How Fast Do Youth UTVs Go?


The average engine size for a youth UTV is 149cc-250cc and those engines can reach top speeds of 29 mph for 149cc and over 40 mph for 250cc.

As a child, I was always fascinated with speed. Growing up in Indiana we had wide open fields where we could go and take our UTVs out and race around.

Race culture is so large back home that speed became a vital part of my childhood, but there really wasn’t much room for a small kid to start riding anything off-road. Unfortunately, you had to wait until you grew up a bit.

Luckily technology has increased and UTVs have become more of the forefront of off-road lifestyle. More and more kids want in on the off-roading action, and companies like Polaris, Massimo, Hisun, and SSR have responded generously to the outcry.

Below I will give some insight to some of the fastest youth UTVs.

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how fast do youth side-by-sides go

Fastest Youth UTVs

Speed is relative to the driver, right? Well not according to some of these monster vehicles that are out on the market right now for youth.

MASSIMO GUNNER 250 S

First off we have one of the fastest youth UTVs on the market, the MASSIMO GUNNER 250 S.

It packs more of a punch than most of your youth UTVs with a large 250cc, liquid cooled, OHV, four-stroke engine. Also, keep in mind vehicles that are this big are really only meant for youth ages 12 and up.

This MASSIMO GUNNER 250 S, also has an absolutely great dual range CVT transmission, and it comes with double A-arm front suspension and has adjustable sports seats, mirrors, doors, roof, alloy wheels, and windshield.

The GUNNER 250 S comes in weighing about 688 pounds and costs around $4,789 new, the used street price might just be a little less.

Hisun Strike 250

Second, we have Hisun’s Strike 250. This youth UTV is actually quite roomy and has a slightly smaller engine compared to the Massimo Gunner 250 S.

While the Strike is slightly smaller than the Gunner, it is still nothing to scoff at. It will still be turning heads if your kid rides it around the park.

The Strike has a 229cc, liquid cooled, OHV, four-stroke engine, as well as, a CVT dual transmission, the same as the Massimo Gunner.

One of the added bonuses to this particular UTV is that unlike the Massimo Gunner, it comes with a wench attached to the front of the vehicle.

The Hisun Strike has that same double A-arm suspension front and a swing arm on the back. The Strike comes weighing in a bit less than the Massimo Gunner at 657 pounds.

It will also run you a bit cheaper price tag at $4699 compared to the $4,789 Gunner.

Pitster Pro Lil Ripper Long Body 200

Third, on the list of our 2018 roundup is the Pitster Pro Lil Ripper Long Body 200, that’s a mouthful of a name!

This particular youth UTV is great for kids who are a bit larger or even adults. It has an extended wheelbase that gives more room in the cockpit and the 200cc engine helps haul heavier riders compared to smaller UTVs.

The Pitster Pro Lil Ripper Long Body 200, also boasts that ever so popular double A-arm front suspension and rear swing-arm.

The Long Body 200 also comes with adjustable seats, cast aluminum wheels, and large 22 inch front and 20 inch rear tires as well.

This UTV is particularly light for its extended width and weighs around 550 pounds and costs about $3599.

SSR SRU170RS

The fourth fastest UTV we have is the SSR SRU170RS. This is where the power really starts to die down a bit for us in the speed category.

While many of the other UTVs listed could run well over 40 miles per hour for some models, with its 169cc engine, the SRU170RS will only hit top speeds of a little over 30 miles per hour.

That’s not to say that the SRU170RS is any less of a beast than the rest of the previously listed UTVs. This model, however, does lack the liquid cooled engine and instead has an air-cooled SOHC four-stroke one.

It also has a more simple transmission which is only a normal CVT transmission. The standard accessories to this model UTV are a bit less as well.

It simply comes with LED headlights, rear-view mirror, running lights, and a spare track tire, which is nice.

The Polaris RZR 170

While this next UTV isn’t the fastest youth UTV on the market it is by far one of the most popular. Of course, that is because everyone knows and loves the trusted brand of Polaris.

The Polaris RZR 170 is a great youth UTV for those kids who are about 10 and up and is great for beginners who are new to the off-roading world.

The Polaris RZR 170 has that simple 169cc electronically fuel-injected engine. What is actually really interesting with this particular model, and gets high approval with parents, the adjustable speed settings.

Parents can control, based on the experience level of the driver, whether the machine tops out at ten miles per hour, or its highest setting of around 29 miles per hour.

This RZR 170 also has a bit more safety settings with a sturdy protective cage, safety nets, tilt steering, and when bought from Polaris, two standard youth helmets.

