02xtreme
Pro
New to Yamaha's. Is there much difference in the ride between the above sleds? I know the Vector has a smaller motor, but do they all ride through the bumps similarly? Do they all have the same suspensions but different shocks? I'm coming off a Rev. Thanks
vx700xtc
Expert
Apex ride great. RX1, Vector, not so much. I have an RX1 with 14600 miles, the ride difference is unbeleivable. I now ride an Apex.
No comparison between the old and the new.... apex is probably one of the finest trail riding chassis on the snow. If coming off a rev, you would probably really like the nytro, it has more of the aggressive posture you are used to.
Riceburner
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All 3 of the sleds you mentioned have the same monoshock rear suspension. [Vector Gt] [Vector ER & Vector have different rear suspension]
Yes the ride is similar on models of all 3 sleds you queried.
Front suspension Apex & Vector ER's the same or similar as they are the second generation. RX1 more angled shocks and springs. Vector and Apex handle better.
RX1 and Vector have traditional seat height and handlebar position. Apex is closer to the REV in height and rider position but not a knee banger like the REV.
Hope this helps.
Yes the ride is similar on models of all 3 sleds you queried.
Front suspension Apex & Vector ER's the same or similar as they are the second generation. RX1 more angled shocks and springs. Vector and Apex handle better.
RX1 and Vector have traditional seat height and handlebar position. Apex is closer to the REV in height and rider position but not a knee banger like the REV.
Hope this helps.
The 08 Vector rides and handles great as does the Apex. The 05 Rx can be made to handle well and ride great, but many changes including the new seat
Grunter
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I had an 05 RX-1, I now have a 2006 Apex..(new non-current)
The Apex would not stand a hope against the 05 RX-1!
I hear the Vector is even better due to weight distribution..
I'm trying to fix my Apex so to handle like my RX....not an easy job!
The center of gravity is much higher in the Apex, high seat is a no-no..
Longer bars to push driver further back may help also...
Anyway, just my 2 cents...
I had a similar discussion with Doktor C last year - he's riding an 05 RX-1 himself now..I might of made a mistake buying the Apex...
The Apex would not stand a hope against the 05 RX-1!
I hear the Vector is even better due to weight distribution..
I'm trying to fix my Apex so to handle like my RX....not an easy job!
The center of gravity is much higher in the Apex, high seat is a no-no..
Longer bars to push driver further back may help also...
Anyway, just my 2 cents...
I had a similar discussion with Doktor C last year - he's riding an 05 RX-1 himself now..I might of made a mistake buying the Apex...
I have an 05 RX1 and an 03 RX1 set up with a mono. I have done a lot to them, Apex seat, wide front, handle bars forward, ect. I have them handling and riding great, but physically way harder to handle than an Apex or especially an 08 Vector.
With the costs of sleds and loss to sell, I'm keeping these a few years!!
With the costs of sleds and loss to sell, I'm keeping these a few years!!
cat hunter
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
I have drove all these sleds and none of them ride and handle like my 06 Apex Gt!!! 
ReX
TY 4 Stroke God
Wow. Talk about differing opinions...
I too have ridden all of the sleds. ~20,000km riding on the 05 RX-1, a few 1000 km on the Apex ER, a few 100 km on a Vector, 12,300 km on my 07 Apex RTX and a few 1000km on different REV MXZ and REV-XP MXZ X.
In my opinion the 3 you've mentioned are all very similar and it is all in the setup. Compared to a REV MXZ, all of the Yamahas bottom out much, much too easily. The Yamahas also don't quite ride as nicely overall (compared to the REV), but the Yamahas do extremely well over smallish (3") stutter bumps.
Unfortunately, if you are riding with REVs, you'll need to revalve the monoshock and probably install the "big boy" spring if you want to control bottoming out. Once you've done this, they all ride about the same - very well, but the 3" stutter bump performance is now more in-line with the REV.
The real reason to buy a Yamaha is not the suspension. Skidoo has Yamaha beat in this department. Yamaha on the other hand produces incredible drivetrains, especially their engines. They are smooth running, don't burn oil, don't vibrate and have exceptional throttle control and response. The engines makes the sleds very enjoyable to ride, but you still need to modify the suspension to bring it close to Skidoo ride quality and handling.
BTW, out of the sleds you mentioned, only the Apex has fuel injection. The 05 RX-1 and Vector use carburetors and a manual choke.
Riceburner is correct on the rest of your questions.
I too have ridden all of the sleds. ~20,000km riding on the 05 RX-1, a few 1000 km on the Apex ER, a few 100 km on a Vector, 12,300 km on my 07 Apex RTX and a few 1000km on different REV MXZ and REV-XP MXZ X.
In my opinion the 3 you've mentioned are all very similar and it is all in the setup. Compared to a REV MXZ, all of the Yamahas bottom out much, much too easily. The Yamahas also don't quite ride as nicely overall (compared to the REV), but the Yamahas do extremely well over smallish (3") stutter bumps.
Unfortunately, if you are riding with REVs, you'll need to revalve the monoshock and probably install the "big boy" spring if you want to control bottoming out. Once you've done this, they all ride about the same - very well, but the 3" stutter bump performance is now more in-line with the REV.
The real reason to buy a Yamaha is not the suspension. Skidoo has Yamaha beat in this department. Yamaha on the other hand produces incredible drivetrains, especially their engines. They are smooth running, don't burn oil, don't vibrate and have exceptional throttle control and response. The engines makes the sleds very enjoyable to ride, but you still need to modify the suspension to bring it close to Skidoo ride quality and handling.
BTW, out of the sleds you mentioned, only the Apex has fuel injection. The 05 RX-1 and Vector use carburetors and a manual choke.
Riceburner is correct on the rest of your questions.
polarisconvert
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I have only rode the 05 RX1 out of the group that you mentioned. I can tell you that when I got the sled the suspension sucked. It bottomed out bad and the ride was not all that good. I did a lot of reading and talked to a local shock rebuileder. He said all I needed was a revalve job on my rear shock, no big boy spring. I had him rebuild and revalve my mono shock. What a difference! The sled now ride good and rarley bottoms out. I was even carring a friend boy in front of me on the last trip from time to time and still did a good job. Just a little work makes a big difference.
Bruce
Bruce
cat hunter
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
The Apex is rider forward and all I do is use my legs to absorb the big bumps which you can't do on the RX1 or VECTOR.I AM 57 YEARS OLD AND I SLED WITH YOUNG AGGRESSIVE GUYS HALF MY AGE AND ON ROUGH TRAILS I CAN STAY WITH THEM NO PROBLEM !!! 
