I finally joined the ranks of the 450 crowd!

[LVThumper]

Well, dad finally got his first new bike!! I picked up a brand new '08 YZ450 tonight!! Loading it in the truck, it felt as light as my son's 125 (compared to the '01 426). Although the boys have each had a couple of new bikes, I always went the used route, until tonight!! I haven't been this excited in a LONG time! Plus I got a screaming deal too! I can't wait to start ordering desert parts for this bad boy! 2010 is going to be one hell of a fun year for me!!

Now comes the fun part - tear it all down, grease it up, send the suspension off, toss the chain, replace the chain slider and disk guard, put the bark busters on, raise the bars, new tall seat, swap out the tires, etc. etc. ?

Crappy camera phone pic -

?

[coreyl]

nice i just got a 2007 yz450 today these bikes rip

[freerider_australia]

the old 426 would be like riding a truck ! the 08 is much better light and also starts easyer

enjoy all that power there heaps of it

[Wes Woodin]

Well, dad finally got his first new bike!! I picked up a brand new '08 YZ450 tonight!! Loading it in the truck, it felt as light as my son's 125 (compared to the '01 426). Although the boys have each had a couple of new bikes, I always went the used route, until tonight!! I haven't been this excited in a LONG time! Plus I got a screaming deal too! I can't wait to start ordering desert parts for this bad boy! 2010 is going to be one hell of a fun year for me!!

Now comes the fun part - tear it all down, grease it up, send the suspension off, toss the chain, replace the chain slider and disk guard, put the bark busters on, raise the bars, new tall seat, swap out the tires, etc. etc. ?

Crappy camera phone pic -

?

nice feeling isn't it! Congrats and welcome to blue blood country

[LVThumper]

It's been a long time coming, and I couldn't be happier!!

[McGill]

How was the customer service at RideNow?

[cwcarter]

Have fun and congratulations on your new bike.

[drumurr]

good luck and enjoy

[FinchFan194]

Congrats you are gonna love your new bike.

[LVThumper]

How was the customer service at RideNow?

I have had some bad experience with them in the past for parts and pricing of new bikes, but I must say they were great! I told them where I needed to be, let them know I had cash in hand, they called back about two hours later with the right price. I told them I would be there about an hour or so later and the bike (I actually waiting a little for them to finish up the bike prep) and paperwork were ready to go. I can't say one bad thing about them.

[Lota Fun R]

You guys crack me up! I just got an ole 426 and couldn't be happier about it.

What's the matter with the tires? How much for them shipped to 93550 (so cal)?

[myoung]

I just started racing again last June. I was racing my '00 426 and doing quite well with it in the novice class, but it was still holding me back. I bought a '09 450 in September and wow, what a difference. My lap times plummeted overnight and I got moved up to the amateur class, I'm doing quite well there now.

I still love my 426 and it's a great trail ride, but I'll never race it again.

[LVThumper]

It's funny because I have been racing the '01 426 for the past 3 1/2 years in desert races, GP's, and even 1 weekend at the Vet X race weekend last December at Glen Helen. I don't feel like it has been holding me back at all. I love that bike and will be sad when it goes away this weekend. At least it's going to a friend of mine, so I will get to ride it every once in a while. I can't wait to see how I do on the newer bike. I know 7 years of technology should come in handy. It feels so light and thin! Makes me want to loose some weight!! ?

[myoung]

Mine was holding me back because the power just wasn't there any more. Still running the original top end and it's past due, came down to rebuild the 426, or go new. I never owned anything as reliable as that 426. I love this thing too much to get rid of it, going to do a top end when I can and save it for desert riding and race the 450.

[mywifefarts]

You must have gotten a pretty sweet deal on a left over '08.

[LVThumper]

$5,050.00 OTD with tax, prep, shipping, and everything else they normally stick you for.

Broke it in on some of the Jackrabbit race course today and WOW is it ever fun!! It's mostly still bone stock, so proper springs and re-valved suspension will make even better! I can't wait to line up at the first Desert Race (the Jackrabbits course! ?) I haven't been this geeked up in a LONG time!

[jcm3]

$5,050.00 OTD with tax, prep, shipping, and everything else they normally stick you for.

Broke it in on some of the Jackrabbit race course today and WOW is it ever fun!! It's mostly still bone stock, so proper springs and re-valved suspension will make even better! I can't wait to line up at the first Desert Race (the Jackrabbits course! ) I haven't been this geeked up in a LONG time!

I know this is a three month old thread, but how do you like the new bike compared to the old 426?

I just got back into riding after about a 10 year layoff, and bought a 426 so that I could go riding with my 5 year old son whenver I wanted to and so I didn't have to worry about the stupid red sticker thing in Ca.

How much of a difference do you think the newer bikes make in terms of lap times for beginner or novice level racers? I don't imagine much at my level, but just curious. ?

Congrats, and I hope you are enjoying your new bike!