With the largest and most advanced engine in a sport ATV, Yamaha delivered exactly what customers were asking for with the 660R Raptor: Open-class power with 400cc class-handling performance to match. The 660R answered the call and upped the ante, giving trail riders a feature not found on any sport ATV - reverse! And, electric start added with the responsive 660cc liquid-cooled, five-valve engine and five-speed manual transmission packaged in a compact chassis means the competition doesn't stand a chance.

Sport ATV riders place a premium on power and handling, and Yamaha nailed both with its patented five-valve four-stroke, liquid-cooled SOHC engine technology. Tuning it to immediately hit hard and crank out an unparalleled punch to its quietly revving 9000-RPM redline, the 660R Raptor maintains smooth power delivery via an engine counterbalancer. As for handling, Yamaha kept it light and tight by utilizing featherweight aluminum components such as knuckle joints, levers, front and rear rims, swingarm, oil tank, front and rear brake calipers, top A-arm, wheel spindles and the oil and brake reservoirs in a super-compact engine and chassis; thus creating an animal with open-class power and 400cc-class handling.

Exploring deep into the woods with its large 3.2-gallon fuel tank, riders may find themselves at an enormous tree crossing or dead-end. Even with the 660R Raptor's tight 3.3 meter turning radius and 10.4 inches of ground clearance, dense trails often force the rider to get off the machine and lift/pull the ATV 180 degrees - a difficult task after a long day of riding. However, on the 660R Raptor, reverse is easily engaged. The class-exclusive reverse gear is not only convenient, but also integrated in the engine/transmission design to keep overall weight (398 lbs!) and size down.

To enhance ease of use, the 660R Raptor features electric start, a feature uncommon on high-performance ATVs. Firing Yamaha's engine and dual 33mm Mikuni carburetors to life could not be easier. Simply press the electric start button located on the handlebars and the 660R Raptor comes to life.

Sport riders will love the aggressive set up and nimble handling perfect for carving trails and conquering obstacles of all sizes and shapes. Excellent front and rear suspension can be precisely dialed to match not only trail conditions but also the rider's ability and size. The five-way preload adjustable front suspension features 9.1 inches of travel and the rear includes threaded preload adjustment, plus compression and rebound damping with 8.7 inches of travel. The amount of "clicks" (adjustment positions) on the rear suspension is 10 "clicks" of rebound and an amazing 34 "clicks" of compression, allowing for custom settings.

Riders will enjoy smooth shifting throughout the five-speed transmission thanks to a YZ-spec ratchet-type shifter found on Yamaha's performance-laden motocross bikes. An involute spline, another advancement from Yamaha's motocross and YZ technology, is used on the main drive and drive axle to improve shift feeling, especially under load.

Yamaha provides hydraulic, triple-disc brakes - light application to the brakes scrubs off speed before a technical section of trail or depressing both brakes to bring the machine to an immediate halt. Up front, Nissin dual hydraulic 161mm disc brakes are coupled with a single rear 220mm disc brake providing excellent stopping power in a variety of elements.

The 660cc powerplant makes its mark on a set of specifically designed radial meats - Dunlop AT21x7-10 front and Dunlop AT20x10-9's rear. Both front and rear rims are aluminum and feature a rolled edge for added durability.

"Quality feel" items remain vital assets to Yamaha's engineers. A quick examination of this machine will highlight features such as a no-tools, one-way-only fit air filter; spin-on oil filter; handlebar-mounted choke lever; easy chain adjustment procedure; multi-reflective headlights; YZ-style grips and a taillight, to name a few.

The 2003 660R Raptor is available in June 2002 at Yamaha dealerships nationwide at a manufacturer's suggested price of $6,499 in black/red and Team Yamaha blue/white. A limited edition 660R Raptor also will be available in black beginning in September for a manufacturer's suggested price of $6,699.