I posted this message on yamaha's website, but thought I might get some good criticism from Honda.

Just looking for some helpful opinions on which quad to get. Last summer I was going to buy a 400ex and then heard the 450r was coming out. So I waited and waited some more. Well now after almost a year later I was going to get the 450R, but the yamaha looks so much sweeter, it has electric start, and I love blue. Also reports have been coming in that it also faster. Anyways... for like the last month I have totally changed my mind to the yfz. Well now the new 2005s are announced and I see that the seat has been changed to fix their comfort complaints, which has been the only whine I have heard in the last year. So messing around on Yamaha's website I did one of their compare two quad deals and I compared the yfz and raptor. Man, now I am contemplating on going with a raptor. Love the idea of having reverse.

So please tell me raptor or yfz in your opinions. I am 29, 6'3", and 220 lbs getting my first quad for the AZ desert trails and maybe a couple trips to the dunes. Don't think I have any plans on doing some serious racing or anything. I don't want to be out there riding my quad wishing I spent an extra $700 for the yfz. These little things like electric start and reverse have really turned my head around. There was no talking me out of the 450R three months ago, now I am not sure what I am getting. I know 450R is outta my head, but my thoughts are for less money I can be happier with a better looking raptor with electric and reverse (or yfz with electric). Anyone else have these kinda thoughts?

Sorry for rambling.

 

Both the Raptor and YFZ are good open desert/dune bikes. But for my taste the Raptor is to narrow, and I would have to spend $2,000+ right off the bat to widen it , and that would be the killer for me!

On trails I find the YFZ is a miserable ride. The power band is to pipey, and the suspension is tuned for big hits so the ride is harsh. And here again, the Raptor is to narrow and top heavy.

So, I don't own either one! The YFZ would however certainly be my choice if there wasn't a 450R. I think the YFZ has the better motor, and the 450R has the better chassis for my kind of riding (which isn't just going round and round on a track!). Yamaha built a pretty specialized out of the box MX machine in the YFZ. Trouble is, hardly anybody actually rides MX.

You have waited this long, wait a little longer for a Honda 650EX! This will be the ultimate desert bike! On the other hand, you could grow old waiting for Honda.

 

the raptor is nice, just started riding one but i have to say that reverse thing needs some help, it never seems to work the way i thought it would. i get stuck with it every time. this is in the dunes.

 

get the raptor if you want it so much. personally most of the opinions you get in this forums are going to be honda favoritism, but we dont favor them on accident.

 

yeah if you aren't going to be all out mx you may actually want to consider the 450r again. Although I personally would rather have a kick and no reverse though. I'd say stay away from the raptors, they are too tippy man. You can't just whip it sideways and get the great powersliding feel out of it the way you can with the new 450s or a 400. Whether you go with the yammi or the Honda is up to you, but I'd say stay away from the raptor.

As a side note the new Rappy colors for 05 are fuggin HOT!
Click here for a pic: New Rappy color scheme

 

At your size 6'3" 220lbs you are going to feel cramped on the YFZ. You say you plan on riding open desert trails and dunes. Have you checked out the DS650? In my opinion you wont find a better ride for this type of terrain especially at your size. I would suggest at least heading down to a Bomb dealer and sitting on one before buying anything else. You may be suprised and glad you did.

 

The ergonomics on the ds are like none other for us big guys[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]