I have read here and there about the woes of the first year Raptor, specifically the transmission reliability and axle breakage.

I was wondering exactly what transmission problems have been occuring and if they are more common on stock or modified machines? Also, are they due to hard riding or are they prone to break under normal recreational use (trailriding, light jumping)?

Also, about the axles breaking, is that mostly from hard jumping?

Finally, are there any other reliability issues surrounding the Yamaha Raptor?

I looked at and test rode a 2001 model yesterday. Was I impressed with the power? Golly gee whiz yes!!! (At the mere mention of the word Yamaha or Raptor, I begin grinning uncontrollably!) Couldn't keep the front end down at all! By the looks of the rear fender and muffler, it appeared the previous owner couldn't either. Maybe that is why he is selling it.

The price was a little high on this particular bike, especially with the evidence that the previous owner could do little to control it. Beyond the basic repairs it needed, I was concerned about the drivetrain reliability since it was the first year model.

I appreciate your responses.

 

i purchased my 01 in september of 2000
i have had zero tranny problems and no bent axles
call allen at ct racing...i did...he said he has seen some failed trannys but
the majority(by a large margin) have no problems
however...the gear spacing on the 02 is much more friendly if your a woods rider
as for the axle,its a modification you will probably end up adding down the road
anyways considering the raptors width
good luck

 

I have a 01 raptor and when it
was a year old the tranny blew
the dogs on the second gear broke
yamaha fixed it and it's been 6
months now and have had no problems
but up until the tranny problem I
never had a problem powroll has
pic's of the 01 gears and the 02
gears but if I were to do it again
I would get the 02 model I think
the tranny thing is fixed
hope this helps

 

eraptoid has an 01 & was getting some serious air at Sahara with axle spacers & had no problems.

You can see the pic of eraptoids jump on My Web Site

The links aren't always working, so you can go in to my profile & use that link It's still working.

 

After about two months of owning mine I bent an axel at an arena cross event, also bent something else but still can't tell what it is. My raptor sits lop sided now. No tranny problems to this point. I used to have carb boot problems but that was eaisly fixed. My starter has went out once as well. After this I still would not trade it for anything else on the market now.

Moose for some reason when I try to acsess pictures on your set it comes up Forbidden, do you know why that would be?

 

I think talk city is having problems!

Try this
http://home.talkcity.com/ThePits/themoosedave/HOME.html

You can paste & copy it. I just tried it & it worked.

 

I have a 01 raptor and a broken tranny also........like redrocker the dogs broke off 2nd gear...now updating to 02 tranny and can't wait to see the difference!! hope its as good as it sounds. at any rate I would also buy another Raptor because the power is unmatched unless the quad is highly moded! Good luck!

 

The weak axle deal is related to jumping, the more air and hard landings, the more likely it will bend. In NZ banshees are know to be bad for bending stock axles in motocross us, as a re alot of other quads............

General trail riding and it should be fine, you will probably go to a wider axle once you get used to the thing any way.

Starter clutches: My theory is that the problems inpart are related to the lean jetting, (as are the torn carb boots issue) and stalling in gear of the 2001 causing alot of starter loading. My 2001 starts far nicer now that the idle jetting has been adjusted and does not stall in slow going anywhere as much as it did stock standard, yes my starter assembly crapped out....... Starter assemblies can and do wear out on them.

Gearbox: some appear to be weak and have broken for no apparent reason, the actual numbers are small compared to the production run volume. Be aware that it can happen, use that as an arguing point to knock the price down maybe. You would be unlucky to have it happen but it could.........

I like the 2001 ratios once you add a pipe / airflter / jetting kit where the taller second seems to work to your advantage in the sand ? over the 2002 ratios ?

Kiwi

 

Bought my 2001 in June 2001. No problems to date. I trail ride, Now I dune ride. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]. Light jumping and hauling azz every chance I get. I'm buying my sisters stock, other than pro design air filter 2001 blue Raptor for $4800.00. I feel thats a fair price for her as well as myself. The Raptor is an awsome quad. Oh yeah, she bought hers the day after I bought mine. She does not have the time to ride it so I am more than willing to take it off her hands. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

01 Raptor Picked up Dec 12 of 00

Had ZERO problems stock.

Had carb boots blow off when I piped jetted and did Proflow kit.
Changed clamps and no other problems.

The machine is not beat on but it not treated like a closet queen.