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| The
Yamaha Raptor 125 handled extremely well
& was very predictable, and weighing
in at only 299 lbs, it was very easy to
maneuver |
The chassis of the Raptor 125 is based on the
Raptor 250, but is more compact with the handle
bars moved down and back, which is perfect for
smaller and youth riders. I was a little worried
that I would feel cramped, but I was able to ride
comfortably the entire time and even riders who
were over six feet tall had no issues. The Raptor
125’s size not only makes it perfect for
youth riders, but also for adult novice riders.
I began riding 25 years ago on a 125M three wheeler
that had no suspension, and after riding the Raptor
125, I can say that I sure wish I had one of these
when I started riding! The Raptor 125 handles
well and features 7.5 inches of front wheel travel
and the same a-arms and suspension components
as the Raptor 250, with 5-way pre-load adjustable
shocks, making for a very smooth and comfortable
ride.
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| The
Raptor 125 boost 7.5" of front wheel
travel, which is pretty impressive for
a 124cc engine based machine that also
features hydraulic disc brakes front &
rear |
For
a lower center of gravity & less unsprung
weight, the tires & wheels on the
Raptor 125 where down-sized to Maxxis
18" tires in the rear & 19"
up front |
The Raptor 125 comes standard equipped with
Maxxis 19”x 6”-10” tires in
the front and low profile Maxxis 18”x
9”-8” tires in the rear, which improves
cornering and provides excellent traction. The
tires are also designed to be lighter weight
in order to maximize the power of the 125cc
engine and help it hook up better. The Raptor
125 has plenty of stopping power as it includes
dual hydraulic front brakes. As I locked ‘em
up, I found it quite easy to do a “stoppie”
if desired.
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| 3
Time Yamaha / ITP Quadcross Pro ATV Champion,
#94 Dustin Nelson, also came out for the
Raptor 125 test ride & he was flying
around the track with ease as he pushed
the Raptor 125 to its limits |
Another advantage of the Raptor 125 is that
it is 31 pounds lighter than its sibling, the
Raptor 250, which was very apparent out on the
track. The quad felt light and nimble and was
almost effortless to correct in the air, which
also made it very fun to ride.
The Yamaha Raptor 125 comes with your choice
of graphics of either a blue design, or pink,
which should make both boys and girls happy.
The MSRP of the Yamaha Raptor 125 is $3399.00,
which is less than the Raptor 250, but a little
more than the Chinese manufacturer’s price,
but the quality of the machine is well worth
it.
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| The
Yamaha Raptor 125 is available in Team
Yamaha blue/white, but it also is available
in white, which comes with dual graphic
kits with a boy & girl themes as shown
above |
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| In
the future, it would be nice to see Yamaha
offer a SE model with the Raptor 250R
Piggy Back front shocks for increased
suspension performance |
There aren’t a whole lot of improvements
that need to be done to the Raptor 125, but it
would be nice to perhaps see the release of a
Special Edition model in the future that would
feature upgraded shocks such as those of the Raptor
250.
Overall I felt that the Raptor 125 is an excellent
ATV that is ideal for its intended purpose and
class. It offers good power, good handling,
is lightweight, and is well suited for beginners
to intermediate level riders. Yamaha has done
an outstanding job on the Raptor 125 and they
have done an excellent job in filling the void
in the mid-sized ATV market.
