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YFZCentral.Com sits down with John Arens to talk about his recent ride on the hot new YFZ450!
John: "No problem! My pleasure!" YFZ: So tell me John, do you think that this new ride from Yamaha will change the ATV racing world as we see it today? John: "For the first time ever there is going to be a MAJOR presence from Yamaha at the racetrack. Everyone knows the Banshee was a favorite among drag race guys and dune riders, but I only ever saw a handful of guys race one seriously on the motocross and TT circuit, and they rarely did for a second year. This new one is an entirely different animal however. Even with the LTZ available, people are going to have to take a very hard look at the YFZ, and I can't see anybody buying the 400EX and hoping to be a serious contender. There will plenty of EX guys a the track however, and I'm glad for it because it will cost a little less for a new guy to start with, and that's a good thing. In fact, in the beginner or "C" classes a 400EX will still be a very good choice. They're very reliable, easy to maintain, and they handle great. In those classes it can still work because the rider hasn't yet acquired the skills to ride beyond the quads capabilities. In the higher classes however, the riders can ride beyond what an EX can offer, and although I like the LTZ also, I have the feeling that when it comes time to make the choice, many of them will be blue." YFZ: That's very interesting to hear. What types of changes were made to the 450 engine that is inside quad as compared to the one seen in the YZF dirt bikes? And why were these changes made? John: "They beefed up the transmission to handle the added load a quad delivers, and it has a standard electric start that can easily be removed. Also, it has the YZ cam, but they retarded the timing by 1 tooth on the sprocket to make it a little bit more forgiving, and it revs 500RPM less. Both are no big deal. In fact, at the press intro the Yamaha factory reps were eager to tell us about the YZ cam, and how all a racer had to do was add the pipe, get rid of the air box lid, and advance the timing 1 tooth to get to YZ specs. As for the RPM limits, it's no big deal because the power curve at the very top is pretty flat anyway. Power gain in the last 500 RPMS is negligible." YFZ: Tell me about the stock shocks, and how do they compare to other stock shocks as well as aftermarket shocks? John: "I thought they were pretty good right from the factory. I know Andrew (Smith) who works with me can ride quite a bit better than I can, and he says he bottomed them a couple times, but I never did. It's nice to have the full compression, rebound, and preload adjustment right from the start. As for any comparison to other stock shocks, there really is none." YFZ: Do you think that many racers will be upgrading to new shocks? John: "I know most racers still will change the shocks. It's part of the culture, and to be honest, as good as the stock shocks are, there is still something to be gained by having a set custom built for you to your specs. Remember, the factory shocks are designed to be the best possible solution for all potential riders over 25,000 units sold.. Aftermarket parts are designed to be the best possible solution for 1 rider... You!" YFZ: How does the bike handle? What is your initial impression of the bike? Any flaws that you felt, or can possibly see becoming an issue? John: "Initial impression…. I remember asking this to the other test guys, but I never told them what I thought because I didn't want to influence their opinions. Everyone had the same initial impression however. At first site we were really excited. Then we sat on it for our first ride…. Every single one of us thought it was too small!!! I remember thinking, OH D--n! As great as this thing promised to be, it's too d-n small! It was a really bad feeling because I thought it already had a fatal flaw and I hadn't even started it yet. Part of this is because the tank is very low. My knees were at the top of the gas cap, and Andrews were well above it. You also had to reach for the bars a little also. Other than that, it is like sitting on a 250R. You sit "on" it like an "R", rather than "in" it like a Suzuki. Oh well, it was time to ride. Here's the strange part; once we started riding the small feeling went away. It now was very comfortable, and all you have to do is think about where you want to go on the track and you're there. It's almost like it becomes part of you! I found out later that every one of the test riders had the same initial impression and then the same ride impression also. As it turns out, part of the small feeling is because the fuel tank is very low to keep the center of gravity down. I would say it definitely could use a lowered set of pegs however. That would help get your knees a little lower and help you grip the tank better." YFZ: At first sight, the YFZ450 is a gorgeous looking bike, what do you think about the looks of this bike as well as ergonomics. John: "I liked the looks. The styling is nice, and I like the blue color scheme best. For some reason I just don't care for the white/red color combination. To me the red frame looks like something done is a guys garage, and after having white plastic on an "R" I know how that tends to get dull rapidly. Styling and color is always a personal preference thing however, so the only person that has to like it is the buyer. As for the ergonomics, I thought it was laid out pretty well." YFZ: How is the engine? Does it feel water downed like other sport quads that we have seen lately? John: "In stock form it's about the same as a stock LTZ motor. It's OK, but not going to overwhelm you. I wouldn't really say it's watered down, but not awe inspiring either. The modified motor is the one to ride!" YFZ: How do you think the YFZ will fair against the newest bikes out there? Those being the Z400, Predator, and even the Cannondales. John: "I think the question will end up being, how do they do against the Yamaha. The Cannondale Moto 440 was very good, and so is the Suzuki, but the Yamaha has them in handling. The next big issue is weight, and the Yamaha will walk away from all of them in this category. Sure the Predator has a little bit larger engine, but it's going to get killed by the extra weight and handling. The YFZ is such a good package that it is going to be very hard to beat. In fact, I don't think it can be beat right now. It's so easy to go fast on the YFZ. It just flows down the track, and it is confidence inspiring. " YFZ: Tell us about the special features that this bike is full of, like the magic button, backup kick-starter as well as other features this bike as to offer that makes it unique. John: "I really like how Yamaha couldn't say enough of how they designed this to go racing. That is completely unheard of! They NEVER talked about racing in the past, and in fact, they would instantly try to avoid the issue. Now they release a quad built specially for competition, and it's got all the things racers wanted, without the stuff we didn't. I know some guys want a reverse gear, but that's not what they designed it for. Yes it can hit the trails, but it's made to win on the track. That's great! This quad finally breaks that invisible racing barrier that the factories would never cross in the past, and they were smart enough to include things like fully adjustable shocks, and a kick-start option. This opens up an entirely new category for ATVs" YFZ: How are the GYT-R mods? Did you get a chance to try these out on the bike? John: "In stock form it's a fun quad to ride, but not really that much different from anything else like the LTZ. Yamaha had 3 of the modified units for us to ride, and the difference was amazing. On the track there were a couple corners with doubles that I was having trouble getting over cleanly on the stock version. I could make it, but I was clipping the tops each time. When I hopped on the modified version with the YZ cam timing, a pipe, and no air box lid I could now make it cleanly. It was a VERY big difference. About like putting a pipe on a 2 stroke. In fact, it basically turned it into a two-stroke type of motor. It revved very freely, and you could stab at the throttle and it would instantly go anywhere you asked it to. I loved it!" YFZ: Any final words you would like to say? John: "It's a great quad… maybe the best ever. This is like riding a blue Honda, and if you liked the 250R I can't imagine why you wouldn't like this one. I've always liked my "R" better than anything else and it's never leaving, but this new YFZ is a great quad to ride." YFZ: On behalf of YFZCentral.Com, we thank you very much! And keep up the great work! John: "No problem. I'm just glad to be one of the first guys to get to ride one, and I hope that helps give everyone an idea of what the new YFZ is all about." Once again we here at YFZCentral would like to thank John Arens of Arens brothers! You can check out more about Aren's brothers here. |
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