This bike was the "change up" model where they added new things that made it stand out against the 2012 version. They changed everything,new frame design, new engine, brand new to the class, the air suspension, and the more noticeable difference being the dual exhaust. Now when I first took the bike out I had the opportunity to ride my local track (after break in ride of course) where they were having the Yamaha 2013 line up testing. I didn't ride them but riding with others on the track showed where I stood in the 2013 450s. The bike overall weighed in at a even 240lbs. When we weighed the front and rear separately, both weighed 120lbs, and it was a balance you could definitely feel. The bike corners like no other bike in its class, it is very easy to go into corners and have a smooth transition in and out of corners. It was also very easy to maneuver the bike in the air. The power is a nice feature as well, it is mainly a lower to mid range power, which made sharp corners easier to go in and out of, but it tends to fall off in the top end, forcing you to shift earlier or feather the clutch. The bike over all handles fairly well, however over the course of riding it, I came to realize how bad the air forks really were. This is the only real complaint I have with the bike. The suspension is very harsh and doesn't absorb the impact of ruts and bumps very well and it ends up going to your hands and arms. I have adjusted the suspension in different ways and it still seems to want to send the shock straight to your hands. The air in the forks has to be frequently checked and adjusted. The service manual says there are different PSI settings for different terrain but with the 3 settings it gives you dont really make any difference. The rear suspension however I have been really happy with, mostly cause it has real springs and not air. Now the things I have done to the bike in terms of after market stuff is...... NOTHING! The only thing I did to my bike is painted the frame red, the swing arm and wheels black, and swapped the plastic to red and black. Over all this is a great bike to start out on for moving up to 450s, and when the rider is ready you can really make it go fast!
