true 06yz450 to 07yz450 comparison

[Edge316]

I just read the feb. edition of dirt bike mag. with the 2007 450 shootout and it really has me wondering about how the 06 and 07 yz motors compare.I usually dont pay a whole lot attention to what the magazines say,but to briefly quote what was said:"less than spectacular changes,most riders say it feels like a 390,and the yamaha has no real advantage over well,anything."These comments in the mag. have me wondering about my decision buying the 07 yz over the 06.I'm not saying that I'm not happy with my purchace,but having never ridden a 06 yz makes me wonder just how badass the 06 is.I have very few hours on my 07 yz and have not done any mods to it,not even jetting.Im getting ready to install the 170 main and 48 pilot I am sure the jetting will really wake up the bike.Now here is my question to all that have either owned both or ridden both the 06 and 07.How much different does the 06 motor feel compared to the 07 motor?How does the low,mid,and top end compare? I know alot of the difference is because of the stock exhaust,but it makes me wonder if its the exhaust or other internal changes.Also has anyone put a 06 exhaust on the 07 to see if that is the difference.

[grayracer513]

What are your lap times like?

I haven't ridden an '07 yet, but the '06 was criticized as feeling flat, and lacking any real snap. I also have an '03, a bike generally credited with being a nearly unrideable beast, power-wise. When both these bikes run together on the pavement side by side, they run right together, that is until the '06 pulls ahead on top. The only mod to either engine is after market exhausts.

The '06 is deceptively smooth, and has fooled a lot of people riding them into thinking that they are slower than other bikes when in fact, they aren't. To be fair, the tests are done with stock exhausts, and the stock pipe on both the '06 and '07 are known to cut the low end back some, so that may be part of it. But if the '07 is similar to the '06, it's not slow. In fact, that's the genius of the thing. It's so smooth and manageable that you don't have to worry nearly as much as usual about keeping it under control, which frees you up to pick better lines and work on your corner speed.

What was it I asked you at first? Oh yeah, how are your lap times? Mine are much lower on the '06 than on my '03.

[Baron Von Beard]

Many complaints from local racers on the lack of snap from the 07's. The 06's are perfect IMHO. Coming from a Honda, the 06 YZ feels smoother, but most certainly not slow, just more refined. The 07's were taken one step too far. Yamaha shouldn't have touch the motor or ignition mapping. With some carb tuning, the 06 YZ motor is damn near flawless. If I had the choice between an 06 and 07 YZ, I'm choosing the 06, which is good considering I did just that.?

[Lowrance]

Cyclenews' shootout has the YZ450F at the top of the heap for novices and second behind the Honda for pros. They pretty much loved the bike and ranked it 1st overall.

Unfortunately you have to rely on what these mags are telling you because there is no way to test all of the bikes yourself (unfortunately). That is, unless you have lots of well placed friends.

I'm buying an 07 450 this year and I'm 95% certain it'll be blue for various reasons but I'm waiting on the mags to finish their comparo's. I'll take what each one states and weight them according to their pecking order in my mind based on past experience. MXA (No. 1) tells it like it is and then tells you how to fix it (I love this mag for this reason). Dirtrider is second with what I feel is an in depth look with all level's of rider aboard. Cyclenews is third simply because they spread themselves pretty thin and I doubt can devote as much time and resources to testing as No 1 and 2. Dirtbike trails in fourth. Not because their a bad publication but from my experience they have fewer people doing the testing and writing so you get more of a particular individual's pesrective than a true group's.

Just my .02.

John

PS. If it feel's a little soft to you pipe it. I'm sure you'll get all you can use.

[Ga426owner]

come on folks screw the mag comparisions - you need to ask a buddy to let you ride what you want to buy - to each his/her own when it comes to buying what is best suited for your riding ability and style....remember you can wake up a flat feeling motor relatively easy....just like you can get better tires that suit your local conditions....a pipe will help tremendously

[____Kurt____]

this thread makes me having doubts about getting the 07 over the 06 for some reason, im getting one in early may and money isn't an issue here so i would like to have the 07 obviously because its newer but if its npt as good as the 06 then... i don't know, i don't race just rip around on hill climbs, trails, railroad tracks (straight line)

[YamieRider411]

this thread makes me having doubts about getting the 07 over the 06 for some reason, im getting one in early may and money isn't an issue here so i would like to have the 07 obviously because its newer but if its npt as good as the 06 then... i don't know, i don't race just rip around on hill climbs, trails, railroad tracks (straight line)

Get the 07... Trust me you'll love it... I've rode both the 06 and 07 and the little changes Yamaha made make a difference. I'm not saying don't buy the 06 because it a great bike, but if it were my money 07 all the way. PS I’ve never rode a bike that sticks in corners like the 07, this is with the stock suspension mind you.

[Captaincautious7]

Motocross Action gave it a second behind the CRF in the shootout results. Their comment was essentially that it was too refined? I just recently traded my 05crf450 for the 07yzf450 and will admit there is not as much hit down low, but at the same time I am very impressed with the smooth engine characteristics and extremely impressed with the suspension and handling. I'm very satisfied with the yz.

