Mere Mortals
Sure, we're not pro riders, but we're probably closer to the average rider than the MX and GNCC elite we included in this test. Want to read some real-world thoughts and opinions? Here's how our staffers rated the machines.
Billy Bartels, Editor
Skills: Advanced trail rider, novice motocrosser
Boy, what a difference a change of locale and a whole lot of seat time make. In last year's 450 sport test, I ranked them 450R, YFZ, Predator, Z400. This year, much has changed for me.
Catapulting right into my first-place spot is Polaris' Predator. While I applaud Suzuki and Yamaha for making the modest upgrades on their machines that they did for '05, I feel no sport machine has gotten better in such a short time than the Predator, tested here in TLD form. In two years, it has gone from having bad ergonomics, a misfiring gear shifter and a loose rear end to having a very positive-shifting transmission (with that sweet close-ratio box ... can you even buy that for another quad?), much-improved ergos and handling that gives you all the traction you need. With its killer durability and good mix of comfort and performance, it is the only winner of this shootout.
Second was a close race for me between Honda's 450R and Suzuki's Z. On one hand, the Honda is lighter and more powerful; on the other, the Suzuki is geared better, is suspended plusher, requires less maintenance, is lower priced and has a nice powerband. What tips the scale in the Honda's favor is the adjustability of the suspension, the greater durability of its components and the outright performance advantage.
Down in the basement is the mighty YFZ. Yamaha made a few too many nods to moto to let this quad finish very high on my list. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for specializing our mounts as two-wheelers have done for years, but in this particular test, it was just too much work to ride at a moderate pace. The two minutes of bliss on the MX track were countered by 15 minutes of thumb- and bum-numbing pain out on the trail.
John Howell, East Coast Editor
Skills: Intermediate trail rider and motocrosser
Heading into this test, I thought I knew exactly which machine I was going to pick as the winner, but surprisingly, that quad finished last on my list. As mentioned, this test centered around getting a lot of seat time on each for an extended period.
With that said, up front on my list is the Honda 450R. I agreed with most testers that the R offers the best blend of outrageous, wild-eyed horsepower coupled with the most-neutral-handling chassis. Ever hear the phrase "It inspires confidence"? Well, the Honda does just that. It has a great engine, ridiculously strong brakes and very good suspension, and most important, it's comfortable, whereas the YFZ (its closest competitor on the track) is not.
My second-place pick goes to the Polaris Predator. More than once you could hear me woo-hooin' on the track while riding in the rain during the nighttime portion--I actually found myself enjoying my seat time more than I thought I would. The updates from '04 to '05 have totally transformed the Predator. The front end is still a little twitchy, but the improved ergos have really won me over. It's a total blast on the trail, and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending it to anyone.
Third place goes to the Z400. This is such an awesome little machine that it's hard to relegate it to third. But my previous wording--"awesome little machine"--really sums up the problem. The Z lacks the snap the others have in abundance. Sure, it's probably one of the best-handling machines, but without that pure grunt when you grab full throttle, it's hard to place it any higher. Factor in the price, though (which to many is the deciding factor), and it can definitely hold its chin high.
Ah, the mighty YFZ ... What can I say? Last year, it was my favorite. I will still say that if I were going to race at a local track, this is the weapon I would choose. But as a trail-riding machine, it's simply too uncomfortable in too many areas. Everyone complained of the Popeye-arm-inducing thumb-throttle problem, and I concur. After riding for an hour, I found it difficult to control the throttle with any sort of manliness. I got off the thing wringing out my wrist like a little wuss, and that just ain't cool in front of a group of pro riders.
Len Nelson, Contributing Editor
Skills: Advanced trail rider, intermediate motocrosser
Polaris brought a gun to a knife fight with the new Predator at the ATVR 12-Hour. Having ridden this machine at the new-model intro earlier this year, I am still fascinated by how well it works. I enjoyed every minute of my time on the 500--especially in the tight woods. Reverse gear is just the icing on the cake.
I love the look, feel and sound of the Honda TRX450R. The engine is solid and fast to respond. As delivered, the gearing was too tall for woods riding--an easy fix. The brakes are strong, and everything about the TRX is top-notch. The price is not bad considering what you get. Electric start would be nice to have. The Honda does everything well, it's just that I think the Polaris does it better.
The Yamaha YFZ450 offers a potent engine that I connected with immediately. I found the Yamie user-friendly and an incredibly fast package. The thumb-throttle effort required is just stupid and needs to be fixed--someone at Yamaha is asleep at the wheel for still not resolving this. With an MSRP of $6899, the thumb throttle ought to be made of gold--it's not.
If you've ridden dirt bikes, you know the Kawa-saki KDX200--it's user-friendly, reliable, tractable and fun, and it changed dirt biking when it was introduced. This is how I feel about the Suzuki Z400. While I admit the technology is already becoming dated, there are plenty of aftermarket go-fast parts to keep you in the race. At the price, it is a real buy, too. I own a Z400 and love it--getting passed on the trail by the new breed of more-powerful sport machines is getting old, though.