Why spend the money on a raptor when you can spend less money on the Ex and it will be even better on the track. The only weak spots on the 400ex are the swingarm and the front shocks are junk once you start jumping it (my opinion).
And when i said gearing i ment just your sprocket gearing.
I honestly don't know why you would go and buy a raptor when you can mod an Ex and it will be 100 times better than those de-tuned raptors. I mean come on 660cc can barley beat a 400cc air cooled 4 valve single carb fourwheeler.

 

I would still like to see the 400ex that a Raptor can barely beat!!
The ones that I have lined up with would be better off to try and run on foot behind the Raptor. LOL

Honestly the 400EX has no chance. That is both bikes stock.

Maybe you are getting meaner Ex's down your way then up here in WV, but if that is the case and the Ex's are taking the Raptors where your from then I'm going to come down and get one.

 

FreeStyleXrider,

Think what you want....Keep your mind closed....Keep riding the slug!

You wrote.....

"The 400 DOES have better low end. I think you people that say it doesn't are getting higher gearing and low end power mixed up. Most of the time when you have too much low end you gear higher to take advantage of that power. That's why the raptor only has 13/38 gearing (I think) and the 400 has 15/38. That's because the 400 can pull higher gearing without being bogged down."

Doesn't sound like you are talking just about sprocket to me....Gearing is gearing....you need to consider everything from the gear box to the size of the tires.

You also wrote.....

"The only weak spots on the 400ex are the swing arm and the front shocks are junk once you start jumping it (my opinion)."

and

"I honestly don't know why you would go and buy a raptor when you can mod an Ex and it will be 100 times better than those de-tuned raptors."

Why waste money on the EX....add Shocks and axel to the Raptor and the EX is toast on the MX track. Stock for stock the EX will be easer to MX but start adding money to both and the EX will start falling behind fast.

Jumping has a lot more to do with experience and ***** then anything. A good set of shocks on any sport quad will make it a good jumper. Besides the rider is the number one factor on any quad.

Peace.....It sounds like your having fun, isn't that the final measure anyway?

 

True, on the last thing you said.
I'm looking at this from an Mx point of view, i have never had the raptor in a trail so i can't exactly judge how they work in other conditions other than on paved roads and on the mx track, which is where i have ridden them.
I have to admit their ergos are better than the Exs due to a narrower tank. Though they could use a little more seat cushion thats easily fixed.
I'm not saying the 400 is the king of Mx though, How many pros actually use 400exs? None, You can only get so much power out of that 400cc motor while keeping it under 440ccs. Thats why now-a-days everyone is going either 250R cannondale or Hybrid (yz426/crf450). Eventually thats the way i hope to go once i feel i need somemore punch that a 440 kit can't give me.

 

<< Hold on....you need to do a little math before making a statement like that. I think the EX is geared lower in all but 5th gear.

Take the sprocket ratio and multiply it by each gear ratio to come up with the final drive ratio. (the number of times the motor turns for each revolution of the tires)

Raptor 13/40 - 3.08
1st 2.428 = 7.472527473
2nd 1.526 = 4.696356275
3rd 1.238 = 3.80952381
4th 1.047 = 3.223443223
5th 0.904 = 2.783882784

EX 15/38 - 2.53333
1st 2.971 = 7.526533333
2nd 1.938 = 4.9096
3rd 1.471 = 3.726533333
4th 1.182 = 2.9944
5th 1.000 = 2.533333333

I doubt you will find any dyno that rates the EX ahead of the Raptor at any rpm (torque or HP). Now on the MX track the lighter more nimble stock EX may work better. But spend some money on the raptor and that advantage disappears quickly. >>



Everything you mentioned is right. But there is more to the story. Torque multiplication is figured as follows: Engine Tq * transmission gear * final drive gear. Since we are talking about low end power you must plug in the torque value for both engines in the low end (1500-2500 rpm) and then multiply by first gear ratio and then multiply by the final drive ratio. A quick example for the raptor here would be (20 ft/lbs torque * 2.48 * 3.08 = 152.8 ft/lbs of torque). The 20 ft/lbs of torque was a guess on my part on what a stock raptor engine would average from 1500-2500 rpm. Since tire size is the same we dont have to do any more calculating. My guess would be if you compared both values for the raptor and 400ex the Raptor is hands down winner here.

 

Im getting a 400ex, i dont want to change valves. I dont need to go 75mph either. 65 is fast enough. If I can afford it, ill get a raptor. I might get a 02 kx125, or a 250F.... something.. gaw dayme. I also want a rancher or foreman. WHich is faster?

 

Change valves? I'm assuming you mean check and adust the valves. You will have to do this no matter what machine you buy.

Again, why would get an EX over the Z?? They are the same price and the Z is a much better machine.

 

Stebob- a piped jetted z400 does good against a piped/jetted raptor for about 100 feet. As soon as the raptor pilot can get all the power to the ground he is GONE. I have ridden Rodsquad z400 piped/jetted and it is a real sweet ride. I does a few things better than a raptor but not enough of a difference for me to trade the raptor in on a slower machine. There is NO WAY i would buy a 400ex over a Z400!!!!!!!!!!! The 400ex has had its day in the sun. It should now be priced at 4895.

 

well, i guess ill get the Z400, or maybe the raptor?... im not sure. all i know is that i dont want to adjust the valves every 20 hours! i put those on in a week [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]. how hard is it to adjust valves? what would I need?

WHich is faster a 2x4 rancher or a foreman S? Which is more fun?

 

Thanks for the info 14! I see you guys had a great time on the 29th. Maybe next year, I'll be able to make it. I hope, anyway. Would be great.