06 vs. 08

[ltrosson]

Is the 08 alot better than the 06. I have found what I think to be a good deal on a 06, but is the 08 cornering alot better, or just better all the way around.

[Drfletcherdc]

Depends on your level of riding. I personally don't think that I would know that much difference. BTW, I loved my 06.

[armstrong100]

Is the 08 alot better than the 06. I have found what I think to be a good deal on a 06, but is the 08 cornering alot better, or just better all the way around.

I've heard the 08 is alot smoother and handles alot better than the 06. I rode an 06 and i didn't like it. I haven't riddin an 08 450 yet but my friend has one and he loves it.

[The Italian Stallion]

I have never rode an 08 but I rode an 07 and I like the 06 engine better.Cornering? I don't know you can't believe all the hype...I mean they still complain about it so how much better can it be? I wouldn't shy away from a good 06.Low hrs and well cared for mind you.

[ltrosson]

I had an 06, and thought it was time to stop racing, 42 years old. Bought a boat and sold the bike. Fishing is not for me, sold the boat and time to get another bike, I am not ready to grow up. I liked the 06, but my cornering sucks, mostly me, but if the 08 is better I would go that way. It is a good deal on the 06, somewhat torn right now. thanks for the advice.

[Emiliano]

I have a 08, and my friend has a 07, I can tell you the diference is A LOT. He said the same thing, so I figured the difference with the 06 must be enormous.

And we are average normal riders, nothing crazy.

[Gerry B]

I raced my 06 all of last year and I just bought an 08 and I noticed right away how much better my 08 turns compared to my 06. To me, it was a day and night difference. But that was me. You may get other opinions that differ.

[jdog53]

Are we comparing stock machines? I have an 06 that I think would blow away an 08, but, it has: full hinson clutch assembly, full FMF pipe system, high compression pistion, full Race Tech suspension set up for 250lb. triple trees, etc.

It is impossible to say one is better than the other by a landslide as most of us can not ride a stock bike as they are made for riders that weigh between 150-180lbs. My bike rips and would not buy a new one until Yamaha comes out with EFI so I do not have to worry about jetting in different weather and elevations.

[gdbarr1976]

I Just bought a 08 yz and my 06 is for sale($3500). If it was not for the contingency $ I would still be on my 06. There really is not that much difference except that in stock form the 06 is much faster. The 08 pipe is the problem. Does it turn better. A little but make sure the sag is right on the 06 and it is close. If you ride both bikes back to back and they are both fresh and set up you can tell a difference but you probably won' t be going any faster one over the other.

gary

[gbalias]

what could make one turn so much better than the other?

i mean, if you set the bike up properly....you should be able to run pretty much the same race.

if its in the geometry of the chassis, can one or the other not be adjusted? theres so much fine tuning thats involved in going fast, i think if you spent enough time setting up an 06, then the 08, it seems youd have similar characteristics. now if youre talking about stock vs stock....then yea, perhaps there is a "HUGE" difference.

[gtguy]

I installed a Storm link, tall seat, slid the forks up 8mm on my 06 and think it turns as good if not better than my 07 YZ250 smoker. I think part of it is the motor pulls so hard down low it's hard to steer when the front wheel is off the ground

[RJB]

I had an 06, and thought it was time to stop racing, 42 years old. Bought a boat and sold the bike. Fishing is not for me, sold the boat and time to get another bike, I am not ready to grow up. I liked the 06, but my cornering sucks, mostly me, but if the 08 is better I would go that way. It is a good deal on the 06, somewhat torn right now. thanks for the advice.

Got you on the handling side - my cornering sucks too. What I have found is that sliding way forward on the bike in a corner makes a huge difference. As to which one handles better - no idea, as far as I am concerned, my 02 426 handles just as well (but as I mentioned, my cornering sucks). I guess to a hardcore rider there is a difference.

[JakeSchmutz108]

theres aftermarket triple clamps for the 06 you can put on that change the pitch of the forks to make the 06 corner better. theres rad lowering kits to lower center of gravity to also improve cornering. hands down the 08 is a better machine the gearing is smoother, handling better. just a all out better bike in my opinion. youll just half to mess with the suspension a little and get it to your liking. and youll have a good handling bike like the 08.

[x2468]

what's the power comparison between the two? i've read that the 08 has a really restrictive stock muffler and is pretty soft in the power department. is the 06 down a bit in power too (relatively speaking to the other 450s)

[The Italian Stallion]

what's the power comparison between the two? i've read that the 08 has a really restrictive stock muffler and is pretty soft in the power department. is the 06 down a bit in power too (relatively speaking to the other 450s)

In the low end it is compared to the Honda and Kawasaki but mid and up the Yamaha pulls harder and longer and it does it very smoothly its hard to describe.The stock pipe was restrictive on the 06 as well.When I put on a DR D pipe it changed the bike.I have drag raced hondas on long grass drags and alway pull them,even with a 51t sprocket.On a nother note I had an idea as I was staring at my bike the other day in the garage.Iwas looking at my lowered rads and honestly It is an improvment with them on but how much wieght is actually in the rads when the bike is running? Here me out on this one.What if you were to weld a 2lb weight behind you skidplate it would fit nice right at the front and probably work better than lowering the rads.???

[yz_for_me]

I've never ridden an '06 or an '08 so maybe I'm speaking out of school here, but it seems to me the Yamaha has had the same basic cornering problem to one degree or another for years. Some of this may just be Yamaha's philosophy on bike handling (ie: emphasis on stability rather than cornering) In the case of the '06 to '08 models they have made improvements each year, but the same basic trait has not been completely resolved even with the '08.

[djtroy]

If you race get the 08 if you ride for fun grab the 06 and spend $$ on a pipe jetting, suspension and 24mm triple clamps and im sure it would be a better bike for you if your not racing.