Here is the latest from Yamaha. See how the new YFZ 450 and Raptor 700 did on the dunes.

New Yamaha YFZ450 and Raptor 700 Dune Test

 

Hmmmm it seems like they got their facts wrong:


<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Offroad.comSporting the most powerful engine ever put into an ATV, one would think the Raptor 700R to be a handful. However quite the opposite is true and its of abundance of broad and usable power made it very easy to ride in the dunes.</end quote></div>

According to http://www.arb.ca.gov/...g/o.....212_686.pdf

</a>

I'm only referring to the engine and NOT benchracing or camparing anything else about the quads. I understand each quad is different and excells at what it's intended for.

Here are a few other quads for comparison:
08 250ex: 16.8hp
08 300ex: 22.1hp
08 400ex: 34.2hp
08 450r: 42.6hp
08 700XX: 53hp
08 KFX450r:42.1
08 KFX700:48.8
08 Z400: 36.6hp
08 Ltr450: 41.6hp
08 Raptor 250: 18.8
08 YFZ450: 38.6hp
08 Raptor700r: 46.9hp

 

that link doesnt work. how accurate are those numbers? some just seem overstated and some understated.

 

Try this:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/o..._atv_um0030212_686.pdf

 

Wow. That 08 700XX really has 53hp out of the box?

That's amazing. Have you finished breaking yours in -Gary-? Does it put a grin on your face when you open it up? What other quads have you had before?

Do you like the independent rear or would you prefer straight axle?


I would love to take one of these for a ride.

 

i want to see the # to the ground also. that will tell a different story. i know depending on the dyno a raptor hits between 39-41hp stock.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: bigned1904

i want to see the # to the ground also. that will tell a different story. i know depending on the dyno a raptor hits between 39-41hp stock.</end quote></div>


Here you go...

http://www.twobros.com/Cust_Se...2008_hon_trx700_SO.pdf

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: -Gary-

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: bigned1904



i want to see the # to the ground also. that will tell a different story. i know depending on the dyno a raptor hits between 39-41hp stock.</end quote></div>





Here you go...



http://www.twobros.com/Cust_Se...2008_hon_trx700_SO.pdf</end quote></div>

thats pretty good right there. i see if drops off at 6500rpms just like the stock raptor. im sure a cam will help that a ton.

 

Yeah, I thould have thought there would have been a LOT more drive-line losses.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Off-Road Macho Man

Wow. That 08 700XX really has 53hp out of the box?



That's amazing. Have you finished breaking yours in -Gary-? Does it put a grin on your face when you open it up? What other quads have you had before?


Do you like the independent rear or would you prefer straight axle?



I would love to take one of these for a ride.</end quote></div>

Keep in mind I was coming off of a 400EX, albeit a hopped-up 400EX, but a 400EX none-the-less.

My first time out was awesome! The place where I ride is a fairly large and busy place with the trails rutted out and landings after woops or jumps often end up being a dried-up uneven mud pit that's been churned by every utility ATV you can imagine. So with all that said I'm going to point out the obvious benefit of the IRS in stopping the quad from pitching and turning on an uneven landing. Then for straight and even landings, the best way to describe it for me is if you ever been on a Sea Do or Wave Runner and jumped a wave. That nice cushy landing is how it would land. I swear I was all by myself on this long, swooping trail screaming "YEAH!" each landing.

Here's a close-up of my avatar/rutted picture:



I have yet to bring it to the sand where I think it won't be as suited to what I'm used too, but we'll see. It'll be better once the aftermarket catches up and makes a rim/tire combination with paddles. For now I have re-drilled some Raptor 10" rims to fit. (and I'm not crazy about the offset) It looks like a truck! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

See:





With those on the back it made it jump odd with the quad landing on the back wheels a lot. Traction was good, but the wider stance made it even harder to "whip" the back end around.

Also for rocky climbs I find the gearing too high which made me rev it a little higher and feather the clutch a little more than I would have liked on those steeper climbs.

Honestly I miss my SRA 400EX, but I was WAY too big for it. (I'm 6'6" and 255) I once saw a video of myself on it and was laughing at how I looked on it.

All things considered, I don't think this is a raptor killer or king of the hill of quads, even though it's one of the best I've been on, but I do think it's really nice for me.