Looking to buy a Raptor and have read alot of great things. The bike seems "revolutionary" but I am sure there are drawbacks. Could you guys please start listing some. I could name about 10-15 design flaws on my current Banshee!

 

Besides the tall gearing in Reverse, and having to run it at idle for about 4 minutes before riding it in any weather, I can't really voice any other problems.

Reverse is crazy fast, don't get me wrong, it will sling mud like no other quad, but it's difficult to use reverse with the clutch all the way out (As you are probably going around 9 or 10mph in reverse......)

Ever since I bought mine, I have had to let it idle for about 4 or 5 minutes to get the engine warm (Otherwise it immediately stalls.)

Also, if you live in a cold climate, and you don't let it run for at least 5 minutes, and you pull in the clutch, and stick it in first gear, it lurches forward, not sure why that happens, but I know if I let it run in cold weather for about 10 minutes before I ride it that doesn't happen.

I ride pretty hard, and I haven't broken any A-arms, or axles, and My carb's haven't blown off yet. (I stress yet) But I think that may be my warm up time also.

If you can ride one before you buy, I'd definatly do it.

 

The only complaint that I had with my Raptor was one of the rear stock tires. Upon purchasing my bike I noticed that it was warped somehow. Took over 2 months but the dealer replaced free of charge, as expected!! The Raptor is the best four-stroke ATV for all-around purposes...!!! Stock for stock it out shines everything else on the market so far. It has a superb engine with tons of torque. It turns on a dime, as a matter of fact maybe to precise. It pulls like no other four-stroke out there from 1st-5th. On top of that it has reverse(superfast). My biggest complaint is not with the Raptor, but false advertisement as such; when Terry Beal (Yamaha Rep.) told the biggest lie by saying.. I quote; the difference between the Raptor and DS is comparable to the difference between the DS and the 400ex. That's for top speed and in drag races of 100 and 200 yards(July 00 4-Wheel ATVAction). End quote! A 400ex does 65mph, with the DS650 at 75mph, so according to Terry Beal that should put the Raptor at 85 mph or so. Well, I'll be the first to admit that is a flat out lie....!!! My Raptor is at 75 mph which is just like the DS650.

01 Raptor Blk/White Stock form

 

From what I was told today, the intake boots will be replaced under warranty if you have a problem with them. Yamaha does not want to do an expensive recall but the part # is already different than it originally was. Meaning, it is a better part that was put on your quad from the factory. SO, if you buy a quad that just hit the showroom, they probably already put the better intake boot on.
Jedi

 

Just got mine last Saturday and yesterday was the first time rode it for any time...

Complaints:
1. Should have a 6 speed tranny. The Reverse gear should be 1st reversed, it is really fast. But I would rather have it than not. The 1st and 2nd gears are a little too far apart for the really tight woods. I think a 6 speed would really fit well. (Not to mention that it would be properly spaced to make the quad do 80 stock....
2. Rear Width. It should be a little wider. I hope that putting aftermarket rims on, it will widen it somewhat.

Overall: The best machine available. Not perfect, but nothing else comes close.

Likes:
Tires: I don't know what other guys are talking about, because I love the hook up. I used to think that the Sur Tracs were the right tire, but after this weekend (Blasting in the snow), the Radials hook up way better than the Sur Tracs. The Sur Tracs liked to slide out too fast compared with the bite of the radials. I would change the fronts though...
2. Engine: Love the power. Revs very quick as well. The stock exhaust is very quiet for the motor. Already, exhaust companies are talking 10-15 hp increases from intake and exhaust mods.
3. Choke on the handlebar - Yamaha listening to their customers.
4. Suspension - I would have to say it is at least equal with the 400ex. I am very impressed.

Summary: I would by this bike again without a thought. It is like a 400EX with guts. My only concern is that now I can really hurt myself....

RM

 

My carbs always poop out ou the boots. After them popping out so much 1 boot finally ripped. It is now up the dealer waiting for the parts for the last 2 weeks to come in~i'm starting to get mad. I also had a problem with the right front stock tire that blew out after hitting a rock(big Hole in sidewall) Otherwise when i have it running it runs like an animal.

 

Only a few complaints, but not enough to make me any where near unhappy.
They are:
1. the warmup, but thats expected with a 660 single.
2. the clutch only functions after warm up, by this I mean if you park in 1st and just try to push the clutch in and roll it out of the way on a cold engine then it doesnt budge. Also if you dont park in neutral and hold in the clutch with a cold engine in say 1st gear it will lunge forward.
3.It does need a 6th gear, I dont know how many times I have wound up and tried to shift again up out of 5th. It would pull it easily.
4. The Radial tires although very good could use a thicker sidewall, but other than weak puncture resistance they are awesome.
5. 43Hp stock, although alot, its still not the most made in a stock ATV unless Bombardier is bluffing on their numbers. I know the 660 motorcycle engine made 48-50 stock so why must we have less. The funny thing though is that Yamaha France told the people at Pont De Vaux that their Raptors had 55HP, maybe the government eat up 10 of our HP here.
6. Skid plates are non existant, they may well be called scratch plates because they do not withstand any impact.

Other than that, it is Fast and Fun and Is still More than I expected when I ordered it.
As far as where and what I ride, It is the Top bike for the job. No other comes close. But I would consider the DS a good competitor in the Desert, but there isnt one near here.
A perfect Garage would have a Raptor and a good older Banshee. But The Raptor is still the better of the two for suspension riding comfort, handling, and ease of use.

 

My raptor is in the shop right now,waiting on a new clutch. I got it back in September.Didn,t ride it but on a few occasions then rode it around Thanksgiving,and fried the clutch.The Yamaha service manager said that they where going to try and get it covered under warranty because it appears "that the bike dont have much riding time on it", but couldn't guarrantee anything.Whats more alarming,was another raptor(black and white one) that was in the shop with mine for a twisted axle.Not bent,
but twisted. The service mgr. said that,that was the second axle that it had twisted. This time they where putting a Dura blue axle in .I neglected to ask him if Yamaha was picking up the tab for the aftermarket axle.But he told me that
it must be all the torque doing it,and that he noticed mine had an aftermarket pipe,which he said would produce even more torque.So be careful.
I don't know if that $600.00 warrantee is such a bad idea after all.

 

Was it the dealer in Hurst on Airport Freeway?

 

Raptor826, do a search on the Raptor, it's quite alarming all of the problems people are having with them, and the people in this forum only represent a tiny percentage of people who have a Raptor.