06' APEX GT VS. 05' CAT ZR 900

[jtssrx]

The 2003 zr900 was the last year a ZR900 was fast. THe Diamond Drive killed that sled.

 

[jimmie d]

That is why I made the statement about the gearing even so him and his Bud will both be very happy, I personally would have spent the extra and bought the Yamaha based on the belief the MONO is corrected.

Jim

 

[zr900/650twins]

well all i can say is,my 03 zr 900 was the best sled i ever owned.few small aftermarket thing's and this sled was very fast,handled perfect,was great on gas with low oil comsumption and was just a all around great sled...however....after riding cat for 14 yrs and i have to say not the best quailty built,but with routine maintance,i never really had a major "can't ride" problem.i really have nothing bad to say.but this new yamaha apex i got coming remind's me of a big,refined,powerfull triple that i miss so much but better.so red er for me ...so long cat for now....al...

 

[Sidewinder]

Your friend has a good point. The prices need to come down on these 4 stroke sleds.

I paid no more for my 4 stroke than a comparable "speed" decent 2 stroke. actually less.

Agreed , I was out looking for the 06 ride.
I was considering the 06 Mach ZX, but at 15,500.00 before taxes, pdi freight and so on.
My RTX was 15,500.00 out the door and still get my Yammy bucks too.

As well as said earlier, my wife is my #1 riding partner and if I can get her off the Doo, it will be all good.
Scott

 

[NB-NYTRO]

Your friend has a good point. The prices need to come down on these 4 stroke sleds.

I paid no more for my 4 stroke than a comparable "speed" decent 2 stroke. actually less.

You don't live in Canada. Check out Yamaha's Canadian prices.

http://www.yamaha-motor.ca/products/index.php?group=S

The Mach Z is one exception. They want a lot for that monster and that new MxZ Renegage 1000 RT. They are selling left over ZR900 for cheap. Its seems Arctic cat didn't sell as well as other brands last winter.

 

[Yamahnator]

Different sleds for different people I guess. I think a few of you are suffering from nostalgia. The firecat is a better sled in every way. The ZR chassis just feels dated.

 

[98srx6]

And IMO sleds are starting to get overpriced so people will be keeping there old ones more often

More and more people seem to be keeping their sleds longer before buying a replacement sled, but I think it has to do with the increase in quality and durability that comes with each year, not the increase in cost.

 

[welterracer]

Different sleds for different people I guess. I think a few of you are suffering from nostalgia. The firecat is a better sled in every way. The ZR chassis just feels dated.

I totally disagree with this statement...

Almost all of my friends ride Cat.... 3 F6s, 4 F7s, and zr500s, zr600s, zl500, 2 zr800s etc, etc..

even the guys on the F cats will tell you the Snow pro F sleds ride horrible compared to the zrs.. and the zr will always outhandle the F sled... thats why they made soooo many changes to the suspension and handling of the Firecat from 03-05... because they were tippy and waaay too light.... the ZR chassis is as on rails as you can get... even as good as a SRX and VIper.. (when tunned properlly)

As much as i hate cat for there irriliability,,, i have to give them credit where credit is due...

Ive heard the 900 is know for crank problems..

GREENMACHINE... I dont think you and i have ever seen eye too eyes as we dont on this post...

Brian

 

[4Fighter]

Tell the guys with the 03 & 04 RX1s that they hold their value.

Jim

From what I've seen, the '03 - '04 RX-1's are not holding substantially more value than anything else in the 900 class. I paid over $9 grand in fall of '03 and it's only worth high 4's now. The same year ZR900 is holding around high 4's to low 5's and with the higher mileage I have, and all of the add-ons (Ohlins shock, 136" kit) needed to correct issues with my RX-1, I'll loose my shirt way before the guy with the Cat does IF I trade or sell. But at least my motor will out-last his if I keep it.

Basically, nothing is going to stop or slow a snowmobile from depreciating - NOTHING, once it leaves the dealership, even if it's power-plant is rock-solid and efficient. Even if it were made out of gold. When you sell, you loose, especially when you trade-up. The only one who wins is the dealer and the bank, or the buyer who takes the sled off your hands out of desperation. And with a Yamaha 4-stroke, the 2nd owner comes out smelling like a rose. They are the ones who get a reliable sled, and retain the higher resale and slower depreciation.

So I actually feel that my '04 RX-1 depreciated more after 2 seasons, than the 700 EDGE I traded in. I also feel that Yamaha has not allowed the first 2 models to retain any sort of value because of the early short-falls, and the improvements in the '05 and '06 models.

The Poo was more durable, but I got a headache from the fumes. I've met more riders, and put more miles on the RX-1. And, I can't picture myself riding anything else right now.