The rest of the big Raptor also left us impressed; the throttle and clutch actions were flawless and didn't cause cramps in our hands. The seat was cushy without being overly soft, and the ergonomics fit our testers' 5-foot-10 and 6-foot frames. As we stayed out after dark, we got a chance to sample the headlights, and they actually decently lit our path-not good enough for night racing though sufficient for finding your way back to your truck.
All in all, the quad is a great effort from Yamaha-this might be the next best thing on the trail and we wouldn't be surprised to see scores of Raptor 700Rs on the starting lines of cross-country races. We can't wait to find out how it stacks up against the rest of the trail offerings.
Yamaha Raptor 700RRetail price: $6999
Engine Type: Single-cylinder four-stroke SOHCDisplacement: 686ccBore x stroke: 102x84mmCooling: Liquid-cooled with fan assistCarburetion: Yamaha Fuel Injection (YFI) system, 44mm throttle bodyStarting: Electric
DrivetrainDrive system: Chain, 4x2Transmission: 5-speed manual clutch with reverse
Suspension (Type/Travel)Front: Dual A-arms, independent/9.1 in.Rear: Cast-aluminum swingarm/10.1 in.
TiresFront: 21x7-10 radial; rear: 20x10-9 radial
BrakesFront: Dual hydraulic discsRear: Hydraulic disc
DimensionsWheelbase: 50.4 in.Claimed dry weight: 396 lbGround clearance: 4.4 in.Length/width/height: 72.6/46.1/44.5 in.Seat height: 32.0 in.Fuel capacity: 2.9 gal.
No rejetting needed; the YFI handles intake and exhaust mods.
No tipsy action thanks to its wide stance, and no sore thumb thanks to the improved throttle-lever ratio.
No reserve on the tank, so when the low-gas light comes on, find gas soon.
Expect bigger tanks to be pricey; they'll need to deal with the fuel pump.
The 700R has raised the big-bore sport market bar and will be the ATV to beat.