Ok, its pretty much agreed within the Yamaha crowd that the Raptor is the world's fastest/best everything quad. And it was Suzuki that first began the sport quad industry. Acrtic Cat, arguably the world's best snowmobile manufacturer uses Suzuki powerplants. These powerplants run from 8hp (kitty cat) to 150hp (thunder cat)and everywhere in between. I read someplace that the Raptor puts between 45-50hp to the ground. HMMMM. I'm pretty sure Suzuki could modify their 600CC triple,2 stroke liquid cooled 130hp engines, add a manual gearcase to the rear end of the block and stick it in a frame. Raptor would look like a pile of **** next to it. LOL. Theres my ideal quad. One that would scare the bejesus out of me while still dethrowning the newly crowned king, the Raptor. Reverse isn't necessary since an 8 year old kid can lift the rear end of a 400# machine and swing it around. The Arctic cat Thunder Cat with the 1000cc triple set the stock snowmobile speed record. We're talking an easy triple digit speed across a frozen lake. Can you say ultimate duning machine?? No thanks Yamaha, I 'll stay faithful to Suzuki. (even if I will own a 97 Banshee in the very near future) lol

BTW, I have seen a picture of a LT500R with a Rotax 800cc Mach 1 engine. That's why I've been thinking about this. Possibly a future project later on.

 

Now imagine this, sitting atop of a quad with a triple cylinder between your legs! Last I checked those motors were pretty wide. Now it wouldn't be very econimical for Suzuki to put a motor in a quad that no one can stand to sit on for more than 5 minutes at a time. As you notice no one is building a tripple cylinder MX racer or for woods racing. As for a sand draggin machine, heck ya, sit on it for the 2 minutes it takes to smoke someones doors off and take a break before doing it again, no prob.

 

Yes, true. But when you think that a majority of sport street bikes have 4 cylinder engines. It kind of puts it into a prospective, and also a mental image of what it would take. Cut the frame in 1/2 basically and add a few inches. Add either an extended shifter, or possibly put the shift lever on upside down. but then you'd have to remember to shift that it'd be 1 up and 5 down. lol. But how to route 3 expansion chambers would be intriguing in and of itself.

On a side note, my brother has an a 98 Arctic Cat ZR580 sled. Its got a 2 cylinder 2 stroke that propels his 500+ pound snowmobile to also mind boggling speeds. Lightening quick acceleration, frightening top end, and the inherent reliability of a Suzuki engine. hmmmm. His motor seems tiny compared to the large engine compartment. Motor exhaust system that there is engine. lol

 

correction, meant to say more exhasut system than engine. came out wrong.

 

the thing on a street bike is that on ones I have ridden is that u sit above the motor and never go over or around, sort of hug it.

 

Page 98,October 2000 issue of 4 wheel atv action, bottom of the page. Kinda what I was thinking, but with the frame extended a bit so the motor sits forward more. Your feet wouldn't be sitting out that far.