Well, after much debate and reading everything in site, I finally got myself a new DS 650 Baja. It is awesome. I bought it on saturday and took it out and did some short 5-15 minute rides with cool downs in between and then did a little more riding on it with a little more aggressive style. It is a great bike.

It is much more suited to me than the raptor. Don't get me wrong I like the raptor, but it felt kind of on the small side for me and just was not that comfortable. The baja cures that problem.

I also got a chance on sunday to do a quick little drag test. My buddy was on my raptor, which is piped, jetted and K&N filtered. It is stock gearing. Of course the baja is stock. I weigh about 65 pounds heavier than him also.

We did several short runs, probably like 300 feet give or take. On a start from a stand still, the raptor would jump ahead like 2 lengths and then the DS would start to pull him back in. On a rolling start at about 3-5 mph, the Ds would be side by side and then start pulling about 3rd gear.

I was very impressed, given the weight difference and the fact that the DS is stock and the fact that I don't have much seat time on it and I never took it over 6000 rpm.

I have to get used to the power band on this machine, If I was below about 3500 rpm, it had no power and would kind of seem like it coughed or sputtered, but as soon as it got above that mark, it pulled like crazy. It almost seemed like the power band on the banshee I used to own. I had read in magazines that it did not have much low end and I would have to agree, but it does have plenty of power and would easily beat a stock raptor. I also love the gear box, compared to the raptor, it is like a cadilac.

I really love the suspension. It works very well and I am going to be dialing it in to get it as close to perfect as possible.

Well, all in all I am very pleased. I am going to be getting some desert time on the machine this week and may be going to some local dunes this weekend if weather permits.

Thanks for all your input in my purchase decision.

Bat

 

Great! Welcome to the DS family! Keep us posted and enjoy.

 

The DS has plenty of low end if it is tuned right. The front end want jump up like a Raptor or alot of other quads because of the weight bias in front. But that can be a good thing if you use it to your advatage.

 

3TV, I ended up buying from a place called ADS motorsports in ogden. My buddy lives up there in ogden and it is only a few minutes from his house and so we went and they had one. And he gave me a good deal. Also, he gave me 50% off some sand tires that were marked up pretty good, but I still saved about $70 over rocky mountain or other mail order places.

I felt pretty good about the deal. I love the new bike, it is awesome. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the weather holds decent for the weekend and I can get out and give it some more run time.

Is there anyplace to buy parts and supplies (like oil and filters and things like that) online. Where do you guys use?

Anyone know if the service manual for the 2002's is out yet? I want to order the factory service manual. I prefer to do my own work and not take it to a dealer, especially since the nearest dealer is at least a couple hours away.

Thanks for the info

Bat

 

batoutahell, congrats on the purchase. try www.albaaction.com for your options, filters, etc. they are not bad to deal with and they have a large selection for the ds. as far as the manual goes, i picked up the 2001 and it is really not worth much (except for torque specs).