With all of the stellar new sport quads that have hit the market in the last year or so, isn’t it a little surprising that there’s been almost as much hype surrounding Yamaha’s new Raptor 250?
You’d think the glow around such an entry-level machine would pale in comparison to the buzz and intense marketing shined on the new “race quads.” Surprising, yes, until one gets the pleasure of spending some seat time on the friendly little guy. Small and quiet as it may be, this pint-sized Raptor is really rad!
The Next Test We first relayed our gusto for the new Yamaha 250 in our Nov. 2007 issue (Right On Track), after Yamaha summoned us down to California for an ocean-side test. The company custom-built a very small motocross course perfectly tailored to this little rig and, lo and behold, we loved it! It wasn’t just a pint-sized track complementing a similarly pint-sized quad that earned our props, though. We suspected this machine had the goods for almost any locale and a wide range of riders.
Being the demanding and faithful testers we are, we had a Raptor sent out east, where it was to be examined in real-world forest terrain and by a panel of testers untainted by factory-polished first impressions.
Would elevation and steep hills sap all of the pizzazz out of its engine? Would riders big and small feel comfortable on this entry-level quad? And, was it really true that a 250-class machine was among the most exciting products of the year?
Fire It Up “When I first got on the quad, I was stunned,” said Managing Editor Chris Vogtman. “I’m not sure how they pulled so much pep out of such a small engine, but it likely revolves around the low weight.”
Wayne Davis/
ATV Sport
“Are you kidding me? This much machine for $3,899?” asked Tim Erickson, another demanding tester impressed with his first ride. “There’s a lot to like for that price.”
The wildest and hardest charging ATV Sport staffer, Bill “WBGO” Lanphier, went even further and said it is “almost a disservice to call it a beginner’s quad. It’s very fast and would have spelled instant death for the Blaster.”
So far, it was strong praise all around. The engine was the most popular item up for bid. It pulls strong down low, is eager to rev and wasn’t slowed down by the elevated Appalachian terrain. Gearing was also roundly praised as right on the mark.
“On steep uphills, it pulled second gear nicely,” said Vogtman. “I didn’t feel like I had to constantly shift between gears to get it to pull up the hill. I’ve had that problem on machines in this class before.”
Wayne Davis/
ATV Sport
Alas, there’s always constructive criticism in this crew. The wimpy exhaust note isn’t bad; it just doesn’t match the aggressive nature of this bike. Nothing a new pipe couldn’t fix, though, right? Riding in the mountains didn’t change a thing — this is a peppy ride.
Hot To Handle Handling would be a bigger hurdle to clear. The trails were rocky, and most pointed straight up (or down, of course). Furthermore, as much as we wish we weren’t, our testing crew was slightly outside of the intended demographic, age- and size-wise. Again, the Raptor 250 received gleaming compliments for accommodating us all.
Vogtman said the bars would occasionally bump his knees, but he called the suspension surprisingly good, and others were similarly impressed. Wild Bill, of ideal size and weight, noticed the rear-end bottomed out once, but added that you want the suspension to bottom out now and again, just to make sure you’re regularly using up all of the travel. It was generally noted that the rear end kicked a bit over choppy sections, but nothing too troublesome.
Wayne Davis/
ATV Sport
Steering was another positive for the Raptor. Mid-corner and high-speed precision was admirable and we didn’t detect an ounce of twitchiness or bump steer, remarkable for this class. Without any extra baggage and an anorexic curb weight, it feels like there’s more of a direct connection between the rider and terrain than with many other machines, big or small.
Ground clearance was acceptable for a straight-axle, and the rough trails didn’t claim any wheel or tire casualties during the shakedown. Even better, the freakishly light curb weight (336 pounds wet, by our measure) made it easy to fling the Raptor around corners, maneuver it mid-air and use body English to maximum effect. We literally played around on this thing.
Ergo, It Fits From 5-foot-9 up to 6-foot-4, and 165 pounds to a healthy 210, everyone found their comfort zone on the Raptor. While somebody joked that one of the big guys could stand up and walk with the machine between his legs, it didn’t feel like we were riding an entry-level product.
Wayne Davis/
ATV Sport
The grips are good, typical for Yamaha, a nice waffle design made from an adequately soft compound. Levers are all what you’d expect on any manual-shift sport quad, a dual lever setup that unleashes serious, controlled and immediate stopping power with the slightest pull. Handlebars are bent at the correct angle for all our tastes and set at a pleasing height. Seat comfort was also top-notch, as the perch drew no complaints.
Wayne Davis/
ATV Sport
Lanphier, who is profusely well versed in the history of the sport, said the Raptor is the most surprising quad he’s ridden in several years.
“They’re going to sell zillions of them,” he added.
Vogtman said he’d never been on a 250 four-stroke that you could powerslide through corners, and especially enjoyed the stable handling and “spot-on” center of gravity.
Wayne Davis/
ATV Sport
“It was just a blast to ride. You could rail it around a corner and bust the back end loose,” he said. “Try doing that on a competitor’s machine — it isn’t going to happen [as easily].”
Get In Line So there you have it, the seemingly infallible Raptor 250 has gone 4-for-4, winning over every one of us that’s thrown a leg over it. Here’s a bike that truly has mass appeal, with its sub-$4,000 price tag, grown-up ergos, good looks, surprising engine and solid handling. It really is rad, and we can’t wait to see how it does with a few modifications and/or on a real racetrack. Go out and get yours, but prepare to wait in line — Yamaha could have itself a nice problem, backorders.
