I have a 2001 Trailblazer 250 that i think im gonna upgrade this summer, but im in a toss up between a Yfz 450 style sport quad again or a 4x4 utility this time.

Adrenaline and fun factor goes the the 450 sports, while overall usability goes to the utility thus im kinda at toss up. Sport wise id go with a 04-06 YFZ 450, and utility wise id go 04-06 Sportsman 500 or 700 EFI.

What do you own and why?

for sport get a predator 500, the yfz450 is a joke and they love to throw rods threw the blocks if u wanna race the trx450r hands down . for utlity cant beat honda the trx 680 is a aswome machine very well rounded machine

for sport get a predator 500, the yfz450 is a joke and they love to throw rods threw the blocks if u wanna race the trx450r hands down


Good example of some one who knows what theyre talking about...haha. If your a trail rider and want a sport quad for doing so, a raptor 700r would be the quad to go for, Not a predator. Also yfz are just as realiable as any other 450. They're all the same in that you have to break them in right, warm them up, and do more maintance than a normal quad. If your doing this right then a yfz or any other 450 for that matter is reliable. When it comes to utility honda is a bullet proof choice. But they lack alot of the features most utility owners want from their vehicle.

I have a Kodiak (utility). I love playing in mud and such, but I want to get a quad. They are just alot more fun around here. It's not to often I find a big mud hole that I really need 4X4. Quads are more fun to jump and do hill climbs etc.

If you want utility, I'd look at a 660 or 700 Grizzly. That's the only thing I would buy if I don't get a quad. My boss has one and it's great. Rides good, goes anywhere, has plenty of power, all around I think it's a great machine.

I'm not sure what I want to get. I really want an Outlaw, but I'll probably get a dvx or kfx, etc just because they are somewhat cheap used. I might even go for a 660 Raptor. Yfz's are overpriced if you ask me, almost as much as a 700Raptor new. The Outlaws seem to be a pretty good quad. I haven't really heard anything bad about them, plus you can get irs.

If you buy a 07, 08, or 09 YFZ when they come out, you will not have the problem with the rod. Yamaha did mess up on their rod setup in the 04, 05, and 06 YFZ's but they have rectified it since and you can buy a oil kit to fix the problem in the earlier years. Yamaha is the best all around sport quad in my opinion and apparently in the quad magazines they agree. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with the TRX450 or LTR450 but I have been racing quads for a while and have rode them all but I prefer the YFZ over any of them. But then again everybody is different. Just putting in my 2 cents.

What exactly is this oil kit? If i buy a YFZ im assuming id need 1 100%?

I added the pilot screw and replaced the plastic oil pressure cap with a metal one on my wife's 04 YFZ

There is a kit that you can buy that a mechanic would have to put in for you and what it does is squirts oil directly at the rod to get far better lubrication. Or you can buy a bolt on cover that already has it in it and any joe smoe can do it. Either way it will cost about $300 - $500. But again if you buy a 07, 08, or a 09 you won't have to worry about it. You can probably pick up a 07 YFZ for about $4,500 - $5,000, I bought a 06 last year and paid $4,500 for it with a bunch of after market stuff on it including the oil kit. Hope this was some help.

Have had both. All depends what type of riding you want to do. I now have a 650 B.F. and it works great for me. Most the guys I go with have 500 or smaller Utility machines so I rarely use everything my quad has.

Perfect thanks for your help i wasnt aware of the rod problem maybe a trx 450r is a better choice after all.

What about the suzuki ltr 450?

The trx450r is an amazing quad the ltz450 is nice also make sure u test ride both, as one might fit your riding style better

I had a predator. Loved it, rode the crap out of it and never did anything to it in 4 seasons other than a chain and sprockets. Just sold it and got a new 07 outlaw 500. So far its been great nice ride, lots of clearance. Much better trail quad than my predator was it it was awesome. Im not comfy on the 450's I tried before I got the pred as they were much too small feeling for me.

Perfect thanks for your help i wasnt aware of the rod problem maybe a trx 450r is a better choice after all.

What about the suzuki ltr 450?


You wont have any problems with the yfz's. Ive had my 05 now for 4 years and have had no problems that some models had. It was basically the 04 that needed bugs worked out. But the 06 and up have a boost in cc, and about 100 other upgrades. The 06-07 ltr's have tranny problems, if no one beleives me just check out ltrcentral and see all the people pissed off about it. Honda trx is reliable, but is the slowest of the bunch, and has least suspension travel, but has nice ergoes.

The LTR's do have a case problem, under a lot of stress like racing they tend to crack one side of the case. I thought they fixed that problem for 07 though, but I could be wrong. My second choice of machine would definately be the LTR but overall you just can't beat the Yamaha all the way around, I just had mine out again yesterday and it is an ANIMAL. Can't wait to get back to racing.

