I am about to start racing gncc next season. Would the yfz or yfz450r be better? Also whats a good list of mods to start with?

any info would be great...thanks

if your going to get a new model you do not want a yfz450r because they are to wide for the woods, id say the NEW YFZ450X or get a used YFZ450 all ready for woods racing, u gunna run the whole season?

YFZ450X for the off-road.
Start with tires, a teather, skid plates, pipe, fuel controller, better air filter and a better front bumper.

well first i wanna try to get it in time for the season...and i cant get the 450x which sucks cause i only have around 6000 to spend. so its a used 09 450r or just a yfz...I really want the R casue the fi and the looks...what should i do?

when does the season start anyway?

you can get the R, but its gonna be hooking trees, its a good bit wider then most bikes. you can do it find if you go slow, but some courses are really going to test your width. which will slow you down, if you can afford the X, i would get an older yfz, you can get a great machine already setup for woods racing for 3-4 thousand, keep saving then trade the bike and extra cash towards a X model later. wait for 2011 and see if they fix the front end too.

what state are you from ? some of the members on here could keep a eye open for one for u, i dont see a advandage with efi, heck pro gncc racers for yamaha are putting carbs on theres

really?? why would they put carbs on them? im from northeastern ohio...

more power, easier 2 dial in, mx guys like them though

i think they are adding the carbs only for the dead starts... the FI has a habit of giving a bit of hesitation when you push the start button. with gncc, everyone is on the line with your engine off, when the guy waves his flag, you have to start the bike, dump the clutch, and haul butt into the first turn, so getting the whole shot and getting out front really really depends on a very fast start.

* Holeshot

I still think the primitive FI systems are holding all these new machines back. A 12 hole injector and a closed looped system would make a good difference. I'd also like to see multiple injectors used. Theres still a long way to go.

I agree that the R might start you in the wrong direction. You could get some wheels to try and offset some of the extra width, but you are still going to be an inch or two wider than a stock YFZ. In that case......you'll be looking at all new arms up front, and a narrower rear axle.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd definitely buy used. Save alot of cash....find someone looking to get out of it all together. Or buy a later model YFZ that is a virgin, and set it up.

- Wheels/tires are important. You want to get some strong wheels, like Hipers (at least CF1's). Also 6 ply tires......Razr2's or Holeshot XCT's, something aggressive.....with a 21/20 setup.
- Good aluminum belly skid, possibly some a-arm skids
- Def a heavy duty front bumper. Bouncing off trees IS going to happen.
- Steering stabilizer. At least a shock type......it'll be enough to keep the kick down
- Nerfs are a requirement.
- I wouldn't go with a swinger skid......sacrifice ground clearance. Get the GT Thunder sprocket guard and rotor guard.
- Hand protection is right up there too......minimal you want something like Powermadd's. You might end up wanting some mud gloves, if it gets bad enough where you run
- You'd have enough power from the YFZ with full exhaust, lid removed, cam mod, and proper jetting
- Last but not least.....and most important, aftermarket front/rear shocks

alright...thanks guys

u ever think about the yfz450X?

i'd go against the grain with this one and say get the YFZ. the EFI models (along with EFI in general) has a tendedcy to stall when wet. a carb wont have this problem.

as for a list of mods id say get as much protection first.

-Sproket guards, full length glide plate (Tag railer), swing arm guards, hand guards /w/ bush bars and bumpers with high grab pionts. (Pro-Armor XC grab bar and bumper)

to reduce fatigue get a pair of Fasst Flexx handlebars, thicker foam seat too.

if you get the Carb model deffinatly get the R&D powerbowl. other than that, FCI (airbox /w/ lid on) pipe, and Maxxis RAZR rears and RAZR2 fronts.

The original yfz is the best quad you can get for xc. Just get the shocks revalved and it is almost perfect for xc racing.

The new R or X version they are 8,500 and because of the caster issues that the frame has it makes it handle horrible for XC racing. It can be fixed by buying an aftermarket bracket that moves the a-arm mount location. Also as mentioned above the original is the fastest starting quad you can get especially if you put a dual batttery 24 volt setup on it. The R or X yfz's start slow which is no good for XC.

