This is a brilliant motor, make no mistake. Whether you're flying away from the lights, blasting past a row of cars or punching out of a slow corner, this little baby smokes 'em. The cable-operated clutch was light and progressive but it bit very late on our test model. I like it this way since it means that just a small dip of the clutch lever is all that's required when changing down. You also couldn't fault the digital fuel injection.
Power is no good without control, or so the saying goes.
The inverted 43mm Marzocchi front forks did feel a little hard in bumpier corners which led to a tendency for the Raptor to shake its head exiting corners on less than smooth pavement. This front-end nervousness is exaggerated by the handlebars which are traditional steel tube type with an upward and rearward bend in them. You need to get your weight down and forward over the front wheel to calm things down a little. This is a fun bike that makes you want to ride it. Unfortunately, the comfort runs out before the fun does.