Feature Quad: 2002 alba Action Racing Raptor

May. 01, 2002 By Dean Waters

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We caught up with 2001 "Vegas to Reno" champions Steve Beilman and Greg Stuart at the 2002 BITD Terrible's Town 250. We wanted to see what it takes to build a Yamaha Raptor that can withstand that many miles of rough desert terrain at race speeds. Steve and Greg had their Raptor in contingency, sporting new graphics and new colors for the 2002 race season. Be sure to check out the photo gallery for more close-ups!

Sponsors:
Alba Action Sports, Skat Trak, Kenda, Douglas, GYT-R / Yamaha Motor Corp., DuraBlue, Tag, One Industries, Outerwears, Pingrees Cycle, Ohlins

Team Alba - Steve Beilman and Greg Stuart

Looking down the sleek lines of the Alba Action race quad

Chassis and Suspension Starting with a stock 2002 Yamaha Raptor frame, the Alba Action team has added Laeger Protrax +3 A-arms in the front and a Laeger Protrax +2 swingarm in the rear. This combination gives the Raptor 14" of travel in the front and 13" of travel in the rear. To control the suspension, they have used Ohlin triple rate shocks in the front and an Ohlin rear shock with high/low speed compression adjustment. The team has also added a Laeger steering stem with a custom PEP steering stabilizer.

Very trick custom long travel ball joints available via Alba Action

High/low speed compression adjustable Ohlin shock

Engine and Transmission To get the Yamaha Raptor up to speed, the motor has been modified with a 12:1 compression piston, camshaft from WebCam, and TI valves and springs. The head has been ported by Sam Coe Performance. A GYT-R Pro Flow kit helps get air into the motor while a Alba Pro Series exhaust system gets it out. The carburetor is stock with a GYT-R jet kit added. To keep it cool they have added a Pingry's Cycle hi-volume oil tank. The engine also features a GYT-R billet starter cover and GYT-R billet oil/water cover. The transmission has been beefed up with Sam Coe Performance-built 2nd and 3rd gears and modified shift fork. A GYT-R heavy duty clutch is used with a Hinson basket and pressure plate.

GYT-R oil/water cover and large capacity PPD oil tank

GYT-R billet starter cover and GYT-R billet shifter

Power to the ground To get the power to the ground, the Alba Race team has added a DuraBlue 2+2 Eliminator rear axle, DuraBlue Billet hubs in the front, and custom titanium SkatTrack hubs in the rear. The Skat Trak hubs weigh only 12 oz as compared to the stock ones at nearly 2 lbs each. Attached to the hubs are Douglas Ultimate wheels, Kenda Claw 22x8x10's on the front and Kenda Claw 20x11x9's on the rear. Galfer stainless brake lines and Galfer rotors are used for stopping power. The rear DuraBlue axles is driven by a 15 tooth sprocket in the front and a 38 tooth sprocket in the rear with DID chain. Also running on the Durablue axle are the very trick GYT-R billet sprocket and disc carrier.

6 Ply Kenda Claws are proving very durable in the desert.

Skat-Track Titanium rear hubs weigh only 12 oz.

Other Add-on's What else did the Alba Race bike need? An IMS 5 gal desert fuel tank has been added to make sure the Raptor has plenty of range. For controls they have added GYT-R billet levers on Tag Metals handlebars. Acerbis Rally guards are used for hand and lever protection. A GYT-R belly skid plate is used to protect the underside and last but not least a Alba Patriot Graphics kit and gripper seat cover add plenty of color to the black and white Raptor.