Well, it seems that although several people have actually received their Raptors, we still have a shortage of first person stories about them.

Some claiming to have one have said they were about as fast as a modified Banshee while others have said that a modified 400ex would beat one. This is the latest thing that I've read, it was posted on another atv forum:
Well, could it be true? The wait is killing me and the negative talk doesn't help matters for fear that when it does come in, it won't be as fast as it was originally portrayed. Not to be misunderstood, for what we are getting (electric start, reverse, awesome suspension) it is still worth the money, but being fast carried a lot of weight in my decision to buy one.

What do y'all think? Anybody else rode one and can give an experience about theirs?

 

Oh, Bash! Ye of little faith! You order a quad sight unseen, and now, you're getting cold feet!

All because of a "fourth-person" account on a website of, mmmmmmmm, how would you rate its credibility?

But, feat not! I'm here to help! How's this:

"Friend of mine said he was out riding at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, where a Raptor passed Craig Breedlove while attempting the World Land Speed Record. Everything went o.k., except the Raptor rider shattered his goggles when he broke the sound barrier."

Now, feel better? (smiley faces)

Tree Farmer

 

i'd like to add to your fear. Honda announces that they will release the rest of their 2001 models on september 14. whether a quad will be there, i don't know but there might. but if not honda also said it will release some exciting news. now this may or may not be about quads. but what if honda is making a 650ex or updated 250R. hehe. well that raptor just wouldn't be that cool then. but this is all speculation. on september 14 we will know.

 

Tree Farmer,
ROFL.... That was too funny!


I'm not too worried about Honda, only another Yamaha that's been around for a good while. A 250 2-stroke wouldn't be much better for the kind of riding that I do than the banshee that I had. A Honda 600 would probably be air-cooled, and isn't supposed to be that powerful to start with.

 

Bash, go to yamaha.com right now. Read the description of the Raptor. They describe it as their flagship sport quad, meaning best as in fastest, strongest, etc. The call it "the most wicked sport ATV on earth". It HAS to be faster than a Banshee. And as we all know, a stock Banshee will whip a highly modded 400ex. Not only do you get this awesome, wickedly fast quad, you get reverse, and electric start. So right now you should be the happiest man alive! No worries Bash, I guarantee you this quad will be awesome!

 

Man alibaba why did you have to say that!
Now i'll be waiting and waiting and probably won't sleep just wondering what or if they are coming out with something really really really awesome. Heck if it's a new fourwheeler it might stomp all over the raptor who knows?!?!?!

 

Bash, your not going to be dissapointed I have only about 2 1/2hrs. on mine, so I haven't raced anybody yet. My brother has a 250r and he was impressed with the power it has. It just seems like it will pull for ever in fifth gear. As soon as I feel I have it broke in Enough, I willrace my brother and some other friends. I have rode a couple of 400ex's and it handles better and has way more power than a 400.

 

I would run over 10 Hondas to get to 1 Yamaha.

 

A stock banshee will not beat a 400ex. i ride with a ton of banshees and i always come out on top. Honda will always be better in my eyes. But i ride with almost all yamaha's. so who knows. just my thoughts....

 

Stock against stock a Banshee will pull ahead of a 400EX by a few bike lengths.