No matter what country you are from, chances are that Yamaha is the most popular brand that you will see on the track. There is a good reason for that. Yamaha has been a leader in the ATV industry for decades and it makes some of the best sport quads on the market.
The top 6 best Yamah Sport quads are:
- Yamaha Raptor 700R
- Yamaha Banshee
- Yamaha YFZ450
- Yamaha Raptor 250
- Yamaha Kodiak
- Yamaha Blaster
Yamaha makes some of the world’s best four-wheelers, and there is no doubt about that. If you want to get a sports quad, you can’t go wrong by picking one of the following models: Yamaha Raptor 700R, Yamaha Banshee, Yamaha YFZ450, Yamaha Raptor 250, Yamaha Kodiak, and Yamaha Blaster.
Whether you want to buy a new sport quad or are just curious to see how fast Yamaha’s best four-wheelers can go, you have arrived at the right place. Let’s check out the top speeds and specs that these quads offer.
The Maximum Speed for Yamaha’s Fastest Quads
| Yamaha Raptor 700R | Yamaha Banshee | Yamaha YFZ450 | Yamaha Raptor 250 | Yamaha Kodiak |
Yamaha Blaster |
|
75 – 85 MPH |
75 MPH |
75 MPH |
60 MPH |
55 – 60 MPH |
55 MPH |
While a speed of 55 MPH might not seem that fast when compared to a regular car, I assure you that it’s fast enough when you consider that you will be riding Yamaha’s sport quads offroad. In fact, you are guaranteed to get an adrenaline rush if you pull on the gas throttle and reach 55 MPH while riding on mountain trails or other types of rugged terrains. If speed is what you are looking for, then you might want to check my top 5 fastest ATVs in 2022 article. This should come as no surprise, but a Yamaha four-wheeler is at the top of the list!
Top 6 Yamaha Sport Quads
Now that we went over the top speeds of Yamaha’s fastest ATVs, the next step is to take a look at their specs and exclusive features. With that said, let’s kick things off with the iconic Yamaha Raptor 700R.
#1 Yamaha Raptor 700R
Back in 2021, I wrote a post where I presented the best ATV for mountain terrain. Yamaha Raptor 700R was the first ATV featured on my list and this is thanks to the fact that the four-wheeler can reach a top speed of 75 to 85 MPH on even the most challenging terrains. This makes the Raptor 700R a fantastic choice for ATV enthusiasts who love an adrenaline rush. The “secret” behind the ATV’s power is that Yamaha equipped it with an impressive 686cc engine that delivers 45 horsepower. You will feel the torque right from the moment you first pull on the gas throttle.
What’s really great about this ATV is its lightweight aluminum frame. Thanks to this premium build, the Raptor 700R is nimble and quick. If you take it on paved roads, you are guaranteed to have a blast. The four-wheeler will move as fast as a motorcycle. While it might not reach the same speeds as a motorcycle, its stability makes up for that.
#2 Yamaha Banshee
If you love ATVs that don’t only use a sport engine but also have a sports design, then you can’t go wrong with the Yamaha Banshee. Yamaha first introduced the Banshee model back in 1987, and it had such a massive success that the company didn’t make any changes to the model until 2006! It seems like Yamaha followed the “If it’s not broken, then don’t change it” model that Apple uses for its iPhone series. Nonetheless, the Yamaha Banshee reaches an impressive maximum speed of 75 MPH which makes it one of the fastest ATVs on the market.
The four-wheeler ships with a 350-twin turbo engine that provides 34 horsepower and a maximum torque of 54 Nm. Since the ATV weighs only 385.5 lbs (175 kg), the 34 horsepower will feel like you are driving a sports car. Despite being a smaller-size ATV, the Yamaha Banshee has a maximum load capacity of 220 lbs (100kg). Therefore, the ATV has enough room to carry all the necessary equipment for fun outdoor adventures.
