Need urgent advice

[puhdwan907]

Im not really new to the atv community ive been riding for several years now,(i had a yamaha blaster) but now i feel its time to upgrade and need some professional advice. I sold my atv and am now looking at a Yamaha Raptor 700 , yfz450 , and maybe a banshee. I need to know what major or minor problems each one of these models has and what year-specific problems there are. I also want to know what the major difference betweent the yfz450 and the raptor 700 is. Is the 450 just as powerful? Is it more reliable? What year of each model would you reccomend(i cant get a new one and im only interested in years 06-08). Any info would be very helpful. Please reply soon cuz im going to be looking at a couple this week and i want to buy one as soon as possible and ride. Thank you.

[Stoopidbot1]

What kind of riding are you doing?

The Banshee is kind of a single sided machine and that is for the dunes. While they work just fine in other applications, they will get handled on a mx track. In the woods or tight trails, a 2 stroke is a lot of work to ride fast.

The Raptor 700 is a great machine for dunes and trails. In stock form they will get beat by a 450 but add intake, exhaust, and fuel programmer and it is almost untouchable.

The YFZ450 is going to be the best all around choice.

Stay away from the early models of the 450 and the 700 and you will be fine. The Banshee has gone almost unchanged since it's debut.

Is there a reason you are only looking at Yamaha?

[DeathMoose5000]

it depend on what u type of riding u do. like the banshee is fast as hell of the start they blow pistons sometimes and there pretty much just good 4 drag raceing in a straight line and thats it. the yfz (i own)is a very fast 4 stroke and handles better than the banshee and raptor 700, best weight to power ratio atv u can by.but it runs hot but i never over heated mine. my freind has a raptor and its probly the most reliable out of the 3, good all around quad easy to ride and fun highest top speed of i think 82mph but the yfz beats it off the start. raptor is best selling sport atv. its funny because i had a 04 blaster 2 and i moved up to the yfz 450

[DeathMoose5000]

tell me wich 1 u by and how it works out

[DirtDemon]

The Banshee will be the slowest one in stock form, but that changes as soon as you put a set of pipes on it. It has the most raw power potential of any atv in existance, you can get upwards of 150hp out a bigbore stroker setup, I don't think you can attain that kind of power from any 4-stroke atv, atleast not without some kind of forced induction. They don't handle nearly as well as the other quads you are considering on track or trails, but they are the best dune machine you can buy IMO. They can be made into a decent trail machine, but they really need alot of suspension upgrades and motor work that helps give it a little more low end power. They are more difficult to tune because there are two carbs, although there are single carb setups for them and they work great for adding more low end power and that helps make it a better trail machine. If you want an all out screamer stick to the twin carb setup. And two-strokes are much cheaper and waayyy easier to rebuild becasue there are less moving parts. Banshees are a little more expensive than others obviously because there is two of everything.

The YFZ is going to be the superior machine for track use and is a great trail machine as well, if you ride with the throttle wide open all the time and don't mind shifting and clutching alot, then it is the best all around machine of the three. It is the best handling and will be the quickest in stock form. For an everyday rider it would be my personal choice of the three. IMO a YFZ with a taller steering stem and a stroked Banshee motor built for trail use would be the ultimate quad for me.

The Raptor is personally my least favorite of the three, it is a great bike, but I prefer the high revving intesity of a 450 or a two-stroke and the Raptor sits to high for my tastes. I think my favorite thing about the Raptor 700 is that it's the easiest to ride in really tight trails because you can lug that motor and it has the torque to pull right out without the need to downshift as much as you would on the YFZ or the Banshee. The motor has tons of power, but it is not as racy as the YFZ or Banshee, it revs slow, and has the slowest feel of the three. For this reason, it is probably the most reliable because the motor is not so high strung, it just has lots of power because it is big. They really don't feel that fast to me but they are, it's kind of deceptive because the power curve is so smooth that you really don't feel it. The YFZ has more of a hit when you get into the powerband. The Banshee even more so, it is flat out guttless on the bottom end, but it has a midrange hit that will leave you on the ground it you aren't holding on.

The YFZ and Raptor are electric start which is a nice change of pace from kicking.

