Being New to the World of sand dunes I took a journey up to Dumont this past weekend. Only my 2nd time on sand. I will say Dumont is Awesome, It has something for everyone of all skill levels. We ended up at little dumont after watching the pro's at the big dunes do some Wild runs, and wrecks.

My girlfriend, Was intimidated by them.
(( shhh!! so was I )) She doesn't need to know that!!

I did get to ride / race a ds650.
We both had stock garbage tires for dunes. PADDLE TIRES! Next investment!!
We both Laughed when we got beat by a 400ex with paddles.
He had loads of Traction!! We just spun!! lol

We got to do some drag racing, and Made ourselves a little track with 3 awsome jumps.

In the drag racing we were dead even, we both lost and won a few. When either of us won, The distance won by was maybe 1/2 quad length.
Always very close. Sand steals LOTS of Power!

We let each other try a few runs on each others machine. I lost everytime on his ds650, I could not find away to catch him when he was on my raptor.

As far as the track went, I had the edge on the raptor. Always a close race,
He was always a dam shadow, I couldn't shake him..

When we switched machines It was a different story. I rode his Ds650, And I crushed him when he rode my raptor.

After riding the ds650, And going back to my raptor, I had problems adjusting. The weight you feel on the ds650. Its easy to adjust. I got back on the raptor, It felt light, I had problems Throwing my weight in turn and expecting a certain reaction. I repetivly slid the back end or the quad too far. oversteer. I also didn't realize how light the raptor front end was. The next dune I had problems slamming the throttle and the front coming up. Wheelies on sand, and not realizing how I did it??? And after I scared the***** out of myself! I couldn't do it again.
(( again I played like I did it on purpose, hehe they thought it was cool ))

You don't realize how much you do work to ride the ds650.
Even though its easy to get adjusted too.

As far as the feel on the jumps. The one hill after racing repetivly, it launched at an angle. You ended up landing at an angle or flick the quad to land square. The raptor soaked it up and kept going. Jarred ya a bit.

The ds650 when you land wrong or off camber.. MAN IT HURTS YA, It felt like a rodeo buck horse below ya. You Literally Clutch for life.

If you launch ds650 nice, land correctly, It lands real smooth. The shocks absorb it REAL Nice.

If you mess up, Ds650 is NOT forgiving, The raptor adjusts and absorbs the impact. The Ds650 Plows and hurts,

The raptor catches air nicely, It feels comfortable on flights and landings.
Even bad ones.

I could not jump the ds650 with confidence.

We placed a towel to mark distance. from crest to landing.
He jumped farther on my raptor, then he could on his own machine.

My best on the raptor. 44ft
My best on the ds650. 30ft.
(( I was afraid of a bad landing, the last time it hurt!!))

His best on my raptor. 40ft.
His best on His ds650. 36ft.
Even He admitted that the raptor was more forgiving after he launched a Bad jump.
(( he was in awe of clearing 4 ft more than his own machine on mine. ))
(( He tried many times on his ds650 to clear it. ))

But, My fellow yama Riders, I couldn't turn him. He still loves his Yellow creature!! And after riding his machine, I can respect his decision.

I still love my raptor, I won't be getting rid of mine in for some time. Somebody gotta come up with something more impressive for me to do that.
Bombardier Can't do it. Just thought I'd share.

 

good post. what are your weights? i ask because i've rode DS's before and found them heavy. i weigh 180-190. my friend rides a Raptor and weighs 220-230 and finds it tippy. i do not. When he had a chance to ride a DS. he liked it. he had no problem throwing it around.

just an observance...

 

Thats true you set the suspension and sag by the weight of the rider so it does make a difference.

 

Excellent Post 3cross!! I never compared the DS to A raptor myself, but I did get a chance to ride a cannon"ball". I love my raptors and 250R's, But I just don't think that cannondale can be beat for ride quality, and handling.(just my opinion!)If you ever get a chance try one of those monsters...I don't have any sand here in the northeast but lots of coaldirt..(similar..but much heavier). I'd like to hear someone else's opinion between the raptor and the cannon"ball".