YAM182
Expert
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2003
- Messages
- 461
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 591
Took the tape measure to the two sleds I have in the garage on a rainy day back in Jan for something to do. My 06 Apex GT and the wife/kids 05 Ski-doo MXZ 600 HO.
We all know there have been a bizzilion Rev style sleds sold since 03 and Ski-Doo is #1 with Yamaha colsing the gap every year.
All measurements are APPROXIMATE.Measured same place on each sled,
measured in inches.
Center ski bolt to center rear axle bolt. Doo=76 1/2,Yam=74.
Seat height from ground.Doo=30 1/8,Yam=30 15/16.
Running board to seat height.Doo=18 1/2,Yam=17 3/4.
Center ski bolt to back of my heel(avg position).Doo=46 1/8,Yam=43 1/2.
Ground to handlebar.I`ve moved the GT`s bars a bit.Doo=41,Yam=41.
Running board(flat) to handlebar(bottom).Doo=29 1/2,Yam=29 7/8.
Bar width.About where Yam hooks begin.Doo=30 1/4,Yam=26 1/2.
Ski stance.Doo(pricision skis) has WAY more.Didn`t even bother to measure.
Grips width. Doo=5 3/4,Yam=4 3/8 to seam,4 3/4 start of bend.
Foot well/toe hold area.Doo=7 wide,5 tall,3 7/8 deep,front suspension bolt is 3 3/8 up from running board.Yam=7 1/2 wide,3 3/4 tall,4 3/4 deep,suspension bolt that sticks out is 2 5/8 up from running board.
Ski turning angle.Measured as best I could the MXZ turns a better angle than the GT but just bit more.The skis turned more on the Doo where the GT skis are straighter at full turn.
My comments and thoughts-
Wheelbase-Yamaha may need a bit more on their 121" sleds.Doo has a longer wheelbase (by 2 1/2) which may help it take the big bumps better compared to other 121" sleds.We may see Yamaha go to a 128" sometime in the future.
Seat and bar placement seem almost the same on both sleds.Feet are closer to the front on the Yamaha.
Ski-doo thought their sleds didn`t handle good enough so they took away some suspension and lowered the sleds for 06.High roll center,high center of gravity yea mabey but I think the 05 MXZ is fine after some susp adjustments.So why did Yamaha copy the MXZ rev style to a certain extent and Ski-Doo changed up and lowered the sleds to handle better?
The Yamaha sleds are so much heavier and the ski stance is less as well as the wheelbase.Why??I think the MXZ works because of wider bars,longer wheelbase,wider ski stance.For 06 its lower and still rides good.
Handlebars- Wider on the Doo by 3 3/4".I like the wider bars on this sled and yes I have a plastic hook on the left side.Yamaha needs wider bars.With the sometimes squirrely ride on the Yam and a little high and heavy role center,wider bars would allow for hanging out more for aggressively attacking the trails when needed.Wider is better.The more you can lean the less inside ski lift you have.More comfortable and better ride=happy rider!!!!!
Skis,ski-stance-YAM=42", it just don`t make it on big heavy and powerful sleds.Yamaha needs more!!!!Simmons skis are put on by many to cure the darting and handling issues.They work great on groomed trails.You can cruise at high speed and sled is very stable.The other big 3 have done the dual runner thing,now yam needs to step up and leapfrog them with something better.Other aftermarket skis are also added by many for a number of reasons and ski preference.
Turning angle.Doo has sharper turning angle.MXZ Doo does turn better when driven aggressively and in the tight turns.
Footwells /toeholds.Yamaha has plenty of room but the area needs to be taller.I have turned my ankles trying to turn the sled.My upper body turns but my boots/feet stay pretty flat.Twisted ankles are the result.Painful!!!
Doo has plenty of room to move.
Front suspension bolt(in the footwell)-You can catch your boot edge on the side of the susp bolt while trying to turn and lean out.This bolt is good on the Doo and does not interfere with you turning your foot/boot to the left or right.The susp bolt on the Yam is too close to your boot edge when turning your foot, if you can with the tight top to bottom boot clearance.
The knee/shin area needs to be addressed.I`ve smashed my shins
between my knees and boot tops many times 
.Don`t force me to the front of my sled without padding or a better angle for my knee to foot area.With Yamaha moving us forward on the sled we should have a SMOOTH and or PADDED area for our lower legs.I put the pads on my MXZ as you need them when aggressively riding.
