My friend just got a raptor. It is a blue. It looks really nice. A couple things that i noticed about it is that the clutch is a lot easier to pull than on my 400ex. I rode it and i noticed that it was geared a lot higher. 2nd gear is really really high! It has a lot more power. It feels higher, and it felt a little more tippy and goes up on 2 wheels a lot easier. You can not see the front bumper when you are riding it like on a 400 which is not really a bad thing, it just felt weird. The shifting was a little tight but probley because it is not broke in yet. It is pretty much the same as a 400ex with 11 more horses. Who else has rode a raptor and what did you think?

 

There is no comparison, the Raptor is just better in every way!! If you ride a Raptor for a couple rides you might say it feels tipsy but once you get the feel of it, it is not a consern anymore. After riding a Raptor the 400EX feels like a 90EX. Seriously, I loved my 400Ex but since got my Raptor have not drove much, only pulled in and out of garage.

 

I for one have a black/white/silver Raptor and also am a previous 400ex owner. The 400 is a great handling reliable bike but it doesn't have torque like the Raptor does. Thanks to dual carbs and 5 valves. It wheelies just as good as the 400 and handles especially well for a 660cc beast. I put a Eliminator 2+2 axle and can honestly say it handles just as good as the 400. The liqiud cooled engine keeps the engine temp down and legs much cooler on those long day rides. The suspension is great and the seat has a dirtbike feel unlike no other atv. And atlast REverse. Oh how I missed it. At first I didn't want the added weight for track riding but the majority of time I spend it in the trails of woods and open feilds with many stream crossing. The Raptor has over 10 inches of ground clearence thats as much as rubicon. They tilted the engine to allow for the frame clearence. You can power wheelie this thing through 4th gear. I too dropped the front sprocket to a 12 tooth because it was geared high and was rediculously too fast. It does have a two stroke feel like no other 4 stroke. Yamaha fixed their chain adjustm ent procedure and redesigned their airbox. All in all they designed it to beat all competition. Namely Ds650, 400ex, 350Banshee! It wasn't made to be a specialist like most atv's it was made to be an all around performer. The Raptor is truly all that and some. I have had my Raptor since Sept. 5th and have yet had a single problem. Yamaha has definitely done their homework and threw lots of $$$ into R & Dev. For that they should be comended. Hopefully this bike will make Honda get off their a$$ and make a real performance quad instead of a AL Gore approved
250 EX automatic. IF they do it won't be for another 2 years thanks to the new line of Watercraft being developed along with the new Honda 4 stroke dirtbikes. Following behind the foot steps of Yamaha. Don't get me wrong I owned a trx125, 250r, 400ex and cr125. I also owned a 90 banshee and now the raptor. Both companies have their pro and cons but both reliable. But clearly lately Yamaha has clearly showed their dominance in Watercraft, Marine Engines, Four stroke Dirt bikes, Snowmobiles, and two stroke atv's when Honda abandoned the 250r. Die hard Honda fans just face it yeah the 250r and 400ex are great machines BUT what really does Honda have. They gave up on the 250r years ago and just three years ago came out with a reliable modest 400cc engine. But Yamaha is way ahead in the performance category. Honda has just been livin off their overrated reputation. The diehard Ride Reders will soon be seeing sees of Blue. I for one have temporarily been converted. Raptor is all that and some!!! Go ride one and see for yourself!