the 700 doesnt have a good chance at the dunes. BTW the clut will help in dune racing because when you use the clutch it isnt "dead power" it is a small build up f power that will give an extra boost. The reason cars drags are autos is because of driver error and the speed which a auto shifts compared to the manual. With a quad it takes a very very very short time to shift in a drag and wont make a huge impact

 

The december 2000 issue just had the raptor,ds,exand they were stock then in the july 2001 they had the ds,660r,banshee,ex,cannondale fx400 and they wer all stock but i think i remember them having a shootout with the alba mods on them

 

Think about this. standard vs. auto. The auto can be "tuned" so when your on the gas the motor goes to its peak HP and stays right there. Your the best you'll ever be at that point.

The standard can also do this, but it needs to be shifted at that peak HP point, no more, no less and after you have shifted, your RPM's drop and need time to get back up to that point for the next shift. that time between shifts your not at peak HP. So if your bike makes 112.68 hp at peak hp, you are not there most of the time with a standard.

Standards are more fun, auto's will be faster in a race, if both bikes are equal HP.

The 700 will have a top speed problem until someone overcomes the timing retard, same as on the prairie, but up to a certain speed the 700 will be hard to beat.

 

You're right, the auto is far superior in a straight line. 99% of the people on this forum have no idea how the auto works and how it can be tuned.

 

the raptor would definatley win in the woods because it is lighter and you can shift faster with a clutch, but in the sand or a drag im not shure but i still say raptor b/c its allready proven.

 

i would just like too add that power to rate ratio has a big say in this....people can talk **** all they want about horse power i race ds 650s all the time my ex thanx too after market parts wieghs about 360 and has around 43 -45 hp sure its air cooled but it still puts the hurt on any stock quad out there and most aftermarket ones..the kx 125 i bought has the power to weight ratio of an f-15 thats what makes bikes soo fast.... if the companys would get off their A$$es and not restrict quad motors they would be lightning fast..i mean look at the z-400 that thing is pouring potential and it sounds like a pw50 stock...no ofensse z riders my ex sounded just the same way a pipe will fix that problem...anywayz my point is why argue about about these quads there all great and have a special use and one place where they shine..who cares which one is faster .2 of a second isnt **** thats just rider! ive said thise too many times its whos riding the bike...plain and simple if big momma got on my ex and she wieghed 300 lbs im sure a ds 650 would have no problem putting it in its place but since i weigh 145 that wont be happening.. man its all rider.....bottom line

 

i AGREE with the autos being faster HOWEVER..if both bikes have the same hp..are you talking at the motor or at the rear wheels, as a auto bike eats up ALOT more HP through the belt! same as cars, a manual car will have about 10-15% drivetrain loss, where a auto has about 20%. Just a FYI

 

It's hard to compare because cars your talking gears, fluids and pumps and there isn't a belt made that would stand that power to weight ratio. The auto in the ATV's are simple and efficient.

Ever wonder why of all the snowmobles made and sold, (millions) by all makers including Yammy, Polaris, Cat and Bomb, there isn't one standard, that I know of anyway. (I'm sure someone will prove me wrong.)

I agree with you on the cars, but I'm not sure that useing the same percentages in an ATV is correct.

I was talking rear wheel HP.

 

I agree..however i've been told, that you will loose more hp through a belt then through a manual tranny..belts are gonna slip..maybe only a little, and maybe not enough to notice, but they will slip somewhat..manual gears dont slip..clutches will slip, but you wont loose as much on a manual as on a belt.

The reason for all the auto sleds is simple...simplicity..you nail it and go! they're already making so much power the loss is minimal. And with EVERY sled an auto, you dont have to compete with manual bikes.

 

not all sleds are autos, I have an Arctic cat with a Hydro-static drive(fluid automatic) in its day it did very well. and I expect with the bigger HP sleds it going to return "soon".and the slipage that you claim on belt drive is negligible. itwould matter if yourconcerned about 200hp, and I don't see it being much of a problem then.