'14 Phazer R-TX for Wifey...Your Thoughts Please, Yamaheads?

[Elypsis]

Hi folks,

I currently ride an '08 Vector and am heading out tomorrow to shop around for a sled for the missus. Looking for a nice GT set up with ample power. That said, I'm leaning towards the Phazer R-TX. A few questions; your thoughts and feedback would certainly be appreciated....

1. What's the top speed on these critters, just out of curiosity?
2. Should I be looking at a track upgrade, possibly to a 1.25"? Would love to hear from you folks that ride these.
3. What, on average, is the expected fuel mileage?
4. Is a larger fuel tank available?
5. What upgrades and accessories would you recommend?
6. Any known issues with this model (ie. iced-up running boards)?

Thanks in advance...looking forward to some replies!

 

[Gone Blue]

Re: '14 Phazer R-TX for Wifey...Your Thoughts Please, Yamahe

Hi folks,

I currently ride an '08 Vector and am heading out tomorrow to shop around for a sled for the missus. Looking for a nice GT set up with ample power. That said, I'm leaning towards the Phazer R-TX. A few questions; your thoughts and feedback would certainly be appreciated....

1. What's the top speed on these critters, just out of curiosity?
2. Should I be looking at a track upgrade, possibly to a 1.25"? Would love to hear from you folks that ride these.
3. What, on average, is the expected fuel mileage?
4. Is a larger fuel tank available?
5. What upgrades and accessories would you recommend?
6. Any known issues with this model (ie. iced-up running boards)?

Thanks in advance...looking forward to some replies!

Here are my $0.02 on your Phazer questions

1) Low to mid 80's on a hard pack. But a better quesion is trail cruizing speed. Personally, I would not hold it to the bar on every long straight. Some people might but I dont care to. I will run 73 - 75 mph on long straights. Keep in mind the Phazer motor is running around 12,000 RPM. WOT.
2) IMO, YES! 1.25 or 1.50 tall lug I think is almost mandatory on these sleds. I found my RTX would spin the track excessively on a snow covered trail at 60 MPH with the stock track. Also, Phazers are know to ice over the track heat exchanger under certain snow conditions causing overheat issues. The taller lug seems to eliminate this issue.
3) I average around 18 MPG with mine as it sits, see signature below.
4) Not that I have seen
5) Besides a taller track, Ulmer clutch kit, taller windshield, windshield bag, maybe even the GT headlamp and knee wind deflectors
6) Phazers do still gather ice on the running boards. I just kick the running boards with the heal of my boot every time I stop. Aftermarket boards should eliminate this.

The Phazer begs to be ridden hard and is not a real good sit back and cruise type of sled. With its high CG, you have to use body English to get the most out of it; more than other sleds. I came off a RS Rage GT and love my Phazer. I dont really miss running 90 MPH down the trail too much. I like the fact that I can throw the Phazer around like I did on my last 2 stroke which more than makes up for top speed for me. I had ridden a few of them on Yamaha Demo rides so I had a real understanding of what I was getting into. Once I added the new track and clutch kit, it really woke the sled up. It now pulls pretty hard out of the corners and up to 70 MPH on a hard pack trail. I can hang with the big boys when it is ruff and twisty.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

G.B.

 

[pat the rat]

We sold our phazer at the end of last season,my wife rode it to 30000 km with no major issues,would i buy another one,prob not,too many little things that,after a while gets a bit annoying,oil changes are a challenge,ice build up is an issue,play in snow for a while and the steering would fill with snow and eventually freeze,upper idler wheels tend to wear out flat spots in them,dont get me wrong,its a good little sled to throw around but its not really a high miler,the vibes in the handlebar are also an issue,we bought a venture gt with eps and my wife loves it,so comfortable,it handles way better than the phazer,a vector with eps would also be a good choice,just my 2 cent

 

[RIGIDONE]

I had one and my wife had one..we traded in on nytros this year..only because used nytros were a dime a dozen with the viper coming out..but anyway.. We both had 07 phazers..sled is a ton of fun in the tight twisties, does well in the bumps..get about 110-120miles to a tank of fuel..but the tank only holds like 7.5gallons..we would see mid 80's for mph..and I would hold it to the bar all freaking day with no worries..if ur a big mile rider, the seat gets a little uncomfortable after a while..its no lake racer..its just a fun, economical sled that both myself and the wife had enjoyed..might want to look for an xtx phazer that will save u the track swap..and a clutch kit reduces the engine braking which IMO give a more predictable ride..my best advice is to take the wife to a dealer and let her check it out..

