I Have been thinking strongly about picking up a Raptor for myself , probably just go with the 2001 ( all I can afford right now) do the 2001's really have that many problems? Trannys , axles , carbs blowing off ??? cause from what I have heard from some people is " don't buy a 2001 " and others say they are great and haven't had a problem. I rode one 3 weekends ago ( 2001) It handles alot better than my Zilla ( tight corners ) not even close for power , but I ended up using that reverse half a dozen times which I thought was the cats A$$ and I had a blast ! we do alot of mountain riding so I will keep my Zilla for playing in the sand. What do you guys think ????

 

my family has 3 raps, incl 2 of them 01s. no probs... and the youngsters run theirs really hard!
only mods are pipes and jetting, tires, no internal engine stuff. we run mostly mountains and desert..dunes maybe once a year..
seemms the heavily modded ones are the ones i.ve been hearing about breaking, tho not always.
anyway, we're all happy with ours.

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

I haven't had any problem with my 2001(knocking on wood) but if you can find a 2002 close to the same money. I would pick it up instead. There a little better in gearing. But you can pick up a 01 and ride it and maybe something will happen and maybe not. Then fix it if it does. IMO

 

I have an '01 with no problems as of yet. The gearing isn't as good as on the '02-03, but with a pipe and rejet the gap won't be as noticable. Also, airraptor erred by saying the '01 shock isn't adjustable-- it IS. The resivoir was just moved from a remote mount to a piggyback for '02-on. Also, the '01 has the weak axle design and aluminum swing-arm linkage.

If you don't build it up heavy, it shouldn't be a reliability issue, I would think. But, if you can spring for an '02 I'd say go for it...

 

I have not had any major problems with my 2001. I (like some others around here) use mine like it has no reverse though. As far as the gap in the gearing, you can usually solve that with a slight gearing change. If I were you, I would try to get one with remaining extended warranty; just for piece of mind...

 

I too have a 2001 with no problems (also knocking on wood). It has been rode hard for over a year now and has not had one problem. I am not fond of the gearing, but dropping a tooth on the front sprocket fixed that. Lately it is mainly used by my buddies and my wife, I prefer the DS and the banshee.

Bat

 

when i first became a memeber of this forum i read a post from Raptory660fm (or something like that) that recommended not using reverse. i listened...i only use it if i absolutely must. no problems and i ride my raptor for track...i don't beat it. but i push it hard. i did blow my carbs once. it's seems **** to happening at the top of the compression stroke (ie; right when your chugging at the top of a nice hill climb...like it did to me). after i piped and rejetted i've never experienced it again (2 years ago).

other points:
the rear shock is adjustable it's just not a piggyback.
the linkage is offset and can be flipped to lower the rear end on the 01.
the subframe is aluminum on the 01.

i run a scotts filter on my 01 raptor and change my oil religously...it has a magnet in it and a micro-mesh screen screen that allows you to inspect whats going on in their. my hope is to find evidence of the dogs deteriorating before they fail. so far all looks well.

oh yeah...01's jump higher

 

It was Gary660 that best described what happens with the 01 trans. and the reverse problem.

I always said that if his went (and his did) ours would be next, the only thing that has been I hope in our favor is that reverse has hardly ever been used. I did use it before I learned about the potential problem just to make sure it was working.

The transmission was not designed to have reverse.

Other than that one point our 01 Raptor has been trouble free and is used mainly for fast trails, high speed rock road runs. It the perfect back road cruiser.

I have been riding dirtbikes since the early seventies so the 01 higher first gear didn't seem like an issue to me coming from high strung two stroke bikes.

Chet
VPKnowsalot Facility

 

I'm leaving Virginia tonight at 3am to meet up with a guy at the South Carolina/Georgia state line to get an 02 Raptor. Should I also not use the reverse on an 02? I'll get on here and check before I ride it tomorrow, if I ever wake up that is [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Thanks!