YZ 450F preview in Dirt Rider

[Shawn_Mc]

The only reason I would buy the honda over the yamaha would be the weight factor. Plain and simple, its easier for me to man handle a lighter motorcycle for a longer period of time. The one and only time I rode a CRF i noticed the wieght difference about 3" from the truck. I was raised on hondas. Ive owned at least one honda at a time for over 25 years. Say what you want, but I can still go to the dealer and buy parts for my 88 CR500. Try that with some of the older yamahas. Not so easy. Even harder with Kawsaki and Suzuki's. Brand loyalty runs too deep with things that we race/ride/play with to get an objective analysis here. Just my .02

[Guest Guest]

I saw a pic and also talked to Mr Yoshida(yam designer) and he said to save lbs. that they wer making the gas tank 1pint instead of 2.2 gallons.

Also they were putting helium in the forks to put a little negative downforce on the front end of the yz449f 03' !!!!!! ?

[mxaddict]

Originally posted by THUMPIN' ROCK HUCKER:

I saw a pic and also talked to Mr Yoshida(yam designer) and he said to save lbs. that they wer making the gas tank 1pint instead of 2.2 gallons.

That should work out well, as it will run out of fuel just about the time most regular Joe's like us pump up and need oxygen anyway! On that kinda' kidding note...

as far as the weight thing goes, for amateurs running 5 lap moto's the extra weight shouldn't be a big deal, I never once got off a 426 and thought the weight was holding me back. BUT, if it can be lighter then all the better, because the bike is easier to handle, less tiring if you do ride for long periods of time and feels more nimble and controllable. Last time I checked those were all things I looked for in a bike.

[mxaddict]

Originally posted by therapture:

I am too slow...

haha!...he's lying

Originally posted by therapture:

Both bikes can jam in capable hands, don't worry so much and go ride!

He's not lying.

[18F]

My local dealer did a T&E with Dubach on the 450 last month and they both said the 450 was "way fast" and light.

[Ga426owner]

Man, a lot of you sound like those friggin whiners from the CRF side. Go buy the Red bike, you will fit in fine over there! What the hell is wrong with the current design? Not a damn thing except some weight, starting issue & maybe another needed 24cc's. Yamaha has a proven design that has much better (Tunable)suspension & ergo's for anyone over 5ft 4inches tall than Honda's. "The hole in the sideplates" gimmi a break...how else do you pick the beast up? You are gonna change the triple clamps, the handle bars, the pipe for your own taste. My advice is to shut up & see what the official word is before you type the stupidity that I am reading here. FYI: either one is going to be a fine dirt bike .... & remember, we are all on the hobby here ?

[gettin2old4this]

Well put ga426

[John_Lorenz]

Thumpin Rock Shuckster

Thats a lie

I have the only two Photons of the 03 yz. These were given to me by a friend who new someone, that had this girl friend that was a hooker, that worked in Japan next to the house of Mr Yoshida(yam designer). First Picture is a secret test ground with secret test riders Dougish Dubacinstan

and his Factory Mechanic

The Second Picture is the Exclusive Euro Style yz for Europe.

Notice how they tried to disquize the bike with the 350 stickey Hay we know better

2nd Photon

The Ego has the connections

[ May 30, 2002: Message edited by: EgoAhole ]

[gonzo]

Ego those are soooo funny. Not as funny as your bail though sorry.

[MGR_8]

One thing to keep in mind regarding the pic's (I haven't seen them)in Dirt Bike is Yamaha is not going to release final version prior to the dealer show. Remember last year when the mags were showing pics of the 02's, the 125/250 looked just like the 01. Surprised everyone when the real bike showed up.

IMO, this is a BIG year for Yamaha, Honda stole a lot of their thunder and they want it back. Dubach said that this bike has been running for two years. Probaly could have been release last year, but why when Honda was going ot release the 450. Marketing my friends!

My guess for the 03: It will weight under 240 wet. The cool iginition that everyone wants now...it will be on it....why do you think Dubach was so vage with the mags. The plastic will look similar to the 02 125/250. Dubach said that they are going to try to run the 450 production with the 250...it would make sense for the plastic (shrouds)be the same. Auto decompression...this one is a must. Before everyone goes off...I can start my 426 pretty easy, but it would be nice not to have to go thru the "drill". No daught it will be a 450. And I am sure it will come with BNG!

I for one can't wait to see the new bike. I think it is going to just kill the CRF450. At least I hope so. Can't see myself riding RED.

Time will tell. Until then, I am going to love every minute I get to ride!

Later,

MRG8

[yzboy]

ego, thats a real good picture of you with the leather jacket. (your the man, you can always count on you to spice things up.) ?

[John_Lorenz]

HEY

Im just trying to help darn it

Ok Gonzo so you can jump, anyone can edit a picture these days

yzboy That aint me

Thats my Evial Twin Udder

I dont get it, I thik you guys are picking on me

?

[Ga426owner]

MXAddict if you are 6'8" you are the only SOB to fit on a stock CRF 450. Why do you think that your knees are in your face and against the handlebars while cornering. Maybe you just have real short legs & a real long body! No seriously, the 02CRF is more suited to shorter riders. This is why most people I race with that are taller than 5'4" are moving the pegs around. I believe this is addressed in the 03 model.

