I just recieved the new DW magazine and they had a shoot-out between the Raptor and the Banshee.
Top speed for the Raptor 72
Top speed for the Banshee 70-71
They said that in drag races they were neck and neck. I thought the Raptor was supposed to do close to 80mph? On the other hand though, they did say that the Raptor beat the Banshee in every other catagory (handling, power, etc...) They said that in a future issue they're gonna have a shoot out between a modified Banshee and a stock Raptor.

 

I sure hope that is a typo because if the raptor can't do better than that well psshhh!!

 

That was totally lame dirtwheels! Come on, quit teasing us and do a real shootout betweeen the raptor and everything else! In fact that wasnt even a shootout between the banshee and raptor....it was a reprint of the 4wheelatv shootout...even look at the front covers of both mags...the picture has the same terrain and background....I am feeling ripped!

 

Duh! apparently the banshee has been the same for atleast the past 10 years and what they are claiming, 71mph is BS. Back around 89 -90 the mags rated the banshee up to 78 mph (stock). even recently 74+ Now your telling me that the banshee mysteriously goes 71 mph just think about it. Id say that conditions may have an effect but we know a banshee is fairly close to the 80 mph range, and a Raptor being faster, would put it at about 80 mph. Especially since they plainly state it could pull more teeth on the sprocket if so needed.

 

Well the most i'v ever seen a stock banshee go on radar is about 75, but ever test i'v seen from mags with radar have it at about 70-72mph. It really doesn't matter much to me. If anyone has ever ridden a banshee top speed, then u know 70 mph is awfully damn fast!

 

How do you guys get your dirt wheels so fast... People on the forum start talking about the new dirtwheels about a week or so before I get mine. Maybe I should start tipping my mail man, maybe that'll help.

 

This is exactly what I have been trying to tell everyone about! The Raptor is not going to be the quad the Banshee is. For anyone who has ever rode the two stroke king knows the arm socket pull of the power band it has. No 4-stroke is going to have that kind of power. And for an extra $700 you get 1mph faster that is just a bunch of crap! Put a set of pipes on the Banshee and watch it eat up the Raptor with ease!!! For all of you people who have put down these big deposits on the Raptor I really feel sorry for you!! You are waiting on a Lame Quad!! Two Strokes 4-EVER!!!!!!

 

KY2276, you obviously like the thrill of a 2 stroke hitting the power band. Have you ever ridden any sport bikes (streetbikes). They do the same thing; rip your arms out of their sockets. Now the Raptor probably won't have the same hit as the Banshee but overall it sounds like the performance is similar. Personally, I'd take the Raptor over the Banshee if the performance is the same. One reason above all; torque. That's something a 2 stroke doesn't have. You know, that thing that you need when you are climbing a steeeeeep hill in 2nd gear and 10 feet from the top you let the Banshee fall out of the powerband and you have to back the whole way down. Torque! (reverse and having headlights without the quad running are nice too)

 

KY2276, I agree the 2 stroke hit is nice, but you are p)ssing into the wind with your comments. So what if the Raptor only gives you 1 mph on the top end more than a Banshee. If you are going to cruise all day at 70 mph, shouldn't you be riding a Honda Goldwing? I bought the Raptor because it is the latest design, engineered to outperform Honda's chassis and the Banshee's power. Then throw in the convenience of reverse and electric start, all in a package less than 400 pounds. AND, it's only $500 more than a Banshee, and $500 less than the DS650 and Cannondale.

Can you say VALUE? Yamaha did this one right! No regrets from this future Raptor rider.

 

Also rememeber the raptor will be much much better than the banshee in trails, MX, wooods and probably just as good in the dunes. And nobody should be calling this quad lame, especially if they haven't even ridden it. And if this motor has as much potential as the streetbike engine (68hp from a stage 3 kit!) u can say bye bye to all but stroked or heavily modified shees.