Change is in the air: Yamaha improves 2006 YFZ450 with more than 80 changes.(all terrain vehicles)(Product/Service Evaluation)

Publication: ATV Sport

Publication Date: 01-NOV-05

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Ehlert Publishing Group

Nope, the YFZ450 wasn't broken. It really didn't need to be fixed either. The proof can be seen in terms of market share. The YFZ was not only Yamaha's No. 1 seller, but the sport quad industry's top seller, too. So why change it? Because it was time. Just because something is considered the best or on top, doesn't mean it will stay there. Yamaha realizes this and understands the competition is gunning for it. When you're the leading sport quad producer and seller, you have to continue to improve your game or someone else will replace you.

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Yamaha also has heard the hint of increased competition recently. There's talk of an all-new Suzuki 450 and something from Kawasaki. Plus, KTM has signed a new contract with Polaris and it (they) surely will produce a YFZ competitor. And we doubt Honda will sit still and allow Yamaha to continue its run at the top of the sport market. So, you see, change can be good. We've seen it first with the all-new Raptor 700R, and now we witnessed it firsthand with the reconfigured 2006 YFZ450. Change is definitely in the air at Yamaha.

Test Course

To showcase the more than 80 changes made to the YFZ450, Yamaha talked a dirt bike motocross track into making a change for the sake of ATV progress. Yamaha rented the private and secluded Castillo Ranch motocross track near Los Alamos, Calif., for the test ride. We were some of the first ATV enthusiasts and racers to ride...

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