'08 vs '09+ years

[porkchop]

Recently sold the Wife's '10 Z1 turbo snopro (she wants a Nytro after riding my '09 RTX a couple times last year).
Finding a few '08 RTX with fair mileage/ simple add ons + know of 2 '09 1-RTX 1-XTX coming into a dealership on trade about month or so all within a few hundred $$$- mileage but unseen.
Dealer says stay with '09 or newer as '08 were first year & "edgey" (no idea there)??

Looking at best bang for the buck as her "must haves" - OFT kit, WRP seat & tuners so taking that into consideration with condition/ price range of $5k or so.

'08 owners with info & all opinions welcomed.

 

[hibshman25]

Biggest difference between the 08 and 09 is the front end. 09 had updated spindles and a arm geometry. The 08 front subframes were prone to bending rather easily. 09 had additional gussets in sub frame.

A few common things to look for on any nytro are broken radiator support brackets and cracked oil tank mounts. Ball joints are also common wear items.

 

[grizztracks]

The subframe had several updates since 2008 but even the most recent frame still lacks sufficient gussets to prevent damage. The 2008 subframe was the weakest but can be gusseted to make it stronger than the newer frames so that's not a major issue. Also, when looking at a 2008 Nytro check to see if the frame has already been replaced with a newer version. The newer frames require fewer gussets to adequately reinforce them.

The 2008 Nytro's reputation was damaged because most people assume the updates Yamaha made in 2009 were all improvements over the previous year but in reality it was a poor attempt to correct an ill handling stock sled. Most Nytro owners have no experience with the 2008 geometry and are only going on what they've heard over the years. I ran the 08 front for several years with good results then later went to an aftermarket a-arm setup and now have the new geometry a-arms and spindles installed. With all the changes I still prefer the old 2008 setup for the aggressive trail riding I do. The 2008 geometry was a little twitchy out of the box but with a few minor changes could be corrected. The newer geometry introduced in 2009 reduced the twitchyness by adding trail and changing the caster/camber settings. This makes the steering more resistant to change so the skis hold a straight line reducing the twitchyness. This is much like the steering in a car, if you turn the wheel then let go, the wheel always returns to center but unlike a car the Nytro doesn't have power steering to compensate for the increased steering effort. A good indication that the newer geometry still had issues was the increased availability of redesigned aftermarket a-arms and spindles.

 

[porkchop]

Thanks guys-
The twitchy would be what he was referring to, good info there.

 

[DSimps10]

I have an 08 and had my lower ball joints done before the season last year and the only time i thought the steering was "twitchy" was on decel coming up to a stop. I think most of this was from my loose control arm bushings and following others tracks, that's why i replaced them this summer even though I'm getting rid of my 08 for an XTX. I will tell you the steering felt less "twitchy" to me after the OFT relocate ( i know that sounds weird) and felt way better with fresh Bergstrom Triple points.
As far as price goes I'm in MI and am looking for 4900-5200 for mine with 3100 miles and i feel that's a reasonable asking price here, but i don't know what the prices are out in NY.

 

[porkchop]

That's about the prices here also.

I picked my '09 RTX 2 years ago from RX1 Larry (a TY member who had it listed here) with OFT, brand new tuners/ carbides, SB comfort clutch kit, HID, shop manual, cover, dollies, extra tall windshield + all OEM parts with just 347 original miles for $5300...
600 mile trip to almost Maryland to get it, well worth the ride.
Just 2200 on it now...

 

[nydiver]

My 09 xtx was asking 4300 with 3400 on it. In the end I paid just shy of 3k. Lesson for the seller: don't put a dp on a new sled out of your wife's checkbook, she might spite you by selling your old sled to recoup her "investment"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Newfie Apex]

I own a 08. When I bought the sled it had stock skis and it was a handfull...I swapped out for the new tuner skis, adjusted the toe and reduced some of the ski pressure....Sled rails around now...