It’s that time of year again and we find ourselves pushing the skinny pedal down a bit harder in anticipation as we pilot our loaded up Chevy Silverado to our rendezvous spot with Yamaha Motor in Glamis, CA. What started out as a unique way to introduce new sport ATV models to the media many years ago has turned into a yearly tradition with the folks at Yamaha—and it is definitely a tradition that we all look forward to.
There truly is no better place to spend some quality ride time on Yamaha’s top-selling Raptor 700R and the ever-popular YFZ450R than in the sand dunes. This year we would be throwing a leg over the 2015 Special Edition versions of both models and reminding our readers and ourselves exactly why these two machines continue to reign at the top of their class.
A Quick Look
Not much has changed for the 2015 Special Edition Raptor 700R and YFZ450R, but there isn’t much to improve upon, either. The color scheme and graphics are always catchy for Yamaha’s SE models and this year we were particularly pleased to see the black, white and red theme return once again.
The YFZ450R SE version comes with a blood-red aluminum frame, black A-arms and swing-arm skid plate, black and white plastics and simple, yet catchy, white, silver and red factory graphics that tie the whole color scheme together. Black wheels and silver springs on the front and rear shocks cap the entire look off nicely.
The Raptor 700R SE model follows suit with the same style of graphics, red frame and black A-arms and wheels, but has a slightly different look thanks to its distinct white and black front cowl. One item the Special Edition Raptor does come with that is different than the 2015 regular model is the black GYTR aluminum heel guards.
As a bonus, both SE models come with aggressive-looking black GYTR front bumpers that look better than some aftermarket bumpers we have seen.
Let’s Compare
While we have been fortunate enough to have been part of this trip many times in the past, one thing we haven’t really done is actually compare the YFZR and the Raptor 700R in a head to head, dune riding shootout.
We had plenty of chances to switch models throughout the two full days of riding that we did, so it gave us an opportunity to take some mental notes and do a little comparison testing of our own while we were carving up the sand. What exactly did we come up with? Let’s discuss ...
Comfort
No matter which model we actually prefer to spend most of our time on, one thing is pretty obvious to us. When it comes to overall comfort, the Raptor 700R gets our vote when it comes to riding for hours at a time.
The seat on the Raptor 700R is softer and encourages more of a seated position than the aggressively styled YFZR seat. The suspension feel and the height of the bars on the Raptor 700 also lend themselves more to a quad ridden in a more relaxed manner, rather than standing or moving around as much as we tend to do on the YFZR.
Not to knock the YFZ450R, because we can spend many enjoyable hours on it as well; it just offers a different kind of ride than the ever-popular Raptor 700.
Power
The power delivery of both the YFZR and the Raptor 700R are similar in total output, but they feel different when you are actually riding each machine. The YFZR’s power requires a bit more shifting and work to keep it revved higher in the rpms, where it likes to be most of the time. For riders like us, who enjoy the challenge of a “racey” motor, it’s a great ride and can be a lot of fun.
The Raptor’s power comes on strong down low in the powerband and remains strong all the way throughout, giving it the torque that it is known for and allowing for less shifting and more of a relaxed riding style. You can easily lug the Raptor 700 around in third gear all day long, which makes it a good choice for riders who might be less experienced in the dunes and need to concentrate more on navigating than on staying in the right rpms.
Chances are, if you enjoy riding your ATV like you stole it, you will enjoy the YFZR and what it requires from a rider. If you would prefer to shift less but still have plenty of power on tap, then the Raptor 700R is probably more up your alley.
Riding Style
This is where personal preference will come in. If you prefer to cruise around and take in the sights of the dunes or your preferred riding area without too much body-English or an aggressive riding stance, then the Raptor 700R would be perfect for you.
If you are an aggressive rider and you find yourself standing most of the time or leaning off of your quad in the corners and trying to toss your machine around more, then the YFZ450R would be a good choice for you.
