I am just about to switch from a Raptor 350 to a YFZ 450 and was told that there is a HUGE difference, which I do know. Are there any tips? Someone said that I need to "feather" the clutch more?!?! What does that mean? Please help!!!
First off, the 450 has a completely different engine design! It isn't the same kind of old school engine with bigger displacement...it uses different technology. Some reading on the subject:
The 450 is all rev. Where your 350 didn't mind being lugged down and ridden slow, the 450 has to be kept at higher RPM, and so if you want to go slow you need to work the clutch (only part way released to keep the engine cranking) to keep it up at the proper RPM. What this means is that all the 450's make POOR TIGHT TRAIL QUADS! If you are a technical trail rider, might want to think about something else...
The 450 will also require more frequent maintenance, especially frequent oil changes and valve adjustments. (Just forget those maintenance intervals in the owner's manual, they are intended for bikes ridden by little old ladies.) Also, best to run a high quality ester synthetic oil (after break-in), like Redline or Maxima.
True, you have to be diligent and perform frequent preventative maintenance on the YFZ that the other Yammie would never need. On the other hand, you will never care to ride the Raptor again. Suspension, handling, brakes, power are all getting huge upgrades. yamaha did a great job of setting up this quad to hook up off the line without wheelying, on most dirt surfaces you can dial in a good amount of throttle, dump the clutch and not go over. Don't get all crazy with it until you get the technique down, but you can drop the hammer during starts. Oh, and it will still pull the front end up with ease. You will hear a lot of people talk about feathering the clutch to ride. I do this a lot more trying to make time on the mx track than on trails, even slower technical stuff. Your 350 probably has a small torque advantage down low, but I have always found the 450(440 in my case) motor to be willing to work down low as long as you can keep a reasonable speed. BTW, i ride quite a few trails that are 48-49" wide in spots, and have +.5" a arms, so I know tight trails.
Makes a great sand quad. The xtra power and lighter weight will make a night and day diff vs the 350 out there. Feathering the clutch will be more like on the mx track, in most situations it is needed more when you are trying to wring every last ounce of performance out of the machine.
Switching from Raptor 350 to YFZ 450!!!! *HELP*
