What to buy?

v10viper04 · 10-17-2009, 09:10 PM

Ok i was not sure where to put this so let me know if i'm dead wrong putting this here.... I own a 1992 Blaster that i'm selling to upgrade as my friend just bought an 08' YFZ450. I have always liked the Banshee's personally and i LOVE the look of the Raptors/YFZ450's. Basically what's the best bang for the buck. I can pick up a Banshee for about 2000-2500k around here and YFZ450's and Raptor 660's are around 3k.. I'm torn on what i want, i love the YFZ and raptor styling but i do love the scream of the 2 stroke.. any input you guys might have? maybe if you have owned several of one or the other. Let me knowi'm torn and idk what to buy! haha

**03LimitedEditionRaptor** · 10-18-2009, 01:24 AM

I have both a built raptor (720cc 102mm bore, 4mill stroker crank, kenz ported head, stage 2 cam) and a built banshee (4mill stroker crank, FAST Dune Port, CPI Inframe Drag Pipes, Keihin PWK33 carbs). Both are fun to ride. What kind of riding do you do? If you trail ride the raptor is going to be your best bet. If you dune or ride wide open areas then the banshee would shine.

I would only get the yfz if you intend to mx race.

Keep in mind that a piped banshee is going to be the bottom of the three if the raptor and yfz are piped.

Once you have the banshee's cylinders ported it is a whole different animal, and it will be the fastest.

**diggerzmound** · 10-18-2009, 10:17 AM

What are you doing with the machine you are intending to buy? MX race, Sand, trails, drag race?

v10viper04 · 10-18-2009, 08:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by diggerzmound

What are you doing with the machine you are intending to buy? MX race, Sand, trails, drag race?

Trails, racing a oval dirt track (for fun once a week), drag racing for fun around my house. Something that is good all around....

**03LimitedEditionRaptor** · 10-18-2009, 08:53 PM

That is a tough one. Get both.

Banshee and Raptor, that is the best solution.

**diggerzmound** · 10-19-2009, 02:48 PM

A raptor will fit all of your riding situations better than the banshee.

jyfz480 · 10-20-2009, 05:07 AM

i would go with the raptor i love my yfz but there like a baby they need to much care...
and a stock shee are slower than both the yfz n the raptor...

v10viper04 · 10-21-2009, 08:30 PM

Two of my friends have now advised me not to buy a Raptor, they claim the twin carb setup gets messed up easily and they handle like crap... idk about handling but as far as i know most snowmobiles have twin carbs( i own more than 3 with twin carbs) and i have never had a problem keeping them in sync.... any input guys?

**diggerzmound** · 10-21-2009, 10:03 PM

Syn is not an issue with these carbs, they are feeding one cylinder. The 660 is like any other quad, if you leave it stock it will need very little tinkering. You will probably only have to change the oil and the same minimal maintenance you would have with any quad.

dirtmonkey13 · 10-26-2009, 07:43 PM

I think the Raptor is the best all around for your needs. Power everywhere with little work. Carbs are no problem, as stated above they feed one cylinder. I have never had any problems when it was stock and do not have problems now that it is modified. Once it is jetted right your done, just like a single carb.

SegKast · 12-29-2009, 12:03 PM

WOW SPAMMER !?!?! That's awesome at work .... :banghead: Thanks !

I love my raptor. Some people complain about the dual carbs, but it's nothing special, they aren't hard to jet and there's no issues with being out of sync.

If you buy a 660 the main issues you'll want to address are the width (it is a bit tall, so can feel a bit tippy turning at high speed in stock form) and possibly the front shocks.

The front shocks aren't horrible, but could definately benifit from Rezzie shocks. YFZ450 shocks can be had from $150-200 for a cheap upgrade here (also they'll lower the front end slightly)

Wider offset rims, extended axle, a-arms, spacers are all options for making her wider. Once you're 2-4" wider on a 660, it's a completely different and MUCH more capable bike. Spacers might be a good option for cheap if you don't spend much time off the ground.

You might want to stay away from 2001 models, some had/have tranny issues. The other common problem (any quad has them) is the starter clutch wears out. I haven't had this issue on mine, but it happens. L&A sells a fix with a lifetime warrantee though - easy enough.

660's love to wheelie and especially with just a 12t ($10) sprocket up front, the gearing is setup great for trails, dunes, and some racing. Reverse is also a great thing to have in the trails !

