Cagiva Raptor 650
Hot on the heels of Cagiva's TL1000-powered Raptor 1000 came this smaller, middleweight version. First introduced in 2000, the Raptor 650 is cosmetically identical to its larger sibling, but is powered by a Suzuki SV650 engine. This liquid-cooled V-twin powerplant also looks very similar to the larger TL1000 engine, making the Raptor 650 and 1000 difficult to tell apart at a glance. But differences there are. Predictably, the smaller-engined bike is much less powerful, with less exhilirating performance, though conversely it is considerably lighter than the 1000 bike and has more nimble handling and braking. The twin 298mm (11.7in) front disc brakes are very strong, while a narrower 160-section rear tyre allows quicker steering. |