Quad bikes or ATVs are gaining popularity due to their ease of handling and reliability on rough terrain. We decided to introduce you to an ATV perfect for trailing off-road. And the beast is Raptor 350.
Unlike the dirt bikes that focus only on speed, the Raptor 350 is made for you and me. It is better at handling, safer on the tracks, and more stable on the terrain.
But in this raptor 350 top speed, Specs, and Review, we will dive deeper into its basic specs and learn whether these features will be useful for us in the long term or not. Sometimes we become overwhelmed with a feature only to find out later that it doesn’t suit our purpose.
Let’s dive in.
Yamaha Raptor 350 Specs And Features:
1. 4×4 engine
The Raptor 350 comes with a four-stroke (one cylinder) engine with a 348cc displacement. A four-stroke engine for a four-wheeler seems like the best match. Four-stroke engines are better than two-stroke engines in several aspects.
The cylinder includes exhaust, intake, combustion, and compression units. It is equipped with a reservoir, so you won’t have to mix oil and fuel.
Another advantage of this engine is that it provides more power at lower rpm. Riding an ATV at lower rpm will make the engine efficient. You might have noticed ATVs dying faster than expected because of being on higher rpm continuously. We don’t want that to happen, right?
Plus, you get better fuel efficiency. It simply means your ATV will use every drop of fuel you provide. Unlike a 2-stroke engine, you can’t fix anything here on your own. The compartments lie within a sealed cylinder system. In short, the Raptor 350 gives you a more stable and reliable engine for rough trails.
2. Compression ratio
The compression ratio is 9.20:1. This is pretty decent since maximum ATVs range between 9:1 to 9.5:1. A 9.2:1 compression ratio is ideal for a low-stress biking experience. If you have any doubts regarding the engine’s capacity, this ratio is enough to give you the full picture, isn’t it?
The compression ratio tells us how much pressure the piston creates within the chamber with each up and down. The higher the compression ratio, the larger thrusts it provides. And, as the pressure of the thrust increases, the unit gets an ignition sooner without using much fuel. That’s the whole theory behind a higher compression ratio. That’s why the racers are after this feature a lot. For them, having more speed and acceleration is preferable to the engine’s health.
However, unlike a racer, you want to make the ATV last longer and keep you safe. The Raptor 350 is manufactured to give you just the right amount of compression ratio. So that the overheating and friction caused due to a higher compression ratio don’t reduce the unit’s life.
3. Exterior
The adjustable seat is 32 inches from the ground at its lowest position. The length and width are 69.7 inches and 43.1 inches, respectively. You can apply some modes and change the height if you need it. And you also get a ground clearance of 4.5 inches. Another important note is that it is air-cooled and has two valves per cylinder.
The internal frame is made of steel with a plastic cover on top. It used to come out as a blank canvas for the users to design however they wanted. That was a unique initiative by the manufacturer. It weighs around 375 pounds. So, you can guess it is bulkier and sturdier as well.
4. Six-Speed Transmission
Transmission is all about fuel efficiency. The more gears you have, the more flexibility the machine has. The Raptor 350 offers a 6-speed transmission, with the first gear having a ratio of 2.685 and 0.946 for the sixth gear.
That means you can pull more power from this machine at a lower rpm. We have already discussed why the riders wouldn’t want to raise the rpm for better speed. It is only possible to achieve through a higher gear set or speed transmission. Thankfully, the Raptor 350 got you covered. You can choose between the 6-gears and have the speed you want without using more fuel. That’s a big plus point for the Raptor 350, don’t you think?
5. Tires
Now it’s time for the wheel details. The rims-dimensions are 21/7-AT10 and 20/10-AT12, respectively, for the front and the rear tires. Also, the front brakes have two instead of one disc. People have a misconception that double disc brakes can increase the speed of your ATV.
But that’s not true. Double discs are installed because it gives you a smooth braking experience. When you run the ATV for a long time, the front discs can get overheated due to the motion. And it can affect your braking condition.
However, you don’t have to worry about that with a Raptor 350 because of the double-disc protection. In case one disc gets hot and becomes ineffective, the other disc kicks in and takes control, allowing you to brake smoothly.
Keep in mind that double discs weigh more and add to the weight of the ATV.
6. DC-CDI Ignition
The DC-CDI ignition in the Raptor 350 provides a faster voltage rise. Unlike the typical inductive system, it takes less time to charge. The advantage of a DC-CDI ignition over an AC-CDI one is that the ignition is very accurate. Even when cold, the engine can be started smoothly without any hassle.
Yamaha Raptor 350 Top Speed
The Raptor 350 has a top speed of 63 mph (101 kmph). Though it comes with a 348cc engine with 83×64.5 mm bore and strokes, it weighs around 375 pounds. The weight significantly reduces the speed capability. That’s why light-weighted dirt bikes give you more than 70-80 mph speed even with low cc engines.
