This bike is great on gas. I think I was getting better than 40 miles per full tank of gas. The 2000 model bike had steel valves which last much longer than Ti valves. Also, the 5 valve design of the Yamaha's allows more air intake with a less dramatic cam profile. In other words, the cam doesn't have to slam the valves open and shut to get make that four stroke power and rev, thus the valve tranes on a Yamaha last longer than most. Believe me, I owned a CRF450 and that bike not only required regular valve adjustments, but a whole new set of valves and springs at the end of each season. My 2000 YZ426 didn't need a single valve adjustment in the 3 years I owned the bike !!!
The ONLY reason I sold my 426 was because it was just too heavy for woods riding. The weight wouldn't have bothered me except that it held the weight very high on the bike. Combined with my short legs, when the bike began to lean, I couldn't stop it from hitting the ground.