Greetings fellow atv enthusiasts. I am an avid atv rider who has been out of the sport for 2 years now. Due to a relocation back to where I grew up<Eastern Kentucky> I shall now be purchasing another atv. Therein lies my question. Which one? I hope you gentlemen and ladies will help me with my decision.

I have ridden primarily Utilites, my last atv was a Big Bear 4x4 2 years ago. I have since decided to purchase some sort of high performance machine. I have narrowed my choices down to the DS650 and the Raptor.

I have been searching the internet and perusing posts by members here on this forum hoping to gain some information to help me in my decision. On to the questions...

1.) Reliability<sp?> How does the Ds hold up? Does it require lots of maintenance? I will be riding this machine hard and I know it will require maintenance, but I mean routine maintenance, is is the same as any atv? I shy from the raptor because of transmission,axle issues etc. I know they were supposed to have been fixed in 02 models but I'm still skeptical.

2.) Size I am 6'5 210 pounds. Tall and skinny. When I ride I go on long journeys, usually 6-12 hours on my atv. I have heard that the DS is made for taller, larger riders. How comfortable will it be for me compared to the Raptor?
Also, I ride mostly in hilly, wooded areas, I know the DS is wider than the raptor and less manueverable>sp?> in wooded areas, but how many of you actually have encountered problems when on normal atv trails?

3.) Power What mods will be best benificient to this quad. I know the raptor needs much suspension work, a arms, axle etc from the factory. How about the DS? I have ridden reviews but prefer to hear suggestions, tips, etc from the common rider.


In closing , I would like to say, I have tried to type a post that will be easy to read and will address my concerns. etc. I would greatly appreciate any and all comments or questions concerning this issue.

Thanks for your help in advance.

If you have any suggestions/comments I would love to hear those.

 

First off, the Raptor doesn't NEED any suspension work at all. It is very capable of trail riding and long trips without any work done. Suspension, axle, that all helps, but thats the way it is for any machine. Also, most people haven't had any problems with their Raptor. There is a topic in the Yamaha forum about all the people who haven't had any problems, go take a look at that and u will see. Don't get too worried about the hype about Raptors having problems. However, since u are a big guy, the DS might work well for you, I wouldn't recommend it if you will be doing alot of trail riding, but long trips for a big guy are the DS's specialty.

The DS may be the right machine for you, but don't count out the Raptor because of reliability, because most likely if you get one you will be in the same boat as 90% of the Raptor owners like myself, who love it and have had basically no trouble other then usual maintenance.

 

Sit on a Raptor, and ask anyone how you look on it. "You big fella, You gonna look like you riding toy". The DS benefits greatly from the upper a-arms and better front shocks, but lots of guys on here are just fine with the stock front end. The XCT tires are nice too, better ground clearance. The DS is a little heavy, but you get size and strength and reliability for those extra pounds. A Raptor isn't really any bigger than a Blaster, a wider axle is a must. These are both GREAT QUADS. You'll love either, but you are going to fit the DS better. Super sizing a Raptor is pretty expensive, but can be done. It is lighter and has reverse. Finding trees that are over 45" apart instead of 51" apart could be an issue, but you would want +2 A-arms on your Raptor anyway. Beware, the DS comes poorly aligned, initial test rides can be decieving, dissapointing. 1/16" Toe-out is working best for me.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

Who are u trying to kid, a Raptor is nowhere near as small as a Blaster (4 inches longer,3 inches wider, 4 inches taller, 6 inch longer wheelbase and 5 inch higher seat height), and you don't NEED a new axle or wider A-arms. I ride lots of trails and open areas and all I did was flip the rear linkage and it handles fine, and I'm not small either around 6ft and about 200lbs. There's no doubt that a Raptor will benefit from wider A-arms and a wide axle, but it is by no means a MUST. The guy didn't say he was going to be racing, he said he was going to be trail riding.

 

This guy is 6'5". A Raptor is gonna look like a Blaster with him on it. My 85 lb. 5' son looks and rides great on his 660 Raptor, on my DS he looks like a little kid. If he does get a Raptor, he will want/need the A-arms and axle and maybe a +2 swingarm. At 6 feet tall, you and I can ride either comfortably, But this 6'5" Stringbean on a Raptor is going to look and feel as out of place on a raptor as my son does on the DS.

 

Thanks guys for the responses. I think I will head down to the local shop to see about test riding a bombardier. Overall I think I'm gonna see how it FEELS to ride each machine. I ride my friend's 400ex which I think is overall close in size to a raptor. I feel uncomfortable. I just imagine riding one all day in the trails would be horrible. I guess I can blame these long legs heh.


A friend of mine has a raptor, so maybe I can ride his to see which machine I like best. I just have a feeling that being 6'5 the bombardier will feel so much more comfortable to me. As for as tight trail sections, I'll just have to find a way around em.

Still undecided, but as of right now I'm leaning to a Bombardier. Hmm...although nimbleness and reverse is nice [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]


Also can anyone give me the usual price of Raptor vs. DS650


Thanks

 

A Raptor you will end up paying around retail for which is $6499 and a DS you can probably find a dealer that will give it to u for just under $7000, it retails for $7299.

 

I'm 6'5" 220 lbs my self, the DS will be my last quad, I just cant imagine a better quad for a tall guy, Sure it would be nice if it had reverse and was a little lighter but theres no way I'll trade it for a Raptor, that machine just dosen't fit me and if your going to spend a lot of time in the saddle you want to be comfortable. I never had a wide quad before this and it took a little getting used to, Like fourlix said check the front end (or talk to the dealer about it) 1/8" to 1/16" toe out, you'll probably want to add preload to the front shocks as they seem to come from most dealers, be sure to verfify the sag in the rear too,(3" to 4" with you on the machine), too much and you'll chew up the chain roller. you'll have to make the call on weather its too wide for you trails, it would really suck to catch a wheel on a tree at speed. You might be able to get a DS for closer to $6500, check around.

 

I paid $5800 plus $75 set-up plus tax. $6,370 otd. Got some Bombardier rebates. They are dealing on them since the Raptor came out. I would think you could find one in the $6500 range new, very easily.

2001 DS 650 stock for now

 

I must admit with all the promotions going on with the DS650 it's by far the best deal out there on high-performance market. $5999.00 DS650 vs $6499.00 Raptor vs $7999.00 FX400. I'll take the DS650 on this one guy!!!!


j/t
01 Raptor (In rehab.)[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]