In my above statement: Yamaha, in my humble opinion only needs to address the weight issue, the starting issue & the extra power of 20somthing cc's. Other than that I am completely happy with my 426 (if you have ever read any thread or reply to any post that I have typed). & the starting drill has never been a factor until you stall in a moto. I am not defensive, but I am annoyed at the whining that people seemed to exhibit to expect Yamaha to completely throw away a proven design that still wins races & a frame that offers some flexibility as opposed to rigidity of the current Honda frame.

And also, I believe that both bikes are the 2 most viable 4 strokes for winning races. Is that fair enough for you?

[John_Lorenz]

Ga

Now we have somethng, Ditto

[MotoGreg]

The magazines do know everything about the new YZF as of several days now. I asked my friend for some details but he said he's sworn to secrecy and he'd only tell me that it's basically what we had thought it would be... Which is the same basic frame and engine (only cc's bumped up to 450) with all the little things lightened up just like the CRF. I asked about an automatic compression release but he wouldn't tell me.

[John_Lorenz]

Again the I got a friend

Here I go

I got a friend that had a friend that walked by a dud that was talking to a hooker (Gotta Have A Hooker), That were talking Prices. This friend that had a friend that walked by a dude that was talking to the hooker said ?

Get the Drift ?

Untill The show and tell press release, its all speculation and trust no one who says I got a friend who did this dudes girl friend and when she was screaming yelled the stats of the 03 yamy

[ May 30, 2002: Message edited by: EgoAhole ]

[TEXAS4STROKE]

Whatever yamaha does,i just hope it kicks some honda 450 BUTT !!!!!!!

[mxaddict]

Originally posted by Ga426owner:

MXAddict if you are 6'8" you are the only SOB to fit on a stock CRF 450. Why do you think that your knees are in your face and against the handlebars while cornering. Maybe you just have real short legs & a real long body! No seriously, the 02CRF is more suited to shorter riders. This is why most people I race with that are taller than 5'4" are moving the pegs around. I believe this is addressed in the 03 model.

In my above statement: Yamaha, in my humble opinion only needs to address the weight issue, the starting issue & the extra power of 20somthing cc's. Other than that I am completely happy with my 426 (if you have ever read any thread or reply to any post that I have typed). & the starting drill has never been a factor until you stall in a moto. I am not defensive, but I am annoyed at the whining that people seemed to exhibit to expect Yamaha to completely throw away a proven design that still wins races & a frame that offers some flexibility as opposed to rigidity of the current Honda frame.

And also, I believe that both bikes are the 2 most viable 4 strokes for winning races. Is that fair enough for you?

knees in my face? nope...

Listen bud, calling me a liar is not cool, and you are wrong. How many racers on open 4 strokes do you know that are 5'4" or under? I would bet the percentage of CRF riders under 5'4" is less than 5%, far less probably. In fact most of the guys I know are over 6', and mysteriously they all can ride it just fine, despite your uninformed proclamation that it is built for riders shorter than Carmichael. As far as the '03, the seat to peg distance is exactly the same as the whole bike is raised .3".

On the other issue, I'm glad you are happy with your bike, but to criticize others for wanting a better product in the future is ignorant. Progress is the reason we all ride what we now do instead of 2002 clones of the Elsinore 125. You should be anxious to see what improvements Yamaha will make, not bashing guys for hoping for changes. If they want to change to a different model/brand if the changes aren't to their liking then good for them, it doesn't reflect on you. You act like they are personally insulting you and your choice of ride by making a different choice. Who are you to tell them what they want? If you love your ride great, keep it, ride it and enjoy it. But don't tell others they are stupid because their choice is not yours.

[Motoxjeff95]

Aaaaaaaaaaaammmmmeeeeeeennnnnnn!!!!! ?

[Hick]

Addict,

You are a bit of a handful for the blue side IMO. Maybe you should go back over to the red side. Nowhere in his post has GA called you a liar. All he said is that the YZ has better ergos for taller riders. He never said “that it is built for riders shorter than Carmichael.” You are more guilty of the generalizations that you are accusing him of, and I felt a need to comment on that irony. Ordinarily I wouldn’t care, but you did the same thing to me in an exhaust post on the CRF side. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t know better...

Also, when GA said:

Originally posted by Ga426owner:

Yamaha has a proven design that has much better (Tunable)suspension & ergo's for anyone over 5ft 4inches tall than Honda's.

You said:

“I hope you were joking...that statement is ridiculous.”

Addict, that is by no means a rididculous statement. It may be incorrect in your opinion, but how is it ridiculous to opine that YZ suspension is better, and that YZ ergos are better for taller riders??? In short, who here is being ridiculous???

You also go on to accuse him of “bashing guys [who are] hoping for changes,” which he does not do.

I’ve no doubt you are a perfectly reasonable dude, and one who is knowledgeable (and therefore valuable to have around), but in my case and GAs I think you are jumping the gun a bit, so to speak. IMO calling GA a liar is a bit harsh given what he actually posted, I don’t think that type of attack was warranted, and it only takes away from all the benefit an experienced rider such as yourself can contribute to ignorant spodes like me.

Hope this helps.