this just might start a flame but read it all befor you start clickin key's.the raptor has a really bad center of gravity weak tranny that's been fixed i guess? ok there's a plus for it no more bad tranny what about the axle ? i guess if you were a bigger and taller guy that would help im only 5"7 170 somethin lb's,so that cover's the genter of gravity ever read how air bag's are placed for a 6'1 man i guess is the avrage in the U.S for alot of teens women and small guy's like myself the raptor isn't right, and i can understand this aftering being on someone else's quad for a few and getting back on my r it feels like a skate bored with handle bar's TINY but any other time it feels like it were built around me but anyways the raptor is still a baby in the sport they need to keep looking into problems and i don't think its right how yamaha handled the tranny problem by refuseing to fix it and then saying it's rider error i was shocked there are so many happy raptor ownner's even ones iv talk to that has had all the classic health prob's there must be something to it yamaha needed a bigger engine 38hp for a 660? come on yamaha get with the program it should be atlest 50hp bone stock.as for the 400ex it's a project quad for 5300 u get a strong chassis good but not great shocks and a soild bottom end you don't have to worry about think about it

 

250RLover,

They fixed the tranny and the axel. The higher center of gravity is one of the trade offs with the bigger motor.

A stock 250R doesn't put out a ton of power, and it also has a narrow chassis. But aftermarket rims alone widen it out (same to the Raptor).

You are a little spoiled in being able to choose the exact components during your rebuild.

Line both of them up. Stock to stock, and see which one you like better.....

Put a pipe kit on the Raptor, Tires, and a wider axel, and then try it out.....

RM

 

<< yamaha needed a bigger engine 38hp for a 660? come on yamaha get with the program it should be atlest 50hp bone stock >>



I can get close to 50hp out of that motor the way it sits with the normal mods that EVERYONE gets. I must be missing your point, seems to me they used all the motor according to your standards

 

nah i know it's detuned like every other quad engine ever,my point is they could have gave it alot more power easy not everyone can buy a new quad then sent another 400 bucks for a pipe

 

There is no perfect machine!!!
Every machine has there advantages and disadvantages....&gt;!!
It's what you prefer!
The Ds...is a Heavy Duty machine! heavy but probably a quality machine since everything is big on it...including bolts!
The Raptor is a great looking machine! and fast!
It might not be perfect! But I would love to have one!!!!!!!
Well that's my 2 cents!!!

 

well,i'm not sure what i should say about all this nonsense.it seemd we definately have a clash of whats best here.and for the most part,most of you are correct that non of todays machines come from the factory perfect.
i've owned and raced the raptor.it's a good machine but not great.it definately has it's faults,and i commend yamaha on trying to improve on it's faults.but non the less there are still some bugs they will have to work out for the 03's.i work on these machines everyday.i know eveything that goes wrong with them.and they are pretty consistent with the failures they come into the shop with.
some raptor owners have been fortunate it enough not toi encounter any problems as of yet and other owners who ride them like theres no tomorrow are usually the ones the encounter the most problems.
yes they have tranny,coolant leaking,carb boots,and weak frame problems.i truly believe yamaha should have used thicker material tubing on the frame since the extra wieght of the big motor does come into play.
the fit and finish on the raptor i believe could be better.
and as far as the 400ex goes thier reliability is second to none. i very seldom get a 400 in the shop for repairs becaue o failure.and the people that have problems with the 400ex are the guys that absolutely refuse to do maintenance on them and trash them.
it doesn't really matter i guess,you could potentially have problems with any machine built.
maintenance is the key to a healthy good running long lasting machine.and most of the poeple that do have problems don't know squat about maintenance.thats why i'm here .
i wouldn't buy another raptor,i would buy a 400 for trail riding and playing.
but i'm not here to tell anyone what to buy,i'm just stating my experience with these two machines and you can judge from there.
so good luck on whatever you purchase ,and if you do the proper maintenance you should be lesslikely to break down on anything.
i've been racing for over 15 years and play riding for longer and i've never and i mean never have had a machine of any brand leave me stranded or die on my.in fact i've only blown one engine and thats was during a race on a 250r and it blew up 5 feet before the finish line and i coasted across for the win.

 

I don't know what to think. I have owned alot of atvs.When I rode my friends new raptor,I said igot to have one. He had ridden this 01 less than 5 trail rides.I bought from him about 6 weeks ago.I was so proud to have a like new quad for only 4800. I sold my 300EX and after reading all of the post I may have made a mistake. I have talked to a few people who ride them and they have not had any tranny problems. I LOVE MY RAPTOR. I have a disability and need the reverse. Tell me should I keep it or get a suzuki.

 

Look at the 3 new pages of pictures I took this weekend at Little Sahara on My Web Site &amp; you'll see why I have absoutly no regrets about buying a Raptor.

With a place like that to ride my only regret is I can't go more often.

 

Moose,

Pic #2 is my choice. But pic 3# gives a better look of the quad with a decent sunset.

 

Moose, I like picture #1.

We were at Little Sahara on Sunday for a while. Parked in the day parking area, south campgrounds with a pair of Zilla's.