Okay, here's my problem.

I used to own a Banshee and sold it after I ordered my Raptor. I loved the 2-stroke feel of the Banshee, being able to take corners fast and slide the rear end out when needed and the way it would shoot up some very serious hills.

When I got the Raptor, I loved the refined feel, the reverse and electric start, torque, ease of maintenance and so forth.

My problem is that I'm having a bit of a hard time making the transition to the Raptor. If I'd been on a Honda, it would probably be no big deal, but I'm used to slipping and sliding and now I've got something that just hooks up and goes. In itself, that's probably a good thing, but for me, it makes it feel just slightly tippy. My other big problem is that I can't climb hills like I used to. Last week I flipped the Raptor down a hill that I had been up on my Banshee. On the Banshee, I just sat there and gassed it until I hit the top. I did the same thing on the Raptor and about mid-way through the hill, the front end decided it wanted to come over. I tried riding it out, but with no luck.

So here's my delima. I've got insurance money to fix the Raptor, maybe even cut some corners and buy some aftermarket parts, front shocks and a few other things. Can I bring back that familiar feeling or should I consider selling it and going back with a Banshee?

I like the thought of the Banshee other than, it works you much harder in the woods, more maintenance, dated chassis, no luxury items and so forth.

You see, I'm really screwed up huh? If I can get comfortable on the Raptor, I know it'll be the best woods ride for me, but how long can I expect for it to take to get used to it?

Any comments other than I'm a dufus?

 

i don't ride a raptor

But getting used to the 4-stroke took me awhile too.

When a banshee you probably had it wide open all the way up, sounds to me like you just need to give her less gas :-)

If you want a 2-stroke..well not sell it, what will have you have 6,000?

well it get a 250R for about 3,000, stick that other 3000 in it, thats complete suspension, wider chassis parts, and motor work!

 

same thing happened to me with my raptor. put it back together and kept it. just gonna have to adjust i guess.

 

It all depends on how much you got from your insurance. I took my insurance money and got used parts and did the work myself. I didn't change the plastic [I can live with the white dots on the pastic around all the screws], or the bars or the seat cover. I took the rest and put it in the bank. I can still sell my Banshee for what I bought it for [I got a GREAT deal to begin with] and I have play money in the bank. So I suggest you do the minumum to get it to run again and see if you get used to the power band. If not, you can sell it [let the next guy put on the bars and plastic he wants] and buy what you really WANT. Who knows maybe next year the banshees will have reverse. :-D

 

Bash,
Just stick with the Raptor and do some suspension mods. Once you get it lower and wider you will feel more comfortable on it. You will be happier with it, than the old outdated banshee! Or you could always just buy a Honda

 

If you are going to be doing hill climbs alot, I would get a Banshee with pipes. I ride at alot of hill climbs, and the ones that get up the easiest are the Banshees. I never saw a Quadzilla go up any, but they probably do just as well as the Banshees.

 

Bash...

On a side note... I now alot of people have had a hard time getting used to the stock tires and how they grab when trying to slide around corners and such.... I have read posts from people who have changed tires to razors/holeshots ect, and they seem to be very very happy with how the machine slides... big diff in there words. I know I will ride with the stockers until they wear out then go with something else that slides better...

anyways just something to think about

 

Get a Banshee, because right about now your going through withdrawl symptons from the adrenaline rush of a Banshee.

j/t
01 Raptor Blk/White

 

Hey Scott, I hate to pull a "Told you so" but you are experiencing the exact things I have posted about and been flamed for, countless times.

It's not the 4 stroke. It's the chassis design of the Raptor and the power curve of the engine.

As long as you're not completely resigned to having to get a Yamaha, consider these options.

If you want the 2 stroke feel and want a chassis that's far superior to the Banshee or the Raptor, find a 250R and spend some money to freshen it up.

If you want a newer quad, I'll say it again, get a 400EX (nearly the same chassis as the 250R), do a few minor engine mods & it will develop as much or more power than the Raptor and have a much more usable powerband & a far more stable chassis that isn't as prone to looping on the hills & powerslides thru corners fine. I'm an old 3-wheeler guy and the powerslide is something I live on. I would have never bought the 400EX if it weren't up to par. There's a reason the EX still dominates 4 stroke ATV racing.

As far as all around 2wd ATVing goes there is no better choice than these 2 models.

You'll have to dump a lot of money into the Raptor to fix it's chassis problems.

These are the exact reasons I kept my EX instead of buying a Raptor when they came out, I am very serious about being one of the fastest riders in the group or at a race - the Raptor doesn't take me toward this goal, just none of you guys believed me when I tried to be the voice of reason.

Fire away guys, I've stepped into my flame proof suit.

 

86atc250r,

The 400ex is by no means a 250r. The 400ex will never beat the 250r. Never! The stock 250r will out-handle and out-run the stock 400ex. Since they both have the same, not, but simular specs, the handling mods will do the same for both machines. The 400ex never overcomes the 250r with the same mods.

Now the Raptor and the 400ex. They do not have simular specs as the 250r and the 400ex . The Raptor outruns the 400ex out of the crate. It takes a 440 to bring it to speed with the stock Raptor. Now handling. The 400ex outhandles the Stock Raptor. Why? Because the 400ex is wider than the Raptor by two inches in the back and one inch in the front. That, and the Raptor is one inch taller, and the front shocks are softer allowing even more roll.

Having said all that, when modding the Raptor, the mods will improve the handling more than it will on the 400ex because you can bring the front end one inch farther out and the rear two inches farther out than you can on the 400ex making the Raptor now out-handle, or at least as well, as the 400ex with more power!

Is the Honda forum closed?