10,000 Mile 2006 Apex ER Review

[**sj**]

Well, I finally rolled the 10,000 miles mark on my 2006 Apex ER. This sled really is a blast to ride. Even after 10,000 miles the motor is still just as strong as the day I first rode her.

The throttle response still amazes me every time I let her rip. There is not enough good things to say about this motor. Not having to carry oil is a great thing. I average about two oil changes a year and they take me about 30 minutes to complete.

Things I have changed on the sled include:
13mm sway bar
Ulmer air box mod
Revalved mono shock with big boy spring
Heat Loc's for the hand warmers
Removed side panel bolts and replaced them with socket head bolt for easier access
ROX 2.5" riser
Skid plate

The Apex in my opinion has three major design flaws. Exhaust components (wear out quickly), rear suspension, and hand warmers (still cold on cold days, even with the Heat Loc's).

My riding style is extremely aggressive. No major jumps, just hard fast runs though the trail no matter how bumpy it gets. Yamaha knows (after Corey Davidson tried to run the mono), and I know this skid will not work for aggressive riders. So that leaves me between a rock and a hard place. I have broken many suspension components and will not even bother to get into what was replaced. I have a ZX2 on the way and hope to have my suspension issues solved.

This is the list of the major things I have had replaced and at what mileage:

4,599 Drive shaft bearing
4,864 Exhaust donuts and y pipes
6,530 New Predator track (stock Ripsaw wore out)
6,530 New chain
8,167 Muffler (developed a leak)
8,167 Drive shaft bearing
8,167 Secondary ramps
8,167 Primary sheaves
8,167, 9,000, 10,200 Rubber spacers on limiter strap rod
8,167 Front bushings replaced with Ulmer's kit
8,167 Front shocks rebuilt
8,167 Seat develop a small rip in the front right corner. Local upholstery shop repaired using the existing material
xxxx Track clips have been replaced 5 times. Twice on the Ripsaw and three times on the Predator.
8,900 Drive axle snapped in half
9,100 Exhaust donuts and y pipes
9,100 Right side headlight pod mount cracked in half
10,200 Snow flap and mounting bracket


I am still trying to get a set of skis dialed in. I have used USI Project X, Tripple Threats, and Slydog's race skis. I think I may end up going back to my Project X skis as they are VERY predictable skis and the only reason I changed was because of steering effort. You can go into a corner with these skis and know you will come out of it fast and sharp. All of my setup will change with the new skid I am sure. So I will start over.

I have had quite a bit of downtime with my sled. Most issues being suspension failures and I know I must contribute this to my riding style. Yamaha has stood behind their product and taken care of my issues. Y.E.S. is truly a great thing. I hope to keep this sled until I see the 20,000 mile mark before I sell it.

The sled, 3 years after it's release, still gets looks on the trail. It just looks and sounds awesome. People still come up to me and want to know about it.

Engine braking is not an issue. After learning to ride the sled you use the braking to your advantage.

Bottom line, there are issues with this sled that need attention yesterday. But, riding long days has never been more enjoyable and more exciting. Here is to another 10,000 miles!

I for one would be proud to ride with any of you "real" riders...my garage queen is just beggin' to get out!

 

[craigwsrx]

I have an '06 Attak with 13,200 miles, had about all the same problems as listed except I am still on original track. One thing I had to replace was rear idler wheel mounts with a shaft that went from side to side as my rails were cracking from wheels flexing. Some things are just going to have to be fixed or replaced if you ride big mileage. I have never seen this much mileage on anything but a Yamaha.

 

[iasledder]

I believe you will enjoy the ZX2. I put mine in at 500 miles. Due to snow conditions now only 1000 miles, but the ride has been great. Gets up on loose snow better and doesn't get stuck nearly as easily. It's still a trail sled so I don't try to challenge deep stuff unless I see a way out.

Concerned over the broken drive axle, seems to be a given with higher mileage.

 

[quad]

attak-don't know

I've been checking on this sight for quite awhile now because a cousin of mine picked up a 2006 Venture RS last year and of course he gets great gas mileage and it is a nice ride. So I've been looking into getting an Attak or Warrior for next year 'cause there is no other snowmobile than a Yamaha. But reading these four stroke sights other than the fuel mileage I'm wondering if I should switch. I'm on a tight budget and the price of the common repairs of those sleds when they get the mileage up would have me parked most of the winter. I know that I'm driving an outdated '95 800 but I have and can still upgrade the rear suspension any time to make it a little more reasonable to ride. Not to brag or to shoot myself in the foot but I have virtually just over 10,000 miles and changed just common bearings, suspension and clutch kit. When I went for a ride with the Venture I burned about a gallon more than he did on a 104 mile ride(mind you that I took it easy on the flipper) so really what I need is some real convincing on why I should switch to a four stroke.

 

[tkuss]

I would say if you are happy with your sled there is no reason to upgrade to a new sled. But if you put on quite a few miles everyyear, there is nothing like the suspensions, rider foward chassis and engines that come on new sleds.

 

[kyzer]

Ya Quad forgot to mention that the Venture broke trail for 25 miles in 2 feet of snow on that 104 mile trip , so I burned up the gas ...Come on guys convince Quad to up grade I am tired of being choked out by his 2 smoker .....

