2003 Yamaha Blaster
| Yamaha Blaster 2003 New and Improved |
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to be a great all around ATV with loads of capabilities, which kept the buyers happy and the Blaster on the showroom floors after all these years. Over the past several years of the Blaster’s existence there have been numerous request to Yamaha from Blaster owners all over the country to make a few improvements to this 200cc sport quad. Fifteen years later in 2003, Yamaha’s Blaster receives revisions to make this machine even better.
Motor/Transmission
The Blaster comes with a 2-stroke, single cylinder, air-cooled
engine, having a displacement of 195cc. The engine is fired up by means of a kick-starter, traditionally used on all 2-strokes. One or two kicks are all it takes to get the Blaster’s motor up and running. A 26mm Mikuni carburetor feeds the 195cc motor and an oil 
injector relieves the rider from premixing the fuel and oil. The 195cc quick revving engine in combination with a CD ignition that fires a consistent spark at all RPM levels ensures for seamless throttle response and acceleration. Although the Blaster’s motor is on the smaller side compared to today’s ATVs in the industry, it provides great power delivery across its powerband, making it a fun and versatile ATV. Low-end power is not lacking in the Blaster’s design as with many 2 stroke ATVs, this makes it a real competitor in the woods against the 4-stroke models. Through the use of a manual clutch and close ratio six-speed transmission, shifting the Blaster is smooth and easy. Power is transferred to the rear wheels by a sealed O-ring chain.
The Blaster’s chassis is nothing new for 03’; it still remains the same compact, lightweight frame as with the models from the previous years. This short, lightweight chassis allows this ATV to
be very agile and nimble in its handling characteristics. The front end is set up in the common double wishbone fashion and a preload adjustable sporty front suspension provides 7.1 inches of wheel travel. The rear of the Blaster utilizes a swingarm with a 
straight through, one-piece solid axle. In combination with the swingarm, bumps are soaked up by a preload adjustable rear shock that also provides 7.1 inches of wheel travel. New for this year are the Blaster’s brakes. Having left the pervious used mechanical rear disc brake and front drum brakes in
the dust; Yamaha adapted the Raptor’s brakes to equip the Blaster with an all around set of hydraulic disc brakes. The new disc brakes greatly improve bringing the 
blaster to a stop and have been a requested improvement by Blaster owners for quite some time. Gripping the terrain and transferring the Blaster’s power to the ground are four Dunlop all terrain tires. The front tires measures 21×7-10 and the rear tires are 21×10-8, which aid in providing the Blaster with 4.7 inches of ground clearance.
In addition to a new brake set up, Yamaha’s Blaster gets a nose
job for 2003. A sleek pointed nosepiece with an imbedded headlight improves cosmetic features, and creates a more aggressive and modernized appearance to the Blaster’s bodywork. The key switch was relocated to the front right side of the nosepiece. Also, new Raptor 
style handlebars provides a better feel for the rider at the controls and a plus rear seat allows for comfortable hours in the saddle. The Blaster’s gas tank holds a 2.4-gallon fuel supply with a separate oil injector to give the rider hassle free refills. The oil injector fill location is found behind the airbox underneath the seat. A set of serrated footpegs with metal heel guards give
the rider sure footing and the plastic leg guards keep the rider safe from coming in contact with the rear wheels. The Blaster’s taillight set up doubles as a brake light, 
which is finally just about a standard feature on almost all ATVs. The compact design and lightweight of 324 pounds make this a very manageable machine for the majority of riders. However, the short wheelbase (43.3in.) and width (40.7 in.) gives riders 5’11’’ and taller a bit of a cramped feeling aboard the Blaster. There are two attractive color schemes offered in 2003, black/red and the ever-popular Team Yamaha blue/white. Another characteristic you will find equally appealing is the Blaster’s price tag that has an MSRP of 99.00. That is 0.00 more than the pervious price tag, but you get all the new enhancements for 03’ at a small increase in price.
One or two kicks on the kick-starter turns the peppy 195cc two-stroke motor over. Only a few short moments are needed to warm up and get the engine running at its optimal temperature. Due to the quick-revving motor and close ratio transmission enables the
Blaster to pull hard and quick through the gears. The power is not as arm snapping as its older brother the Banshee, but it is very sufficient for the 200cc Blaster. Keeping the RPMs up is essential on all two-stroke motors, but the extra low-end portion of the powerband
make the Blaster more at home on tight woods trails and eliminates the need to continuously fan the clutch. A few drag races reveal the top end speed to be right around the mid fifty MPH mark, almost identical to its four-stroke family member, the Warrior.
makes this ATV very flickable in the air. A few of our test riders were a little taller and heavier than the blaster’s ideal rider characteristics were designed for, resulting in some stiffer landing off larger jumps. Overall, the suspension does a suitable job for the sport-riding enthusiast.
Handling is improved with the addition of the new Raptor style handlebars. In combination with the new handlebars, the compact lightweight chassis allows the blaster to slither through tight 
sections of the trails with ease. Riding the Blaster at higher speeds on open terrain is loads of fun also. It can power slide through the corners, but more body English will be required than when sliding longer wheelbase ATVs, due to the Blaster’s short 43.3-inch wheelbase to make it less tippy in tight corners. The test riders felt a little tire roll out of the Dunlop
AT’s, but good traction was sufficient enough to thrust the Blaster out of the turns. The New Brakes! We loved the new brakes on the 03’ Blaster, they provided superb stopping power over to the old units. The faded feeling of the old Blaster’s brakes has become extinct. Riders can now enter corners staying on the gas longer without compromising their safety. Riders who race their Blaster will greatly appreciate this upgrade.
Yamaha’s Blaster is an extremely versatile ATV for several different degrees of rider experience. It gives entry and 
intermediate level sport riders loads of thrills, plus there are tons of hop ups for this ATV to enhance it to fit the needs of advancing riders. The power delivery feels snappy enough from this 200cc Blaster to offer advanced riders hours of riding fun. Younger riders and riders wanting hassle free fill ups will enjoy the feature of the oil injector system, eliminating the need to premix your fuel. The new brakes were easily the most required and improved upon up-grade on the 2003 Blaster. Having an ATV capable of meeting the sport riding demands and not draining your bank account, how can you go wrong with Yamaha’s Blaster for only 99.00? This is fun quad, and we suspect you will greatly enjoy your riding time aboard the Blaster, just as we did.