I only own a puny Honda 250X (bored, cammed, filtered, jetted, piped, geared, etc.) And I must say, I am quite amazed with the new sport quads out there... I just found this article to be interesting, because it gives Bombardier the justification they need for the design and production of their DS650, after all, they built it for the desert. Why did I post it here? Because ever since the Raptor came out, I've heard so much Bombardier bashing out there, that I just can't stand it... the Raptor did not make the DS obsolete, and I'd bet Bombardier comes out with ever more high performance machines in the future, like an MX quad, etc.

http://www.atvscene.com/onthefast-trak12-6-00.htm

 

check this article out...

it even talks about Wes Miller's "Dream Team" of ATV pros and their Raptor that entered the race...

along with other Raptors as well

and hey give credit where credit is due, the winner is the all-time winning Baja quad racer and he is 44 years old, wow!

it says the almost stock DS was clocked at 100mph and got 100mpg INCREDIBLE!

 

here's the proof
http://www.off-road.com/race/2000b2k/rtroa1.html

the bottom line is that the mighty Raptor driven by Heuvos producer Wes Miller's "Dream Team" of professionals like Tim Farr, Doug Gust, etc. finished behind the first place (ATV class, 41st overall) Bombardier DS650, four Honda 400EX's, and two Honda 4x4's (don't know what kind)

the second place 400EX came in 17 minutes after the DS650... not bad in a 41 hour race, huh?

the first 4x4 came in 3 hours and 12 minutes behind the DS650

the Raptor came in 16 hours and 16 minutes behind the DS650

was it all just bad luck for the Raptor? maybe, but there were two other Raptors that entered the race... plenty more Hondas, and NO other Bombardiers

Maybe it was just luck for the Bombardier? NOT!!! ... the Raptor was designed as a good "all-around" quad, the 400EX was designed as a good "all-around" quad, the DS650 was designed for the desert, and the desert alone!

Looks like Honda EXCEEDED their expectations by finishing second, looks like Yamaha met their expectations just by finishing the race, and it looks like Bombardier met their expectations since that's what the DS650 was designed for.