The 660 aftermarket and used market is also pretty good, so you can always find some great deals on parts/upgrades. And there's a lot of power to be had in a rappy engine if you do want to really get into it - they'll go fast.

All that said, if you can find a 700 in your price range... they pretty much addressed and fixed all the issues the 660 had when they put out the Raptor 700 (with the exception of a few models that still had those front shocks, but again- easily swapped for better ones later), so Rappy gets my vote ! :)

SegKast · 12-29-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by v10viper04

Two of my friends have now advised me not to buy a Raptor, they claim the twin carb setup gets messed up easily and they handle like crap... idk about handling but as far as i know most snowmobiles have twin carbs( i own more than 3 with twin carbs) and i have never had a problem keeping them in sync.... any input guys?

They're wrong. They must own Honda's, no ?

v10viper04 · 03-13-2010, 11:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by SegKast

Quote: Originally Posted by v10viper04

Two of my friends have now advised me not to buy a Raptor, they claim the twin carb setup gets messed up easily and they handle like crap... idk about handling but as far as i know most snowmobiles have twin carbs( i own more than 3 with twin carbs) and i have never had a problem keeping them in sync.... any input guys?

They're wrong. They must own Honda's, no ?

Whats funny is that the main one telling me this has owned a honda or 2 and used to ride a YFZ. The other one telling me the raptor is crap used to ride a tricked out Banshee. haha Either way what do you guys think about $2500-3000 for an 04 Raptor? Good price? Looks to be in good shape, guy used to ride it with his son who is like 5 years old. He rode that and his son rode a mini quad.

knightrider · 03-14-2010, 06:36 AM

Sounds like a good deal. Probably hasnt been beat on. If you look at a YFZ 450, Ive been told to stay away from the 2004's due to some kind of oiling problem that can cause the motor to sieze up. Ive also heard that the batteries dont stay charged. 2500 is about the going price for a 04-05 Raptor around here.

dmiller_time · 03-14-2010, 07:59 AM

Its the 04's to the 06's yfz that had the oiling problem, they fixed it in 07 with a lil squiter that squirts oil on the wrist pin and a high velocity oil pump. I have an 06 yfz and i dont have the oil mod done to it, and i ride pretty hard. The oil mod is around 200 bucks but i really dont see no need for it unless all of the hours you ride it will be on a track wot. I do a lil racing myself and havnt had any problems what so ever out of my yfz.

**leveldrummer** · 03-14-2010, 12:30 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dmiller_time

Its the 04's to the 06's yfz that had the oiling problem, they fixed it in 07 with a lil squiter that squirts oil on the wrist pin and a high velocity oil pump. I have an 06 yfz and i dont have the oil mod done to it, and i ride pretty hard. The oil mod is around 200 bucks but i really dont see no need for it unless all of the hours you ride it will be on a track wot. I do a lil racing myself and havnt had any problems what so ever out of my yfz.

your right man, the oil mod certainly isnt NEEDED, there are tons of bikes around that have survived without getting the update...

but consider this, is 200 bucks worth saving 2000 later? the oil update is cheap insurance for a well known problem that definitely exists...

it takes next to nothign to install, and if your wrist pin locks, and your rod snaps, and you have total failure, your in a ton of trouble...

v10viper04 · 03-22-2010, 11:32 AM

So i have found 2 quads i'm going to look at. The one being the 04 Raptor. and the second is a 2006 YFZ450 SE (yellow and black). I am nervous about the oiling issue from 04-06 in the YFZ'z. The YFZ wants $3k and will take $2700. The Raptor wants $3k but will take $2600. Both supposedly have low hours. Raptor rode by a middle aged man, YFZ by a younger kid, What do you guys think?

juswrbl9 · 03-22-2010, 11:46 AM

YFZ all day!

**motorhead** · 03-22-2010, 12:09 PM

IDK The 04/05 raptors are the best one's. If the yfz was owned by kid, id be careful. They beat those things to death. Usally lack of oil changes, bearing, bushings, chain, sprockets, and brakes all hammered. But who knowes take a look.

warriorx · 03-22-2010, 12:48 PM

Not sure how to answer the middle aged man. I am over 40 and i ride the hell out of my warrior and love every minute of it. But in turn it is very well cared for. Oil changed 2 to 3 times a year, greased every time its ridden. Power washed and good check after every ride...........So I say look in every nook and cranny of both...... grab and shake every thing you can get your hands on.........look for sings of fresh maintaince like greese on the zirks fresh chain lube.....all these are sings of maintaince