Okay, so I’ve been wanting to upgrade my kid’s Power Wheels for a while now. He’s getting a little too big for the basic one, and frankly, I wanted something a bit cooler. I saw this Yamaha Raptor 700R online, and I thought, “That’s the one!” It looked awesome, and I figured it would be a fun project to mod it out a bit.
Getting Started
First thing, I ordered the Power Wheels. I made sure to check the model number like 5 times, I really didn’t want to order the wrong one.
It arrived a few days later, and honestly, the box was huge! I dragged that thing into the garage and started unpacking. It was mostly assembled, which was nice, but I still had to put on the wheels, the handlebars, and a few other bits and pieces. Nothing too crazy, though.
The First Ride (and First Problem!)
Once it was all put together, my kid was itching for a ride. He hopped on, and… it was a little slow. I mean, it’s a Power Wheels, so I wasn’t expecting a speed demon, but it was definitely underwhelming. I did some quick searching and found out it’s a really common issue. It’s usually limited to a low speed for safety, but it felt too slow.
Mod Time!
This is where the fun began. I’m not a mechanic by any means, but I’m pretty handy. I watched a bunch of videos and read some forum posts. I discovered you can do things like upgrade the battery, change the motors, and even add lights. I am really not good at soldering.
- Battery Upgrade: The stock battery is a 12V, but you can upgrade to an 18V or even a 24V. I decided to go with an 18V for now. I ordered a new battery and charger online.
- Motor Upgrade: I decided not to change the motors, as I wanna take it step-by-step.
- Lights: I thought it would be cool to add some LED headlights and taillights. I found a cheap kit online and figured I’d give it a shot.
The Install
Installing the new battery was pretty straightforward. I just disconnected the old one and plugged in the new one. The charger was also a simple swap. The lights were a bit trickier. I had to drill some holes in the plastic body to mount them, and then splice some wires. It wasn’t perfect, but I got them working!
The Result
After all that work, the Yamaha Raptor was transformed! It was significantly faster with the 18V battery, and the lights looked really cool, especially at dusk. My kid was absolutely thrilled. He’s been riding it all over the place, and it’s holding up great. I will try the motor upgrade in the next couple of weeks, and will be back to share it.
It was a fun project, and I learned a lot. I definitely recommend it if you’re looking to spice up your kid’s Power Wheels. Just be prepared to get your hands dirty!
