08 YZ450F or 06 EXC450. Any thoughts?

[Reckless]

Barty this is only my opinion take it or leave it.

I have a mate thats recently bought an 07 Wr450 and put the yz white plastics kit on it. It looks really good and he gets to keep the original kit stored for when he resells it.
I have only ridden it once at Woodhill but it did seem a bit tame. Like pickin up the front over roots etc compared to the CR hit. I have also noticed at places like Ardmore, Harrisville and Kimis watchin the Wr450's they seem quite soft for MX track type stuff and open fast trails.
We went to Thunder x and it was really really muddy, weekend before last. Like the Vids of the Pussy Pounder. The Wr took those conditions much better than the CR. The WR was handling it quite well where my Cr was like a thoroughbred, more tempremental, to High off the ground, skitish, wheel spun extra quick. And I have got revalved suspension and a fly wheel weight.
Finally, I rode with a mate at a Trailbalzer who is a really good rider and him and his mates even though its a trail ride basically end up racing around the tracks flat out. If you are a good rider that likes to push it, I don't think the Wr would flick your switch. Get the yz and revalve the suspension for your riding stlye.

So if you like the more technical cross country stuff Wr or Exec but if you like a good hit and the fastest pace you can manage the YZ450. The Honda 450 is a damn good bike as well.

My 10c only

[NZsarge]

have thought about in but then there is another 16.5 kg to throw around and after a trick out cr250 then the 426 which was awsome and even better after the rebuild and mild port good done to it kinda dont want to loose the kapooow factor an dthe wr cost more than i have most of all i hate the yamaha blue which is why i have chosen white and yes i know it will be a prick to keep clean but who cares ive worked my arse off for the last 5 years to het to a new bike

Fair enough bro, enjoy

[cheese]

Get a honda (in my best "get a rotor" voice)

[chris]

mostly trail ride etc not racin

As others have said, WR450.

[avgas]

Dont you find 1st and 5th gear a bitch with your YZ? if not then just get the new YZ cos they havent addressed that problem yet.

[barty5]

Dont you find 1st and 5th gear a bitch with your YZ? if not then just get the new YZ cos they havent addressed that problem yet.

whats wrong with 1 an 5 cant say i have had any problems

[avgas]

whats wrong with 1 an 5 cant say i have had any problems

First is too long - apparently to the point where people stall going up hills (i can not confirm this i just have 'heard' it through a mate who has a 425 - i've only ridden the 450) but 5th has always been too short a gear in my mind. Especially in comparison to the wr

[barty5]

First is too long - apparently to the point where people stall going up hills (i can not confirm this i just have 'heard' it through a mate who has a 425 - i've only ridden the 450) but 5th has always been too short a gear in my mind. Especially in comparison to the wr

nail the hills in 2 or 3rd and yeh you do lose a bit of top end speed on a long open straight but you get there a lot quicker

[motorbyclist]

i heard that the first 450 they made was only a 4 speed

never had any problems with any of the four 400s and one 426 me and my mates ride, although my 1998 model's 1st is a bit high for the really tight stuff she sure doesn't stall on hills!

and on open straight i do look for a 6th gear, but when you're just doing a straight line what's the point (where's the skill/challenge) in doing 100k? that's what my roadbike is for...

[barty5]

i heard that the first 450 they made was only a 4 speed

never had any problems with any of the four 400s and one 426 me and my mates ride, although my 1998 model's 1st is a bit high for the really tight stuff she sure doesn't stall on hills!

and on open straight i do look for a 6th gear, but when you're just doing a straight line what's the point (where's the skill/challenge) in doing 100k? that's what my roadbike is for...

there was one or two years that only came with 4 speed but there 5 now and as you say no skill dion straight lines so what if mate passes you cause he has more top end speed still has to catch you 1st cause sure as hell youll be out front till he gets it wound up your allways got the snap of power to get the jump out front 1st

[motorbyclist]

biggest advantage i find over smaller bikes like the yz250f is the sheer power AND torque - you can hit any hill in any gear and aslong as you keep the throttle open she'll keep on climbing.... that said when it's muddy there's no way to put even half of that power through to the ground

and reliable too - it seems all yamaha's bikes have been rock-solid for the past 10 years, whereas i hear the crf range is a bit higher maintenance (puts on flame suit)