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COPYRIGHT 2005 Ehlert Publishing Group
"The Raptor 700R is the most versatile sport ATV ever produced," Yamaha Research and Product Planning Manager Travis Hollins declared. That's a bold statement to make, especially in front of the media. It's also brave because the YFZ450 is both Yamaha's and the sport quad industry's best-selling sport unit, not the Raptor. The 660R Raptor was No. 2, but far from a crowd favorite. Using inspiration and technology from the YFZ, and starting the rebuild from the ground up, Yamaha's new 700R will definitely challenge the YFZ450--which received more than 80 changes for 2006--for the sport quad industry's No. 1 ranking.
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Yamaha firmly believes it has built the best all-around bike money can buy. Aside from bumping the four-stroke's displacement, Yamaha significantly reconfigured the Raptor's handling and ergonomics packages. "The Raptor 700R is about handling more than it is about the boost in displacement," Hollins added. And he's right. With a new hybrid chassis, fuel injection, improved measurements and all-around better design, the more powerful 700R fits right in on any terrain, trail or track. We got one of the first opportunities to ride The 700 Express at the East Fork Rock OHV Trail System near Bend, Ore. So hop aboard as we take you along on this locomotive's first test.
Engine
Yamaha engineers knew an increase in displacement would satisfy the Raptor fans, but they wanted to achieve more than that. A few upgrades helped Yamaha engineers achieve their goal. A 2mm larger bore resulted in the larger displacement. Another significant change is the reduction in the number of valves. The 2006 Raptor has a four-valve head. One less valve results in a lower-profile head and lowered the engine in the chassis. This redesign helped reduce the quad's center of gravity, according to Yamaha.
Needle-bearing rocker arms--the first on an ATV--were added to...
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