Oct. Dirt Wheels page 74, last paragraph:

"The Raptor has smooth power, will get up to top speed (75MPH) in a flash and run well at any altitude."

There. I've read posts saying 80, 85 or even 90MPH. I figured it wasn't and, well, it isn't.

I'm not knocking the Raptor at all. It got rave reviews and I agree it must be a great machine.

As for top speed, it may be interesting to know but to be honest, top speed isn't even all that important to me. How often would you be going that fast anyway??? But to those who judge and value ATV's by their top speed, now you have the truth. The one stat that's missing is quarter mile elapsed time and even 200 ft. elapsed time. That, to me, would be cooler to see.

 

Did they change the gearing? I also read they dropped a tooth in the front.

 

they may have dropped a tooth or something. I don't know and they didn't say.

 

So this was actually measured with a radar gun? I remember one of the old ATV mags (I think it was 3 wheeling) used to always radar test every trike/quad, they are honestly not as fast as you think, although even 50 mph feels very fast on dirt riding on a fat tired creation! The Raptor may be fast, but it's a still a pig. I would much rather have one of the lighter 450s, even though they have far less torque and potentially slightly less top end.

 

I just read that myself, good article. Being a 700R owner I though it to be a very accurate evaluation. I clocked mine on pavement at 77, with the airbox lid removed and the spark arrestor removed. I made three runs, one at 76mph and two at 77mph top speed. I'm a trail rider mainly though, so top speed really isn't an issue to me, just did it to satisfy my curiousity. I bought mine for the handling. Oh yeah, the 700R is by no means a "pig". It weighs 396lbs. 46lbs heavier than the 450's and pretty close to all the 400's, and at 686cc, that's pretty good if you ask me. Plus it feels even lighter than it is.

 

With 1 tooth smaller in the rear I was able to GPS 77mph out @ 4500 ft. And I am 6"5 and weigh 250lbs

With a pipe and a TFI it will easily get into the 80's

 

I actually counted the teeth on the front sprocket at 14 and 38 at the rear. That is a lot taller than the 660at 13/40 so they must have changed the gearbox ratio's a fair bit ?

 

Thanks for the info. 2stroke4ever.... I give Yamaha thumbs up for making improvements to the 660r. Yamaha is leading the high-performance world right now & putting pressure on the other companies to top their products & there's no one better than Yamaha to date.... As much as I try to Love the 450s I can't seem to get over there size. I'm not a big guy, but those 450s seem so tiny!!!!!!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Speedster700hp; why must we make offensive comments. No quad is perfect, TRX250r, Tecate 250, even the great LT500r(Quadzilla). Yamaha has made big steps in improving their quads. Give credit for that!!!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

I agree. If the others were as bold and innovative as Yamaha, we'd have a heck of a selection of machines to pick from...even more than now.

I was never really a yamaha man (always favored Team Green) but I really appreciate the initiative they've taken over my years on quads. I'm 32. My first quad was a Blaster (after I wrecked my 86 KX80) when they came out in 1987. A light 200cc 2 stroke quad with oil injection to boot that was great for trail riding and playing around and all for $1899??? I was like "Jeez! What a great idea! Why can't the others make something like this!?!?! 18 years later, the same basic machine is still a great seller.

The Banshee? Well, I was never a Bashee fan but the concept was cool. They rocked the ATV world back in the day. And long after the others wimped out on 2 stroke racers, they kept making them. Good for them!! If only they'd made a frickin' 250!!!

And now the YFZ450?? I just love it. Good for Yamaha! Great quad. I'm thinking of getting one (though the new Raptor is tempting) and parking my zingers to preserve them for eternity.