#3 Yamaha YFZ450
Yamaha YFZ450 is a popular four-wheeler that made its name on the market by being quick and nimble. The Yamaha sport quad reaches a top speed of 75 MPH, and this is all thanks to its powerful 449cc liquid-cooled fan engine. This is a 4-stroke engine, and therefore, it’s going to give riders more than enough power needed to drive on steep hills and difficult terrains. Everyone who owns or has driven a Yamaha YFZ450 at least once will tell you that the ATV has excellent handling. The steering is impeccable, and since the ATV comes equipped with a lightweight steel frame, you can easily maneuver it in tight corners.
Even though the Yamaha YFZ450 is not designed for beginners, it’s one of Yamaha’s bestselling ATVs. The reason behind this is the stylish design of the four-wheeler. You can be sure that you will stand out on the track if you choose to go with the Yamaha YFZ450. Moreover, it’s important to mention that the ATV comes equipped with a premium suspension system that makes riding on even the bumpiest of roads a pleasure. It also helps that the Yamaha YFZ450 has a ground clearance of 4.5-inch and therefore, it doesn’t hit any rocks.
#4 Yamaha Kodiak
If there is one thing that everyone can agree about Yamaha, it has to be the fact that the company knows how to create a great design. The Yamaha Kodiak (featured in the picture above) is the perfect example of that. This is a premium four-wheeler that uses a liquid-cooled 421cc engine to deliver a top speed of 55 to 65 MPH. Obviously, this maximum speed was recorded on paved streets where no obstacles can slow you down. However, you can trust that Yamaha Kodiak will have the “kick” needed to make you fall in love with ATV riding.
Another reason why the Yamaha Kodiak is considered one of the best Yamaha sport quads is its independent double wishbone rear and front suspension system that makes it easy to control. I want to highlight that this four-wheeler made the list of my best ATV for women article. What made the four-wheelers stand out from the others is the fact that it has a wheelbase of 48.8 inches so that you can ride over anything without problems. To make things even better, the ATV has a switchable drive system between 2WD and 4WD.
#5 Yamaha Raptor 250
The Yamaha Raptor 250 is the smallest sport quad on this list, and despite that, it can still reach a top speed of 60 MPH. In fact, the Yamaha Raptor 250 features the fastest 250cc engine available on the market. This shows us, once again, why Yamaha is a market leader. Talking about the engine, I should highlight that it is air-cooled and four-stroke. Therefore, you will have a smooth ride on whatever type of terrain you choose to explore.
Since the Yamaha Raptor 250 is smaller, this makes it possible to ride the ATV on the most challenging of terrains where others couldn’t even get in. For example, you will be able to drive through forests and navigate between trees without a problem. On the downside of things, there is a big downside that needs to be highlighted. The Yamaha Raptor 250 uses a manual clutch. Therefore, beginners will have a difficult time getting adjusted to it and switching gears.
#6 Yamaha Blaster
Yamaha Blaster is, hands down, one of the most popular sport quads in the world. The four-wheeler sports a cool looking design, and what makes it stand out from all other sport quads on the market is that it’s built for fun and play. The Blaster weighs in at only 306 lbs, and it can reach a top speed of 55 MPH. Now, this is guaranteed to give you an adrenaline rush! The really cool thing about the ATV is that it runs on a 200cc engine. Since it can reach 55 MPH, this shows us just how good Yamaha’s engineers are at optimizing engines.
Since the Yamaha Blaster is such a popular sports quad, getting parts for it is quite easy. You can find parts for this model at any ATV shop, and in the rare chance your local shop doesn’t have what you need in original, you can choose an aftermarket version. If you want a more in-depth breakdown of this sports quad, you can click here to read my review of Yamaha Blaster in 2021.
Final Words
I think we can all agree that Yamaha makes some of the best sports quads. Whether you are interested in a four-wheeler that you can use for long trips in the wild outdoors or a nimble quad that you can take out on the track, Yamaha has something for you. The models I presented today are all classified as sport quads, and the speed chart (featured in the intro) can help you determine which is fastest.
