If you own a Raptor....the Raptor wins everytime

If you own a DS.....the DS wins everytime

If you own neither, ask a DS or Raptor owner for a completely biased answer.

Humor aside, in my opinion, both are pretty equal as far as power goes. The deciding factor should be the intended purpose of the machine.

 

I think its like the Prairie and Grizzly. Really really close. I've read it different ways in different magazines and reviews. I don't think one would beat the other consistently, and any given day a different one could win. I'm talking straight asphalt drag race of course. None of that track stuff or woods stuff. Basically, my view of which is faster means which accelerates faster in a straight line.

I like them both though. They are both awesome. Worst thing I've ever heard spoken though was a salesman that told two guys that the DS650 would go 104mph stock. He was serious as a heart attack too!! These jokers were believing him till I finally stepped in and called BS on him. Then he tried to say he read it in ATV magazine. Yeah right buddy!

 

Ive have a sandpit/track by my house. showed up one day and found a DS650 stinking up the joint. As soon as i pulled up...this joker asks to race. I explained i just arrived and that i would be happy to accomodate, AFTER i warm up a bit. He agrees. i proceed to take a slow run through (assesing new hazards) and RacerX is behind me the whole way giving me the punk throttle.
Enough is enough. i pull over to let him pass and he's all over me..."are you ready?"..."i am. lets go."
Fine. i explain theres not alot of passing oppurtunities. he tells me he's familiar with the layout and IF i can keep up he would be impressed. 3 laps should do it.
His girlfriend beeps the pick up. off we go. never saw him after that. I figured he broke down. we catch up and he's speechless. He asks if i let people drive. i say, no. However i am interested in riding a 650. so we swap and ride a little.
i tell him i like the feel of the power and how it comes on so smooth. i was surprised that the DS felt like the front was plowing through the sand. he tells me that the Raptors throttle is to racy and peaky. and would i mind trying 3 laps. lets do it.
Wife beeps the horn. of we go. Joker takes the whole shot but loses it wheeling out of a turn. 3 laps and he's on me the whole way. tight finish. we stop and he's excited. Wow!! that F'n thing is scary. he continues to tell me thats the fastest he has ever gone through a whoop section and thats where i lost him the first race.
i agreed the ds felt like driving a truck through the whoops and when i hit a short jump the heavy nose dove.
Ran into that guy last week. he's riding a 400ex now and still looking for a buyer for the DS. said the dealer wouldn't give him anything for it(figurtivly speaking) and he's been trying to get out from it since our race 2.5 months ago.
doesn't tell ya much. but i got a kick out of it.
my opinion: the DS, is a BIG quad for BIG guys.(this guy was roughly 180-190 and he was having problems muscling it around)
the Raptor is a versatile machine and accomodates riders upwards of 130+lbs. Managable.
by the way the DS was piped my and my Raptor had a Pro FLo filter and lonestar axle.
AK

 

I was gonna say exactly what Gary660R said. I've seen several Raptor owners say that they have yet to be beat by a DS and several DS owners who say they have yet to be beat by a Raptor. Which from what I can gather means they must be about the same.

 

I used to get beat by a few links in the 300feet drag by a DS650 jetted and piped.....Now he is scared. I run a pipe, jetted, Filter setup and lowered......Now I SMOKE him BADDDDDD ....I run a 5.32 in the 300" on my raptor and the DS650s best time is a 5.59.......Add the math.......=) [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

The king quad " RAPTOR" smokes a ds everytime!!!!

 

I have to second 3TV's opinion of the DS's tires; they suck. Otherwise, these two machines are very close in acceleration, which is amazing when you compare them size wise.

 

dirt wheels did a shoot out durin one of the issues durin summer and the raptor and ds both topped out at i think 72 and the cannondale topped out at 74.

 

I remember a shootout in ATV Sport (the only mag that doesn't always lie).
Anyway they had the Raptor at being the fastest 0-30mph, but the DS was faster 0-50mph & also had slightly more top speed. When I race around that is usually how it plays out.

 

The rider has ALOT to do with which one is faster,BUT the Raptor is setup very bad stock just like there sleds are.Alittle money goes a long way,Jett it up and open the airbox and geardown alittle($25.00) and i feel the Raptor will win every time.Do the same to the DS and you will not gain very much set up alot better from the factory. Skydog[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]