Last weekend I took my son (who is on the verge of stepping up to a gas-powered mini ATV) to one of the early rounds of the Grand National Cross Country race series to expose him to the sport that has captured the majority of my attention for years and to start gauging his interest in off-road. As each class of ATVs roared to life from dead-engine starts, I got a kick out of observing his eyes light up from the roar of the engines and his unswerving attention as each racer navigated the first handful of turns at full throttle. My son's reaction to the racing paired with his comments about wanting to do this when he grows up were enough to convince me I really needed to start figuring out which machine would best suit his and my needs.
I don't think I'm alone when it comes to parents who seek to one day responsibly and safely share this amazing sport with their children, and I've learned that solid information about mini ATVs is difficult to come by. We've stepped up our efforts to include regular content that will equip parents to make better-informed decisions as their future youth rider comes of age and the time to make that purchase sneaks up. With that said, we've been hearing good things about Yamaha's Raptor 90 and had been anxious to report the details as to its performance, safety and value. After a day of testing, we've unlocked valuable information to report back to those who are on the market for a 90cc level machine.
Unpacking The Details
The smallest offering to the Raptor lineup of Yamaha ATVs is powered by an 88cc, four-stroke, SOHC, two-valve engine and is cooled via a forced-air cooling system. The engine is brought to life with an electronic starting system with a kickstart option (packed under the seat) as backup if the battery were to run low. Being that this machine is intended for use by entry-level riders, a constantly variable transmission (CVT) is employed so that shifting gears and clutching are not required, which allows the learning rider to maintain focus on perfecting throttle control, steering and braking. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a dependable and easily adjustable chain system.
The front of the R90 is suspended by dual A-arm suspension that has 4.4 inches of travel for comfort and stability in rough, choppy terrains. The rear of the machine makes use of a rear swingarm that offers 3.3 inches of travel for enhancing both comfort and rear wheel traction. All three shocks have a five-way preload adjustment to help dial them in for both rider weight and terrain. Low-profile Maxxis tires are mounted up to help put the power to the ground and offer the right amount of traction and performance for this small package. For stopping, Yamaha uses hydraulic disc brakes on the rear with a drilled rotor, which is protected from the elements with a beefy rock guard. The front of the machine is stopped by dual sealed drums and is activated with hand controls on the handlebar.
Test Results
To test this mighty mini, we hooked up with a trustworthy novice youth rider who possesses enough experience to give us quality feedback, but whose mind has not yet been saturated by the higher performance of race-prepped minis. Our test grounds included a variety of terrains and real life obstacles such as tight tree sections, fast fire roads and even some sandy creek beds in order to properly test the performance of the R90. Once we arrived, I threw a leg over the machine for a quick shakedown and was surprised by how peppy the power was for such a small machine, which really got my mind excited about the results of the day.