Aftermarket versus the Factory

In their August issue, QUAD magazine tested a full GYT-R prepped YFZ450R loaded with performance parts bearing the factory brand. The QUAD YFZ450R provides an interesting comparison to the completely aftermarket prepped Tarantula Performance Racing project YFZ450R.

In 2009, an interesting debate has surfaced. Thanks to Yamaha, you can now buy a YFZ450R, which is one of the most track-ready ATVs available, and purchase a host of GYT-R products from your local dealer to make your quad a truly competitive motocross racer. But will these 'factory' performance parts stand up to the tried-and-true performance all but guaranteed from the aftermarket companies, which kept the sport alive during the factories' absence in the 1990s?

Let's compare and see how a 'factory' quad really stacks up to its 'aftermarket' competition!

Engine

ATP Racing Engines machined our head and installed our engine performance parts.

Let's start with the engine. Florida-based ATP Racing Engines took the stock Yamaha YFZ450R, which cranked out 44 horspower to start, and obtained a 20 percent power increase with a combination full Motoworks SR4 exhaust, Motoworks FMI, Twin-Air Power Flow filter and intake, JE piston and aftermarket cams plus port work.

ATP installed our Motoworks SR4 full exhaust and Twin-Air Powerflow air filter system.

ATP then dialed it all in on their dyno. Now, the TPR project YFZ450R makes 52 horsepower on an engine that was built for reliability and not to push the envelope. All this came with a price tag of about $1,500.

ATP used Motoworks' FMI tuner, which sells for less than the GYT-R ECU, to dial all the engine work in on their dyno at an affordable price.

The TPR project YFZ450R already has the GYT-R version beat in the price department. The GYT-R head alone costs $2,246. If you include the factory equivalent of all the engine performance parts we installed, the price tag on the 'factory' motor tops out above $3,500 in parts alone.

QUAD magazine didn't include dyno numbers on its project, but we're willing to bet both their model and the TPR project YFZ450R are even in the power department despite ATP holding back and not pushing the engine's limits in order to keep our quad reliable.

Suspension and Chassis

There's no doubt the TPR project YFZ450R has its 'factory' competition beat in the suspension department. Granted, the stock suspension on the new YFZR is some of the best available straight from the factory. The quad comes at 49 inches wide and features 11 inches of rear travel and 9.8 inches up front with hi- and low-speed compression, rebound and pre-load adjustments.

RPM signed on to sponsor the TPR YFZ450R with a Dominator II Axle, which is adjustable and allows us to widen the quad to 50 inches.

Now the TPR project YFZ450R measures in at an even 50 inches wide thanks to our ATV Four Play MGC long-travel a-arms and RPM Dominator II axle. We also upgraded the front suspension with Fox Float X Evol shocks, which will give us 10.5 inches of travel up front. A Fox Podium X rear shock is bolted on to the TPR project YFZ450R stock swingarm and linkage.

Fox Shox Float X Evol fronts (above) and Podium X rear (below) are far superior to the stock YFZR shocks. The Floats also weigh about half as much as the stock shocks and increase the travel considerably with the addition of ATV Four Play a-arms.

In the suspension department, the TPR project YFZ450R will be able to tackle whoops, corners and big hits smoother and faster than the 'factory' version thanks to our aftermarket sponsors. And the money saved by choosing ATP over the 'factory' engine will allow you to upgrade the suspension on your new Yamaha.

Tires and Wheels

DWT's Champion in a Box kit helped Dustin Wimmer win the title last year.

The Tarantula Performance Racing project YFZ450R features Douglas Wheel Technologies' Champion in a Box wheel kit, which includes two rear Ultimate G2 beadlock wheels, two Rok'N Lock front beadlock wheels, four mud caps and a DWT hat. The Champion in a Box kit retails for about $600, which is a great price for four of the industry's best beadlock wheels. We wrapped those wheels with Maxxis Razr MX soft-compound front and rear tires, which carry a combined price tag of about $250.

Pictured are Maxxis' medium-compound Razr MX rears and Razr Cross fronts. We're also running Maxxis' soft-compound Razrs front and rear on the TPR project YFZ450R.

For less than $900, the TPR project YFZ450R features a set of wheels and tires that helped Dustin Wimmer win the AMA ATV National Motocross Championship last year.

On the flip side, the QUAD magazine GYT-R Yamaha tire and wheel set up costs more than $1,000 (depending upon which tires you choose) and only includes a standard rim up front. Adding to that, the 'factory' tires have yet to prove themselves and help win a motocross championship.

Nerfs and Bumpers

Pictured is the youth version of the Race Safe TPR nerf bars. A version of these will run on the TPR project YFZ450R for adult quads.

The 'factory' quad doesn't stand a chance here. Tarantula Performance Racing offers customization options for its front bumpers, so racers can add their name, number and sponsor logos to their interchangeable center plate. Point aftermarket. TPR offers endless color choices for its nerfs and bumpers. Point aftermarket. The TPR front bumper and nerf bars retail for less than the 'factory' options. Point aftermarket.

The TPR Race Safe front bumper, pictured on a youth DRR ATV, features a removable and completely customizable center plate.

TPR also offers a much safer nerf bar option for the YFZ450R. The TPR line of Race Safe nerf bars feature a pocket for the rider's feet to keep a competitor's wheels out and the rider safely planted in the saddle.

Accessories and Controls

The 'factory' accessory options are limited for the YFZ450R to a few anodized plugs, plastic glide plates and bland graphic kits.

Aftermarket accessory options are virtually limitless. For the TPR project YFZ450R, we stuck to the basics. Our quad will feature a graphic kit from Racing Armor, a B-Tek performance aluminum skid plate, Cycra hand guards, Spider grips, CV4 hoses, a Hinson billet clutch cover, Galfer stainless brake lines and a Quadtech seat cover.

A Hinson clutch pack will be protected by their billet clutch cover.

The accessory options on the TPR project YFZ450R come at a minimal price but add huge performance gains. The Quadtech seat cover features additional padding compared to the stock cover and has better grip and style.

The CV4 hoses are manufactured from pure silicone and will help keep our engine cooler than the stock hoses and hold up to higher temperatures longer.


The Galfer stainless brake lines will hold their shape longer than the stock rubber lines and will improve performance.

Our Spider grips are much more comfortable than stock, and the Cycra Stealth handguards will keep our digits safer than racing without guards. And the aluminum B-Tek skid plate installs with only one bolt and will protect our frame and engine cases better than the GYT-R plastic guard.



Conclusion

Yamaha continues to advance the racing market for sport ATVs with this year's release of the new YFZ450R. And the GYT-R line of performance products and accessories help take the sport to new heights by giving a rider the option to literally go straight from the dealer to the starting line.

But the factory still has a long way to go.

The aftermarket engine work on the TPR project YFZ450R is much more affordable than the same level 'factory' mods available. And the money saved can help pay for the suspension components needed to keep up with the increased horsepower.

With today's economy, the aftermarket offers the more affordable option to improve the performance of your YFZ450R.