Well I finally was able to hit the sand on my Raptor. I must say it is good to be in Glamis, because Pismo sucks. I cant tell you how many people were coming up to me all the time and asking me how I liked the bike, but here is my answer: "If you are a 2-stroke fan stick with your 2-stroke, if you like 4-strokes this bike is the one you want to buy." I was at Oldsmobile around 4pm Saturday and some dude on a Suzuki 500 with a pipe wanted to race me, I declined. I told him that the bike was new and I was breaking it in still. I think by the end of the next trip I will be ready to go full throttle up Oldsmobile hill.

I have been riding in the dunes for 18 years and I have had almost every high performance/sport quad there is (except DS650) so I am basing this review on that criteria.

POWER: My dad's 400EX it a tame little kangaroo mouse compared to this ATV. When you ride a Raptor and ride a 400ex (both stock w/ paddles) you feel how gutless the 400ex is. I find it easy to pull wheelies in 4th gear on my Raptor. This bike feels about as close to a 2-stroke as you can get.

GEARING: I dont think the gearing that I heard alot of people complain about it bad for the sand, it actually is pretty good. In the dirt, I feel like it probably could use a change. Now keep in mind I wasnt doing any drag racing up Olds or Comp. This is my opinion for regular duning, I might change my tune after doing some drag racing next trip out.

SUSPENSION: Talk about plush, now I am sure that the DS650 suspension rocks, but man the ride is so nice on the Raptor. The Suzuki 500 was plush too but you definitely dont feel the weight on this bike. To me the overall feel of the Raptor is almost like a 250R. My only complaint is that it feels like there is a little too much rebound on the springs because after landing at speed the front end slightly comes up. I didnt really hit any big jumps, I am still getting used to the bike, but I did manage to hit alot of whoop sections and it soaked them all up.

HANDLING: The only drawback, this bike doesnt slide well like the 400ex or 250R. If you go into a turn hard and you are on the gas it really wants to hold a straight line and not turn. I think this is because of 2 factors; 1.)this bike does have a narrow chassis and a high center of gravity, 2.) tons of low end power want to make the front tires lift up. I think the remedy here would be a wider rear axle and wider front a-arms and then we are talking about a Dune Monster.

Overall I cant tell you how happy I am with the bike. I took put the spark arrestor on Saturday after getting back from Olds and man did the top end open up! I ran the bike and then checked the plug and it didnt seem green/yellow it was more like a tan color which is good right? I cant wait for the performance mods to start rolling out!

Blake
2001 Yamaha Sand Raptor 660R

Please visit www.glamisonline.org for everything you want to know about Glamis.

 

I had mine a Little Sahara in OK. last week and it performed great in the dunes with the exception of some sand in the idle adjustment pod which was fixed with some WD-40. I changed to a 12 tooth sprocket and I was able to go just about everywhere others were going with paddle tires on their machines.

 

I had mine at Little Sahara in OK. last week and it performed great in the dunes with the exception of some sand in the idle adjustment pod which was fixed with some WD-40. I changed to a 12 tooth sprocket and I was able to go just about everywhere others were going with paddle tires on their machines.

 

Thats a nice pic of your Raptor!! I see you have a set of Nerfs. What brand are they, and are you satisfied, and coulf you give us a price range on them and that sharp looking front bumber. Thanx man

 

I was at Glamis this weekend also with my Raptor. I have a 12 tooth sprocket with 20x10x10 8 paddle haulers on the back and Mohawks on the front. I was riding with two Banshees, one stock and the other with pipes and no airbox. At Oldsmobile hill I could start in 2nd and pull 3rd gear to the top, this beat the stock Banshee everytime and lost to the piped one. The stock Banshee could only pull 3rd gear, the piped Banshee could pull 4th, no contest there. Although I could pull 3rd the Raptor didn’t feel like it was revving out, I would basically hold the speed for the last 3rd of the hill.

I feel this bike has some major restrictions built in by Yamaha (lawyers) just like the stock Banshee’s. Anyway, other then hill shooting the bike dunes great, 3rd gear for most riding, down into 2nd to climb a big hill and able to up shift into 3rd once the rev’s are up. That is a big improvement over my old Warrior, no way you could up shift on a hill. I hope a pipe and K&N filter will light up this motor and let me go back to the stock gear.

 

DreamDuner:

Try removing your spark arrestor next time you are out there. You will pull hard in 3rd and 4th, at least that is what I was doing when I was riding in the dunes (with stock gearing).

I might be out there again this weekend, I can show you how if you want.

Blake
2001 Yamaha Sand Raptor 660R

Please visit www.glamisonline.org for everything you want to know about Glamis.

 

NoFear:
Well the Nerf Bars are from Graydon Proline, they are aluminum. I would be completely satisfied if they were chrome, but other than that they are great. They cost $179 and wide array of netting color choices.

My front bumper is from Timmyboy Designs ($80) and it came bare, I then had it triple-chrome plated ($40) from the shop that does all my chroming.

Blake
**NEW PIC** 2001 Yamaha Sand Raptor 660R

Please visit www.glamisonline.org for everything you want to know about Glamis.

 

OK, a couple more posts and we will have all of the raptors that were at glamis this weekend.It was awesome. feels good to have sand in the ol' shorts again. does anyone have a hard time getting the grin off of their face, after beating a pack of bansees, and ex's up the hill. I got all warm and fuzzy inside.
Cant wait for that call from lonestar, saying my longer swingarm is done, then I wont have to lift to get the handlebars out of my face.

 

Must be nice to never see a mud hole and to keep them looking brand new. Ive been in a little mud in mine and kind of popped the cherry. Its still a beautiful machine but Im No longer afraid to get it dirty. I wish I lived within 500 miles of a dune.

 

Hi ATVdunePro:

I was thinking of that put am waiting for an air filter replacement that will let me remove the air box top for better air flow. I was thinking of taking off the last to clips on the box and wedging it open if the filter doesn't come by next trip. You know even starting in 2nd gear I had a hard time keeping the front wheels down, how is it with stock gearing? Also what about re-jetting, I don't want to run it lean. Someone was telling me that CV carbs automaticily take care of jetting but I don't know about that. What do you think? I can't get back out there until the 12th of Nov. anyway so no big deal. Thanks.