I had to make the same desicion in 04 when there was only the V-Force and the Rap660. My brother already had a 660 that he kept at my house and I rode it like it was my own for months before I rode a friends V-Force for the first time. A week after I rode his V-force I bought one for myself. I love this machine and back in 04 I felt it was one of the best machines availible. With that said......the Raptor was completely redesigned......the YFZ was introduced and has had atleaste 80 different updates/upgrades and so too has the TRX450 and LTR.

I've done alot to my V-force over the past 4 years to make it the way I want it with elka suspension, flex bars, clutch parts, a pipe and airbox mods and it is fast and handles very well in just about any setting. Kawasaki on the other hand has done NOTHING with this machine since its introduction other than the addition of "Cool New Colors". Like I said I do love this machine and will ride it until it has no ride left in it; but when it "IS" time to buy a new quad if kawasaki hasn't done ANY significant upgrades I maybe on a Raptor when the time comes. I hope this helps.

 

the other reason i like the raptor is how cheap it is to make big power if you want it to. i dont know any other 4-stroke that can make 80hp w/o no2 with less than 3k into the motor. and with a sea level dyno with the right pipe/intake combo you can make like 57+ hp. that is pretty impressive to me.

 

The best thing that I can tell you is if you are seriously concidering a V-Force ride one first in what ever setting that you do most of your riding. The V-Force is a love it or hate it machine. If you like your first ride at all......this machine will grow on you and your smile will only get bigger with every ride after that. Those of us that have them love them and wouldn't part with them for anything but it is definately not a machine for everyone.

 

^^^^^

Well put.