Take it off-line, DUDES!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] Such bickering!

Raptor or Banshee? What an open-ended question. It depends on your riding environment, and what you want out of a bike. If you want to deal with a temperamental 2-stroke, like making mod after mod after mod (because you will have to do that to keep up with all the other modded Shees) and like working on your bike more than you like riding it, then get a Banshee. (I'm not slamming, I know lots of guys who LIKE to work on their Shees, and they really do like modding them more than riding them, I think!)

If you want a pretty low maintenance 4-stroke beast, then go with the Raptor. They are very different animals, though, so questions like this are hard to answer. The Raptor will not have the same power-band that a Banshee has, but I would have to say it's much more versatile right out of the box - desert riding, trail riding, MX tracks, dunes, etc. It's higher-tech, and is great fun to ride! Stock, it has pretty decent suspension, great power, great looks, and pretty good handling handling. You can't say the same for a Shee. Stock Shees look funny. Where is all the chrome? How come the swing-arm is so short? Isn't it supposed to come with shocks???

It's really just your preference. They are both very cool machines in their own ways, but you need to figure out what you want to do with it - what is most important to you. And you know, if you get one and don't like it, you shouldn't have a problem selling it again and getting the other one!

Just my thoughts! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
Corry

 

Cory i totally agree with you,and if you read my posts you will see that i never bashed on the Raptor.You are right i love modding my Shee almost just as much as i love riding it.Ride whatever you want as long as your having fun,the fact is that me and 660r01 are having different opinions on a few things but its no big deal, i rode Raptors before and loved them for what they are meant to be and i love my Shee for what it gives me.Just take a ride on both and buy the one you like the most thats all.

Imbackformore

 

Dude, how do you figure that the Raptor has 52hp at the crank. They are around 43.7, check the slips that they give you when you buy the bike.

 

Finally, someone knowledgeable found there way to this thread to agree with me.

 

Imbackformore, if you're losing 25% of your power through your drivetrain, you've got a SERIOUS problem...
660R01 is correct with 15%, but even that is pretty high sometimes. In fact, usually with an engine in a car making more than 150hp, its easier to just take 15-20hp off, and call that your approximate RWHP.
ATVs are different, but my guess is probably around a 10-15% loss in power. Sometimes more, sometimes less... ATVs aren't as consistent as cars.