Little things Yamaha could do would make a sled better and make us better riders.
Yamaha
Just my opinion.
We all know there have been a bizzilion Rev style sleds sold since 03 and Ski-Doo is #1 with Yamaha colsing the gap every year.
All measurements are APPROXIMATE.Measured same place on each sled,
measured in inches.
Center ski bolt to center rear axle bolt. Doo=76 1/2,Yam=74.
Seat height from ground.Doo=30 1/8,Yam=30 15/16.
Running board to seat height.Doo=18 1/2,Yam=17 3/4.
Center ski bolt to back of my heel(avg position).Doo=46 1/8,Yam=43 1/2.
Ground to handlebar.I`ve moved the GT`s bars a bit.Doo=41,Yam=41.
Running board(flat) to handlebar(bottom).Doo=29 1/2,Yam=29 7/8.
Bar width.About where Yam hooks begin.Doo=30 1/4,Yam=26 1/2.
Ski stance.Doo(pricision skis) has WAY more.Didn`t even bother to measure.
Grips width. Doo=5 3/4,Yam=4 3/8 to seam,4 3/4 start of bend.
Foot well/toe hold area.Doo=7 wide,5 tall,3 7/8 deep,front suspension bolt is 3 3/8 up from running board.Yam=7 1/2 wide,3 3/4 tall,4 3/4 deep,suspension bolt that sticks out is 2 5/8 up from running board.
Ski turning angle.Measured as best I could the MXZ turns a better angle than the GT but just bit more.The skis turned more on the Doo where the GT skis are straighter at full turn.
My comments and thoughts-
Wheelbase-Yamaha may need a bit more on their 121" sleds.Doo has a longer wheelbase (by 2 1/2) which may help it take the big bumps better compared to other 121" sleds.We may see Yamaha go to a 128" sometime in the future.
Seat and bar placement seem almost the same on both sleds.Feet are closer to the front on the Yamaha.
Ski-doo thought their sleds didn`t handle good enough so they took away some suspension and lowered the sleds for 06.High roll center,high center of gravity yea mabey but I think the 05 MXZ is fine after some susp adjustments.So why did Yamaha copy the MXZ rev style to a certain extent and Ski-Doo changed up and lowered the sleds to handle better?
The Yamaha sleds are so much heavier and the ski stance is less as well as the wheelbase.Why??I think the MXZ works because of wider bars,longer wheelbase,wider ski stance.For 06 its lower and still rides good.
Handlebars- Wider on the Doo by 3 3/4".I like the wider bars on this sled and yes I have a plastic hook on the left side.Yamaha needs wider bars.With the sometimes squirrely ride on the Yam and a little high and heavy role center,wider bars would allow for hanging out more for aggressively attacking the trails when needed.Wider is better.The more you can lean the less inside ski lift you have.More comfortable and better ride=happy rider!!!!!
Skis,ski-stance-YAM=42", it just don`t make it on big heavy and powerful sleds.Yamaha needs more!!!!Simmons skis are put on by many to cure the darting and handling issues.They work great on groomed trails.You can cruise at high speed and sled is very stable.The other big 3 have done the dual runner thing,now yam needs to step up and leapfrog them with something better.Other aftermarket skis are also added by many for a number of reasons and ski preference.
Turning angle.Doo has sharper turning angle.MXZ Doo does turn better when driven aggressively and in the tight turns.
Footwells /toeholds.Yamaha has plenty of room but the area needs to be taller.I have turned my ankles trying to turn the sled.My upper body turns but my boots/feet stay pretty flat.Twisted ankles are the result.Painful!!!
Doo has plenty of room to move.
Front suspension bolt(in the footwell)-You can catch your boot edge on the side of the susp bolt while trying to turn and lean out.This bolt is good on the Doo and does not interfere with you turning your foot/boot to the left or right.The susp bolt on the Yam is too close to your boot edge when turning your foot, if you can with the tight top to bottom boot clearance.
The knee/shin area needs to be addressed.I`ve smashed my shins
between my knees and boot tops many times .Don`t force me to the front of my sled without padding or a better angle for my knee to foot area.With Yamaha moving us forward on the sled we should have a SMOOTH and or PADDED area for our lower legs.I put the pads on my MXZ as you need them when aggressively riding.Little things Yamaha could do would make a sled better and make us better riders.
Yamaha
Just my opinion.
