We made a HUGE mistake by not adding these GYT-R accessories sooner - if you read last month's Project update, you understand why. Not having the belly skidplate cost us dearly, with a hole in the crankcase and about 6 weeks of downtime getting it repaired. Follow along as we bolt up some protection for Project Raptor, so we don't unnecessarily lose riding time again! Belly Skid Plate The GYT-R team at Yamaha has done a nice job designing their belly skid plate. The engine/frame skid plate is constructed out of brushed-finish aluminum and includes a number of features we have not seen on other belly plates. We like the wraparound protection it offers and the insets for the mounting bolts. The installation can be performed in a matter of minutes. We recommend that you pick one up from your local Yamaha dealer BEFORE you put a hole in you crankcase. The MSRP on this is only $85.99.
Next up was bolting on the GYT-R swingarm skid plate. The plate is of a high-tech design with a very nice brushed-aluminum finish. This piece carries a MSRP of $169.90. The unit bolted right up and didn't have loose spacers to deal with like our previous unit. Unfortunately, after a couple weeks of riding in the brutal desert terrain, we can't give this piece high marks. It does not seem to hold up to the rocks quite as well as our previous Graydon ProLine unit, and requires a lot more "hammer-time" to keep it straight.
Another piece that we waited on too long. The GYT-R A-arm skid plates have the same ball-burnished, surface hardened finish as the other GYT-R accessories. These plates are designed to protect your lower A-arms from damage. Think your A-arm is safe? So did we - take a look at the picture of ours! The GYT-R A-arm plates have a very reasonable MSRP of $89.95. Sure they add a little weight to your suspension, but we think that is better than replacing A-arms.
Front Bumper and Rear Grab Bar Here is two simple additions that really make a big difference in the appearance of your Raptor. Both are of a special ball-burnished, surface-hardened aluminum tube and look just like the other GYT-R accessories. The front bumper is larger than the stock but similar in weight. One bonus is that it makes it much easier to move the front end of the Raptor around when needed. The rear grab bar is slightly lighter than the stock steel grab bar. The MSRP is $155 on the front bumper and the rear grab bar carries a MSRP of $55.
Made out of the same aluminum as the skid plates, this reservoir guard is a nice touch. It gets rid of that ugly black plastic one and has a MSRP of $49.99
We recommend you head down to your Yamaha Dealer and pick up some of these GYT-R accessories for your Yamaha Raptor BEFORE a rock or stick makes it a more expensive necessity. In future issues, we'll show you even more cool accessories from Yamaha.
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