Thanks guys! i didnt realize how heavy the ds is. My choice is the Raptor. I just wanted to make sure there wasnt one out there that was faster , lighter, etc. I plan on doing mostly trail riding and jumping. I live in Ocala, 40 minutes from CROOM in Brookesville florida. I will probably ride there the most. We have alot of sugar sand here in this part of Florida. I just sold my drz 400 because of it.

If I get te 01 raptor I will make sure it has a high serial number.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

<< TheFasterTheBetter:

Could you please check on those serial numbers and get back to us? It could influence my (our) future mods.

Thanks. >>



Are these the VIN numbers? What are we looking for the last 5 or 6 digits of the VIN?

Let me know and I will ask my buddies. This could be very interesting. I hope the problem is limited to the first xx number of Raptors rather than all the '01 quads.

 

<< FasterandBetter,
How much time have you spent swapping back and forth between a Raptor, 400EX, and DS650 in the sand whoops. The DS has a great suspension (better than the other two quads), but is still more fatiguing to ride in sand whoops due to its extra weight and heavy front end. I'm not saying it cant handle sand whoops, because it can. But when you're on a motorcycle desert race course with sand whoops that go on, and on, and on, for thirty miles at a time, the lighter ATVs start feeling better and better with each additional mile.

3TV >>



I cannot say I have ever ridden a desert race or on a ride with sand whoops the go on and on for thirty miles at a time.

I don't own a Raptor or a EX so I don't swap back and forth between the quads.

I do ride with guys that own Raptors and EX's and they always seem to complain about the whoops. I thought it was the quads but, I guess it could be the rider.

The Whoops never seemed to bother me on the DS. I have ridden a Banshee on the whoops and let me tell you, it wore me out and the Banshee has a pretty light front end.

Not trying to start anything, you asked me some questions so I am just answering them. Looks like zx12r decided on the Raptor anyways.

 

3tv, I have to agree with most of what you said, except the part about the whoops.

I agree with faster on that one.

I have both and while I really enjoy riding both, the Ds is the one I want when the whoops come on.

I understand what you are saying about carrying the front end over the whoops, but I can also do this with my DS. I actually find it easier to control, because of the extra weight. But, the whoops is where I can really pull away from most other quads. It just soaks them up.

I find that I get much more fatigued riding the raptor then the DS.

That is my 2 cents worth. They are both great machines with a lot of potential.

Bat

 

We have an '01 DS and a '01 Raptor. I agree with about everything that's been said on here. But don't buy an '01 Raptor, get an '02. The transmission problems are rumored to have stopped around #8,000, ours is a #21,000 and we've had no problems. But the Ratios suck... That, along with increased durability, is why you should get an '02. With the '01 ratios, it is sometimes hard to find the right gear, they are poorly spaced, and sometimes no gear is the right gear. And reverse is so high as to make it unusable except in a parking lot or someplace where it doesn't matter. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

hay zx12r i live probably about 30 or 40 miles away from you, do you ever go riding at the big scrub riding area??????ALl i ever see out here is raptors so i guess that would be the prefered choice out here.......IF you ever see me out on the trail give me a holler!