I think fourlix my fellow from New Mexico summed it up perfectly, I dont own by have access to a ds, good in the sand and wide track, raptor is better in the tight and fast lane

 

Hey vraptor, fellow New Mexico guy! Hey if you ever get down this way we have a fantastic riding area in the Burro Mtns, a small range, about 15,000 acres, part of the Gila National Forest. It is riddled with trails and old mining roads, at least 500 miles worth. It is rough rocky trails, fireroads, old mining roads, fast narrow sand washes, a really fun mix. There is some really rough stuff just for the utilities, And skids are a must, but we haven't broken anything yet. My stock nylon skids on my DS are holding up just fine. 22" rear tires help a lot.
.....Always looking for a good excuse to go riding. "Honey, we got company coming! Gotta go!"[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Oh yeah, just in case you don't know where Gila and the Burros are.
We are just west of SILVER CITY, spitting distance to the ARIZONA border.
We just rode with some friends we met on here down at the "dunes" between Bowie AZ on I-10 and Safford. That was pretty fun, very small BLM OHV area, complete with Hot Tubs, campsites, privies. The dunes are sandy but have vegetation on top of about every "dune". Trails go everywhere. Paddles would be overkill. Still pretty cool for only 2 hours away. Pismo was about 16 hours away![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

hey fourlix sounds like you have all the track I have been looking for, I usually head up santa fe way, some good trails but usually blocked off by casino/reservation land (they run us off occasionally), some great trails up in the buckman-->rio grande area north of sanna flush there, gotta love those 100yd wide arroyos . we have those big hills out at the dig near the journal pavillion concert area, but the place is so rode out kinda takes the fun out of it. might have to get down your way one of these times

 

get the baja DS650 or a banshee. Raptors suck i have had know problems with mine but i dont like it as much cause the gears are to fare apart. that knew baja looks sweet.
im selling my raptor and geting a 2002 banshee.