We tend to work a bit harder when we are riding the YFZR fast through the dunes, but that work pays off in the form of a pretty exhilarating ride.
Handling
Here is where the final decision maker usually lies when it comes to choosing the YFZ450R or the Raptor 700R as your preferred machine: Which one handles better? That is a great question and it is also a complicated one. Better for you, might not mean better for us, so it all boils down to personal preference. Yamaha has done a great job with these two sport machines and it has managed to appeal to just about every riding style out there with these two models.
We believe that the Raptor 700R is the best trail machine out of the two due to its comfort, shock setup and low-end power delivery. It’s a beast, but that torque and power is harnessed well and is easily controlled by just about any level of rider. What makes the Raptor 700R a great trail machine is also what makes it a great dune machine—with some very slight exceptions. It is a bit narrower than the YFZR and it feels somewhat taller in the seat as well. This makes it feel just a tad heavier when carving quickly through the bowls, but we still have no problem keeping up with the YFZRs or any other quad, for that matter.
The YFZ450R seems at home in the dunes just as much as it does on the racetrack and for good reason. It’s low, it’s wide and it corners like it’s on rails. These attributes make it feel like the Porsche 911 of the sand dunes. It may not offer the softest, most comfortable of rides, but it is usually the ride that anyone who enjoys aggressive, fast, sport riding would prefer.
Wrap-Up
Comparisons like this are difficult for us to do—we like both machines so much that it is hard to choose one over the other for anything. However, they are different and they each appeal to a slightly different consumer base, so it’s good for us to seek out these small nuances from time to time and mention them. One thing is for certain—it is easy to see why these two machines are the top-selling sport ATVs in the industry.
2015 Yamaha Raptor 700R SE
Engine: 4-stroke, SOHC, 4 valves
Displacement: 686cc
Fuel Delivery: Yamaha Fuel Injection (YFI), 44mm
Cooling: Liquid w/fan
Bore x Stroke: 102.0mm x 84.0mm
Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
Fuel Capacity: 2.9 gallons
Transmission: 5-speed w/reverse; wet multi-plate clutch
Drive Train: 2WD; sealed O-ring chain, eccentric adjustment
Front Suspension: Independent double wishbone w/piggyback high-/lo-speed compression, rebound and threaded preload adjustment, 9.1 inches travel
Rear Suspension: Cast aluminum swing arm w/rebound, high-/lo-speed compression, threaded preload
adjustment, 10.1-inches travel
Brakes: Dual ventilated hydraulic disc, twin piston (front); ventilated hydraulic disc, twin piston (rear)
Front Tires: Maxxis AT22 x 7-10
Rear Tires: Maxxis AT20 x 10-9
Wheelbase: 50.4 in.
Length: 72.6 in.
Width: 45.5 in.
Height: 43.9 in.
Seat Height: 32.7 in.
Ground Clearance: 9.5 in.
Wet Weight: 422 lbs.
2015 Yamaha YFZ450R SE
Engine: 4-stroke, DOHC titanium 5-valve
Displacement: 449cc
Fuel Delivery: Yamaha Fuel Injection (YFI), 42mm
Cooling: liquid-cooled w/fan
Bore x Stroke: 95mm x 63.4mm
Compression Ratio: 11.8:1
Fuel Capacity: 2.6 gallons
Transmission: 5-speed manual clutch
Drive Train: 2WD; sealed O-ring chain, eccentric adjustment
Front Suspension: Independent double wishbone w/Kashima coated piggyback shocks, high/low speed compression, rebound and threaded preload adjustment, 9.8 inches travel
Rear Suspension: Cast aluminum swingarm w/piggyback high/low speed compression, rebound and threaded preload adjustment; 11 inches travel
Brakes: Dual ventilated hydraulic disc, twin piston (front); wave-style ventilated hydraulic disc, twin piston (rear)
Front Tires: Maxxis AT21 x 7-10
Rear Tires: Maxxis AT20 x 10-9
Wheelbase: 50 in.
Length: 70.7 in.