If you want to increase the speed range of this beasty at some point, you don’t need to go through a lot of mods. Some little tricks work like magic when it comes to better speed. And that’s the case for Raptor 350 as well.
How To Increase The Speed Of Yamaha Raptor 350?
1. Loosen Up The Speed Limiter
A simple technique to increase the speed of this quad bike will be loosening the speed limiter. How do you do that? Well, you might have noticed the tight screw beside the thumb throttle. The main function of this screw is to limit the travel distance of the throttle. So, you can’t go beyond a certain speed limit. We know that’s for safety purposes.
However, using an appropriate screwdriver, you can take the nut out. How much you loosen it up will determine the increased speed level. With the nut taken out, the travel distance of the thumb throttle rises significantly. The more distance it can cover, the higher rpm you can expect.
RPM is the abbreviation of revolution per minute. It represents the number of times an engine’s crankshafts rotate per minute. Yeah, you get the idea. Higher rpm will lead to a higher speed. And that’s what you are here for.
2. Use Better Quality Fluid
Using a high-quality fluid is the holy grail of engine performance. And it is true for every other bike out there. Make sure you are using formulated transmission fluids. One thing to keep in mind is that if you run the quad at higher rpm all the time, the engine oil loses its viscosity faster.
That means you will need to change fluid sooner than you were supposed to. For example, the manual suggests that the bike (with lower rpm) can go for 3000 miles without any single oil break. If you increase the rpm and speed level, the same bike will require an oil break every 1000 miles.
The key is to maintain the lubrication of the inner chambers, and the speed will increase without much effort.
3. Change The Gear Ratio
Sounds tough? Don’t worry; it’s easy. Changing the gear ratio is nothing but increasing or decreasing the number of sprockets available in the front and rear gear. You have to know how the gear ratio should be affected.
For example, the front gear has 10, and the rear gear has 30 sprockets. Our gear ratio will be (30/10)= 3. To get more speed from this bike, we need a higher gear ratio than 3. How can we achieve that? Either we have to increase the sprockets of the rear gear or decrease from the front gear. Experts suggest adding 2 or 3 (sprocket) in the rear gear and reducing 1 from the front gear.
To keep in mind, changing sprocket numbers only affect the speed or acceleration. It doesn’t help with the power of the engine.
Yamaha Raptor 350 Pros And Cons:
Since you have gone through the features and their details in the upper section, you already know what this ATV offers. But we decided to give you a list of pros and cons so you can understand what to look out for a while buying this unit. So here we go!
Pros
- The suspension is better than the other 350 quads.
- The throttle is more responsive and gives a sense of control.
- Unlike the fast dirt bikes, the engine has a medium compression ratio. No need to worry about overheating issues.
- The four-stroke and one-cylinder engines provide more power at lower revolutions per minute.
- Double-disc front brakes provide smoother braking every time.
Cons
- You can only expect low-range power from this ATV. The Raptor 400/600 siblings come with a higher cc engine and more power.
- You can only expect low-range power from this ATV. The Raptor 400/600 siblings come with a higher cc engine and more power.
- It is not meant for racers, according to the manufacturer.
- The riders do not appreciate the plastic frames in the front. They tend to get floppy very easily.
Before we end this article, let’s revise some “facts” and be on the “bright” side.
FAQs.
Will Running the Raptor 350 In Higher RPM Damage The Engine?
Actually, No. The bike engines are designed to handle higher rpm and still operate smoothly. However, as you keep increasing the rpm, the engine will lose efficiency. That means you will have to change the fluid more frequently than before.
Is The Raptor 350 Good For Racing?
It offers a sport-like feel to the rider. With the 348cc engine to cover you up, it will be super reliable on the trail. However, you can always choose the Raptor 400 /600/700 for more power and racy feelings. Especially if you are tall (near 6′), you will outgrow the Raptor 350 within some months.
Are The Raptor 350 And The Warrior 350 The Same?
Both the Raptor 350 and the Warrior 350 are pretty much the same. Both have the same engine displacement. That means the top speed is 63 mph whether you choose the Raptor or the Warrior. However, some slight differences still exist—for example, the swing arm adjustment or the material. The Raptor 350 is reported to feel less rubbery.
Conclusion
Quads are best for the learning phase, and they look so cool. Also, they tend to be heavier and provide a better grip on the surface. As a result, the chances of you flipping over after trying a stunt is very low.
But we wouldn’t suggest you become aggressive with the Raptor 350. Keep in mind that this ATV was designed for recreational purposes. So have as much fun as you want with this beauty on the trails, but be a little forgiving.
And with that, we have reached the bottom of this raptor 350 top speed, Specs, and Review. I hope you enjoyed it.
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