My wife is moving from a 04 DS 650 Baja to a 06 LT 450 and I am wondering if the suspension is going to be too harsh for her? Most of the magazine writeup's say the suspension is stiff. The 450 will only see the sand dunes.

 

Yeah, from what I've heard it's stiff.... but the again it's adjustable so no big deal.

 

I dont think you should be concerned about the suspension . Just back off on the compression on the fronts(im 3 turns out/ it think stock is 2 1/2) . But dude she is going 2 kill your Raptor thru the woops .lol

 

man, that would suck to get shat on by a girl. you should get a 450 also....how does the raptor hold up on you? My friend stripped his front sproket yesterday, and we rode back with half a sproket...

 

You guys talk about the Raptor 700 like it is a childs quad. That is a serious machine. The LT-R will probably get it in the midrange, but I would guess the 700 will take it top-end and lower-end. Test reports say the LT-R doesn't have the low-end hit of the 450R or the YFZ...and the Raptor 700 is strong down low. As soon as they get out of the whoops the Raptor would pull it. With 18s on the rear, the LT-R has a lower top speed than the 700......plus his sig says he has a 20hp shot of NOS on the Rappy. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Ok , here is the low down on me a my buddy racing up Sand Damn @ Superstition Mtn . He has a Raptor 700 w/ no lid , LRD pipe , Dynoed & remaped , & not sure what brand , but some kind of REV box ?My mods as seen below. All races were from a rolling start . Oh, (rider lbs , he is 180lbs , me 235) . Well , we were dead even in speed after the woops the whole way too the top . I would stay anywhere from 1/2 too 1 quad in front , and hold it the whole way up the hill . Not saying I have a rocket ship , but I was very pleased . I have all summer too research a pipe and all the other goodies . But what a great starting point .

 

Yes the LT R450 is going to feel way stiff in the dunes after riding a big DS650. Adjusting the shocks will help but nothing will be half as comfortable in the dunes as that big DS she rides. Last trip to the dunes we took everybody wanted to ride the DS after 1 day of riding cause we all had a sore butt except the guy riding the DS.

 

She's going to have one fine ride. All this talk about stiff suspension - maybe before it's adjusted. Back off the front springs 4 turns and the rear 3. Back off the comp and rebound a couple clicks. Uncork the intake and exhaust, add a cb and it will walk all over the DS with half the effort. I used to have a DS - compared to the Suzi - what a pig. Of all our rides my wife likes our LT-R the best. Her only complaint is that at very slow speed the throttle is "too jumpy" - the throttle response is instant. That quad just handles great. Suspension is soft and hard hits and landings are a non event. Your wife will like like it - if you"ll stay off it long enough to let her enjoy it!!