Hey I am really pulled between the DS 650 Baja and the Raptor right now I am leaning towards the raptor even though I am a bigger guy being 6'2" and 265lbs. I really don't know if I would like a quad as big as the DS. My last quad was a quite modded 1987 250X, which is a very small four wheeler and I never found myself wishing it was bigger. The riding I will be doing is almost 100% trails not much else up here in Northern Wisconsin except lakes in the winter. One of my concerns is I have seen and heard about raptor owners putting on +A arms and wider rear axles is this something I am going to want with the type of riding I am doing? I know this wouldn't be a concern with the DS. Also I just read a shootout and they said they severly bent a axle on thier test raptor, is this a problem any of you are having and how is the overall reliability? Thanks for your UNBIASED and HONEST replies, Seth

 

I've only had mine a few months and love it. I would keep the stock front end narrow if you plan to run mostly woods trails. It needs better shocks and 22" rears for ground clearance. If you go with 22" rears, plan on new gearing to get back acceleration or it will take forever to rev. I went for 12/44 and love it but as I get faster, I may play with 12/42 or 12/43. I have propeg nerfs and 22" Holeshot XCTs on 10" Douglas .190 with max offset. My rear tires are even with the back edge of the nerfs using a stock axle. Don't forget skidplates, you'll want them for the A-arms, belly, and swingarm. Any pipe will make a big difference in HP but Yoshi and MBRP seem to be in everyone's "best" category.

I ride with a DS650 and it's a pig. Lot's of HP but too big and heavy to throw around. If you ever rode dirt bikes, the Raptor will just feel right. My advice is to get the Raptor. If you were going to ride desert/dunes, the DS650 has a healthy following.

 

a stock Raptor would be a perfect woods quad

 

I think the determining factor should be if you think the DS can fit through the trails in wisconsin. Ride a 400ex and see if you think anything wider could fit.

IF SO, definetely get the DS. I'm 6', 200lbs, and riding the Raptor seems like a toy compared to the DS. The DS has plenty of power to be very nimble in the woods. 40% more torque than the Raptor. All the a-arms, frame, bumpers, etc... are considerably higher quality. You will be bottoming out the worthless (in my opinion) suspension on the Raptor. The bomb is bullet proof and built to higher specs than the 660r.

So far I have been able to go anywhere my raptor buddies have gone in our woods. So be carefull when they tell you that the DS won't fit. The DS width and lower center of gravity is also an advantage over the Raptor. You can go up hill climbs without the sensation (and actually) tipping over backwards; a mistake a guy on a raptor made trying to go faster than me up a hill.

Dsonyx

 

People always say the DS650 is "too wide for trails". Comon people it's like 6 inches wider than the raptor (not sure exact measurements, someone feel free to look them up). I've ridden with raptors and have never had a problem going where they go.
By all means test drive them both. I did and there was no question, the DS650 was the one for me...and I'm only 5'8" 145lbs. Just by looking you can see the DS has better quality parts. By riding you can FEEL the difference, better suspension, feels more stable, more comfy seat [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

if ur rideing trails u wil want the raptor it has reverse and is narrower the ds is a lil faster the raper will wheele better the ds jumps better it has better shocks the ds is a pretty big bike i think u would rather has the raptor if ur buying used dont buy a 2001 raptor