2007 APEX GT owners only please.

[chrishall]

Hi Guys,

I created a similar thread that went great for RTX's, and am now currious about the GT's.

I own a 2005 RX1ER. Thinking on updating to an 07 or an 08 APEX GT. Have some questions.

1. How did the paint hold up on the rear suspension parts? Hopefully better than my RX1.

2. How good is the sturdiness of the Rear Suspension? Many breaks? Again, hopefully better than my 2005 RX1.

3. I required the fatboy spring on my RX1. Will I need to beef up GT. Is the fatboy spring for an RX1 the same for a GT? I weigh 210 suited up.

4. Did the hand and thumb warmer problem get fixed for 2007?

5. Is the only difference between 07 and 08 the shock package on the GT

6. Did you race any 2007 MXZ 800 on a lake and what were the results? Most my friends ride this sled. Only interested in Stock Sleds for this question because that is how I will ride this one. (Other than studs)

Thanks for all you input,
Chris

 

[The Tweaker]

Chris,

1. The paint does chip on the rear suspension parts, after one season of 2400 miles, mine has a few, mostly on the spring.

2. I had no breaks in my rear suspension and I worked mine riding groomed and rough groomed trails.

3. You should not need the big boy spring on an 07, I weigh the same as you and had no issues at all.

4. My hand and thumb warmers were excellent and get very hot.

5. I believe you are right, other than colors and the shocks I think that is the only difference between 07 and 08 GT's.

Overall, it is a good sled. The engine is the best part, it pulls hard. Handling has allot to be desired. Stock ski's need dual runners or replacements. Front suspension set up needs allot tweeking out of the box to alleviate tipping and proper bite. The electronic rear shock worked great for me. The mid height windshield has decent protection but not great. The reverse system occasionally has it hitches and my handle broke in half. My overheat light came on quite a bit in normal conditions, but I have changed anti-freeze and hope that helps, if not there is a rear heat exchanger available, but I won't pay for it, it should be warranteed. The seat is pretty narrow. hard to sit back on and find a spot to stay, it constantly slides you toward the tank, but is not uncomfortable. High beams are useless, they shoot straight in the trees.

These are just some of the issues I had, other than that, it is a very reliable machine. I enjoyed electric start and not having to lug oil on trips. Hope this helps...

 

[ReX]

Edit: I don't own a GT, but I help maintain several Apex ERs and have ridden with an 06 & 07 GT and discussed in detail problems that the owners had.

1. How did the paint hold up on the rear suspension parts? Hopefully better than my RX1.

The Apex suspension parts are identical to the updated 05 RX-1 parts. The only change to structural parts is a different weight transfer rod is used. Of course a different shock and spring are also used on the GT.

I don't consider the paint as durable as Skidoo's paint and the monoshock pivot arms tend to have the paint flake off or at least the paint cracks at the highly stress welds.

If you really take it easy, the paint doesn't flake or crack. I've looked at the suspensions on 05 RX-1's driven over 10,000 km by a few older men (who take it easy) and the paint on the arms still looks great. On the other hand, my buddies will crack the paint off the welds in a single ride.

2. How good is the sturdiness of the Rear Suspension? Many breaks? Again, hopefully better than my 2005 RX1.

About the same as the updated 05 RX-1 skid. Most of the guys I talk to find they hold up fairly well until the mileage gets at least into the 5000-10000 km range. Having said that, last season two guys I rode with pushed their sleds much harder and these guys broke front and rear pivot arms and the rails in about 2000-3000 km (I rode with one of them on my 07 RTX and it didn't have any problems).

I've spoken to guys with 06 GTs who have had shock problems, but the guy I spoke with about his 07 hadn't "blown the shock", but he did complain that it bottomed out to easily.

3. I required the fatboy spring on my RX1. Will I need to beef up GT. Is the fatboy spring for an RX1 the same for a GT? I weigh 210 suited up.

I can't really answer this question.

4. Did the hand and thumb warmer problem get fixed for 2007?

The 07 hand warmers are definitely better (my 07 has them), but they are still a little on the weak side of things. With a large windshield and a full handlebar pad, I found they always eventually got hot enough for me, even in the coldest conditions. What I did find was on very cold days/evenings it often took 15+ minutes of riding with frozen hands before they would start to thaw out.

5. Is the only difference between 07 and 08 the shock package on the GT

See my comments in your RTX thread. I was recently told that the only shock updates between 07 and 08 were on the Apex RTX. I can't confirm this. My understanding is the 07 GT did have updated shock valving from the 06 model.

6. Did you race any 2007 MXZ 800 on a lake and what were the results? Most my friends ride this sled. Only interested in Stock Sleds for this question because that is how I will ride this one. (Other than studs)

I just spoke to a friend last night who raced his stock 06 Apex ER against a 2007 MXZ 800. The MXZ 800 beat him by 2 mph on radar and by several lengths every time. The radar run was on plowed ice (4 mile stretch). Both were running 144 studs and other than that were 100% stock.

The 06, 07 and 08 Apex GT has essentially the same drivetrain so I expect it would be the same.

 

[Coondog2707]

Love my 07 gt
1 Paint held up okay. After storage there is some rust and a few chips, but nothing terribly noticable.

2 Nothing broke on the rear skid. in fact the only problem I have encountered was a small simple oil leak that the dealer took care of, and I am finding the front A arm bushings to be fairly loose after only 1300 miles. I am going to begin replacing those today.

3 I weigh 190 without gear. I am not re springing it, but I will revalve it. I had some bottoming issues in big bumps or even on groomed large high speed rollers.

4 Handwarmers were unsatisfactory, and I didnt buy an 06 that was a better deal because I waited for that problem to be repaired. This is the most irritating part about this sled. I think I have fixed it though.

5 I am not well versed enough on the 08 to say for sure, but that is the feeling I get.

6 my stock GT handled my buds 07 SD 800 every time. but he used almost $1.00 less fuel at every pit stop. I told him I'd pay a buck every time just to shut him up!