I agree with GE4x4, and I also agree with the price being way too high, the ds450 and ktm450 are neck-at-neck, but in my opinion there are 2 big differences: Price, and the ds450 is fuel-injected, while the ktm may have great suspension, it still isnt worth the price, but I'm sure that nobody who bought one has buyer's remorse, all I've heard was good reviews. I've also read both the 7 450 quad comparisons and found out that they are completely unreliable.

 

I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE BECASE ACCORDING TO QUAD MAGAZINE STOCK FOR STOCK THE RAPTOR HAS A HIGHER TOP SPEED THAN THE KTM AND A BETTER MID POWER RANGE AS WELL!

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI

I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE BECASE ACCORDING TO QUAD MAGAZINE STOCK FOR STOCK THE RAPTOR HAS A HIGHER TOP SPEED THAN THE KTM AND A BETTER MID POWER RANGE AS WELL!</end quote></div>

might be better top end, dont really race to top end. BUT i got the 525 outlaw and I throttle the 700r in acceleration in 300-600 ft races. not sure on the top end though, my outlaw does somewhere in 75-80 range, prob like 76.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: rgasper33

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI



I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE BECASE ACCORDING TO QUAD MAGAZINE STOCK FOR STOCK THE RAPTOR HAS A HIGHER TOP SPEED THAN THE KTM AND A BETTER MID POWER RANGE AS WELL!</end quote></div>



might be better top end, dont really race to top end. BUT i got the 525 outlaw and I throttle the 700r in acceleration in 300-600 ft races. not sure on the top end though, my outlaw does somewhere in 75-80 range, prob like 76.</end quote></div>

You said it brother.

Sure the raptor might be able to 85 mph, but who goes that fast trail riding? Or even in a race? You would be lucky to go that fast in the dunes. I REALLY like the 700r's but they will lose every time.

Every time.

 

GIVE ME A BREAK WHAT ELSE DO RACE TO THEN IF NOT TOP END NO ONE RACES JUST TO 60MPH WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT OF PUTTING MODS ON YOUR BIKE. AND JUST BECAUSE YOU BUY A BIKE FOR 9500.00 DOSENT MAKE IT THE BEST. THE 700 JUST LIKE THE YFZ450 HAS 10 TIMES THE ACCESSORIES FOR IT THUS THE EXTRA 2G'S AND PUTTING IT TOWARDS MODS YOU WILL HAVE A BIKE THAT NO 525 WILL TOUCH WITHOUT TWICE THE MONEY SPENT ON ACCESSORIES THAT ARE NOT EVEN AVAILABILE YET. AND YES THERE IS NO STOCK 525 POLARIS OR KTM THAT WILL BEAT A PIPED WITH A PROGRAMED 700R . THE MAGAZINE WAS NOT QUAD BUT SPORT ATV.

 

The longest gdrags you will see for atv's is 1/8 mile or 660'. In that distance top speed will be very close to max out, but you will just be reaching it, then letting off. Top speed is overrated, but it's what gets there the quickest is the question. In from atvsport, the 525's in the KTM and Outlaw were faster then the Raptor in straight out drags. Considering there 176cc less is quite impressive if you ask me.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI

GIVE ME A BREAK WHAT ELSE DO RACE TO THEN IF NOT TOP END NO ONE RACES JUST TO 60MPH WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT OF PUTTING MODS ON YOUR BIKE. AND JUST BECAUSE YOU BUY A BIKE FOR 9500.00 DOSENT MAKE IT THE BEST. THE 700 JUST LIKE THE YFZ450 HAS 10 TIMES THE ACCESSORIES FOR IT THUS THE EXTRA 2G'S AND PUTTING IT TOWARDS MODS YOU WILL HAVE A BIKE THAT NO 525 WILL TOUCH WITHOUT TWICE THE MONEY SPENT ON ACCESSORIES THAT ARE NOT EVEN AVAILABILE YET. AND YES THERE IS NO STOCK 525 POLARIS OR KTM THAT WILL BEAT A PIPED WITH A PROGRAMED 700R . THE MAGAZINE WAS NOT QUAD BUT SPORT ATV.</end quote></div>


I've never mentioned anything about price, the 525 is just a faster accelerating, race-ready quad. I've been on both, and since you mentioned price, bang for the buck goes to KTM.

As I mentioned before the same friend who bought the KTM sold his programmed and piped (Yoshimura, full) 700r to another one of my friends. The KTM 525 beats the raptor EVERY TIME no matter what rider. This isn't speculation or something that I've read in a magazine, this is what I've seen and can prove.

It's lighter.

It holds more fuel.

It's got fenders that unbolt for easy removal.

It's got a MUCH larger radiator



It come with MUCH better tires and rims.

It's set up already for racing - all th crap you would buy for your 700r, it already has something better. You would spend $500 just in shocks to try and get a raptor's suspension this race ready.



So pretty much the only thing the 700r has going for it VS. on the KTM 525XC is:

Price.
*and*
a little higher top end.

So please before you reply some garbage about top-end and price check your shoulder as you're getting passed by a stock KTM 525.

 

They also have a FACTORY 540 kit:




Factory Titanium Muffler:




Now with all that said, what do I ride?

An old 2001 400EX.

What quad do I think I'll be buying next? Probably a Raptor. I'm 6'"6 and 255 pounds. My 400EX is too small and the Raptor fits me best. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

DUDE GROW UP YOU FIRST TIME POSTER THINK YOU KNOW IT ALL. YOU DONT THINK FOR 2000.00 I COULD MAKE A RAPTOR AS FAST IF NOT FASTER THAN YOUR PRECIOUS KTM. IM JUST SAYING THAT FOR 2000.00 LESS THAN A KTM YOU GET A MORE COMPLETE PKG THAN ONE JUST BUILT FOR RACEING.KTM MAKES GREAT PRODUCTS WE ALL KNOW BUT JUST NOT WORTH THE PRICE. THE MACHINE DOESENT EVEN COME WITH EFI FOR PETE SAKE. WE ALL KNOW FOR FLAT OUT MX RACEING THAT IS WHAT THE YFZ450 IS FOR NOT THE 700R. AND DONT FOR A SECOND THINK THAT YAMAHA WILL LET KTM TRY AND SIT ON TOP FOR A MINUTE THEY HAVE THINGS UP THERE SLEVE FOR NEXT YEAR. AND I STILL WONT BUY YOU PIPED AND STOCK STORY AS STOCK FOR STOCK THEY ARE ABOUT EVEN W/ A SLIGHT EDGE TO RAPTOR. ALL IN ALL KTM 525 JUST NOT WORTH THE MONEY COMPARED TO A RAPTOR 700R!

 

Not sure why EFI would matter on a sport ATV. The only Motor cross bike that has EFI is Suzuki and its far far from the top in Motocross performance. 450 MX shootout.

The Pro motor cross circuit is much larger sport than ATV racing and if EFI had some kind of race performance advantage you would bet the the big Motocross race teams would be using it.

All the race serious 450 sport ATV have the hand me down 450 motors from the "first to have them" Motorcross bikes.