 

[OVR4D]

I would echo what all the others are saying, and add one important consideration ... the sled is for your wife, so she should ride one before making a final decision. Can't emphasize this enough.

If I were in your shoes, I'd keep an open mind. In other words, don't get stuck on brand loyalty. If you're next sled needs to be a reliable 4-stroke with good mileage and decent performance that is easy for the wife to ride, I'd look seriously at the Doo Renegade Ace 900. See: SnowTech Article

Good luck.

 

[stingray719]

Girlfriend rode a Viper and I finally got her to give up her Phazer. She keeps saying the Viper is smaller than her phazer and I have to remind her it just "feels" that way. I strongly suggest you let her ride a Viper before you decide, and if you can't find a Viper have her ride a 2014 Cat as chassis is the same (except Viper seat sets lower, that was important to girlfriend).

If you get a Phazer get those stock skis off fast as they make the sled follow ruts and dart. Nothing get s a girl off a sled faster than having it jerk to the left or right without warning at speed.

 

[stingray719]

I would echo what all the others are saying, and add one important consideration ... the sled is for your wife, so she should ride one before making a final decision. Can't emphasize this enough.

If I were in your shoes, I'd keep an open mind. In other words, don't get stuck on brand loyalty. If you're next sled needs to be a reliable 4-stroke with good mileage and decent performance that is easy for the wife to ride, I'd look seriously at the Doo Renegade Ace 900. See: SnowTech Article

Good luck.

Totally agree with your statement about having her ride it first. Other statement though did you just REALLY say reliable and Ski Doo in the same sentence?

 

[stingray719]

Re: '14 Phazer R-TX for Wifey...Your Thoughts Please, Yamahe

Hi folks,

I currently ride an '08 Vector and am heading out tomorrow to shop around for a sled for the missus. Looking for a nice GT set up with ample power. That said, I'm leaning towards the Phazer R-TX. A few questions; your thoughts and feedback would certainly be appreciated....

1. What's the top speed on these critters, just out of curiosity?
2. Should I be looking at a track upgrade, possibly to a 1.25"? Would love to hear from you folks that ride these.
3. What, on average, is the expected fuel mileage?
4. Is a larger fuel tank available?
5. What upgrades and accessories would you recommend?
6. Any known issues with this model (ie. iced-up running boards)?

Thanks in advance...looking forward to some replies!

If you are interested I have a Supercharged (140 hp) 2007 Phazer with 153 Nytro track and Camoplast skis with 467 TOTAL miles for sale. Sled is essentially a new sled. It is on consignement where we bought a new Viper from at Coyote Motorsports in Denver


Thanks!

 

[Elypsis]

Got an unused 2013 Phazer GT lined up for pick up from a local dealer tomorrow.

Can't wait...thanks for your input, folks!

 

[defiantecat]

Got an unused 2013 Phazer GT lined up for pick up from a local dealer tomorrow.

Can't wait...thanks for your input, folks!

My wife has a GT stretched with a 136x1.5" track. The extra track makes a world of a difference from the 121 it came with. I ride a MtX with the 144 track, but the narrow ski stance which makes it extremely tippy. IMO, the perfect phazer would be a combination of the two: in other words, I would strongly suggest you look at the Phazer XTX.

 

[canoehead]

Got an unused 2013 Phazer GT lined up for pick up from a local dealer tomorrow.

Can't wait...thanks for your input, folks!

Good job on the Brownie points...
She will be