What better place to check out the all-new 2005 Special Editon Yamahas than a couple days at Glamis, in the middle of prime dune riding season? Yamaha already has an impressive lineup of sport models and each year they add to your choices with specific Limted Edition models. For 2005 there are four Limited Edition models in the sport lineup:

• A yellow and black YFZ450
• A dark grey Raptor with grey camo accents
• An all black Banshee
• A black/grey Raptor 350

We wanted to see the new colors for 2005 but we were also excited about the chance to ride the Banshee, the YFZ450, and the Raptor side by side at the sand capital of Californa. All three can be excellent sand machines. The Raptor 350 is an excellent machine for the novice rider.

YFZ450 Special Editon

Brighter than the other Special Edition models, the YFZ450 comes with yellow/white/black plastic and graphics. The frame comes in black. We have seen similar schemes with aftermarket plastic but this works really well with the black frame. We think it gives it a somewhat retro look.

Raptor 660R Special Editon

For 2005 the Special Editon Raptor gets dark grey plastic with grey camo graphics that accent the silver frame.

Banshee Special Editon

The Banshee goes all black with some very cool purple lightening-strike graphics. The springs, chassis, and other components are all balck. We really like the graphics on the Special Edition Banshee.

Raptor 350 Special Edition

The Raptor 350 gets black and grey body work with silver front shock springs and a black chassis.

If you're getting ready to buy a new Yamaha you should definetly check out the Special Edition models. For around a $500 premium you get a quad that sets itself apart from the others. Sure you can tear it down, powder coat the frame, buy new plastic in your choice of colors, add new graphics - but that would cost you a bunch more than the $500 for a Special Edition model direct from the factory.

Riding the Dunes

Kory Ellis jumping the SE YFZ450

Almost daily I get asked "Which quad should I buy?". The answer is always "It depends". No matter how or where you ride, we have come to firmly believe that there is a Yamaha for EVERYONE. Our ride at Glamis just reinforced this.

The Raptor 350 was a nice ride - not my personal pick for the dunes, but an excellent choice for a beginning rider.

The Raptor 660 has huge amounts of tourque that makes it easy to ride. It is fast and fun but the handling on the sand just does not compare to the Banshee or the YFZ450. It desperately needs to be wider. The tallest hills are no problem though.

Prior to this ride the Banshee would have been my personal pick for the sand dunes. Today my answer would be the YFZ450. If you are a two-stroke rider and have always ridden a 2 stroke you will probably disagree. The Banshee is an awsome ride on the sand but after riding so many 4-strokes over the last few years, they really start to grow on you. The YFZ450 just feels right. It has great power, it revs quickly, the handling is unbeatable, it jumps flawlessly. (Not that I could test it's jumping capability - But Kory Ellis was on hand to show us just how well it worked. ) My new personal favorite for the sand dunes is the Yamaha YFZ450.

Enjoy. See you on the top of a sand dune ......