2 completely different machines. it really all depends on what u want not what everyone else thinks u need.

 

My dad had one for a little while and blew it up. He knows some other people that blew theres up too. get the rappy. He said they are really easy to blow up. But he says they are extremely fast no dought about it.

 

The R is a bike that you have to know what you are doing.... If you want something to just hop on and ride buy the raptor, but if you want a great quad but don't mind wrenching on it, by all means go for the R...

I'd kill for a R, but I wouldn't get rid of my 450ES for it, but I would love one for a second machine, just a toy for the sand pits....

Matty

 

I had a 86 250R, It was very fast & handled like a dream!! But it liked to be ridden hard, it definatly was no cruiser. It was either on the powerband or off, very little inbetween.
The last year I had it I went through a top end & 2 transmissions, but it's easy to work on a 2 stroke.

I now have a 02 Raptor, It's very fast, handles well & is very reliable.
I do the same type of riding on my Raptor that I did on my 250R.
Sand drags, Raptor 1 sec faster in 100 yards, Sand dunes, a much more relaxed ride & more than enough power, Woods, unless you were really Thrashing the 250R & keeping it on the powerband it could be a very tiring ride. The raptor is much easier to ride through the woods fast or slow.

Don't get me wrong the 250R is a great quad & I'd get another one in a flash, but I wouldn't trade my Raptor for one!!!

 

just a little thing you might like to know, my best friend,riding pal says if the raptor was out when he bought his r he would have gotten the raptor, in a straight line his built r and my stock rappy keep about even

 

The r is great and faster than the raptor...it handles better and it is easy to work on. All that being said it is an older quad the raptor is a new start it up and go ride. The raptor is a good sport quad the r is the standard by which all high perfomance quads are still judged by. I have always loved working on my r but I bought a new thumper because it is nice just to start it up and go. I'm glad I have both but if I were you I'd go with the raptor for recrational riding.