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I'll be interested in what the new Honda has in regards to transmission ratios. Supposedly went to longer gears? I have a 350 (2024) and have ridden the YZ450s and a 25/26 CRF. The new 450s are really good. I can't say I prefer them to my 350, but the meaningful differences to me are in subtle chassis feel differences, rider triangle, clutch feel, etc., rather than feeling like a completely different class of bike like a 250 for example. The YZ feels very strong, but if you twist a little less it is very smooth and easy, though strong...

Yeah I know what you mean. It's maybe too early for me to have a hard stance on the gearing on this bike. The track I rode had some tight corners and some were rutted up and wet, and some others were starting to dry and like hardpacked. Not the best conditions. I think on any flowy track, you can probably carry 3rd in most cases. But my ride this weekend still was a good indicator that the bike does not love slow lugging in 3rd in those types of corners (it never felt like it was going to stall...

What you are describing is exactly what I have also felt. The '23-25 YZ was the first 450 that I'd ridden and felt like it was lively and didn't have that typical 450 feel. But it was just a bit too much for me to actually buy one. I took a chance on the '26 and it's exactly what I was hoping it would be. That's why I wanted to post because I feel like there are probably quite a few people that may be on the fence there, so maybe they would want to try the '26. I sort...

I did not, unfortunately. I know in some other threads, a few guys have mentioned that a lot of my things that I didn't like about my old 350 (and 350s) in general, were much improved on the newest gen. So that is great to hear, but in the end I wasn't really looking to go down that road again. But I do think the '26 YZ takes enough of the edge off (compared to the 23-25) while maintaining a lot of the positives of that bike. So I think it's really in the conversation now for vet guys who...

I was just going through the post race press conference and thought that it’s a shame that he needs a good beating each weekend to act like that. He was pretty light hearted and humble, and if he had been acting like that his whole career I would probably have been a fan. But with his and his fathers history we all know that this is just some backpedaling because he is not winning and as soon as he wins again the nonsense will start pouring out of his mouth again.

Nowadays I struggle to find gear that fits.