RIDLEY,
i got my rear axis shock back and installed, you and i chatted about my setup and the "problems" of rear raptor suspensions....well i am happy to say I finally got the rear shock as good as you can get a raptor rear suspension.....Luke at axis, modified the high speed valving and i went to a 550 lb spring.....it's perfect now......only the harshes flat landings bottom out the shock.....but i can live with that.......Raptorguy, and I chat alot....i too am on the fence about the yfz450....i would love to have one...but i have my raptor dailed in...and i have spent so much on it to get rid of it.........i will never get rid of it..........so i will race it one or two more years before i get a new race quad.........as for my frame....i dont have any problems with my frame....i had it rewelded and powdercoated when i tore it down to rebuild it.....the stock suspension was not even close to handling what i was doing to it.........

as for swingarms........Raptorguy, you have to make a decision and stick with it.........i recommend the RPM swingarm and carrier and axel...but that is money.........i would steer away from using the stock carrier and bearing setup...it sucks......give me a call.....will chat some more.....

herbdon out.........

 

That was Brandon Barnwell winning on the raptor in the pro class...Sage Baker, Joe Arrowsmith, and Kevin Shimizu on the 400's have all picked up even more speed. Sage broke his collar bone a while back but he's back up to speed. They are chasing after points in a series that overlaps with Cycleland so I havn't seen them in a few months. I raced the Int class last year.

Cycleland is fun...get back out here and have some[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Jason

 

Gary,
Thanks for the link.

Scaggs,
I talked to jeremy for quite a while the other day. We primarily just busted on you. They've got two setups, both round style, but one you can still you use the stock/aftermarket style axle. I'll buzz you and chat more. I think I'm going to shoot for the hill on Sat. the 25th. Keep it in mind. Depends on how my moonlighting schedule starts to fill in, its remote start season now with the frost hitting.

Anyone know about the Denton stuff?

 

so guys, whats the deal with these quad frames. Is it just the frame geometry of the raptor, or the inherant design of an atv chassis that will eventually cause damage. Is the yfz going to have the same problem too? Maybe its designed a little better so itll last a little longer, but do all MX atv frames eventually go?

Maybe ill just go to a dirtbike. I dont see how they would have the same problem because the weight is always downward into the bike, not pushing sideways but resisting to tip like on a widened quad. Im really interested on hearing the story on this because i was planning on putting 2k into my raptor to turn it into an mx quad but if im doing that just to get a new frame in another season. Its not worth it. please let me know what the deal is.

 

Warrior,
I wouldn't worry too much about the frame issue. It will really depend on how hard you're going to ride. I'm an average B class rider and I've had a couple good soil samples and my frame has no problems at all. The tubular design of the chassis seems to be very strong. Now depending on the year of the raptor, in 01 they used an aluminum subframe, in 02 they used a steel subframe. The aluminum one I've heard through the vine sometimes have problems. But I think you'll find the most people have not.
You have to remember that alot of guys really pound on their machines and alot of guys also think they ride and stress their machines like a pro. The biggest thing I've found in this sport is, yeah this product is bullet proof, but will I really ride it to that level to justify the much greater expense when I can get a superior than stock product for much less price that probably matches my riding habits. Good luck.

 

look. I guess this is hard to explain. I love riding! I love trials, and i would probably love dunes but theres none around here. This past summer i realized i love motocross too. In stock form the raptor, no matter how much body english i use, is still pretty tippy and needs to be widened. I was planning on getting +5axle, +3 a arms, and elka shox. Now, i know as with any competitive sport, things wear in an accelerated way. Now, i know the top end of my engine wont last for twenty years, and bearing and pivot point get increased wear, but i used to think that the one thing that was for the most part "forever" was the frame. Unless i crashed or flipped it which i havent done yet, i didnt see a reason for it to "wear" I thought it was either strong enough to handle the task to begin with or.....wasnt. well lets just say i didnt consider the frame to be a wear item like tires, brakes, etc.

So let me know. I am not going to be a pro any time soon. I am a pretty good rider and ride fairly hard. I honestly dont want to spend 2k on my raptor to make it somewhat mx ready and then have to worry if my skill or aggressiveness is surpassing the strength of the frame and what it can handle. I'm 18 not 35. I can probably scrounge up 2k, but i cant be replacing frames like there loaves of bread. Id rather either sell it, accept my loses, and buy the yfz which has the possibly "immune to stress" frame and geometry. (that still hasnt been answered.)

If like i was saying before, atv frames just have an inherant stress point on turns, i can sell the raptor for 5, put 1k into it and by a 450 dirtbike. Yeah, i guess its a little dangerous but ill have to be more careful and its worth it if i dont have to replace major components every year.

 

nobody knows?