Lets all bow are heads and give thanks to Yamaha for taking the first step in large dislpacement atv's for the 21st century. While at the same time we lets say a prayer for honda 400ex owners and all other sport quad manufacturers. The Raptor will totally devour all competition out there incuding the there own 2 stroke Banshee. We all know what thats capable of. Yamaha is the true holder of the best sport performance quads availible. Honda 250r cant beat the yz426 raced by tim farr and the banshee doesn't even have a competitor from honda and now the 400ex can't run with the Raptor. It might not yet be in black and white but Yamaha has just released their fury on the atv world. I can't wait to see those raptors smoking 400ex's in the G.N.C.C race circuit. Those Honda riders won't be ridin red for long. Once this liqiud-cooled five-valve four-stroke carnivore with reverse and long suspension travel hits the dirt the competition will no longer have any place to hide. I just can't wait to get mine in September. Get a down payment on one while you can. bschisler@aol.com

 

exactly what i think too

 

Sounds cool........

 

Aren't those YZ426 quads using basically Honda 250R frames? I'd hardly call that a Yamaha.
While the Raptor looks fast I'm going to see what Kawasaki makes, after all they made a 250 that would eat Banshees....
Also, don't rule the Banshee out. A couple of mods & I bet it will beat the Raptor. Nothing makes power like a modded 2 stroke, especially a Banshee. I wouldn't say 400EX's are going to get whipped racing either. If there is one thing Hondas can do it's win races.
c-ya,

 

Warr99, Maybe they will start racing by cc displacement again. When the 250 4wheeler race was on they were all the same size. I think it will make a great play machine and it has the reverse everyone neglected to put on these machines. Lets face it---the bikes they race are as kin to what we ride as NASCAR cars are to moms grocery getter.
All in all I don't care if it will outrun the DS650 or the Cannondale. It will be a great play machine at a price I can afford with a good organization with a lot of dealers for service and parts.
gardner10

 

First off Bombardier took the first step, Yamaha is just following. Second of all if you want to talk about machines that aren't made yet, you had better bow to the Cannondale because when it hits the market it will be the machine to beat. Talk about true technological advances, and lets not forget if not for the 400ex and it's success none of this expansion in the quad markets would have been possible, so back to the beginning Honda lead the way.

 

what, do you for for yamaha marketing or something? get a room.

 

The 426 in dirt wheels used a Banshee Frame.


Now this is just my idea. People are saying the raptor will be tippy. If the darn 250R and 400EX handle so freaking great, then why isn't there one out there racing with stock A-Arms and Axles! They are all + something!

 

Might want to check your facts, only the spindles, plastic, seat, and brakes are Yamaha parts on the 426 featured in DirtWheels. True the frame isn't 250R geometry but its still a Laeger's.

 

Might want to check your facts, only the spindles, plastic, seat, and brakes are Yamaha parts on the 426 featured in DirtWheels. True the frame isn't 250R geometry but its still a Laeger's.