second guessing whether to pay the extra $500 of not.  The larger front brake should be nice too.  However, this is an expensive bike (like all of them) so getting $500 off would be nice too to ease the hurt.

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15thumper

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Wrong the 15 has a 5.8 rear stock but go ahead and tell me all your facts, I actually have the bike and have spent 35 hours on it and know what I'm talking about. The 16 was softened in the rear to 5.6 in order to lower the rear and the front offset raised to 25mm to compensate

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HwyChile

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Coming from a turd of a bike (2011 YZ250F), why would you consider a 450? Nearly 30lbs heavier, 20+hp over your 2011 etc etc. The jump is huge and I wouldn't recommend it until you ride a 450f first in the terrain you ride them in. Also, go for an hour too...

Well, I want a new bike and I want a Yamaha because of durability, quality, parts availability vs KTM, etc.  As I wrote above, I like the light weight of the YZ (I came from a heavy 2008 WR250F before I got the YZ250F).   I think the 250 is too small and underpowered for me (I've outgrown it), so what bike would you recommend?  I have no where to go but a YZ450F.  I could get the new YZ250F, which is certainly not a turd of a bike, but I have read posts where people who compared the 2011/2012 and the 2015 and they said there was not as much of a difference as they thought there would be in power.  The 2011 is a good bike for off-road for a lighter rider even if it was not the fastest 250 for motocross.  I am not sure why you would call it a turd.  Are you a troll?  LOL

 

I have no way to ride a 450 to test ride one so that is not an option for me.

Edited by HwyChile
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HwyChile

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Get the special edition '16. I would if I was in the market. With haggling and bLUcRU bucks it won't be that much more than the '15. Holdovers are ok if the savings was $1500, but not $500.

You make an excellent point. All the hold overs that i have bought in the past I got a lot more than $500 off, but that is because I bought later in the year than I am now.  That is why I don't think $500 is worth it.  If it was $1,000, I would not have even done this thread.  Maybe the smoother power on the 2016 will be better for me too since Monk thinks I am going to kill myself moving up from a 250.

Edited by HwyChile
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HwyChile

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Get the special edition '16. I would if I was in the market. With haggling and bLUcRU bucks it won't be that much more than the '15. Holdovers are ok if the savings was $1500, but not $500.

I need to get the bike next week and there are no special editions to be had here.  I am going on a vacation where I will be doing a lot of off road riding and I need the bike for that purpose.

 

Thanks for all the replies.  I am going to try to get the 2016 Tuesday.  

Edited by HwyChile
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GHILL28

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Wrong the 15 has a 5.8 rear stock but go ahead and tell me all your facts, I actually have the bike and have spent 35 hours on it and know what I'm talking about. The 16 was softened in the rear to 5.6 in order to lower the rear and the front offset raised to 25mm to compensate

 

Interesting, because I have the same bike as well with over 30 hours on it riding MX, desert, singletrack.

 

Have you actually rate checked the spring?  Because I have.

 

The nominal rates on these things really don't mean much, including many aftermarket springs.

 

I'll stick with the actual data, thanks.

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HwyChile

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And you dont have to race to get the 500 its on a pre paid blucru card that you can spend anywhe

I went to the blucru website and it requires that I have a newer bike than i have to sign up.  I guess I can sign up when I buy the new bike and still get the money?  

Edited by HwyChile
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Hans Schmid

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The 16 is the way to go ive spent 1000's on my 15 in order to do what they've dont in 16 to try and fix the front end wash out issue on the bike and to get it to handle the way it should

Not 1 single review available to this point says the 16 is a better handling bike then the 15. You are making speculation that the 16 will be "that" much better if a bike...

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Hans Schmid

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Well, I want a new bike and I want a Yamaha because of durability, quality, parts availability vs KTM, etc. As I wrote above, I like the light weight of the YZ (I came from a heavy 2008 WR250F before I got the YZ250F). I think the 250 is too small and underpowered for me (I've outgrown it), so what bike would you recommend? I have no where to go but a YZ450F. I could get the new YZ250F, which is certainly not a turd of a bike, but I have read posts where people who compared the 2011/2012 and the 2015 and they said there was not as much of a difference as they thought there would be in power. The 2011 is a good bike for off-road for a lighter rider even if it was not the fastest 250 for motocross. I am not sure why you would call it a turd. Are you a troll? LOL

I have no way to ride a 450 to test ride one so that is not an option for me.

Nope, just pointing out a few facts. You've never ridden a 450, I really don't think you understand how different they are over a 250f, especially one of the slowest 250fs made at the time. I've been riding for long enough with enough skill to handle and win on a 450 in the bush and even I think their too much. I also ride and train 3-4 days a week and spend a good amount of time testing and conditioning myself. I also document most every ride and the changes I've made to myself and the bike. I'm a better rider today then I was before but it's a lot of work. The changes to a 16 IMO will be worth nothing as you have nothing to compare to. Best to save your $500, get the dealer to throw in a tuner if possible and ride. The stock springs rates on the 15 will be more then adequate (I was your weight and I would say I might be a bit faster)and the front brake can be made to work well with a decent bleed and better pads...

For the record I have 80+hrs on my 450 at this point...

KTMs are also excellent bikes and I would put the 15/16 KTM 450s against and Yamaha 450 any day. Short of the suspension on the KTM, they are outstanding machines. The electric start itself is a thing of beauty...

Edited by Monk
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