Lurking Raptor 700 Owner

[driven308]

Hello from hot ass Texas.

I love my Raptor without question, but the new 700XX has my attention. Being that I am a woods rider most of the time, I think the IRS may be the best route. I have been waiting for something like this to come out.

People will go back and forth all day about which one is faster in a drag race, or jumps better. I am sure that the Raptor will out accelerate the 700XX due to the weight, but I would bet the Honda would be a little better in the woods where it matters to me. I am glad this forum is up and I look forward to reading rider reviews of this new big bore. DirtWheels is doing a test between the 2 next month so that will be interesting. I have ridden and owned many Honda's and their reliability is 2nd to none.

Be safe!
John

[scuzz]

Where at in Texas? I'm in Plano...

Maybe we could go riding?

(I hate bench racing but....)

The 700XX has a higher power to weight ratio than the Raptor 700r. (adding 50 lbs for fluids for the raptor since it's a "dry weight")

I also, don't care which one faster in drag races and whatnot, I like them both.

[driven308]

I am down around Austin.  We usually go ride every weekend, but with gas prices its tough. Most "Good" places to ride around here require you to drive about 40 miles.  I am leaving for Wisconsin on Friday to ride for 9 days straight up there. I have never been, but I heard its a lot of fun.

I hope I run into a 700XX while I am there. I would like to get a closer look, and if I am real lucky a test ride 

This 700XX has really shaken up things in the big bore class and its great. Cant wait to see what is said over the next few months once some reviews are done.

John

[scuzz]

Same thing applies around Dallas, no good legal places to ride unless you do some serious driving. (My favorite place is nearly in Oklahoma.)

Have fun on your trip and take some pictures and post 'em up. I'm going sand riding this Sunday, I'll be sure to take a lot of pictures and post how things went. The plave where I'm going is infested with 400EX's, but my buddy that I'm gong with will be in his larger CC-kit-ed 700r. I'll loose to him but it'll still be fun.

[comrad]

Sounds awesome man. I too am looking at the 700xx, coming from a 450r.

[driven308]

450R huh? I almost bought a new 450R last year, but when I went to do the deal the salesman told me that the unit they had available just sold. I ended up going with the 700R. The reverse has come in handy more than once on the trails.

I also test drove a 2007 Polaris 525 IRS. A friend of mine is a Polaris dealer in Georgetown, TX and he let me take the demo out. I am not a huge Polaris fan, but it was a nice quad. I love to slide through corners and I hear the IRS makes this more difficult. I do not know since I have only had very limited seat time on an IRS machine, but that's what I read.

I watched some video on YouTube of the 700XX in the dunes. Looks like a nice quad. I will have to ride one before I will know if its something for me or not.

I will for sure take a camera and get some still shots and some video. We have a new helmet cam that we are going to try out as well. I will post some pics up in a couple of weeks. My Father-in-law bought his nephew that lives in Wisconsin an 07 Polaris 525 IRS last summer.  The sh*t talking has been going on from that end for months. They think the 525 is going to run off and leave my Raptor.  Stock vs. stock they are very close according to the shootouts. They say the Raptor is a bit faster than the Polaris 525, but a little slower than KTM's 525. Being that his is stock and mine isn't, it shouldn't be very close.    I don't think they know that mine is modded, but they soon will.

Take Care.
John.

[scuzz]

They think the 525 is going to run off and leave my Raptor.  Stock vs. stock they are very close according to the shootouts. They say the Raptor is a bit faster than the Polaris 525, but a little slower than KTM's 525. Being that his is stock and mine isn't, it shouldn't be very close.    I don't think they know that mine is modded, but they soon will.

Take Care.
John.

I can verify that the KTM 525XC is faster than the ramptors adn even the Oultlaw 525 (solod axle) Last time I wen to the dunes I was on a sad little 400EX and my buddies had:

1. 2008 KTM525 XC
2. 2008 Outlaw 525
3. 2007 700r - programmed, bored-out, cammed and yoshimura-ed.
4. 2005 45r

The KTM consistantly beat them all. No slight on the 700r, because it was hella-fast.

