Another review of the almighty Raptor 700

[XC_Raptor700R]

 
ATV Review: 2011 Yamaha Raptor 700R
by Jason Giacchino
Nothing Extinct About This Bird of Prey


It's no exaggeration to say that Yamaha's flagship Raptor has been there since the beginning... in fact a very reasonable argument could be made that the burliest of the Raptor fleet played a critical role in rejuvenating the collective OEM return to performance oriented ATVs.

In the time since the original Raptor 660's introduction, the now-accepted standard racing displacement of 450cc hadn't yet been solidified. But rather than bend the big Raptor's will to conform, Yamaha wisely created a YFZ (a few of them in fact) for race-duty and actually gave Raptor fans more of what made the 660 so advantageous in the first place: power. When the displacement was bumped up to 686cc and the carburetor ditched in favor of electronic fuel injection, the Raptor 660 became the Raptor 700 and we're here to remind you that there isn't another ATV out there like it.



What's New for 2011?

Not a whole lot, but that isn't cause for concern. The Raptor isn't a machine that relies upon massive annual tweaks to meet sales quotas. In fact a lack of revisions actually works in this ATV's favor by allowing for massive aftermarket support. That said the 700 does receive wheels inspired by its YFZ brethren. Inner-rolled aluminum means that the bead is shaped to tuck inside the tire to keep mud, gunk and trail litter from finding its way into the natural crevasse usually present. Additionally Yamaha claims the new wheel design weighs less while boasting increased strength.

The Stare Down

Since the Raptor 700 owes no debt to a particular racing class, Yamaha is free to let it all hang out in the quad's design, and it shows! The Raptor is tall, burly and aggressive looking in person; traits only further exemplified by the massive engine filling up every available inch of room between the aluminum & steel frame spars.

Climbing on the 700 dispels a bit of the intimidation factor, but even from the saddle there's little chance of mistaking this beast for a 450. The back end offers deliberate rise and the gas tank is equally sloped before you. The bars are tall with a fairly comfortable bend and the gauges are all digital – hinting of sport bike prowess.

Thanks to said fuel injection, the Raptor 700 fires up with a touch of the bar-mounted button and purrs as only as a big-bore four-stroke single cylinder can. As is the case with nearly any bone-stock ATV, it's apparent that the OEM exhaust is holding back some of the motor's capabilities, but stepping the 700 into gear and feeding out the clutch erase such concerns immediately.



Launch Pad

Taking off on the Raptor 700 is an immediate reminder that this is big-bore country. That massive liquid cooled 4-valve single is geared down low so that gobs of arm yanking torque accompany even the slightest throttle blips. This is the kind of meaty low-end that begins to claw the moment you begin easing up on the clutch lever. Be careful with your throttle-application and prepare to have a drag racer that few if any other ATVs can match. Be aggressive with your right thumb and prepare to churn some serious earth complete with massive rolling clouds of dust.

In stock trim the Raptor 700 is a raging bull throughout the low to mid range of each gear. Unlike a dedicated 450, however, it lacks the top end hit or over-rev capabilities necessary to say, come out of a tight corner then clear an 80-foot triple with minimal run. Don't mistake this for accusing the 700 of lacking "go-juice", in fact far from it. The idea here is that short shifting is the best way to keep the Raptor in the meat of its power curve, opposed to finding a gear and revving to the moon.

Top Gear

With abundant torque on hand, the Raptor 700 can be made to conquer trails and even some track duty but the geometry and engine package really lend themselves to wide-open environments. Gravel pits, desert runs, fire roads, and dunes are the Raptor 700's forte. Directly from the showroom we clocked the 700 at close to 80mph (76.82)! The possibilities of even more top end are limitless with modifications as simple as an aftermarket exhaust, fuel mapping or even sprockets. The Raptor 700 and its single overhead cam can go toe to toe with the more technologically advanced dual overhead cam 450s through the gears, but as far as top speeds are concerned, nothing else comes close.



Suspension

The Raptor 700's suspension package is all about versatility. In stock trim it's trail friendly plush. In fact we described the sensation of blasting through successive chop on the 700 as "floating" with very little harshness being transmitted to the cockpit. Off-camber and slope situations were equally welcomed by the configuration as it takes a lot to upset the Raptor's intended line. Again out of the box, the Raptor is most impressive in high-speed, wide-open settings. However, heavier or more aggressive riders needn't fear too plush a package as Yamaha's shocks boast all of the external adjustments to make the Raptor MX-stiff with a few clicks. In stock configuration the Raptor favors gradual turns due to its soft suspension and high center of gravity. Stiffen up the suspension a bit and it becomes a genuine slider with a penchant for pulling donuts until the rider's equilibrium cries uncle.

Brake Check

In the event that you're familiar with the old adage "you are only as fast as you can stop", take comfort in knowing Yamaha's got your back. Considering the machine's 400+ pounds of weight and the engine's inclination of building oodles of momentum, the Raptor certainly calls for brakes that can bring the machine down in a hurry and again Yamaha delivers the goods. Twin piston front calipers and an oversized rear modulate beautifully, making the process of scrubbing off speed effortless, without the fear of simply locking up the tires.

Conclusion

For its $8,399 asking price, Yamaha really manages to pack quite a bit of value into the Raptor 700. This is the perfect machine for the rider who appreciates performance but doesn't want to compromise comfort and durability by going with a 450. The spread of power is far broader and the suspension is much more versatile than any dedicated race machine on the market. Yes it can be made to race with a little bit of fine-tuning, but the Raptor 700 does its best work when given an opportunity to stretch its proverbial legs. We like to say it's charming enough to play on all weekend long but fast enough to humble a rider who starts to get lax on respect.

The aftermarket on this particular model is good and healthy and the quad has been around long enough to prove incredibly durable.

There are legions of devotees who have succumbed to the charms of Yamaha's flagship Raptor and we can attest that you're only a test ride away from becoming one yourself.



Specs

ENGINE
Type 686cc liquid-cooled w/fan, 4-stroke; SOHC, 4 valves
Bore x Stroke 102.0mm x 84.0mm
Compression Ratio 9.2:1
Fuel Delivery Yamaha Fuel Injection (YFI)
44mm Ignition 16-Bit ECU
Starting System Electric Transmission 5-speed w/reverse; wet multi-plate clutch
Drive Train 2WD; sealed O-ring chain, eccentric adjustment

CHASSIS
Suspension / Front: Independent double wishbone w/piggy back High-/Lo-speed compression, rebound and threaded preload adjustment, 9.1-in travel
Suspension / Rear: Cast aluminum swing arm w/rebound, High-/Lo-speed compression and threaded preload adjustment, 10.1-in travel
Brakes / Front: Dual ventilated hydraulic disc, twin piston
Brakes / Rear: Ventilated hydraulic disc, self adjusting park brake function
Tires / Front: AT21 x 7-10 radial
Tires / Rear: AT20 x 10-9 radial

DIMENSIONS
L x W x H 72.6 x 46.1 x 44.5 in
Seat Height 32.0 in
Wheelbase 50.4 in
Ground Clearance 4.4 in
Fuel Capacity 2.9 gal
Wet Weight 422 lb

OTHER
Lighting Dual 30W Krypton multi-reflector headlights & 3.9/0.5W LED brake light
Warranty 6-Month (Limited Factory Warranty)

PRICE
$8,399 (Team Yamaha Blue/White)
$8,399 (White/Red)

Contact
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/439/0/home.aspx

[Peelz]

[Krandall]

good info, thx for posting