04 YZ250 vs 79 YZ400

[hannahfan]

I currently race the 250 but love the old school YZ's and have a chance to buy a really nice 79 YZ400 but the specs show that the 250 has 48bhp and the 400 has 36bhp....are the new bikes that much faster or am I missing something ? Should I wait and find a YZ 465 instead ?

[Qqqqqqqqqqqq]

The newer bikes have improved , 48 hp for the 250 sounds high .

Edited January 1, 2014 by ITS CHOOKEN

[Sharp Shooter]

I had a 78 YZ400 and I've also owned a 98 YZ250. The 400 topped out at 79mph and the newer YZ 250 at 73mph. The 400 is cool for nostalgia but it won't hold a candle to the 250 in any category except absolute top speed (unless you do some work to the 250). Get the newer bike for sure if you have to pick between them.

Edited January 1, 2014 by Sharp Shooter

[hannahfan]

I had a 78 YZ400 and I've also owned a 98 YZ250. The 400 topped out at 79mph and the newer YZ 250 at 73mph. The 400 is cool for nostalgia but it won't hold a candle to the 250 in any category except absolute top speed (unless you do some work to the 250). Get the newer bike for sure if you have to pick between them.

Sharp Shooter - thanks for the feedback!  I plan on keeping the 250 and get the 400 for AHRMA races.  I really am trying to decide between the 400 and a 465 but the way it sounds, the 400 will have plenty of power.  Thanks again and if you have anymore feedback on how the 400 rode, please submit.  Hard to find guys that had on of these