As one of Yamaha’s sports ATVs for young riders, the Raptor 90 is designed to maximize comfort and fun for kids aged ten and above. This ATV model is second in the line of Yamaha’s youth sport ATVs. In most scenarios, young riders will likely start with Yamaha’s YFZ50 beforehand, then move to the Raptor 90 as they advance.
This ATV’s sporty attitude and sharp angular lines are perfect for kids looking to emulate their parents on a Raptor. But all this doesn’t matter if the Raptor 90 isn’t safe enough for younger riders. This begs the question, “How fast does the Raptor 90 go?” In this guide, we’ll be discussing the Raptor 90’s top speed and various ways to maximize it, alongside its adjustable speed limiter specs.
Raptor 90 Overview
Powertrain: Engine, Performance & Transmission
The Raptor 90 is powered by a 90cc air-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder engine. Similar to all its direct competitors, this ATV model is carbureted. This means that it isn’t as advanced as the EFI engine, but it’s easier to maintain. It also comes with a fully automatic CVT transmission, so no shifting is needed. Additionally, this makes the reverse gear convenient.
Handling: Steering & Suspension
At 40.6 inches, the Raptor 90’s wheelbase is longer than all its competition, which contributes to stability. Whereas its light 279-pound weight allows agile and lithe handling. In addition, you can perform preload adjustments to the front and rear suspension. The Raptor’s single A-arm has about 5 inches of travel, and the rear mono-shock swingarm has a bit more at 5.7 inches.
Brakes
Rear drum brakes and dual drum brakes in front bring this ATV to an immediate halt. Although drum brakes are great and common on most youth-sized ATV models, hydraulic discs are better. A parking brake is easily accessible at the handlebar
Ergonomics: Comfort & Utility
The cabin is spacious, with ample room to move around on the wide floorboards and cushioned seats. The floorboards also offer lots of grips. The Raptor’s handlebars are easily accessible with a little backward bend, resulting in an upright upper-body posture and excellent leverage.
Electronics
This ATV model has some headlights up front, but those are nonfunctioning. Therefore, lighting is great to have while you’re taking a ride. There are indicators on the handlebars for neutral and reverse, so riders can be reminded to switch gears when required. In addition, this ATV model features an electric starter for quick starts.
Overall, Young riders will find the handling, sizing, power, and features of the Raptor 90 appropriate for their skill level.
Yamaha Raptor 90 Top Speed
Yamaha’s Raptor 90 is designed for younger riders, so you should not expect it to pack as much power as adult-size sport ATVs. This explains why a 90cc engine powers the ATV model.
Generally, depending on the rider’s weight, terrain, modifications, and weather, the Yamaha Raptor 90 top speed is between 15 – 18 mph. While this is the Raptor’s out-of-the-box top speed, it might impress you to know that this ATV can hit a top speed of around 30 mph. However, it will take some adjustments to get there due to the presence of 2 different speed limiters.
Adjusting The Speed Limiters
A number of riders will be disappointed to learn that their Raptor will only crawl at speeds of around 15 mph and may find it difficult to top steep inclines. Fortunately, this is because of the pre-installed Raptor 90 speed limiter, which can be adjusted to increase or reduce the ATV’s top speed.
Note
Throttle Limiter
In a vehicle, when the throttle pedal is depressed, it opens the throttle valve, increasing the fuel input to the engine. The throttle limiter feature prevents the Raptor from going any faster by stopping the throttle from opening fully, even after pushing the throttle pedal to the maximum. To adjust this feature, you’ll need to locate the adjustment screw at the back of the throttle box and loosen it to free up the throttle. This will increase the power and speed of the Raptor. It can also be tightened to decrease the power and speed.
To tighten or loosen the adjustment screw, start by loosening the locknut keeping it in place, and then rotate the screw clockwise or counterclockwise. It is important to note that owners should not loosen the adjustment screw more than 14.5 mm, or the throttle cable might be at risk of damage.
Engine Speed Limiter Plate
In addition to the throttle limiter, Yamaha also installed an engine speed limiter plate to decrease the max RPMs and engine power. The engine speed limiter plate works by decreasing the airflow and fuel supply into the engine and stopping the vehicle from surpassing its preset speed limit. With this metal plate in place, the engine is restricted to 4900 RPMs. However, when it’s removed, the engine can reach around 8500 RPMs, which basically doubles the top speed and acceleration.
The engine speed limiter plate can be found underneath the seat in the plastic CDI box. Remove it by loosening the two screws holding the small metal plate in place. Although the owner’s manual recommends tightening both screws in place to increase the speed, a common consensus amongst riders is that removing these screws altogether will lead to better performance.
It is advised to allow young riders to get used to the 4-wheeler initially while progressively loosening the throttle limiter screw. Once the rider is experienced enough, remove the speed limiter plate. Completely adjusting the throttle limiter and removing the limiter plate should enable the Raptor to hit top speeds of around 25 – 30 mph and easily climb steep hills.
Increasing The Raptor 90 Top Speed
Even after breaking in the Raptor 90 properly and making the necessary adjustments to the speed limiters, many owners still invest in other ways to help increase the Raptor 90’s top speed. Here are a few ideas to help with that.
Replace The Sprockets
A common method of increasing power and speed in machines with chains, like motorcycles and ATVs, is to replace the rear and front sprockets. If you are in need of more top-end speed, switching to a bigger front sprocket and a smaller rear sprocket will help. The only problem with making this upgrade is that it reduces the Raptor’s acceleration.
Fully Inflate The Tires
The ideal tire pressure for both the rear and front tires of the Raptor 90 is 3.6 psi. Anything less than this will result in less speed.
Use High Octane Gas
By running a high-octane gas, you can increase the top speed of your Raptor. A higher octane gas will lead to higher performance and speed in this ATV model.
Also Read: Yamaha Big Bear 400 Problems and What to Do to Fix Them
While Yamaha’s Raptor 90 top speed isn’t a lot, it is exactly what you’d want a young and inexperienced rider to have, especially because of its two well-intentioned speed limiter safety features. However, with some adjustments to these speed limiters, younger riders should easily reach a top speed that’s not only safe but enjoyable.
