Shift, that is exactly what i was thinking! They use to say the 400ex was all of this and all of that, and they never (i dont think) had so many complaints about the 400ex as they did in this shootout against the raptor. I love the 400ex..I'd rather have one myself if i could. The Ds is a great machine also and it seems like all they do now is cut on it to make other machiens look even better. That makes me mad when they change there minds every issue.

2000 Ds650. Stock

 

I agree...the mags are full of it. Their opinions change with every issue. It shocks me that a mag would rate something better overall than the 400ex (even though it is clearly beaten everywhere if you have rode both). Honda must have cut back on spending.

 

I guess we'll all be seeing Raptor chassied 250R's and 426F's at next years Nationals then...give me a break.

 

i sure hope that the raptor vs. ds shootout isnt based on track times, i think that a 650 should be about going fast. the dirtbike guys have it right. you dont see them comparing a honda xr650 and a yamaha yz426 now do you?

 

Yeah, but your front fenders look extremely ***.

 

EARTH TO RAPTOR MAN...LETS LOOK AT THE SITUATION, THE 400EX, 396CCS, THE RAPTOR 660, 660CCS(RITE?).....SO TELL ME, WHO DO U THINK SHOULD WIN? I WOULD HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE THE MOTOR THAT IS 1/2 BIGGER....GEEZE YOU PEOPLE ARE NOT BRAIN CHILDREN...

 

I agree with Bubbag. I have another big DUH for the guy thats tired of hearing it, TOUGH. The Raptor has more than 50% more CC's! I don't care how GOOD a rider you are its almost impossible to make up that kind of difference in motor size.



Some people on this board are real idiots.

 

If I had my choice between the Raptor and the 400ex, I would chose the HONDA!!

 

I am a Honda guy to the bone. But I am glad that Yamaha made the Raptor. It seems like a sweet bike. Competition amongst the manufacturers is great. We all know what happened in the late eighties and early nineties. Nothing, that is what. If Honda and Yamaha become involved in a battle for quad supremacy we will all win! I just hope that Honda answers the call with something other than the 250ex!

 

Hey 400 EX! You're right. Who cares what is the new quad right now, now that Honda and Yamaha have started rolling the ball hopefully other manufacturers will follow, then we'll get Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Honda all in the race together! All we can do is wait and and when this does happen, we can drool over the number of quads to choose from and if we can afford them. I'd really like to see Honda come out with the 2 stroke technology in a 500cc engine! It would be the TRX 500R, that would be the quad to beat.