I got a chance to drag race a raptor this past weekend in Albany, Georgia on Saturday on my Modified 250R and a completely stock 400EX. We race on a dry-hardpack clay surface on the "strip" in the albany dunes approximately 1/8 mile long. My 250R won by about 6-7 bike lengths in the 4 races that we did but the raptor hung in there well for a stocker. Then I hopped on my friends 400EX. The 400EX hooks a little quicker and I repeatedly got the jump on him off the line but he could motor around me slightly by the end of the 1/8 mile about 2 bike lengths. I know that the Raptor is supposed to have 20 more HP than the 400EX but I can't say that I see it. Maybe the extra weight slows the difference some. The Raptor will outrun a 400EX by about 3-5 mph on top. It will flame alot of people, but I think a 400Ex with a slipon pipe and filter would be neck and neck with a STOCK Raptor. Also handling wise I don't care what the magazine will blow up your butt. The Raptor doesn't have but maybe 5-10 degrees of rake on the front end and you can feel it in the whooped out sand. The 400EX rides better and tracks better at speed. Yamaha missed the boat again, (Add Rake Yamaha!!!!) Overall I would say that unless Dirtwheels do a shootout in the woods, The DS should win. It has a smoother ride than a 400EX, and is Faster than a Raptor on the Roads where we drag race. That is my 2 cents worth just thought you might like to know. Not meaning to **** anyone off about the Raptor, It is a beautiful machine, faster than a 400EX, and has reverse. Overall a great sport bike. I am glad Yamaha has release something new for us.

CT250R 1988 CT270R(Flattracker).....1986CT310R (playbike)

 

What is impressive is the stock 28 HP 400ex. You can only pull 8 atv lengths on it through an 1/8 mile? 8 ATV lengths.....if your 250R would have been stock, the 400ex would have got by you?

 

don't believe it for a second. Maybe the 250r heavily modified but saw it myself this weekend a blue Raptor spanked a 400ex bad. The guy on the 400ex would not even come back after they raced around the track a few times. They raced around a dirt oval , half mile track. he was about to be lapped when he drove off the track and left. Driver ability ok some but the Raptor owner had an old 300 honda 4x4 he sold to get the Raptor.

 

Gary, he says he beat the Raptor with his 250R by 6-7 bike lengths, and the 400EX lost to the Raptor by about 2...

 

No I only raced my 250R against the Raptor. THEN,I got on my FRIENDS 400EX (me riding) and lost to a raptor by about 10 feet. I suppose that would mean that I would have beat the 400EX about 10 feet further than I beat the Raptor. The Hardpack road is kind of slick and 4-strokes hook up a little better than my hard tuned 2-stroke but are no match once moving past 3rd gear. But yes the 400EX was very impressive. The guy who owned the Raptor was super cool. He said he was very surprised to see the 400EX take him right off the line every time. But then he would catch up and pass me (when I was on the 400EX NOT my 250R.) I guess I didn't clarify that very well. Later on, The Raptor guy raced a banshee (Completely stock) and won by a bike length or so. It was very close, But the raptor is a touch quicker right off the line and also looked to have maybe 1 mph more on top. A Banshee with pipes would certainly have an advantage but then again a Raptor with a pipe might be a terror when the ground is slick. Banshee's are notoriously poor right off the start and modifying there engines only seem to worsen this. I have seen only slightly modified Banshees's(pipes only) beat out on the built ones because they simply hit too hard and can't hook,by the time they get going itstoo late they get beat.

 

The rider has lots to do with it. I saw a guy on a heavily modified Banshee race with a guy on a stock 400 around a small oval track. Well, the guy on the Banshee was riding by himself then the guy on the 400 got right on his butt and the Banshee tried to lose him but he couldn't. After about 6 laps the guy on the 400 got off with a big smile. I drag raced a 400 that had a Yoshi full pipe, i have a stock 400. I pulled a wheelie in second and lost by about 6 quad lengths. If you wanna win every race your first priority better be your own riding skills.

 

Yeah Gary,

I think that a STOCK 250R would get beat by a stock 400EX out there on the hardpack. 400EX's hook very well right off the start and I don't think that even with a 6 speed the STOCK 250R could make the ground back up.

 

I saw a Craptor get spanked twice Sat. at a MX race.
ERIC

 

This us useless you honda guys will never admit that a Raptor will beat your EX. but it will, straight line racing is a very small part of it all, and track racing same thing. Hardly anyone has access to a track to race MX. I saw a guy that has had his Raptor 3 days make a guy who has owned a 400Ex for two years, and a 250r before that get his butt whipped very easily by a guy who has not driven anything but a 300 utility 4x4.

 

Excuse me Mr Pathfinder....why dont you go find your "PATH" back to the Polaris forum...ok...

I have heard the same thing from NUMEROUS MX racers this weekend...from Banshee, 250R and 400EX owners...the Raptor has been getting its a$$ cleaned on the track.