User:BearfootTruck/Yamaha YZ series

The Yamaha YZ is a series of two-stroke and four-stroke motocross bikes produced by the Yamaha Motor Company from 1973 onwards.

History
Introduced in 1976, the Yamaha YZ400 (YZ400C) was thought to be little more than a repainted version of the Yamaha MX400. However, it incorporated a number of "works" parts that weren't on the MX400. The YZ400C had good performance, but the frame and handling were flawed.

In 1977, Yamaha redesigned the frame, engine and suspension. The YZ400D was an improvement over the earlier model, but handling was still lacking because the round swing arm tended to flex when cornering.

For 1978, the rear swing arm was replaced with a boxed aluminum swing arm. Suspension travel was increased as well. Out of the whole YZ400 range, the YZ400E is considered to be the best of the bunch.

1979 saw another redesign for the YZ400. The YZ400F (not to be confused with the four-stroke machine of the same name) got improved handling, FIM-type side number plates and a new engine. However, a number of people consider this engine to be a step backwards from the 1978 engine.

Users
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BearfootTruck's Universe
Sonic brings home a 1978 YZ400 in The Fakest Things Alive. It is implied to be dirty and/or worn out, judging by what Sally said. By the time Sonic returns, Tails has made numerous modifications to the bike. For example, he replaced a number of parts with lightweight parts made of a titanium-magnacarbide alloy. Tails also put on a specially-modified kickstand & footpegs so that people as tall as Sonic can ride it more easily.

To personalize it, Tails painted it blue with red stripes & yellow fenders, put Sonic's name on the gas tank and the Sonic Team emblem on the side number plates. The newly-modified bike gets the nickname "Whirlwind" (not to be confused with the MTP-01 Whirlwind). However, Sonic doesn't get a chance to ride his sweet new moto-rocket because he has to run away from Sally, Amy, Rouge, Shadow & Antoine.