I am trying to decide on which one to get. I will be trading in my 1200cc waverunner to get one or the other. Have any of you speed kings raced a 125. I am sure the YZ will be faster on MX tracks and tight woods trails but what about the open trails. Thanks

 

I think the raptor is faster, mabe not on the take off but top end.

 

I've raced a YZ125 with my Banshee. The YZ was totally stock and my Banshee has pipes and that's it. When we raced we were dead even until sixth gear and I pulled away from him. So if a Raptor is faster than a piped Banshee than the Raptor is faster than a YZ125.

 

If you have never owned one or the other,
1) ATV's are generally safer than dirt bikes, and can go just as fast.
2) You can crawl or go fast on an ATV. You must maintain a fair amount of speed on a dirt bike.
3) You can stop and rest on your ATV. On a dirt bike you must always put one leg down to hold up bike.
4) You can manuvere in sand much better than a dirt bike.
5) You can go through deep water and mud without having to put your feet down.
6) AtV's are much easier to load and unload on a truck or trailer although they take up more room.
7) You can carry gear on them if you get creative.
8) You can rock crawl with them. I couldn't do that with my XR 250.

Over all, I have enjoyed my ATV's (A Raptor and a Lakota) far more than I ever ejoyed my dirt bike. Plus ATV owners seem to bond better than MX'ers.
My opinion.

 

I would definetly rather have the Raptor. But, one question, why would you want to trade in a wave runner? Water sports are a whole lot bigger in Texas. I was there in Round Rock visiting family not too long ago and I did not see a single place to ride. Even My Dad's old friends had sold their ATC 250rs and got jet skis. Almost every truck I saw had low profile tires too. There just seems to be more of a market for water toys than off road stuff there.

 

WHAT Your trading in your WAVERUNNER YOU NUTS!!!! I would die to have one of those.. I am gettin one next summer..
YZ125... Couldn't compare to a Banshee or a Raptor. Yz125 go what 60 63 TOPS?

 

Yes I am selling my waverunner. It is so much fun to make it jump completly out of the water, powerslide, 180's, 360's, and turn 90 degrees while going 50mph. But it does not do me much good durning the winter. It also sucks going out by yourself...none of my friends have waverunners. But there are a few MX tracks around here to ride...about 4 within an hour or so. Plus my family lives on a 2500 acre farm. Thanks for the help guys.

 

Thanks for all of your help guys. But you need to check out what the guys in the Dirt-Bike forum are saying.
See the cut and past below...

"quads are only good for two things:
1.Dates with your girlfriend.
2.Wheelies of the sideways variety.(on both right side wheels or both left side wheels.)"

"
The feeling you get from riding your dirt bike is more powerful than riding a quad--on a bike, you are more agile, can jump higher, have quicker response time, and feel like you CONQUERED the trail instead of wrestled with it. I love my bike. I fall down all the time but would not trade. The Raptors are an incredible machine but they are different. I would like to have one as well as a bike but wouldn't want one instead of a bike. "

"This is not a winnable argument. This is a dirtbike board. I have a WR400 and my Dad and brother ride 400ex's. A fourwheeler can be harder to ride properly. Tippy on corners? OOOkk. I am more comfortable powersliding a fourwheeler than my WR, though I can do both. Dirtbikes ROCK for getting any air, though I would give fourwheelers the edge in loose sand just due to flotation being better (in terms of jumping). Fourwheelers are easier to wheelie as you can concentrate on one axis (pitch) rather than roll and pitch as on a dirtbike. A Raptor and a Kodiak are not even in the same league. They are both fun. Whatever you get, (I am partial to dirtbikes), buy the safety gear, respect other people and the land, and have a safe good time. "

"can bail off a bike a LOT easier than a quad in a bad situation.
Wrecking on a quad is comparable to wrestling with a 700 lb. rabid prcupine...you aint gonna win."

 

Its really up to you.
If you can find anyone around with a quad ride it and see how you like it, or go to the dealers and test out on of their machines.
Like the dirtbike forums said "this is a DB forums"
Well, this is a quad forums, so we are much more proud of our quads than dirtbikes.
Like everyone said,
Quads:
You can putput around, rest on it easier, and IMHO they are much more fun to ride and dont have as hard of a learning curve than bikes. Hill climbs are easier with quads IMO.
Bikes:
True you can get more air (sometimes), and may have a little more take off power, but the learning curve for a DB is much more.

Ride both and see what you like.

 

I am currently selling my dirtbike to get another quad. My reasons are a more safe and in control feeling when riding on a quad, and riding a dirtbike is just plain hell when on muddy trails and after it rains, but you can have a great time on a quad in that same situation. Plus it seems like you are constantly maintaining and repairing bikes (the owner's manual suggests a rebuild every 25 hours on my CR!)