Your best bet is to get a left over yfz you will save thousands and you can spend that money to revalve your shocks, get some 6ply tires and skids and you will have the best setup you can get

i agree with everyone get the original yfz

if you would be up for a road trip here is a nice yfz for xc

http://yfz450.theatvchannel.com/invision/i...howtopic=101883 it would blow a x or r away

thats a really nice one...but im still thinking about mx. what do you guys think about that? I dont really know too much and I just wanna have some fun racing but i dont know which to do.

trails are really fun and all, but i will admit they really do get old!

Motocross never gets old, and jumping your quad furthur and furthur makes it that much more while.

from a personal expierence, MX is hands down ore fun.


** i never actually raced MX yet but i plan to this summer. ive been on tracks, and have my own practce track to hone my skillz, so i use that as my oppinion.

and I dont have a ton to keep rebuilding the engine either...

Buy a left over 08. The R is to wide...you don't need FI. Holeshots is the correct answer. If you need a new 450...pay for the x. The shocks are set-up for XC as well. If you Buy an R...your just running an mx bike in the woods and will in turn put more money into it then you would just buying the X. You could buy the X, put on tires, a stabilizer, skids, and kill switch and take it to 'em!!!!!!! If you get an old YFZ...you could follow the same advice for parts.

u dont need to keep rebuilding your engine, ur going to run your bike just as hard weather your w00tering around in a feild or on a track, just do it right the first time, i race mx and its great, i think it would be better that the woods, and i think the woods is harder on stuff, just my .02

protection and suspension are most important for XC racing...just do the basic motor mods (exhaust, cam mod, foam filter) and you'll have plenty of power for the beginner classes

-shocks...either aftermarket or revalve the stock shocks...Moto Xperts and GT Thunder do the best revalve work
-skids...a poly belly skid cuz they will bend on impact where aluminum breaks, swingarm skid or the GT Thunder sprocket guard/rotor guard combo....no one runs a-arm skids
-tires....6plys are a must Razr 2 fronts/Razr rears is the most popular, Holeshot XC or GNCC's are good too but wear faster...GBC X-Rex's are up and coming too, basically just like a Razr 2
-beadlocks....Hipers are most popular cuz they don't bend like aluminum and are a 3 piece wheel so you can just replace whatever part you break
-tether kill switch...you just gotta have one

after that stuff you can go from what you can afford...Flexx bars, Precision stabilizer, blah blah blah....full nerfs are necessary, a lot of guys just run a heel guard, and some just run a pro peg its just less for mud to build up on....also to me a bumper is just something else to break and a lot of guys don't use an aftermarket bumper but if you get one get one w/ good low hand holds to get leverage for getting the quad up out of ruts....worry about motor work after you get faster, as the open sections are limited and you can only go SO FAST in the woods

go check out some GNCC's or local races...being in OH there are 2 GNCC's (the John Penton, and Powerline Park), plus there are GNCC's in PA, WV, TN, and the last one is this weekend here in IN...check out the forum at quadzone.com...its all XC guys, where as this site is mostly MXer's and Duners...there is a ton of info over there and a lot of cool guys

The R is a dumb purchase for XC racing. Nelson raced the R in washington had took out some trees. to wide. if your looking into an Old YFZ, try contacting pro's who run a YFZ like Jarrod McClure or Taylor Kiser. they probably will be selling their race bikes at the end of a season. Some people frown apoun purchasing used race bikes. McClure runs a stock motor in his YFZ. get the goodies that are already on it. ya it may have scrathes and a dent here and there but your going to do that yourself later anyways. I know some guys where I live (in so-cal) have boughten Nelson's old race bikes coming with all the goodies for around the price of a new stock R.

your absolutly right, they shatter.

id say aluminum beadlock, becasue the rolled edge has a hard time breaking and its cheaper. not everyone can afford Hipers.

you can't get a Douglas or ITP beadlock much cheaper than Hipers and if you bend an aluminum wheel the whole wheel is shot and you have to buy an entire new wheel...if you break a Hiper you just replace which part you broke....go to a GNCC and see how many guys are running Hipers compared to any aluminum beadlock the ratio is staggering in Hipers favor and I'm not just talking about the pros, look at any sport quad class...of the guys actually running beadlocks i bet 75% of the are running Hipers

an aluminum wheel won't take the abuse of being beaten off rocks and roots and such nearly as well as a Hiper will