2019 Yamaha Raptor 700
My 2019 Yamaha Raptor Build
-Built Top End, Dyno Tuned by Illinois Powersports (Call Jay for Details 630-365-6722)
-Suspension Work by Rocket RonÂ
- Front shocks are YFZ450R take off's set up triple rate
- Rear shock is OEM set up dual rate
- Hess MX/XC rear linkage (by GT Thunder)
-Houser +2.25 Long Travel MX A Arms
-Dasa Classic Full Exhaust System
-Fuel Customs Intake with airboxÂ
-DBR Vortex EXO Cage with mount
-Precision Elite Steering Stabilizer
-Lonestar Adjustable Rear Axle
-Pro Taper Contour Bars ATV Mid Bend
-Current Bumper is GYTR. Was running DBR Stump Jumper linked below
Restoquad Street Legal Kit (HARN-1)
- Includes rear turn signals, RQ brackets, and HARN-6 adapter
-Rigid SR-Series Pro 10" Light Bar (Spot/Drive Combo Beam Pattern)
-Lonestar Universal 10" Light Bar Bracket
-Ucarbonex carbon fiber headlight bezel covers and rear heat shield
-Dirtfiend Graphics Kit "Program Edition"
-Cascade Innovations Custom Seat Cover
-Custom powder coating done by Zapps Powder Coating
All maroon plastics. Combined 2019 and 2020 maroon special edition colors
Backstory
In the spring of 2018 I was reflecting on my hobbies. I realized I missed riding sport quads and I wanted to get back into it. I was 28 years old and had stopped riding quads in my early 20's. At that time I couldn't afford it anymore and I had moved onto mountain biking/cycling. After years of riding bicycles, I realized I had spent as much money riding bikes as it costs to buy a new quad.Â
In the early summer of 2018 I went down to our local Yamaha Dealership and knew I wanted to buy a Raptor 700. They pulled up the options and the new 2019 models had just been released. As soon as I saw the red special edition, I knew I had to have that one. Mainly because it would match my truck lol. I put down a deposit and it arrived in early August. I was beyond stoked to see it when it arrived at the dealer. I already had several aftermarket parts in mind and told myself I wanted it to be "piped" for my first ride. Growing up several of my friends had HMF exhausts and I loved how they sounded. I had the dealer order a full HMF exhaust system with a red muffler, a Power Commander 5, and a set of gold Pro Taper Contour fat bars with Pro Taper fat bar clamp adapters. Plus an Alba gas cap and red anodized rear grab bar.Â
I took delivery of the quad and attempted to do the recommended "20 hour" break in. I made it about 6-7 hours of "moderate" RPM riding before that went out the window and I rode it however I wanted. My first couple rides I felt pretty awkward. I hadn't been on a machine in 7 or 8 years and it was intimidating. Plus anyone with a Raptor knows they demand respect and you have to ride them within their limits. As I gained confidence, I quickly started pushing the limits and my abilities again.
(Above photo is from my very first ride)
Youtube Backstory
In the late fall of 2018 GoPro released the HERO7 and it was the first action camera with built in stabilization. I had spent the last several years of my life watching Youtuber's ride mountain bikes all over the world and I assumed someone had to be doing this on a sport quad. I went looking for sport quad "vlogs" and quickly found out no one was making what I was looking for. Then it clicked that the new HERO7 could actually capture watchable 1st person footage that wasn't terribly shaky, like all the previous GoPro's. I was still watching mountain bike channels and many of the creators were "suspending" the new HERO7's off their helmet chin bars. This achieved chest cam footage while having the added stability of their head. Plus using an actual chest camera only works in one position. As soon as you sit or stand the angle changes. Plus it doesn't look where you look.Â
I took the mountain bike helmet cam angle and jerry rigged a mount for my HERO7. I loaded up the Raptor, drove out of town, turned on the camera, and went riding down the ditch. When I got back I was stoked to see that the footage turned out awesome. The only thing missing was commentary. One thing about about the mountain bike channels is the riders narrate their experiences while riding. However, they didn't have to worry about an engine overpowering their voice. After seeing some street bike guys using microphones to talk and ride. I decided to order one and rigged it up for my first "motovlog" helmet cam set up. The chin bar blocked the wind and you could hear my voice even better than I expected. Not to mention it made the engine sound awesome!Â
Not many people know that I made riding videos in high school. At the time my friends and I watched the Huevo's series made by Wes Miller of H Bomb films. As some of you know, they're all music edited montages. A lot of these original edits are at the very beginning of my Youtube channel if you want to go down a rabbit hole. I took that video editing experience combined with the new tech, microphone, Raptor 700, and started making my own "Motovlogs" so I could relive my rides and enjoy them on rainy days. Little did I know it was all going to take off with some viral content in the following months and I committed to making a video a week for roughly 2 years. As time went by the rides got bigger and I had more and more video. The edits got longer and it took me longer to create. The upload rate slowed down to a pace of 2 videos a month, but they were 2-4x as long.
This whole experience kind of happened by accident. I didn't reinvent the wheel. I just applied content styles from my other interests into this one, and it turned in to the brand and business it is today. I'm beyond privileged to have traveled and ridden tons of machines and met endless amounts of supporters who enjoy the same sport I do. All because I decided to buy this 2019 Raptor 700 and get back into riding.Â
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