[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img] I've heard lots of talk about the new suzuki 400 being able to out run a stock raptor.I think their talking out of their a**. suzuki couldnt even come up with their own plastic design on this 400! Whats your opnions?

 

I hate to say it, but the engine is well liked for its power in the dirtbike and is around 43HP if my memory is correct. If Suzuki keeps that power level in the quad and the fact that it is supposed to be 20-30 lbs lighter, it will be faster than a stock Raptor and probably as fast or still faster than a Raptor with a slip-on, jet kit, and airbox mods. Obviously, this is all speculation and theory because no one has ridden one or tested one, but we should start seeing tests in the next issues of all the magazines.

 

I think Suzuki decided that because of everyone copying their first quad, they should copy something of the other manufacturers. I don't care if it's faster, the Zuk is going to be alot nicer ride than the Raptor, well based on all the speculations about it anyway.

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]oregonmxracer
how do you figure the zuk will be alot nicer to ride than a raptor?, and where did yamaha ever steal any design from suzuki? suzuki has already teamed up with kawasaki on r&d, why steal the raptor design!

 

You didn't understand what I meant obviously. First of all, the LTZ will probably be just as powerful, lighter, and not "tippy". Also, it can be raced in the 250 classes, where the 660 can't. Suzuki didn't copy yamaha's design, except the plastics, which are VERY similar. What I meant by that was Suzuki had the first 4 wheeled ATV, then others started building them. I meant that in a joking matter, apparently you didn't get it. It was kind of a "what goes around comes around" deal.

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img] oregonmxracer--I hear ya! i did'nt understand what you were getting at. (and yes the zuks were the innovators of the first atv).so do you think honda will stick their 450 in a quad, and yamahas 426 in a quad? i think that if they stick those two motors in quads and weighs no more than 350lbs they set the new standard in mx racing.

 

Since I sold my raptor to purchase a new Suzuki I have an opinion on this subject. I rode the hell out of my raptor and it held up extremely well. The only part I had to replace was a bent axle from airing it out on the track and dunes. Best mod I ever installed on my raptor was an aftermarket axle. The motor was great but I felt the handling wasn't on par with the Honda's. It was good but not great.

I'm banking on the new Suzuki to have the power of the raptor and the handling of the Honda's. I would rather have the handling package first before the motor. I can alway's do motor mods if it's lacking. I don't think you will have to do much motor work to the Suzuki to be competitive. A motor with DOHC, nicasil cylinder, high compression, and liquid cooling should not need much help.

In my opinion the Suzuki will be fairly close to the raptor in power. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

I doubt that Honda or Yamaha will do either. The only rumors I have heard from either of them is for Yamaha to make a YZ450F to replace the 426 and go up against the CRF. I'm quite happy with just having Cannondale(even though I don't own one, there will be one, hopefully soon, in my garage.), it would be nice to have Honda and Yamaha doing something like that, but if they do Cannondale would probably go out of business because there sales are low as it is because everyone thinks Honda and Yamaha are so much better, so it's a good thing, for Cannondale anyway.

 

<< I'm banking on the new Suzuki to have the power of the raptor and the handling of the Honda's. I would rather have the handling package first before the motor. I can alway's do motor mods if it's lacking >>



I'm gonna have to disagree with you there buddah. Handling mods are much cheaper, easier to install and more reliable than motor mods. That was the main reason I bought the raptor. They only motor mods I ever would do to it is the intake and exhaust.

 

Why not just buy a Cannibal, put on an HMF slip-on and be less than modding a Raptor, but still on par with it, unless you get into wider arms and axles.