The Polaris RZR 170 weighs about 532 pounds and will cost roughly $4,799. So objectively it is a bit slower for the price when compared to the other models like the Missimo Gunner 250 S or the Hisun Strike.

Polaris ACE 150 EFI

Next Up is another fan favorite from Polaris’s youth lineup. It is the slowest of the youth UTVs however with its engine being the smallest.

The Polaris ACE 150 EFI is actually the industry’s first ever single-seater UTV for youth. Like mentioned before it has an electronically fuel-injected 149cc engine and also has the same parental speed settings that the RZR 170 has.

It too has a simple CVT transmission, and in reality comes with many of the same features that the Polaris RZR 170 has. So it has the safety nets, adjustable seat, tilt steering, protective cage.

Pitster Pro Lil Mojave

Last but certainly not least we have the Pitster Pro Lil Mojave. This small, but the tough machine has a 150cc, air-cooled SOHC four-stroke engine.

It also has the same CVT transmission as both the Polaris RZR 170 and the Polaris ACE 150.

The Polaris ACE 150 will cost around $3799 however if you are feeling extra you can throw in an extra $1000 for the limited edition model that comes with a cool paint job and racing numbers on the side of the vehicle.

The accessories for this particular UTV are not exactly outstanding like some of the other models we have seen thus far.

It does have that standard adjustable driver’s seat, a half windshield, front and back bumpers, nerf bars, and the fund added bonus, CUP HOLDERS!

The Lil Mojave weighs in at a whopping 540 pounds and will cost you $3799.

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fastest youth side by side
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fast side by side for kids

How to Get More Speed/Power:

There are many ways to make your UTV faster. The most popular one that comes to mind is to “throw a big turbocharger in there.”

Turbochargers, however, are pretty expensive to buy, and even more expensive to have them installed professionally. Here are some quick simple ways to get more speed from your UTV youth or otherwise.

Air Flow – Every vehicles engine has air flow to help the engine operate. The engine pulls in air, mixes it with gas, compresses and then explodes said gas and then releases that gas through the exhaust.

So with that being said in order to get more speed, you must allow the engine to get more air. Stock air filters are usually heavy and thick in order to impede dust, debris, and water, coming into the engine.

There are many aftermarket air filters that will allow for more airflow into your vehicle. Besides buying an aftermarket filter you could open up the airbox of the engine.

The stock airbox is sealed to protect the air filter and usually have one entry point under the gas tank.

The airbox restricts air flow and therefore restricts power, however, realize that opening this airbox will put you at a higher risk of having water enter the air intake and could hydrolock the motor.

Exhaust Flow – Another simple way to improve speed and engine performance are by increasing exhaust flow. Once again this can be achieved through upgrading your exhaust system through aftermarket parts.

Keep in mind that stock vehicles are meant to run stock parts.

So when you go about upgrading air intakes and adding turbos and what not you need to upgrade other parts such as the exhaust so that the vehicle can handle and execute all that extra power it is receiving.

Basically when upgrading your exhaust make sure it is the right fit for any other upgrades you are putting into your vehicle, otherwise it might actually restrict that power and hurt your vehicle.

Re-Jetting the Carburetors – While you are putting all those extra upgrades on your UTV you might want to think about re-jetting the carburetor of the UTV.

Once a UTV is fine-tuned to its stock components and once you start adding more power and upgrades you have to make sure the rest of the vehicle is balanced. Most carburetors have 2 jets, a main and an idle one.

The idle jet gives fuel to the carburetor when the vehicle is idle and the main jet gives fuel at all other times.

When you change the amount of air flowing (upgraded air intake), or the amount leaving the engine (upgraded exhaust), you also need to adjust the fuel ration by changing the jets on the carburetor.

More air equals more fuel needed to have the best combustion in the engine’s cylinders.

Tire size – This is perhaps the simplest way to get a little more speed from your UTV.

The science behind it is fairly simple as well. Here’s a good equation to help understand the speed difference.

New tire circumference/Old tire circumference x Current Top Speed = New Top Speed.

Sprocket Size – This is similar to tire size. UTVs that use a chain and sprocket on their drivetrain can gain speed by changing/adjusting the sprocket ratios.

You can usually adjust either the front or rear sprocket so long as the teeth ration increases.

I won’t get into the physics of it all but basically adjusting a front sprocket will gain more speed quicker, while the rear sprocket will help you fine tune your top speed.

Remember that adjusting these things also affects your torque and that torque and top speed have an inverse relationship.

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Geoff Southworth

I am a California native and I enjoy all the outdoors has to offer. My latest adventures have been taking the family camping, hiking and surfing.

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