im going to go look at a 03 raptor this weekend so what i need to know are these bike reliable do they hold up well to abuse what are common problems do these bikes have.

what im most worried about is the dual carb set up i do all my own work on my quad and im not sure i will be able to work on this carb and do not like taking my bikes to the steeler.

 

jetting these carbs is easy...specially if youve ever worked on quads before.

Look for:
a good strong battery (weak batteries put strain on the starter)
no slipping of the one-way bearing when you crank the motor over (loud clunks when its bad)
make sure the tie-rods are straight (handlebars should be straight and wheels pointing forward)
if the seller has spare oil, oil filters, chain lube...all those are indicators that he took good care of the quad
make sure the shocks are not shot, bouncy suspensions probably indicate bad shocks
ask how often he adjusted the valves (should be every 20-40hrs)
the tranny should be fine, but if you can...ride it and shift WITHOUT the clutch and try to feel the shifting..should be nice and smooth, no grinding or binding.

Theres a ton of things you could look for but I just mentioned a few I would check right off the bat.
Hope this helps!