[bboyce]

Just a thought, but I have heard that if you put on the stock 06 Silencer, it wakes up the bike a bit. You may want to check ebay for cheep used ones if you want a little more...

[Ga426owner]

Just a thought, but I have heard that if you put on the stock 06 Silencer, it wakes up the bike a bit. You may want to check ebay for cheep used ones if you want a little more...

or a WB Alum Pro, DRD, FMF....these will wake it up...?

[billyo]

Motocross Action gave it a second behind the CRF in the shootout results. Their comment was essentially that it was too refined? I just recently traded my 05crf450 for the 07yzf450 and will admit there is not as much hit down low, but at the same time I am very impressed with the smooth engine characteristics and extremely impressed with the suspension and handling. I'm very satisfied with the yz.

same here. tested all of the big 4 recently. decided on the 07 yz450f hands down, no question. i'm coming off years of riding strictly 250f's. i'm trying to adapt to the big bores. yamahas super light feel, smooth motor and awesome suspension sold me. the so called lack of bottom don't bother me a bit because revving out a 250f is all i know. the yz450 feels like the best transitional bike for me. so far so good......?

[motoag93]

I had the same decision to make....I'm not fast enough to tell the difference between an 06 and the 07 though. I couldn't get anyone to deal on their last 06's so I went with the 07.

Either way you won't be disappointed. ?

[aford541]

I just read the feb. edition of dirt bike mag. with the 2007 450 shootout and it really has me wondering about how the 06 and 07 yz motors compare.I usually dont pay a whole lot attention to what the magazines say,but to briefly quote what was said:"less than spectacular changes,most riders say it feels like a 390,and the yamaha has no real advantage over well,anything."These comments in the mag. have me wondering about my decision buying the 07 yz over the 06.I'm not saying that I'm not happy with my purchace,but having never ridden a 06 yz makes me wonder just how badass the 06 is.I have very few hours on my 07 yz and have not done any mods to it,not even jetting.Im getting ready to install the 170 main and 48 pilot I am sure the jetting will really wake up the bike.Now here is my question to all that have either owned both or ridden both the 06 and 07.How much different does the 06 motor feel compared to the 07 motor?How does the low,mid,and top end compare? I know alot of the difference is because of the stock exhaust,but it makes me wonder if its the exhaust or other internal changes.Also has anyone put a 06 exhaust on the 07 to see if that is the difference.

I have an 06 and an 07 right now and I just rode the 06 this weekend with the 07 suspension on it which is important because the rear shock is a little longer than the 06 which contributes to the turning complaints (which I've not had much issue with)

I also put the Yoshamura pipe, the power nows, the same wheels and tires, brake rotors, air filter and screenelss cage off the 07 on the 06.

The thing I noticed is that I could not ride the bike as long it seemed more rigid and harsh than the 07 does, the motor has more bottom end and mid range than the 07, the 06 revs a little slower and seems to get less traction, I know it sounds weird but the added bottom end snap seems to spin the rear tire more. I like the 07 bike buch better, it is much more user friendly than the 06 in my book even though they are not much different. Both bikes are a joy to ride.

[Drfletcherdc]

I think they typically run the shoot outs with stock jetting. I noticed once I changed my jetting it was like adding a couple of horsepower down low. Either way it's still plenty of engine for most of us.

[aford541]

oh yeah I should have added that the 06 is jetted the same as the 07 45 NFLR needle 168 main.

[MikeDD]

I have very few hours on my 07 yz and have not done any mods to it,not even jetting.Im getting ready to install the 170 main and 48 pilot I am sure the jetting will really wake up the bike.

I have an 07 and noticed with the 48/170 combo it smoothed my bike out even more. For me the power for me was much more user friendly. Anyhow, I think the main jet could be a size smaller but I plan on purchasing a pipe soon so I am just going to wait.

[briank3000]

Have you heard of anyone putting an 07 head pipe with the 06 silencer on an 06. I am going to do this this weekend.

[stock510]

or a WB Alum Pro, DRD, FMF....these will wake it up...

So true, my mate just bought a 06 450F with an Aluminium Pro on it and damn that thing is so much more responsive with a lot more power down low compared to my 06 450F with the stock pipe.

My 06 i thought was crisp but that bike of his i couldnt beleive the defference a pipe could make.

So just for fun i found a bargain on a carbon pro and cant wait to get it on my bike. Has been delivered just waiting on my bike to be put back together after a new piston and ring effort.

[StPeters21]

I have a 06 and my buddy has a 07. The 07 doesnt seem as fast, but buttery smooth. IMO if you changed the restrictive pipe it might wake up. I really didn't notice any handling differences. Although he is short and my bike is set up for me.....very tall.

[Ron Hamp]

I know how to make your yamahs faster and smoother .also its quite simple to make the yamaha a pro level engine caable of running with any of the curent pros bikes .Dirt Rider picked Clark Styles yamaha over Nicks honda last fall in there test Clark had some secret RHC goodies in his engine .