Right now the Raptor is an impulse buy for anybody who is laying down cash before using common sense. I am not hammering the Raptor, I cannot because I haven't seen/ridden one. I am hammering all the people who believe everything the good folks at the Yamaha publicity department want them to believe.

 

I dont think it will be that good...but dont really now yet because I havn't rode one for myself...But guys look at the name its the worst name in the world! Raptor...come one thats the stupidest. I wouldn't buy one just because of the name.

 

Raptor n. A bird of prey. That pretty much sums up what it's intended purpose will be, catching and (b)eating other quads. Come on Trx-400ex, don't you remember those cool Velociraptors in "Jurassic Park"? You must admit they were some bad mothers.

 

NO, I don't think they'll buy because of the name...but because of:

660cc 5 valve
reverse
electric start
400 lbs

that sounds pretty good to me! And it's yamaha..so it's a proven company!

 

In order to buy a "tested" machine somebody had to buy it first so you could find out what they learned. If EVERYBODY waited for it to be tested, nobody would buy it-get it? I think it is just good that Yamaha is putting some money into a "new" sport machine. It just raises the bar for the othe manufactures. Competition is great for all of us. It allows us to get better machines from the factory. Hopefully Kawi, Suzuki, and the rest will take the lead of Honda (400EX), Yamaha (Raptor), Cannodale (whatever it is), and all the others. Let the games begin!!! Instead of bashing everything, just be happy we still have high performance machines being built. later.
eric

 

Being the first to buy one was not my point, buying one sight unseen, with no feedback whatsoever might be a little foolish. If you have read some of the other forums you would have seen some of my posts starting with "I hope I am wrong". I am not bashing the machine. Go ahead and buy it, I am not impulsive and am willing to wait for you to find out any shortcomings the machine may have. Incidentally, the manufacturers usually put together some pre-production machines for ride reviews by the magazines. If you remember most of the magazines reported on the twitchy handling of the DS long before anybody in the general public ever swung a leg over one.

 

uh Ditto, that about sums it up!

 

You guys haven't read the new 4-Wheel ATV Action mag yet have you? They say in there that the Raptor has a awesome and easier chain adjustment along with a much much better airbox setup. So stop complaining no one has even ridden one yet and I don't know about you guys but I am pretty excited that Yamaha has finally listened to their customers.

 

Maybe if you actually read the whole post, you would understand that we hope we are wrong. If a picture is worth 1000 words, then look at the pictures and tell me I'm wrong. We only know when the machine arrives.