I know what you mean i have a 250 2 stroke trail blazer, its piped and clutched its an alright quad but the one thing i love about it is its width, i can crank it sideways almost ANYWHERE and not have to worry about flipping, hell on gravel you can crank it hard spin a full 360 then keep on riding, at probably 30-40kmh.....



Okay that sounds better then as i really like the 2006's in the white and silver sharp looking quad, the black TRX 450s are also nice tho if i go that route between the two it would be a major upgrade with either.



Thanks

The LTR's do have a case problem, under a lot of stress like racing they tend to crack one side of the case. I thought they fixed that problem for 07 though, but I could be wrong. My second choice of machine would definately be the LTR but overall you just can't beat the Yamaha all the way around, I just had mine out again yesterday and it is an ANIMAL. Can't wait to get back to racing.

06 ltr's also had weld cracking around rear shock mount. Either wayRoost er make sure you take care of the normal maintance listed in your manuel, if you do this the 450's will treat you well.

I own a 2004 YFZ 450 that I bought new in June of 2003. It was the 50th YFZ off the assembly line of its first model year, And it still runs great, never been rebuilt and I ride my quads hard. I have only had 1 problem with it, the charging system was messed up and I went through a few batteries the first couple of months, but Yami paid for the fix and the batteries.

Most of the motor issues people had with these machines was not keeping up on oil changes, air filter maint and such. The YFZ was the first of a new breed of high revving ATVs that needed more preventive maint than any 4 stoker that came before it. Up till then, 4 strokes were low maint quads that were damn near bullet proof. People were used to just getting on and going without checking thier air filters and oil (I've heard of Warriors going 8+ years without changing the oil, just addn a little when it got low.)

If it's a sport vs. utility decision, the Scramblers work pretty good I think. I had an all out Banshee and a stock Warrior, sold both of them after riding the Scrambler. Not that it handles better, I just loved the automatic. Add the sweet running 500 and "on demand" 4x4 to the picture and it was all over. I had to have one. I don't miss the shifting a bit. Clutching to my style was something I learned to do with the sleds, and this clutching is very familiar. For trail these are tough to beat. They're reasonably quick, and inexpensive to buy and maintain. Works for me....

The answer is both. There are times that you want a utility to do work or play in the mud and playing in mud is hard to beat. However, the race quad is a blast when going trail riding with buds or the dunes. sometimes you just need the speed. Thats why I have a built banshee and also a sporty 800. Niether are even close to stock.

well heres my 2 cents. i own a 700 cat 4x4, yfz 450, 400ex and my buddy just bought a new 08 trx 450r less than a month ago. i use the cat for pure mudding and water bogging and the ex for stunting and trail riding. my 450 is mainly track quads but get used on the trails and sand ,pea gravel riding . my yfz smokes both of my buddys trxs easily pretty much every were. the guy that just bought the 08 trx 450 he has already taken it in for a new starter and 2 days ago the motor blew up and the clutch went with it. this quad has maybe 5 or 6 hours on it and he is very gentle with his toys unlike me . i cant say which brand is more reliable but i do know if i was going to buy a new 450 it sure wouldnt be a the honda . im a huge honda fan but id be shopping for a new yam or ktm . we have a couple kawi 450s and suzys 450s in our group and they have been good machines but definatly even the guys that ride with me are kicking them selves in the ass for not buying the yfz instead. i would take the suzy 450 over the kawi 450 but like i said i mainly use the 450 on the track . you cant realy lose which 450 you get especialy if you never ridden a 450 your deffinatly going to be a happy camper. the 450s make lots of other quads feel like a pooch. right now im waiting for ktm to get the bugs worked outa there 525 then my yfz will prolly seem like a pooch but i dont want to be a genuine pig on a first yr quad.

if you like the width of your quad get a ds650. i just bought one and it is pretty much stock and i spanked all the 450's i have raced. i want to race a raptor 700r but he wont race me becuase he got beat by the yfz 450 i beat. they mite be heavy but i can wheelie mine as far as i want and hit as big of a jump as i want. the suspention is wayyyyyyyyy better then the 450's because you dont even feel half of the bumps you hit. thay are also wider and longer than 450's and i think every other sport quad that is made unless you buy extended a arms and swing arm.

no way a ds650 will spank a 450 , sorry bud but it isnt happening stock for stock . my uncle has a ds650x and its a beast but power to weight lil 450 handles better and accelarates better. i havent rode a 700rappy but know for sure my old bigbore 686 rappy was still a few quad length behind a stock 450 in a typical drag race messing around with buddys. hopefully this weekend i can talk a guy into riding with us that has a mint quadzilla 500 decked out . that will be a interesting race up the pea gravel dunes .i would hope he spanks the 450s with all the $ he put into the beast.