I find it funny that I received this in an email yesterday

meyermetal, on 22 May 2012 - 07:32 AM, said:

In Reed's last podcast with Matthes he was referring to the 2012 YZF. Being the worst handling in his opinion.  Reed also riding well over the front of his bikes and preferring stiff forks.

I suspect the 2010+ S frame is a huge difference too. In addition to the backward cylinder.  Just look at the thing, compared to a conventional perimeter alum frame, imagine how it'd flex up/down sideways and twist. Especially with some stiff forks on it.  Plus it's got those massive cylinder head stays, that some teams make out of carbon.

No doubt James said the last bike he felt comfortable on was his 2009 YZF. He also said he preferred the 2008 KX over the 2009.

Coppins said that team CDR worked out something in 2011 to make the front more planted. I guess JGR never got there.

These chassis are all very dynamic and integral (or tailored) to handling and suspension behavior, and motor power delivery.

Last year I saw a slow motion HD video of Barcia riding woops on a 2011 CRF450R and the amount of longitudinal flex in the frame was incredible. You can literally see the handlebar cross brace moving to/from the gas cap.

Villopoto is obviously a good match for the KX450F. A bike that tends to need more rear wheel steering than the rest. Another example of bike+rider compatibility.

Edited by numroe, 22 May 2012 - 07:42 AM.

NaPaul, on 21 May 2012 - 09:04 PM, said:

Wow, you couldn't have me more wrong on that one.  That's a real reach there, buddy.

ColoradoKXer, on 22 May 2012 - 07:37 AM, said:

Probably but Yamaha had impeccable timing

meyermetal, on 22 May 2012 - 07:42 AM, said:

Do you think the majority of the Mx world buys there bikes based off of results from the race? I mean I know the saying win on Sunday sell on Monday but really.

P.S. Not trying to be a smart ass. This is an actual question. Lol

ColoradoKXer, on 22 May 2012 - 07:48 AM, said:

MXA did a story on this a few years ago and if that saying was true Suzuki would have been #1 when Ricky was on their bike....I think they were last in sales....and Kawasaki when he was there. Honda is always the best selling brand so when he was there the saying was correct

ColoradoKXer, on 22 May 2012 - 07:48 AM, said:

I guess that yes they sure do. I think it's mostly a psychological pride thing. The factories no doubt have hard data on this.  But winning doesn't mean you sell the most. Just your % goes up.

In Australia the 2011 YZF was the nation's top selling off road bike. And Marmont won the last 4 MX titles on the YZF. The YZ450F was always a good seller.  It sure helps that Yamaha is considered the most reliable brand in Aus.  But I got to hand it to Yamaha Aus' marketing department. They are good. Hey, I'm not saying the Yams are not reliable! I just believe the backward engine was well marketed here.

btw: Aus is a country were off road bike sales usually surpasses road bike sales, especially if you exclude gov purchased CT110 postie bikes. Our government publishes bike sales data every year.

Can any YZ450F 2010+ owners tell me if your seat and shock gets noticeably hot?  That was my first thought when I saw the bike. I figured you'd need to service the shock more often.

Edited by numroe, 22 May 2012 - 08:05 AM.

meyermetal, on 22 May 2012 - 07:51 AM, said:

That's dumb. That's like saying you bought a Toyota Camry because you saw one win a NASCAR race.

jcm3, on 22 May 2012 - 07:40 AM, said:

Goin in circles here now it seems. First you say change instead of improve upon a design that works, and works well (very reminiscent of govt), now you say you don't have that stance? The fact that pros and many others have to use an engine relo kit in the first place is ass backwards. I don't care if it consisted of one bolt and cost 50 cents. Yamaha needs to suck it up and admit they have a poorly designed bike. I'm sure they had the best intentions but it doesn't work. Plain and simple. Like someone else said, not many riders can vocalize their dislike for it because of Yamaha's involvement and financial sway in the industry. But how many Yami riders do you see in the top 5? Or even top 10 for that matter? Wonder what Millsaps could do on another machine...

numroe, on 22 May 2012 - 02:31 AM, said:

Seems like a stretch to me.  I think a much more logical explanation is the pressure is greater in the main event and more mental focus is required.

NaPaul, on 22 May 2012 - 08:05 AM, said:

Since you are either being coy and just messing with me (which I'd actually think is kind of funny), or are a complete moron without any reading comprehension skills at all, I'll lay my last reply out for you.

Noticed the bolded and underlined parts:  take the the governments stance

Your replies related to the bike or my stance on my original post are out of context.  I don't agree with the government, want it smaller, and  think it does a crappy job at just about everything it does.  

There.  Doesn't that make it more clear for you?  I hope so.

Now, go back to trolling.

jdaugherty33, on 22 May 2012 - 08:12 AM, said:

How dare you claim that a lot of his crashes were mental mistakes. Don't you know the guy can do no wrong and it's obviously the bike.

Wow pal. Of all the nerve!!!!!

Who said that it isnt mental mistakes aswell?  To crash out of 10 of the 12 races speaks alittle more that it just being a mental mistake!  You find it wierd that he goes outside and rides longer harder and same if not more pressure he is able to go 1-1?  no it couldne be the bike at all!  Its all js not wanting to win and wanting to bounce off the ground EVERY race!

T-Doshi9, on 22 May 2012 - 08:32 AM, said:

Ok I will give that too you. 90% mental 10% bike.

ColoradoKXer, on 22 May 2012 - 08:53 AM, said:

  HAHA  here we go again!  by the end of the mx you will either change your mind or prove that your dumb and just love to hate!!      let me ask you this though.. wouldn't you agree that the mx is harder on man and machine?  mentaly and physicaly?

jcm3, on 22 May 2012 - 08:17 AM, said:

You don't seem like an idiot, so i would assume that you wouldn't think our govt is a great success. I was simply quoting the old sarcastic statement people have of the government's philosophy-"If it ain't broke, fix it til it is." I'm saying that it seems Yamaha has adopted the same philosophy. There was nothing wrong with their bikes to begin with. They were quite good, in fact. But the new Yamaha design, while commendable in its ground breaking pioneering effort, does not work. But they refuse to accept that. They should go back to the original design and improve upon it as they have done for years with great success. Eventually, they will see their error and revert to building a great handling machine. How long it takes them to do that is up for debate.

T-Doshi9, on 22 May 2012 - 09:06 AM, said:

Ok I will give you my opinion on your previous question in a sec. But let me ask you this. Out of all his crashes in Supercross. How many do you suppose we're rider error compared to faulty handling issues of the bike?

NaPaul, on 22 May 2012 - 09:28 AM, said:

I can't disagree with anything that you said here.  I think we both agree that there are changes that should be made, so it will be interesting to see how long it takes them to get it done.

ColoradoKXer, on 22 May 2012 - 09:28 AM, said:

i would say 1/3 of them were due to him and only him.  and thats pretty normal given his past.  now answer mine!