[karizz]

Its out..... http://www.indyspecialty.net/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=17&threadid=1470

 

[robg]

I saw those photos last night on Bluetrax... interesting looking, but not nearly as visually appealing as the Predator. Heck it isn't even as slick looking as the Raptor. Notice how they reused the Raptor's headlights?

Maybe it'll make up for lack of appearance by pure performance, but we'll see. Who here thinks Yamaha will release a new 450cc quad that can beat the Raptor in a drag race?

Rob

 

[jcpredator]

BANSHEE REPLACEMENT BIKE? WELL MAYBE?
YAMAHA WOULDN'T MAKE THE 450 FASTER THAN THE 660 WOULD THEY?
NOT!
BUT ITS GOT MY THINKING!!!!

 

[localbuzz]

My thinking is that this is Yamahas entry into MX. The Raptor seems to be a good dunes and Trail bike. The Banshee is definitely at home in the dunes. Neither of these seem to make good MX racing quads. I think Maybe this is Yamaha's quad that will be at home in all 3 riding situations.

 

[daironfist]

A 450 4-stroke is not gonna beat or replace a 350 2-stroke aka the Banshee. Stock 4 stock a banshee and raptor are almost dead nutz. And I doubt yamaha would release a 450 that would beat the raptor in a drag. But hopefully it will be wider and have better handling than the raptor! Looks like the suspension is alot better too!

 

[jcpredator]

I NEVER SAID THE 450 WOULD BEAT THE BANSHEE...THE FACTS ARE THE BANSHEE

IS HISTORY IN A COUPLE OF A YEARS...THE 450 WOULD FILL THE VOID BETWEEN 350 AND 660CC.

NOW IT'S HONDA'S TURN TO SHOW US IT'S NEW QUAD IN A FEW YEARS!

 

[rngmstr]

The banshee has been "history in a couple of years" for quite a while, I've been hearing that for about 6 years now. Yamaha would be stupid to discontinue a quad that is in a class by itself, especially when it is selling as good as it is after 17 years on the market. A banshee is your only option if you want to do any serious sanddrags or 1/8 mile and be at all competitive. Sure, they migh suck in trails and in MX, but in the drags nothing else even compares. How many other quads can put out over 100 rear wheel horse for a couple grand? NONE!

 

[rngmstr]

I just checked out the new yamaha on there website, 350lbs, 439cc, titanium 5-valve, 11.9:1 compression ratio, 39mm fcr with tps., aluminum upper a-arms. The weight, carb and power to weight look good, but I think I will be much happier with my predator. They are crazy wanting a msrp of $6899. Looks like a good track bike, but other than that, they can keep it.

 

[robg]

And no reverse, either. The front shocks have rezzies included, but just like the optional rezzies for the Predator, they're compression-only.

I do like the 350 lb. dry weight... imagine how much faster the Predator would be if it was 65 lbs lighter. Dang. Plus a friend thinks that the 439cc motor will likely make the same stock horsepower as the Predator. That could be very interesting...

But at $6899 they can definitely keep it.

Rob

 

[rngmstr]

If yamaha was smart, it would not beat a raptor in an all out drag race. I know I would be pretty upset if I had a raptor and a 439cc bike made by the same people beat me.

 

[robg]

I understand what you're saying, but my friend (who is a big Yamaha guy) says that Yamaha has two attitudes with their bikes, and he thinks it will translate to the quads too... meaning on one hand, they have their recreational bikes (the TTRs) and the race bikes (the YZs), and that the YFZ450 quad is using the same mentality. Plus it costs $700 more than the Raptor.

Now, if the 450 cost $5999 like the Predator, and kicked the Raptor's ass, then I'd be pissed too if I was a Raptor owner. But since it's quite a bit more expensive, I can totally see the 450 eating the Raptor's lunch.

Rob

 

[quadjunkies]

Personally, from just seeing the specs, I have to admit its got my curiousity up, the weight was very impressive ,wheelbase, 39mmFCR carb ect.... Is it true this has to be ran with race gas only???? If so, then I bet your gonna see alot of people screw it up by running pump gas.. Ive never been a Yami fan, but this one should be interesting to see...I wish Honda would step up soon, we need to add another good contender to our garage...... TINA

 

[robg]

I was just comparing the specs between the quad motor and the bike motor, and these are the two that I noticed:

Bore x stroke == 95 x 62 on the quad, 95 x 63.4 on the bike

Compression Ratio == 11.9 on the quad, 12.5 on the bike

So they dropped the CR a bit (good idea), but I'd still be leary of running 91 octane in it at sea level. Maybe up here at 4500' it'd do (barely), but I dunno. I think if they did that, it really should have had a knock sensor.

Note that the stroke changed a bit too, no doubt to make it fit into the sub-440cc racing class. I'd love to see a dyno graph comparing the two motors.

I agree on Honda... they need to get off their butts and announce their 2004 lineup ASAP and they better have a new sport quad in the lineup to compete with this thing and the Predator.

Rob

 

[rngmstr]

I heard a while back that honda had something comming, I could swear that I heard something about a new 2-stroke, but that just does not seem logical anymore. If they would release a 400 or so 2-stroke in an 250R based chassis with todays technology, I would probably be waiting in line for one. Honda was too worried about there lawyers and the government back in 89 when they dropped the 250R, so I highly doubt any 2-strokes will come from them though. They definitely need to get something new out there if they want to stay in the game.

 

[quadjunkies]

Any bets for Honda? 650 or the 450??? I know I have heard a ton of rumors, I heard they willl announce around first part of the year... Who knows. maybe it will be something totally new...

 

[marlboro80]

why would yamaha be stupid to make a 450 that beats there 660? polaris made a 500 that smokes there 660! WOOT!!

 

[daironfist]

Umm Not!

 

[rngmstr]

What polaris 500 smokes yamaha's 660? Is there one that I am not aware of? The predator and the raptor are very close in a drag race, stock vs stock or equal mods, whoever is the better rider will win. On a track, the predator definitely has the advantage, but in drags, it will not smoke raptor. I just rode my predator and also rode DaIronFist's raptor saturday, they both accelerate pretty even.

 

[robg]

On the sand, a Predator will DESTROY a Raptor... at least it does up the Competition Hill(s) of the various dune locales. And this is against a very competent rider. My 100% stock Predator versus my friend's piped and jetted 2002 Raptor... I put four lenghts on him.

Then I put on a 13T front sprocket... still no other mods... he went to a 12T front sprocket (down one tooth) and the gap opened up to SIX lengths. Then I piped it. He wouldn't even try anymore.

I've since raced many Raptors and killed every one of them that wasn't heavily modified (big bore kits with cams).

Rob

 

[rngmstr]

Take them both to the track(300ft) and make a few passes on each, when you get your slips, you'll probably be a little (a-lot) suprised.