[puhdwan907]

Could you tell me what year and up its ok to buy for the 450 and 700? Cuz i almost bought an 06 raptor 700 but it had a throttle problem and i decided not to. Could also tell me how the raptor 350 compares to the others? Cuz i see alot of them for sale and they are alot cheaper. thnx

[puhdwan907]

O and the reason im only looking at yamaha is because i dont like the honda lineup. Their older 400ex quad are uncomfortable to use and their newer 700 machines are way too expensive. PLus several of my relatives who im going to be doing most of my riding with have hondas and i just want to get something different.

[puhdwan907]

And im doing a mix of trail and track. Cuz the trails have long flat stretches on them where i could reach up to 6th gear(on my blaster) and still not be going fast enough. But theres also alot of woods riding so its really a mix of both. thnx for all posts they are appreciated.-

[Stoopidbot1]

The Raptor 350 is just a new Warrior, from a blaster that would be a step down or at least equal to what you have. Stay with an 06 or newer on all the machines. (if possible). There are no real major changes from that point until now.(other than the YFZ450R)

[puhdwan907]

Thanks MAN!! you saved me from a major mistake. also i believe the year that the raptor 700 came out was 2006 and it didnt have reservoir shocks and other stuff...so i was wondering is it safe to buy an 06 and will it have any major defficiencies that years 07 and up dont have? thanks

[Stoopidbot1]

The only difference in the 06 and up is the suspension. And I don't think it's a major one.

[DirtDemon]

Unless you like to catch big air on jumps, the older non-rezzie suspension will suit you fine I think.

[puhdwan907]

What common problems does the yfz 450 and raptor 700 have? Are there any specific problems for specific years? thx

[Stoopidbot1]

I'm not familiar with any real common problems on the 700 at all. The 04 model and some of the 05 models of the 450 had problems with lack of oil on the bottom of the piston. the oil mod "oil squirter" will squirt a small stream of oil at the bottom of the piston. Chances are that the ones that are around have had it done.

[puhdwan907]

Thanks man im going to go probably in the next couple of days to look at a 2006 raptor 700r se and im most likely going to buy it, can you give me some tips as what to look for? Because i really dont know anything about raptors and i have no idea really what problems to look for....

[Stoopidbot1]

Just ride it, go through every gear up and down. Have someone go with you and have them lift the front wheels off the ground and you try to shake them. Make sure there is no play in the ball joints and stuff. Do the same with the rear. Visually inspect the motor, is there any oil around the gaskets. How does the oil look, check the air filter. Is the filter/air box dirty? Are the handle bars bent? Is the steering stem bent, tie rods bent. What shape are the plastics in, does it look like it has been flipped or crash hard? Check the frame and welds for cracks.

That should cover it.

[puhdwan907]

thanks man i will keep all this in mind. hopefully by this saturday i will be in possession of a raptor...

[puhdwan907]

Hey just another thing, is $3,000 a good price for a 2006 raptor 700r se 50th anniversary edition? The quad is excellent shape and looks like it hasnt been used much. I am heading tomorrow to buy one and i want to know if this is a good deal im getting or if i could get a raptor 700 in excellent condition for less than $3,000? I need to know as soon as possible. thank you

[puhdwan907]

Im going to see a 2006 RAPTOR 700r se 50th anniversary edtion. It is in good condition and going for $3,000. Do you guys think this is a good deal? plz comment. thank you

[DirtDemon]

If it runs good and is in good, solid condtion, then yes that would be a a good deal.

[Sparrows]

Good trail quad, but for speed and racing then no.

[josephnbl91]

it sounds like a good deal to me i have two friends who both have raptor 660's which are 2005's i think and they say they can get 2500 for thier bikes, so 3000 sounds like a really good deal for a 700 especially in that condition and a special edition.

[puhdwan907]

Is it a REALLY good deal or is just the average price that these year atvs get sold for?

[mywifeknowseverythin]

Is it a REALLY good deal or is just the average price that these year atvs get sold for?

Its been my Experience that Bikes go for Different Prices depending on your location....Even Varies in CA by the Zip Code in some cases...LOL!!!

06 Yamaha Raptor 700 Anniversary Edition Yamaha ATV for Sale

2006 Yamaha Raptor 700R for sale in Colorado Springs, CO

07 Raptor 700 SE For Sale - Raptor Forums: Yamaha Raptor Forums

2006 Raptor 700 For Sale! Slightly Modded - Raptor Forums: Yamaha Raptor Forums

[mywifeknowseverythin]

Oh,,,,,Just letting you know that I merged your Two threads....They seemed be on the Same Topic.....