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'06 vs.'07 vs.'08 vs.'09 YZ 450: which do you prefer?

By HotRod250F,
in YZ400F/426F/450F/450FX

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HotRod250F

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Ok, I'm contemplating going back to Yamaha after a two year stint on a CRF450. Nothing against the Honda, just that I bleed blue, born and raised on Yamaha's and I want to go back. I'm looking at '06 to '09 YZ450s. I'd like to hear from all of you who have owned any of these models and give me an honest comparison, which year do you prefer for best power, suspension, handling, etc. I know alot of you will say, "the '09 is the newest so its the best", but newer model year doesn't always necessarily mean better. Looking for some honest, real world feedback. Oh yeah, I ride 50% MX, 50% So Cal desert.

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dirtdevil72

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Ok, I'm contemplating going back to Yamaha after a two stint on a CRF450. Nothing against the Honda, just that I bleed blue, born and raised on Yamaha's and I want to go back. I'm looking at '06 to '09 YZ450s. I'd like to hear from all of you who have owned any of these models and give me an honest comparison, which year do you prefer for best power, suspension, handling, etc. I know alot of you will say, "the '09 is the newest so its the best", but newer model year doesn't always necessarily mean better. Looking for some honest, real world feedback. Oh yeah, I ride 50% MX, 50% So Cal desert.

I ride all desert, so any of those years are good. There isnt much difference in those years very little, so the one with the best price and least amount of abuse is the one for you. Then send the suspension to dave j at smart performance and you will definately be happy. the motors are bulletproof, have over 200 hours and haven't touched the motor, not even a valve adjustment.?

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Gunner354

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I ride all desert, so any of those years are good. There isnt much difference in those years very little, so the one with the best price and least amount of abuse is the one for you. Then send the suspension to dave j at smart performance and you will definately be happy. the motors are bulletproof, have over 200 hours and haven't touched the motor, not even a valve adjustment.?

400 and counting!

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fastyz250

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i have an 06 and i love it i rode my buddy's 07 and it didnt seem to have the same power as the 06 mine felt like it pulled alot harder and had alot more snap to it i changed the triple clamps on mine to a different offset and it helped alot with the handling. i hope this helps

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rcdude33

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I personally have a 2009 that i bought as a leftover from my dealer i work at.

First off i will say that the bike is awesome but when i got used to the power, the bike seemed really really mellow and not as snapy as the other 450s. So i then added a Dr.d stainless full system on it and MAN it really woke that bike up.!!!!!! I was popping wheelies in bends and the whole nine yards.

The suspension is very plush and im at about 210 so i may need some springs as well. very very smooth, and it absorbs obstacles perfectly. I ride woods so thats why i say obstacles.

BTW if you want more snappy power, i would recomend a 06 cdi and cams as well.

I can go on and on about my 09 but heres the thing. Any yz450f from 06 and up you are going to love!!!The yz450fs are all very very reliable and they will treat you right if you maintain and take care of them. Only thing that really changed was in 07 i think ignition changes. 08 the ignition mapping adjusted for smooth power and a crappy exhaust. And in 09 they had a new rear hub, new swingarm, and new linkage as well for better turning. Like i said any yz450f you get you are absolutley going to love!!!!??

Just my 2 cents

thanks man and god bless

Alex

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HotRod250F

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Thanks for the replies guys. So if I understand correctly, the power was mellowed out after '06? does it get progressively mellower with each new model year? what about suspension and handling? I'd love to hear from guys who've had an '06 and then '08, '09, etc?

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rcdude33

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Thanks for the replies guys. So if I understand correctly, the power was mellowed out after '06? does it get progressively mellower with each new model year? what about suspension and handling? I'd love to hear from guys who've had an '06 and then '08, '09, etc?

I think the 10 and up the power was better i believe. I think in 10 they said the bike had hard hitting low end. And plus now you can change the fuel mapping and ignition timing via GYTR tuner so you can change the bike to your riding style and skill level.

And in 2010 and up they went with the bilateral frame which reasults in way better turning as well. And they changed the rear shock too, its wicked looking:banana: And from the years on i think 11 was the same as the 10, and the 12 had different suspension valving i think, and it has a quieter exhaust. And oh yeah of course.....BLACK RIMS!!!!!?

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grayracer513

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"Mellower" might be the wrong word for it. When the '06 first came out, it was criticized for not being as snappy as the '04, but before that, people were complaining about the '04 being too snappy and aggressive.

The '06 is my favorite power-wise, with lots of low end power, but delivered in a smooth and manageable manner, with a good hard pull through mid, tapering off, not falling off, at the top. Successive years were each one slightly more biased toward top end power, with a little less at low and low-mid. The '08 was the first year with the "shorty" muffler, which was an abysmal, ineffective, giant step backward to a muffler technology used in the late sixties on street bikes. That system aggravated the trimming back of mid range power by as a 7hp at 5000 RPM, making things seem worse than they really were. The later bikes do really scream up top, but your "butt dyno" might tell you they're "mellower" because of the reduced grunt in the basement. All totally and fairly cheaply correctable.

OTOH, the later chassis are progressively more refined, and the newer bikes handle a bit better. That sort of thing is usually harder to fix than the other stuff.

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GHILL28

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The stock exhaust on the '06 (I hear) was the best flowing. Straight cross section in the silencer versus the '07-09' exhausts that were widest in the middle, with two choke points at either end. That's about all I know about them.

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rcdude33

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How do these year YZF's compare to '06-'08 CRF450's as far as power and handling? Just curious.

I did hear the crfs turn excellent but i think if you just change the offset of the triple clamps you can make the yz450fs turn better. But if you get one i would ride it first and see how you like it:thumbsup: And remember its all the rider too:thumbsup:

And as far as power im sure they are about the same. Any 450 will put a smile on your face. And as for reliablility, i personally think yamaha will be the most reliable. But you do have to maintain the bike too. I do frequesnt oil chages and clean air filter every ride:thumbsup:

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grayracer513

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I prefer low end grunt and a strong mid,so the '06 might be the ticket. What about handling and suspension on the'06? And reliability? I've had several 426's and 250Fs and they were bulletproof, are the newer YZFs the same?
They've all been very reliable. If it were me, I'd get an '08 or '09, install a DRD stainless system, and an '06 CDI, then do the suspension the same way I did my '06.
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