I'm looking for input from anyone who rides or races MX on their Raptor. I'd like to know what mods you are using, have used in the past, and what you have found to be most helpful. I'm definatly not new to this sport, but it seems like everyone here discusses trailriding, drag racing, or duning. Let me know how you're doing if you're into the racing scene, and how your Raptor is doing compared to other quads. I know not everyone races the nationals, and if the tracks you ride are anything like my local track most quads are just piled together. I'm just curious to see who else out there is riding or racing motocross and how it's going.

 

I am getting ready to race the c class in missouri aboard my raptor. I have had the rear shock rebuilt by Elka and put on triple rate piggyback front shocks. After that I just started eliminating mild steel parts with aluminum to shave the weight. I plan on getting the ITP holeshot mx tires mounted on douglas .190 rims. This should shave even more weight. I am still debating going to a +1 swingarm with round housing. I have heard this will also shave weight. I am definitely in the market for a plus four axle in the near future. Again the aftermarket axles are much lighter than stock. I have removed approximately 28 pounds from my rap by replacing or eliminating useless parts. Makes the quad handle much better. SSD shocks make the rap corner three times better than stock.

 

Griffbambino, have you thought about adding a-arms yet? Just wondering. My Raptor handles the corners much better simply by reversing my front rims. I know it's not the best thing to do, but any extra width helps, and I really don't want to sink big money into it yet. I have a question about your suspension. How well do the Elka's work? I'm sure anything is an improvement over stock, but do they handle big leaps well, and how much if any did it lower the stance of your quad. I personally think a round housing swingarm is the only way to go being I have owned many Suzuki Quadracers in the past and thought that to be a necessity. The Raptor swingarm is a better design than the old Zuki's, but I'm not too crazy about it either. I also think the +1" would help.
I'm running 18x9.5x8 Turf Tamers on the rear of mine now with .190's and beadlocks with rings inside......another necessity!

 

Hey Griff, I know it's a long haul but they will be racing ATV MX at the Silver Lake raceway south of Clever Missouri starting next month.

 

If I add A arms it will be +2 0forward. If I add the plus 1 swingarm the quad will be spread out enough for me. The Rap is already pretty long. I will check the geometry compared to a 88 250r after the swingarm. My Elka rear is a huge improvement for cornering and the whoops. I notice a small difference in plushness after landing from large doubles. The fronts really help in cornering, however my inside front tends to come off the ground because I am still using that narrow *** stock axle. I don't notice the middle spring working much but these shocks do help alot in the whoops and definetly soak up bigger hits, just not huge hits due to my stock a arms. To sum it up, the elkas do more for your overall ride and allow you to sail level off of unlevel jump faces than the stockers. The stockers want to barrell roll you if the jump was slightly off kilter. The elkas squat and sail much truer. Zooky, I think I am going to stick to Richwoods, MO, Salem, IL, and Belleville, IL for awhile. I really need to ride the rest of the summer and fall to get in true mx shape. I hope to put the raptor/mx doubters in check once I figure out how to put 660 efficiently to the ground.

 

Sorry about the lowering question. At the rear it lowered my quad from an alleged stock height of 33.9 to 31.5. Front was lowered right at 2 inches. Another thing about the elka fronts. You really notice thems staying in contact with the ground much better than the stockers on high speed sweeper corners.

 

My Rap is almost complete for MX. I have widened the bike with LSR +3+1 A-arms and axle. The bike is 6" wider than stock, so handles like a dream....no more tippy feeling. I dont like the idea of a longer swingarm. The fact that the arms give me an extra inch forward makes my wheel base perfect. My final upgrade will be susspension. The stock shocks are terrible on big jumps and especially whoops, but I have learnt how to handle them. I cant wait to get new shocks. It will definately make me faster. I would love to be able to get PEP's or Custom Axis,
but unfortunately you cannot get them where I live. The best I get get here is Ohlins. They are not as good, but still pretty good.

What do you lot think of Ohlins????
Or should I import at a big extra cost????

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TAG bars
LSR Axcaliber
LSR A-arms
Full Yoshi
Razr's
...etc..etc..

 

Well it seems like I'm finally finding all the other MXers at last! First off, thanks Griff for all the imput on the Elka's. I here they're a fair price for the performance and quality that you get, and I think I will probably go with those myself. I have never used a zero-preload suspension setup before. I usually run works triple rate with rezzies on my old Quadracers which was an improvement.
Hey Zookyridr, how do you like that new Z?? They seem to be a nice quad, and I'm glad Suzuki finally got back into it.

 

It makes a nice trail and woods bike where I ride at. With plenty of power for woods riding. So far I haven't had any problems with it. I still wish they would release the DRZ650 engine in the same package. I don't race but I like torque. Hince the Cummins powered tow rig. And it has the same problem as all sport quads. Not enough skids for rocky trail riding. I'm going to put some 22s on the back and I have already changed the gearing to make up for it. A friend of mine just got a package deal on an LT250R and a Zilla. I almost bought the Zilla off of him just to keep for blasting up and down the field and gravel roads by the house. That thing is awesome. That things power with the Zs handling would be a perfect match.

 

Well Zookyridr, that seeems to be the problem when you do go with a more powerful motor. It's so hard to keep the front end down. I think the Raptor is actually a great handling quad, well, if you compare it to my '92 Quadracer that is, but to me the biggest problem is keeping her down in the corners. That's actually why I started this post, I wanted to see if anyone else has got their Raptor dialed in for the track because I think it would be a pretty good MXer with the proper mods. Glad to hear you like your new Z!