 

[quad]

breaking trail

Yeah breaking trail you are talking about the foot of snow that you were moving with your machine or your body....I might save on gas at first but eventually it'll cost me. Besides the amount of miles that are put on this year it won't be worth it......right? :

 

[kyzer]

Don't be so cheap you love to snowmobile, and don't plan on stopping any time soon....Unless you plan on having the Brady Bunch LOL.....

 

[SumpBuster]

Quad. My 16 yr old son is rapidly being able to run me off the trails..he on the Vector and me on the apex rtx. He just took a jump Sunday and snapped the limiter straps (he runs it hard). So, when he's harrassing me on some high speed long days (200 milers) and is getting near 18 mpg and I can only muster about 13 (still good, for how we ride), the beauty of those triples is apparent.
But I can smoke him on the straights with the 4 cyl.
Upgrade. You won't miss your 95 at all.

 

[silversurfer]

Re: breaking trail

Yeah breaking trail you are talking about the foot of snow that you were moving with your machine or your body....I might save on gas at first but eventually it'll cost me. Besides the amount of miles that are put on this year it won't be worth it......right? :

Your reasoning here is flawed (not being rude, just direct), because eventually, it's going to cost you when that 2-stroker with 10k miles shoots a piston halfway to Pluto. Yes, I'm being colorful, but the reality is that you have been lucky the sled lasted this long.
You have a sled from the era I did. Do not underestimate how much that oil adds up to - what is that stuff now, $4 a quart? Honestly, that smell makes me nostalgic for the sport but only briefly; after a while it is just gross. And MAYBE it will cost you eventually, but have you stopped to calculate how much 93 is for a season these days? Hell, in remote places in ME it was $3.50 a gallon ten years ago. Dunno what it is up at Tug Hill but I can tell you, it is not freaking cheap, and costs you NOW. Remember - money you have with you now is worth more than money in the future...

Snowmobiling is NOT a cheap sport. As much as I love it, I choose not to have one at the moment because of that fact. Every sled has failures, maintenance, truck/trailer costs, etc. Look again at what these people are listing as failures and the mileage it takes place at: track failures, bearings, etc can go on any machine. Some 2 strokes are gone by 7k, I think I'll stick with having to change a track or chain after 3-4 seasons (about what it would take you to get that unless you live up there)!

If you ride often and have budgeted for this hobby, then I would rather take my chances on the most reliable machines on the snow. Yamaha is not perfect by any means, but I have been following them for years. It's always something like poor set-up, handwarmers, bogie wheels, etc. Well that sucks and I hope they keep trying to improve, but go look at Doo Talk and the problems their new flagship is having, or the engine problems Doo/Cat have had the last ten? years or so. Or how Polaris almost singlehandedly killed itself with the Fusion.

I think you need to pop over to Hondo's thread in the Mileage contest section - if you don't know how many miles that has on it, prepare to have your eyes pop out. Nearly impossible for that to happen on a 2-stroke.

Good luck in your choice.

 

[rxrider]

Thanks silversurfer, here's the link to Hondo's post

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=48682

He has actually ridden the distance around the globe and then some

 

[rxrider]

Thanks mdkuni for your great 10000 miles report.

How did your ZX-2 suspension perform?
Is there anything you did not like about it?

 

[mdkuni]

Thanks mdkuni for you great 10000 miles report.

How did your ZX-2 suspension perform?
Is there anything you did not like about it?

The ZX2 suspension is a must have! I am not sure I will ever ride a stock Yamaha suspension again, unless they develop something much more durable. I have just under 4,000 miles on the suspension with the original hyfax. There are no cracks! This is something I could never say about a stock skid. No, bushings and grease to deal with as well. I will do a bigger write up on the skid before next season. I feel this skid is solid although I will feel more confident if the skid reaches 8,000 + miles with no problems.

Problems: I still have a vibration that the company refuses to address or even discuss. It is an annoyance but something I will deal with if it means I finally have a durable skid.

Thanks to your info rxrider I did order the shim kit for the shocks so I can slow down the rebound. Not a huge deal but I am hoping the shocks will be spot on. If not I have no problem putting the shocks back to stock settings if it is not a good ride.

I probably can count the number of times I bottomed the skid out on one hand. In this amount of miles on the stock skid I would be into double digits easy.

Now my Apex is a step closer to perfect (handwarmers and exhaust are the only real problems left). Hopefully at the end of next season I can provide a 20,000 mile report.

 

[rxrider]

Thanks mdkuni, I'm looking forward to hear how she handles with the new rebound shim stack, and of course your 20000 mile report.

Only thing I have to report is a loose bolt which was fixed by adding new red loctite. Sliders are still pretty good after 3700 kms or 2300 miles. A few of the small idler wheels in the front of the skid are worn a lot, will have to replace a few of them. The skid handled the power of my turbo sled just fine, had to go with 1/4 revolver and track tigthened to ADBoivin spec to keep it from skipping the drive cogs of the extros. Jumping back and forth between my sleds I haven't found any differences when it comes to vibation.

 

[nyattak]

mdkuni, nice report. I also reached 10,000 miles and still going strong. I have had similar repairs on my attak too.