Here's the view out my tent:



Here you can see the main 3 (note the other Raptor in the background was the guy who would "red light" every race, he still lost):



KTM Launch:

[scuzz]

I just want to make sure you know that I'm not talking crap about rapters, just reporting what happened.

e-hug.

[driven308]

No worries. I don't get upset and try to argue about which quad is faster. There are a lot of variables that go into a drag race, and the results can vary drastically from race to race.

I was just quoting what I read in Dirtwheels. I think it was May's issue when they tested the KTM 525, the Polaris 525S, and the Raptor 700. They finished up the drag with the KTM in first followed by the Raptor, and the Polaris a very close third.  The Air box design on the Polaris is a big problem. The 525 motor is awesome. The motor in the KTM is geared a little different that what is used in the Polaris they said. The KTM is the baddest production quad made at this point. Just too damn much money for me to spend on a quad.

Those are great pics. Looks like alot of fun. I know nothing about sand drags. We usually race on the dirt. I am hoping in Wisconsin there are some sport quads. I know there will be tons of utility mudders running around, but it would be fun if there are a good # of sport quads as well.  My quad is actually on the way to Wisconsin now. The father in law is pulling a trailer with the quads behind the motor home, and me and the lady are flying up Friday.

Be Safe.
John

[scuzz]

I wish mine was driving to Mississippi right now, I leave at 2 in the morning....

[driven308]

Well I finally got home from riding in Wisconsin. There was lots of cheese and fat woman there. Its good to be back in Texas where there is some good looking females.

The riding was good. 40-50 miles per day. The trails were rough, but it was fun. Had a chance to race an LTR 450 and a Polaris 525 through the trails. I think they were both stock, so they couldn't keep up to well. The Raptor took a beating and so did I. Rolled it over backward trying to climb a hill. Then I rolled it and broke my collar bone. Good times.

I didn't see any 700XX's there. I was hoping to get a chance to see one. I need to run by our big dealer here and see if they have one yet. I plan on getting a new quad at the end of the year and I want to see the XX up close.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. Keep riding hard and be safe.

John

[comrad]

Well I finally got home from riding in Wisconsin. There was lots of cheese and fat woman there. Its good to be back in Texas where there is some good looking females.

The riding was good. 40-50 miles per day. The trails were rough, but it was fun. Had a chance to race an LTR 450 and a Polaris 525 through the trails. I think they were both stock, so they couldn't keep up to well. The Raptor took a beating and so did I. Rolled it over backward trying to climb a hill. Then I rolled it and broke my collar bone. Good times.

I didn't see any 700XX's there. I was hoping to get a chance to see one. I need to run by our big dealer here and see if they have one yet. I plan on getting a new quad at the end of the year and I want to see the XX up close.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. Keep riding hard and be safe.

John

Once you see it up close, you will have to buy it 

[scuzz]

Sorry to hear about your colar bone.

I did the same thing with my 400EX, but miraculously didn't break anything. (aside from my handle bars)

Was it real rocky up there or loose stuff?

[driven308]

Thanks.

The terrain was mostly loose sand and gravel. Wasn't to many rocks in that area.  I was actually surprised at the amount of sand. I am going to have to take my quad apart and really clean it good. Since I cant ride for awhile I will have plenty of time to get her back in shape.

One thing I notice while riding with the Polaris 525, is the amount of clearance in the rear. I was getting hung up quite a bit, and he was able to go over alot more with the IRS.  I have heard that the IRS really affects the cornering ability of the machine, but I haven't had a chance to ride one long enough to know for myself. People say they push, and are harder to slide through corners.

What have you guys experienced since riding with IRS?

Thanks
John

[xx-rated]

They definitely handle different than a SRA machine, and it takes a little bit of riding to get used to. But once you learn to handle/manipulate the machine with the throttle and shifting your weight, they handle very well. You just cant blow thru corners the same way. I've found that using the front brake a bit as you go into the croner helps bring the tail around a bit.