Just because a motor has more displacement doesn't automatically mean it's more powerful. There are a lot of factors here.

For one... the magazines all tend to say that a Raptor makes around 35-38 hp at the wheels, which translates to around 45 at the countershaft. Dirt Wheels published that the Predator makes 52 hp at the countershaft, or about 45 hp at the wheels. This is quite a bit more, much more than the 40 lb weight difference would negate.

The Bombardier DS650 is also said to make 50-52 hp at the countershaft, BUT, the bloody thing weighs nearly 500 lbs, so the added weight totally cancels out any performance advantage it might have over a Raptor.

It all comes down to how "built" the motor is from the factory... meaning how much power Yamaha or Bombardier or Polaris or Suzuki or whoever the maker was decided to make it have. This is also why the Suzuki Z400 beats a Honda 400EX... it simply makes more power because that's how it was designed.

Rob

 

ToomeyBlasterRider,

My '03 Toyota Matrix has a 180 hp 1.8 liter inline four.

My first car was a 1979 Chevy Camaro with 305 (5.0 liter) V8. 130 pavement pounding horsies.

My point? Cubic inches (or cubic centimeters) mean a lot less than you might think. Technology, design, and basic engine function have more to do with it. Another case - the Chevy DZ-302 motor from the late 60's Z28's was one of the best motors they ever made. The aforementioned 305 was a terrible motor, but not nearly as bad as the 307 of the 70's. About the same size, but vastly different in performance and performance potential.

Just food for thought.

 

http://www.bombardier-atv.com/atv/we...s=N.US.105.31#

There is only a 16 pound weight difference between the Predator and the Raptor. Go to the page above and click on the link that compares the DS650 to the competition. The page is pretty informative and is reliable.

As for the ? regarding engine performance being linked to displacement, that is one factor but there are many others and no set recipe is the "best". Cannondale gets 39 hp from a 440 motor using EFI and a 12.5:1 compression ratio. Polaris gets 52 from 500cc using a 42 mm carb and 10.8:1 compression. They both have a DOHC and 4 valves, but there's also the question of porting which can make a big difference. The Cannondale has a race exhaust, while the Predator has a relatively quiet and restrictive exhaust. I can see 8-9 more HP out of the engine with a good pipe, filter, and the proper jetting. Cannondale achieved an extra 6 from just a better pipe and a new EFI map.

 

This is in a post from bmgm37 racing his predator against his son, It is about what I expected and after riding the Predator about what it felt like!

"My son was riding a 2003 Banshee, bone stock with 8 paddle haulers on it. In a flat drag race, I could leave him off the line and pull further ahead until about 4th gear then he would start to pull on me and as I went to 5th he would pass me, but only by about 2 bike lengths. We then switched riders and had the same results."

Now that is a bone stock Banshee no pipes no jetting.

Nocando

 

What Im saying is that alot (most) of it depends on rider and not all the quad. You could even switch quads and race again but then you have someone who is not use to it and will not get the full potential out of it. When you say my quad beat his quad, doesnt really mean thats the fastest quad. Maybe your just a better rider. Thats what Im saying

 

I have an idea!!! Lets all wait to see what the ATV mags have to say!! they have all the right answers don't they?!?!? LOL

 

Pretty easy test. I'll meet you in Genoa Nebraska for a wide open sand drag it completly flat no hills. Winner take all loser to pay winners expenses for the trip.


It's a pipped Banshee nothing special. You should easily pull 6 quad lengths on me.

 

a stock preadtor not broken in beating a modded raptor by 10 bike lenghts i wonder if he was high when he posted that.that is some funny crap.

 

10 lengths on a Raptor and 6 lengths on a Banshee?This all coming from a guy who just bought a Predator and the Dealership who sold it to him.Thumper,Did you even witness this yourself?My suzuki dealer tried to tell me the Z-400 was faster than the Raptor or Banshee LOL,just goes to show how far they will go to sell a Quad.Now if you came out and said the predator was beating the Raptor and Banshee by 1 to 2 quad lengths than it would be more believeable,but 10 and 6,No way,not even in your dreams.A predator would need a hell of alot more than 45 horsepower to pull that many lengths.We understand you have a new Predator and your proud of it,but come back and tell us when you get your rear handed to you by a "PIPED"Banshee and you just get out ahead by the skin of your teeth against the Raptor.The actual race will be alot closer than the "Fairy Tale"your dealer put you to sleep with.

 

Wait stop.... I just realize you pulled 6 lengths on a piped Banshee at 74-76 MPH which is kinda odd since my piped Shee was "radared" at 84 (documentated in 91 as having a 78 *MPH top speed) but I guess it could take a while for that 2 stroke to "get to the band". So you have 50 H.P. at what 460+ pnds? Banshee's have 38 plus pipes EASILY 12 H.P. which would put it at 50 H.P. at 320 pounds I've proved a higher top speed by rader, it's a given two strokes get their faster and I have more top end.... tell me again how your going to pull 6 lengths on me?