OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[kris_]

HI,

Im new to this forum and wanted some opinions as Im currently in the market for my first Quad.

My two options are either a 2006ish YFZ450 or the same year TRX.

I would like some help from you guys (the experts) on what I should look out for when buying, any visible signs of damge etc?

Also out of the two quads I listed, what are the pros and cons of each...

I know that the YFZ has eletric start, does this mean that its more prone to electrical issues, especially if im playing in mud and water all day?

Any help would be appreciated and I cant wait to get out and tear it up!!

Thanks
Kris

[rider 950]

If the TRX 450 is 2006 model it should also be electric start as 2005 was the last of the kick-starters .

[bullet]

I like the 2005 TRX better.
Motor is less stressed, quieter, smoother and longer wear life.
Geometry is slightly different to 2006 in quite a few little places, but some might prefer either configuration, and some fit 2006 swing arms to 2005's etc etc.
You can do a lot with either the Honda or Yami of those years.
Honda kick start is very easy, and i think the way to go, if you are over 60kg.

Other than that, as usual for a bike of that year, it far more depends on who owned it, what condition it is in, and how well it's been looked after.
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Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

[Big Jb TRX450]

bullet wrote:

I like the 2005 TRX better. Motor is less stressed, quieter, smoother and longer wear life. Geometry is slightly different to 2006 in quite a few little places, but some might prefer either configuration, and some fit 2006 swing arms to 2005's etc etc. You can do a lot with either the Honda or Yami of those years. Honda kick start is very easy, and i think the way to go, if you are over 60kg. Other than that, as usual for a bike of that year, it far more depends on who owned it, what condition it is in, and how well it's been looked after.

very good advice , my choice of the two,. I have ridden a YFZ a good bike no doubt & they hold there own but personally id go..the honda
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04 TRX 450r
with a bit of this & a bit of that

[Blaster Babe]

I've spent a lot of time (years) with both of those. You'll have great fun with either of them, and either can be set up for whatever discipline you choose. Usually the choice comes down to brand loyalty for most people.

The '06 Yammy's do have battery issues, but any electric start bike can potentially have battery or electrical problems. I think from memory (someone correct me if i'm wrong) the standard fix was to either replace the stock battery with a larger aftermarket one or remove one of the front headlights. But to be honest, the only issue i ever had with my '06 TRX was forgetting to switch off the ignition and ending up with a flat battery (easy to do when you mostly rely on a killswitch). So my personal fave was my '05 kickstart TRX. And it just felt like a stronger bike than my '06 TRX.

The two bikes are balanced slightly differently.
The Yammy has a lighter front end and just generally "feels" sportier, like its easy to lift into a wheelie or manoeuvring over small obstacles.
The Honda is very equally balanced front to back, so it stays very true in the air when jumping high and lands perfectly almost without rider input. But this makes it heavier for manoeuvring the front end for tight or small obstacles.

Buying any secondhand quad, you should check for fine cracks in the frame, check the steering stem is straight, and if you're not going to bolt on any aftermarket arms and such straight away, then you should also check the health of the balljoints and look for stress cracks in the a-arms.


PS. @Bullet, i am only 50kg and i managed the kickstart just fine. Once i got used to kicking forward
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(PeteW's missus)

Semi-retired while playing mummy to two

[bullet]

Some chicks have the kick starter 'knack' built in, and you've got bags of quad experience
You are right, they are not hard to kick at all, but MrsB hated it, and never really developed the knack.
I know a few chicks who don't rate the 04-05 kickers so i thought i'd try to chuck the general caution in there.
_________________
Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

[Blaster Babe]

Fair enough. I wasn't dissin' what you had to say, just adding a little "FYI" lol.
I love kick start bikes. Nice simple old-skool stuff The '06 TRX was the only bike i've ever owned that had a button start.
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(PeteW's missus)

Semi-retired while playing mummy to two

[feralkid]

Blaster Babe wrote:

The two bikes are balanced slightly differently. The Yammy has a lighter front end and just generally "feels" sportier, like its easy to lift into a wheelie or manoeuvring over small obstacles. The Honda is very equally balanced front to back, so it stays very true in the air when jumping high and lands perfectly almost without rider input. But this makes it heavier for manoeuvring the front end for tight or small obstacles.

I found the opposite on on the TRX I have riden and my YFZ. The TRX would lift the front coming out of all the corners and didn't seem to jump as smooth but my YFZ seems to be more balanced. I think a lot of that was because of suspension set up on both though
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"If in doubt go flat out"
"Nothing worth having is easy to get"

[triple"A"]

pretty sure the battery issue with the yfz was fixed by 06, i've got an 04 an 05 an 06 and an 09 and only had issues electrically with the 04 and the 05.

the problem happens when the battery condition deteriorates, it's still good enough to start the bike but the longer it runs, the shiityer it gets, and starts misfiring etc. once a new battery is fitted, it's all good again.

as for preference honda over yamaha, well, even though i have a fleet of yammies, there are very few reasons to divide the yfz from the trx, it's purely personal in my opinion

[bullet]

Pity you don't have an 07 and an 08 Kev.
You could have an 09 high straight hand, all in the same suit.
Is that called a flush?
_________________
Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

[triple"A"]

dunno bullet but owning quads definately doesnt make me very flush with cash

[PeteW]

triple"A" wrote:

dunno bullet but owning quads definately doesnt make me very flush with cash

nah thats what you do with the cash isn't it... just flush it
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www.thumbpump.com
www.dirtcomp.com.au

[mike_6r4]

The issues with batteries on early YFZ's are easily fixed. The early bikes did not charge the battery unless there was load on the system. The fix was either to run with the lights on all the time which draws current and makes the stator charge the battery. Alternatively you can buy a resistor kit from Yamaha that does the same if you don't want to run lights.

The battery upgrade is a larger battery that was fittted to the Raptor 350.

All depends what you want to use the quad for? If it's MX etc then it's the YFZ hands down. If you're trail riding, not too mechanically minede and want a ride and forget quad I'd get an LTR450. I ride a YFZ but it needs constant TLC with keeping the valve clearances in check etc.

[kris_]

thanks for the tips and advice gents.

The quad will most likely be stock besides maybe a pipe and filter. Mainly just a weekend toy to keep me amused for a while.

The kick start doesnt really bother me as im 90kg and almost 6ft so thats no drama.

The quad will mainly be used for trails and on hunting trips with mates so no MX or anything like that.

I think im leaning towards the Honda however I guess it depends what I can find at the time of purchase.

[triple"A"]

mike_6r4 wrote:

The issues with batteries on early YFZ's are easily fixed. The early bikes did not charge the battery unless there was load on the system. The fix was either to run with the lights on all the time which draws current and makes the stator charge the battery. Alternatively you can buy a resistor kit from Yamaha that does the same if you don't want to run lights. The battery upgrade is a larger battery that was fittted to the Raptor 350. All depends what you want to use the quad for? If it's MX etc then it's the YFZ hands down. If you're trail riding, not too mechanically minede and want a ride and forget quad I'd get an LTR450. I ride a YFZ but it needs constant TLC with keeping the valve clearances in check etc.

yeah i've heard some people have to check their valve clearances regularly, and i was checking mine every service coz i'd heard it. but i've never had to change shims except when i put a different head on one of my engines.