I'm currently in the market for an 2002 Raptor, I'm a big guy and I like to get big air in the dunes and occassionally on an MX track. Do the 2002 Raptors have the same problems as the 2001's in regards to bending/breaking axles, or have they been improved? How much can the stock axles handle?

 

They (Yamaha) says it's been improved, but it really needed alot of improvement. The stock 01 axle was made from recycled beer cans!

If you can swing it, I would suggest you buy aftermarket. The Durablue is +5, Lonestar +3 and RPM +5. Lonestar and RPM have the best warranty, which means a "real lifetime warranty" not "pro-rated" like the Durable.

I personally went with the RPM, becuase I wanted the extra width (+5) over the LSR (+3). Your decision.

Swy

 

Get the wider axle and go big!!!!

 

I weigh 200 lbs and launched my 2001 raptor off a mx ski jump. After coming down from a height of about twelve feet I completely snapped my left wrist which required surgery. At the time the entire quad was stock. If there was ever a time that a rear axle would of broke or bent It would have been from this leap. I have since improved the shocks but still pound the thing. I love to jump. I have not bent the 2001 axle. Maybe they were bad batches of 01s but I can tell you mine has held up just fine.

 

I bought a used '01 Raptor in really good shape a few months ago. The first time a seriously rode on a MX track with it I totally bent the hell out of the rear axle going over a double. If you really like to jump I would seriously recomend a Durablue 2+2 axle. You'll probably like a wider axle when jumping anyway. It makes a big difference and is a lot stronger.

 

I also bent mine on an 01. I did it from landing a little sideway off a fairly small jump. The stocker might be fine if you always land correct and from nothing TOO big but it also helps it handle so much better. I went with Dura Blue because I didn't know that the lifetime warranty claim they make was bogus, hopefully I will never have to use it. It ahs taken alot of pounding since I have had it and no problems other than the locknut losening.

 

Yeah they say the '01's are weak....but after 16 months of abuse and big jumps (WITH SPACERS I might add) I have not had any problems at all. It has held up tremendously well. I saw an '02 axle just WAFFLE itself when the bike was only a couple of hours old. And it was not a bad landing either. So you never know what will or can happen. I'm just waiting on mine to bend so that I can get the Lonestar!! I want one bad!!

Here is a pic of a jump with the 2" spacers on an '01 axle - I jumped like this several times during our Lil Sahara trip to OK.
Jump Pic

Spacers