2003 YZF's

[YZ250F_MotoRacer]

I was wonderng if anyone knew what was goin to be changed or new for the 2003 YZ 426? I heard it was going to gain 24 more cc's, have e start, and be 20 lbs lighter. I have a YZ 250 F and I'm going to get a 426 but I was wondering if I should hold off for the 2003's if it's going to be improved to match the CRF 450.

[yamaha.dude]

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if it's going to be improved to match the CRF 450.

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End Quote

What do you mean? The YZ/WR has always been the better bike, even if it was plumper than the other 'Johnny come lately' ...

As for the specifics, well, you will read about them here at TT as soon as anyone when the dealer shows in June are over and it becomes public knowledge... until then we are all just speculating... and wishing...

HTH

David

[MN_Kevin]

NOTHING has been released to the public...YET!

[XR6's_rule]

yamahadude-gee the YZ/WR's are better eh? Well why is it that CRF's are selling like hotcakes (worldwide)to the point that dealers (In OZ) will be finding them difficult to obtain for at least six months? And yes the same thing happened when the YZ/WR's were released but we're talking about Honda here, the company that has a much larger production power than Yamaha. Honda's intention was to build the CRF450R to outperform and outsell the Yamaha, and (going by very popular opinion) it has-thus far-been very successful. I do give credit to Yamaha though, for the revolution in dirt bike design.

[lewichris]

[ May 09, 2002: Message edited by: lewichris ]

[YZ250F_MotoRacer]

Well Yamaha dude, I don't know where you've been for the past year, but Honda's 450 is 12 lbs lighter, has 24 more cc's, and has an automatic decompression valve. So, yes, I'd say there is some room for improvment for the 426 in order for it to match Honda's 450.

[YAMAKAZE]

Automatic decompression Sucks, as an owner of a second bike that has one, I would never own another one unless that is all that was available.

Bonzai ?

[YAMAKAZE]

COME-ON Lewis...Leave it up there next time long enough for all of us to read....Man I feel Cheated!

Bonzai ?

[lewichris]

this a similar post and on the other post i wrote something. So i got my panties in a bunch when i looked at this post and saw that it was not there. i though that it had gotten deleted so i was mad. So that is why i deleted it. I was a bit rude to a moderator and so now my foot is in my mouth.

[yamaha.dude]

Hey, give as good as you want lewisChris... I am not about to deregister you for having an opinion... LOL

I know the Honda has this and that, is lighter etc... but as an overall package, I like the YZ/WR... That is my opnion and I expressed it...

All bikes have their good points and bad points... I know for me, I was never going to be happy on an XR - and I could not get a CRF registered for the road. The WR suits me and the places I ride... Sure, it would be nice to have one of the latest toys, but then, have they been as reliable?

Ever buy V1.0 of anything and find it totally bug proof?

Just my opnions, and I would love to hear you opnions about the bikes as well...

Always makes me laugh when I see a new "what is the 2003 model going to be like?" type post... we will all know soon enough, but until I know for sure, I am happy with my WR...

I had to have a light-hearted dig at the Honda, esp. considering we are a Yamaha forum... ? Where is the Solidarity?

I see a few CRFs down at the local track, but they are not world beaters... they sometimes get a place, but the YZ and KTM guys always seem to be in the points consistently...

I think weight is overrated when looking at bike specs. Unless you race supercross all the time - I see plenty of riders (of all sorts of machines) who could lose 10 or 20lb's of their own weight and that would make them better (lighter and fitter) riders...

As for 24cc's extra, well, the Wr has plenty of power for me, and if you can honestly tell me you can take full advantage of the extra 24cc's then you are probably a professional rider, probably with some factory or aftermarket support, and therefore you have a bike that is not stock and the whole equation goes out the window when talking about power and weight variables...

I still maintain having your suspension dialled in correctly will make you actually faster, rather than having a lighter bike...

Horses for courses, but my preference is for the WR/YZ line, and I used to have a Honda - Yamaha just has the best package for me at this point in my life...

David

[ May 09, 2002: Message edited by: yamaha.dude ]

[blue_beast_wins]

Cop this, in aus the wr is still the most registered trail bike !!!!!!

[tp3dxf]

I think Honda will be playing catch up once again very soon. Don't get me wrong the CRF 450 is a awsome track machine. There is no question about that. The YZ/WR set the standard and Honda answered. This is good for anyone who rides no matter what you ride. I still believe and I may be wrong but Yamaha will not stand still. They will make another run. I just wish Suzuki and Kawasaki would get into the game. Competition is better for us all. May the best brand win.

[XR6's_rule]

I agree wholely and solely with tp3dxf, this revolution of dirt bike design & technology benefits us all. We no longer now have to ride XR600's !! If you remember back seven years ago they were the only real choice and now we have bikes with all the technology and performance most of us we could ever ask for. Roll on the battle of the titans- Yamaha and Honda!! ?

[rob1980]

While some in OZ may think the CRF is better, lets see how long it takes Honda to knock the WR426 off as the most registered bike in Australia. Yamaha are on a roll, and I can't see them letting even Honda get in their way.

[XR6's_rule]

Now that Yamaha has had their "flash in the pan" sales success, the time will soon come where Honda release their road legal CRF and regain the top spot they held for..um how long was it?....yeah 14 years with the XR6 and XR4. ?

[rob1980]

I would hardly call 4 years going on 5 "flash in the pan" sales success.

The time will come for the road legal CR hey? How long has it been? 4 years now?

How long is Honda prepared to wait?

[Manic]

Originally posted by XR6's rule:

I agree wholely and solely with tp3dxf, this revolution of dirt bike design & technology benefits us all. We no longer now have to ride XR600's !! If you remember back seven years ago they were the only real choice and now we have bikes with all the technology and performance most of us we could ever ask for. Roll on the battle of the titans- Yamaha and Honda!! ?

[Fryboy]

I heard the new 2003 WR426F will have a set of Lips you mount on the gas tank with only 5 oz weight increase! OHHH ! Lets see if KTM can match that !!!!

[Manic]

Don't forget how long it took the almighty Honda to come up with anything competetive with the Yamaha's. And why is it they sell a manual decompression lever kit for the cr450f?

As far as sales goes, nobody can compete with the giant H. in advertising or budget. Let's face it, who else could afford to win championships by buying up the competition's top riders (R.C. N.R. E.F.).

But then that's how they do business.

P.S. I rode with a big bad crf over the weekend and it didn't appear to have much if over my stock 99 wr400, as a matter of fact my buddies wr426 was faster!

[Dan_Lorenze]

Let' all face one thing. This was the first year of the new CRF. I have friends that have them, they all agree that they burn oil have leaky air boxes and don't hold a line in cornering as good as the Yamaha. What's this?? I thought Honda was suppose to be this "reliable bike builder" that only built perfect bikes. I've never considered myself as a "Yamaha fan". But man im starting to become one. 2003 will be a big year for Yamaha and im sure that I'll be buying another "bulletproof" bike from them. I have seriously abused my bike in the Nevada desert with no problems what so ever. That's a good track record if you ask me.....

DL ?