While the swingarm is the...
While the swingarm is the same length as the stock unit, being made from high-strength chrome-moly material means it is much more reliable.
The YZ engine was left stock since they were curious how it would perform when installed in a quad. Because of the strange location of the motor and lack of electrical system to power the electric start, an extended kickstarter shaft was fabricated and run through the rear of the frame and a Banshee kickstarter installed. The intake system was slightly modified by raising it 7/8 inch to allow improved air-fuel mixture into the engine. Big Gun fabricated an exhaust system that should not only perform well, but they claim will also be legal to run in Europe where sound limits are restricted to 94 decibels. A complete Hinson Racing clutch system was installed to improve the transfer of power from the engine to the drive system since the contact patch of an ATV tire is significantly larger than a dirt bike's. One final item to maintain reliability was the Fluidyne YFZ-R radiator. With the lack of electronics to power a fan, an oversize radiator was mounted up to help keep it cool. Transferring the fluid from the engine to the radiator are a set of CV4 colored radiator hoses which look trick and have a much higher burst resistance over the stock hoses.
Staying with the custom theme, the builders opted to run Lonestar Racing billet hubs on the front and rear. Lonestar also supplied one of its Axcalibar racing axles since this racer was designed for use in extreme motocross conditions. Goldspeed MXR2 rear and SX front tires mounted to DWT's G2 rear and Rockout front wheels were chosen to put the power to the ground. To protect rider and machine, Pro Armor Revolution nerf bars were installed as well as one of its Pro MX front bumpers. Streamline provided brake lines all around along with its new Pro-Lock grips and its SS11 Carbon steering stabilizers. Fasst Flexx bars would top off the Laeger's steering stem, and finally the machine was dressed with a set of Maier White Carbon Fiber YFZ-R front and rear fenders. Once I knew why this machine was made and how much potential it had, I let them know my desire to get some time on board. I don't know who wouldn't.
After being displayed at the 2010 Indianapolis Dealer Expo, the hybrid made its way back to California for final preparations. Once we were given the green light, a date was scheduled at our secret motocross/off-road test facility in the high desert of California. Since this machine was based around a Yamaha powerplant, we also secured a test rider who is a professional motocross/off-road racer and is familiar with the YZ-F for comparison. After a quick once-over, we sent our rider out to give the machine a shakedown and get acquainted with its handling. Our testing area consisted of long straights, tight corners, a few jumps and, because it hadn't been groomed in quite some time, deep quad-swallowing whoops.
The Big Gun EVO exhaust system...
The Big Gun EVO exhaust system made great power for this machine anywhere on the track, but it was also quiet enough so that our eardrums weren't ruptured at the end of the day
We've been big fans of the...
We've been big fans of the Pro Armor Revolution nerf bars since they were released, and seeing them on this machine made us even happier. They've got a great fit and offer a solid place to plant your feet.
Due to the reverse throw of the kickstarter, limited room is available for kicking as the heel guard area of the nerf bar/heel guard combo is tight. Fortunately for us, the machine fired up on the first few kicks after we pulled the choke assembly on the throttle body. At idle the YZ-F motor and Big Gun Exhaust combination purred like a kitten, but when you cracked the throttle it roared like a lion ready to do battle. The throttle response while in neutral seemed to be a night-and-day difference from the YFZ450R, which made our rider and I anxious to see how the power and weight difference varied from machine to machine.