For 2013, the Raptor’s new styling gives it an even more aggressive appearance. We thought that it was our duty to at least let you have a good look at it here. As you can see the SE version is a sight for sore eyes too. The Stars and Stripes version seen in action here is only available south of the border but we thought you would enjoy a glimpse at that one in action as well. The changes in shape of the bodywork also translate into better comfort to a wider range of riders, with more knee room to let them comfortably dip down the sides and take full advantage of this ATV’s awesome power. You still get the very smooth shifting 5-speed manual transmission, great feeling hydraulic clutch and the added convenience of reverse. The Raptor boasts an exclusive hybrid steel and aluminum frame, with cast-aluminum sub-frame and aluminum rear swing arm, creating a light package that packs a punch with an amazing power-to-weight ratio. Extra efficient hydraulic disc brakes, now with a new twin piston rear caliper joining in with the twin piston calipers up front to stop the big sport beast on a dime. The next phrase might sound familiar as Yamaha is still using it to describe the feel of riding the most powerful and fastest ATV they produce. Big torque right off idle, transitioning into a fat mid-range and monstrous top end. We can’t argue with that! Power is actually truly on-demand, at any time.
Let’s just recap on what you get out of this awesome looking machine; reliable push-button electric start in any gear, consistent optimal engine performance despite changing conditions, like elevations and temperatures, thanks to YFI (Yamaha Fuel Injection). Gas charged front shocks with 9.1″ of travel, while the aluminum piggy-back rear shock has 10.1″ of travel take good care of bumps and landings. Other smaller details worth mentioning are the LED taillight that provides great visibility with Krypton headlights up front and YFZ-spec 45mm serrated foot pegs for excellent boot grip. The toggle link-type parking brake lever with an auto-adjust feature is also a very practical addition rarely seen on a Sport quad. We here at ATV Trail Rider have always been great fans of the Raptor and we hope to see one again soon in the back of our ATV Trail Rider pick-up.
For more information on the above mentioned models, please visit the Yamaha Motor Website
More from Yamaha on ATV Trail Rider :
Yamaha ATV Models – Yamaha UTV Models – Yamaha ATV Reviews – Yamaha UTV Reviews
