i was just wondering if i put a +4 durablue axle and +2 a arms and get works shox will the improvements be up to par for MX. Nothing super competitive just fun and a little small races as a hobby. Or is the raptor just a completely crappy platform to start out on? I figure this improvement willl cost about 2k. Should i just sell my rappy and use the 2k get a stock yammy or honda 450. Id love to hear from people that have modded their raptor in this way for recreation track riding. thanks for any imput in advance! warrior86

 

no, i dont think i plan on gettin too competitive. if i just do local crap, keepin the rappy and modding it is the cheaper way to go right? thanks for the info about the shox, i really appreciate it. i plan on doing these mods as a winter project.

 

the axle makes a HUUUUGE difference, along with the a-arms. Zero-preload does wonders also. The raptor can definately be used to race [and win] MX, just not many people put all the effort into it that is neccesary. But it can be done...

 

Great post!! I have been playing around on a local mx track with my rappy and have been wondering the same thing for the past couple of weeks, sell the rappy and get a yfz/trx or just mod the rappy. I think the new quads (yfz/trx) have unbelieveble handling and power to go with it, but on the other hand it would be fun to mod the rappy and see what it can do...plus I love the low torque of the rappy! I will not have my money ready until Feb/Mar so I have some time to decide, but would love to hear what others who have mxd their rappys have to say about them. I think Ridley was racing on a mx rappy on the national level, would have loved to see/ride that beast, can only imagine how that machine was.....Im sure it resembled nothing like the stock machine in power/handling. Plus, its always kind of nice to do something different from what everyone else is doing, I mean when I go to the mx track its mostly 400exs' and z400s' and a small hodge podge of other machines.

 

DirtHead, I am right there with you. I am making my raptor into an MX machine. LIke yours it won't be setup till feb/march but we are in the same boat. It can be done and it will be done [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Yes the rap is a worthy MX machine. i ride mine on track and these are the recommendations IMO

+3 a-arms (i'm not sure about a +2 front and a +4 Rear...that set up might be better for dragging...actually my set up is +3 up front and +2 in the rear)
Steering stabilizer ( i use denton...Jeremiah Jones actually uses 2 stabilizer)
Elka shocks (drops the rap 2")
change gearing (i own a 01...so i dropped my front sprocket to 12T...i prefer sidewinder)
Handle bars ( i went with CR low bend...again the goal is to get me and the rap lower)
kill swiitch
nerf bars

check out my pics on myPage to see an MX rap...also Herbdon has a trick MX raptor worth doing a search to checkout.

I love the rap...and if i was thinking about a YFZ i would consider waiting til next year...they may bump it up to the full 450 instead of 439cc now that honda's back in the game with a full 450.

 

A full-blown MX Raptor is an animal. To feel a 12:1 686 with FCRs try to pull your arms from their sockets as you hook up out of a corner in the middle of 2nd is UNREAL fun. You've got to invest in the suspension though, all the power in the world isn't any good if the machine won't stay on 4 wheels. Whatever shocks you buy, make sure they are zero preload to help get the center of gravity lower. You might have a better handling machine if you invest in one of the new MX quads but you won't have the brutal power feeling of a Raptor. Check out my mods/pics on My Page, I'd put it against any MX Raptor on the planet.

 

nice thumb saver! lol

 

I do all types of riding, but i enjoy MX the most. The Rap is reasonable for MX if you mod it correctly. But it will never be a true MX bike as it is just too heavy. Also remember on the track you never reach 5th, so all that power is too much. Power to weight is the way to go.

If you wanna MX for fun, then sticking with the Rap is fine!

Im keeping my Rap, but also plan to buy YFZ/TRX next year.

 

Thanks Ridley. Those are prm-atv shock covers, the only place I've found that makes 19" covers to replace the junk Elka covers. I haven't had the Flexx bars on a track yet but they seem like they'll take a lot of the hand shock out of braking bumps. I went looking for a good set of aluminum bars and found them at the stealership for $50 off retail. The Lonestar swingarm also uses a 250R round carrier and bearings.

The thumbsaver makes a world of difference on the last lap:-)