My name is Jacob. I'm 17 y/o and looking to buy a ATV for myself finally. For about a year i've been using my friends and what not. My friend has a couple 250's and there fun and all but i want more.
I know for sure that a want a raptor. It was only a few days ago i went flat river MO and rode my girlfriend's dads 660 and it was awesome. I surprised them how well i could ride it and ever since then i knew i wanted something very similar to that. Ive been doing so much research on which raptor is best for me but i just cant make up my mind. It would mean so much to me if someone could give me some advice. Thanks.

P.S I'm about 5'10" and weigh about 130 lbs.

 

So I went to my yamaha dealer and told the sales person I wanted a raptor And she told me she doesn't want to put me on a 660/700 (which is what I originally wanted). Now she thinks that a 250 is the best for me but I don't think that will be enough for what I want to do. Tell me what you think. Thanks.

 

If this is your first quad I would NOT recommenced the 660 or 700 Neither. You Sales lady is right the 250 is a GREAT quad and very peppy for a 250 tho it is nowhere near a 660 or 700 in power. If you want a compromise look a t a 400 class quad (not 450) from either Honda or Suzuki. These are two bikes that are staples (benchmarks) in the sport quad market and will last you a long time. The Yamaha is by far the best 250 out there tho I think you will outgrow it fast whereas the 400 is something you can grow into and have for a lifetime!

 

Thanks. I appreciate it.

 

I heard the new raptor 350 got good reviews. That might be the better choice since I probably will outgrow the 250. Could anyone who has one tell me how they like it and what not. Thanks

 

If I were you I would go ahead and get a 660. You can get a nice used one for $2500-2800 which is about the same as a nice used 350. If you were happy and did well on the 660 for a day, then the 250 and 350 will suck after riding the 660. The 350 is a fun machine, but it is lacking in the power and suspension departments compared to the 660.

 

Another question. I don't have straight-up cash to buy a used 660. That's why I'm interested in the brand new models since I can finance. But it just so happens yamaha didn't release a 660 model this year, instead they just made a new 700. So if I got a 700, would I feel a difference between the 2 (660 and 700)?

 

700 is fuel injected. Its a bit easier starting and a bit more responsive when u get on the throttle. Otherwise I haven't noticed a lot of difference between the two to be perfectly honest...that is until u start to do some mods!!!

 

The 700 is MUCH better than the 660. The 660 is hard to handle, wants to wheelie too easily, and feels like it will tip over easy in a tight turn. Yamaha took care of these problems with the 700. The Raptor 700 is the best quad that I have ever ridden, and I have owned a Raptor 350, 660, & 700.

 

I second Dodge57Hemi's notion to go with a 400 class. At 130 pounds, I would think you'd find yourself overwhelmed by the size of the 660 and 700 in certain conditions. The 400s, Z400, KFX400, and DVX 400 in particular are reliable, easy, yet fun to ride, and are cheap. I have a DVX and it'll get me well past 70mph on a nice straight. My cousin had a 660 for a while, and ended up selling it becuase he just never liked how it felt compared to my 400, even though it was more powerful. I've personally ridden a Raptor 700 and thought it really didn't feel THAT much more powerful than my 400 and it felt quite a bit larger, which I'm not digging in a sport quad.

You mentioned the Raptor 350 and I'll say that all that thing is, is a freshly skinned Warrior 350. Old tech, new plastic. You'd be better off on any of the other quads IMO.

I've test driven a Raptor 250 and even with me at 190+ pounds, that thing ripped. I had a blast on it, and it single handedly got me into sport quad riding (I was a utility, CVT kinda guy before it)! I picked up an ancient Suzuki LT230S for a used PSP and a broken 90cc import quad! But it sounds like you're in a bit more of a financially favorable position than I was!

Let us know what you get!