As far as weight goes, Raptor dry by Yamaha's scale is 398lbs, and the Pred is 415lbs. ATV Mag did a wet weight on the two useing Nascar scales. Wet weight for the Raptor 451lbs, Predator 444lbs. You show me where you can put 53lbs of fluid in the Raptor. Plus the Pred. Razr tires and rims weigh 13lbs more the the Raptor stock tires. So if you put the same tires and rims on both, the Raptor would be 20lbs heavier then the Predator. The problem with many on the forums is, they rely to much on dry weight. This weight can never be used, so why say it. Put the same tires and rims on all these atv's with all fluids full, then see how close they are.

 

We compare dry weight because of the reason thats a real number...dont know bout you but i dont want the heavier Pred tires and wheels on my raptor there for my raptor is still lighter stock..The width of the Pred is 47.5 and the Raptor is 43.3 ...the predator is wider than almost every utility quad out there...so Rider is right when he says they are wider..way wider actually...i was going to buy a pred but i didnt like the looks of it so i didnt so im not doggin the pred at all...just saying that they are heavier and way wider than the raptor..

Wheelbase width is 50.5 on the pred
Wheelbase width is 49.0 on the rap

 

Weight is a problem, but you also have to realize that I believe the pred is just built that much better......its not hard to strip the weight off(and for most racing types, other than drag, you want something that will hold up).......They are right about the tires, rims, axle, and swingarm......they are all high quality products, but also weigh a lot......

As for width.....isn't that usually something that people want, not complain about???? I know I have a pred, and I want to get it even wider.....that might just be me too, I like staying flat on the ground, and if I have to go over jumps, I want to be on the ground as fast as possible.....in my head, the more you are on the ground, the faster you are....

 

But as soon as you put your favorite set of aftermarket tires/wheels on(which ever they maybe) you going to add that weight to your "lighter" Raptor thats just already there on the pred. As for the width, I have physically gone out w/ a tape measure and measured mine in the past. The front is 46" and the rear is 47". Unfortunately I don't remember what my Raptor measured out to exactly, but I can take a 5 min ride down the street and measure a Raptor no problem. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] I do recall that it was as you said right around 43". Thats 3" narrower than most all full size quads out right now which are measuring in at 46". This coupled along with the higher center of gravity accounts for the Raptors unstable "tippy" tendencies in corners. I'm guessing that the 47" compared to the 46" of most all sport quads available right now is supposed to be substantial? Seems to me if anything that the Raptor is the one at the width disadvantage, not the Predator?

Actually the whole point behind every post that myself(and I assume Hozed) has posted is to defend the airheaded statements that ya'll both made about how "horrible" the Predator is.

There is a couple areas that the raptor is better than the Pred. IE: slightly lighter dry weight(approx 15lbs?), more bottom-end torque, and reverse(which now comes on the 05's)

And theres things that are better about the Predator IE: longer wheel base helps keep the front end planted, the Predator IS wider @ 46" which makes cornering MUCH better as well as a much lower center of gravity which also helps in cornering, the predator does not have as much torque as the Raptor, but has a faster reving motor, and a greater high-rpm response.

Personally I think it all just boils down to personal opinion. You decided against the Pred. Fine, I owned a Raptor first, and would never trade my Predator for a Raptor again, but just like you thats just my opinion. Although you notice I originally had no intention of coming in here and telling you your Raptor was worthless. Whether I think it is or not. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I agree......and another thing to think about........preds are starting to make their way into the pro racing, and are doing quite well too(I know this isn't drag racing, but TT racing) Daryl Rath raced last weekend in Lousiana and got 1st place in one class, and also 1st in another pro-open class by a straitaway........so.....watch out for next year, daryl will be doing a lot better now.......preds are going to start to be seen at the front.......

 

You Yamaha guys need to pull your head outa your A$$. My group of buddies have every new quad out there other than the DS and we all agree that not one bike is that much better than the other. The only thing you have to like and get use to when you ride the Pred is it rides like a sprint car you just have to back steer it. I also have no problem doing wheelies on this bike and I have on 03 with the longest swingarm......You guys that go for a quick spin on your buddies bike and come back and bash it should keep your opinion to yourself 5 min on a bike can't give you an honest opinion of it.......

 

Hey we could end this really quick by saying there both really great quads to almost a equal tie...the tie breaker only comes down to the rider and preferences...and thats all that matters anyways....

Keep on riding~

 

im not bashing no one but you said you couldnt even do a wheelie on it thats really said cause i had a 04 tld predator and i couldnt keep the frontend down and wheelies were so easy on it so maybe you should try to ride it alittle more and it has tons of power instead of looking at the brand you should think twice cause i thought it was a great quad and the new 05 preds should be really awesome

 

The point I've been trying to make all along.........[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

 

bump