Fusion
Expert
Hey guys;
I am basically a lifetime Polaris owner that is in the process of making the switch to Yamaha. I have ridden and owned all three other major manufacturer sleds, but never Yamaha. Polaris has disappointed me with lagging tech, and some nagging quality problems. I still own one, 2007 IQ 600 CFI LX - a very nice sled, but a few minor issues.
I am in the process of purchasing a 2007 APEX for my wife to ride. Of course I will jump on it from time to time as well. Can you please give me some detailed information about quality issues, handling, motor, things I should be aware of, oil change frequency - anything at all I should know about the sled - good, and bad. All opinions and comments will be greatly appreciated!
I am all but sold on the sled, but I would like to know what I'm getting myself into here. I have never owned a four stroke.
Thanks.
I am basically a lifetime Polaris owner that is in the process of making the switch to Yamaha. I have ridden and owned all three other major manufacturer sleds, but never Yamaha. Polaris has disappointed me with lagging tech, and some nagging quality problems. I still own one, 2007 IQ 600 CFI LX - a very nice sled, but a few minor issues.
I am in the process of purchasing a 2007 APEX for my wife to ride. Of course I will jump on it from time to time as well. Can you please give me some detailed information about quality issues, handling, motor, things I should be aware of, oil change frequency - anything at all I should know about the sled - good, and bad. All opinions and comments will be greatly appreciated!
I am all but sold on the sled, but I would like to know what I'm getting myself into here. I have never owned a four stroke.
Thanks.
Gibby
Expert
Attachments
Kevin Garceau
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
My wife rides and apex and loves it. She likes the seating position as she can get up on the bars and see real well when she needs to, or stretch her legs and sit back when she cruises. She says she feels much more in control of this sled than the standard styles.
It starts well, runs great, and has reverse. My wife is light enough where the mono shock really suits her well, some men dont like it as it bottoms pretty easy but those that fit it right, really enjoy it for a trail cruiser.
It starts well, runs great, and has reverse. My wife is light enough where the mono shock really suits her well, some men dont like it as it bottoms pretty easy but those that fit it right, really enjoy it for a trail cruiser.
mulderdad
Expert
I like my 07 apex rtxer alot. The only complaint I have is it will bottom out on the larger bumps. I ride VERY aggressive and even ditch bang with it. I am a guy who loves to throw a sled around and hang off the sled alot. I also stand up alot of the time. Love the power band and even love the engine braking once I got used to it. You can get off the throttle just enough to make some good speed throught the corners. It has fix's airbox lid and 144-1.450 woodys megabites studs with double backers singles mix and tall nuts, and I changed the stock skis (they sucked).
Just my 2 cents,
Rick.
Just my 2 cents,
Rick.
mulderdad
Expert
and a 13mm sway bar
welterracer
TY 4 Stroke God
Four strokes are a completely different bread of sleds... I have owned 3 of them and you never completey get usto to engine breaking.. it takes alot of skill to power these suckers threw the woods at high speed..
Honestly i think your wife will hate the sled depending on what kind of riding you do.. if you guys are just your average joe riders who trail ride and dont push there sleds to the limit.. She might like the sled.., but if she is extremely usto the old low slung polaris sleds. she will hate it..
The apex is pretty heavy and you feel it in the corners.. and being a female and probobly not a body builder, im sure she will feel it more..
as you will find we have all had to dump money into our sleds to make them ride/handle as good as some of the other brands perform stock..
The greatest part of a Yami is the engine.. the sound and the HP.. the suspension is lacking in stock form and the handling isnt as good as most of the other brands without adding better skis and a thicker swaybar..
You tell me.. what kind of rider is SHE??
Honestly i think your wife will hate the sled depending on what kind of riding you do.. if you guys are just your average joe riders who trail ride and dont push there sleds to the limit.. She might like the sled.., but if she is extremely usto the old low slung polaris sleds. she will hate it..
The apex is pretty heavy and you feel it in the corners.. and being a female and probobly not a body builder, im sure she will feel it more..
as you will find we have all had to dump money into our sleds to make them ride/handle as good as some of the other brands perform stock..
The greatest part of a Yami is the engine.. the sound and the HP.. the suspension is lacking in stock form and the handling isnt as good as most of the other brands without adding better skis and a thicker swaybar..
You tell me.. what kind of rider is SHE??
mulderdad
Expert
I actually disagree with you welterracer on the engine braking thing.
I rode my buds heavily modified doo 800 last winter when he was tryin out my apex and I almost wrecked his sled on the trails b/c I was so used to the engine braking on my apex. I do get up on the bars alot maybe thats why I like it so much. My wife really liked it last year when she go to ride it. She found when she let off before the corners it was like driving her van she said, if that makes sense. Very easy to ride and handle even for the average rider. Your wife will love it once she rides it a couple times.
I rode my buds heavily modified doo 800 last winter when he was tryin out my apex and I almost wrecked his sled on the trails b/c I was so used to the engine braking on my apex. I do get up on the bars alot maybe thats why I like it so much. My wife really liked it last year when she go to ride it. She found when she let off before the corners it was like driving her van she said, if that makes sense. Very easy to ride and handle even for the average rider. Your wife will love it once she rides it a couple times.
mulderdad
Expert
I also found that a little less air in the front shocks helped a lot for cornering.
RacerDave
Expert
As a lifelong Poo owner also, I compare mine a lot to a Edge. Inside ski lift, about the same rear skid ride. More power and much heavier. Better riding position than a edge. No where near as good a trail carver as the IQ you own.
ahicks
TY 4 Stroke Master
Fusion said:
I've been on Poo's forever. As much as I like the idea of going 4s, I don't like the idea of putting my Lady on something that heavy (think tripple), but you obviously know her capabilities/experience much better than I do. We have the situation you described flipped. She's on the 600 IQ (w/elec. start), and I'm on an Apex. We're both off of Edge 800's. We both made the switch to "rider forward" at the same time, and we both had to learn how to drive again.
The Yammi sleds are incredible, but there is no doubt a learning curve to it if you haven't spent any time on a "rider forward" design. Speaking for myself, the sleds both took a lot of blame for handling issues that were actually driver issues, so I spent some time chasing my tail there regarding setup.
The engine braking will be a non event as soon as you figure out how to carry a little power into/through the corners. At that point it's more like a secret weapon.
TonyVT
Expert
When you ride the Apex you will not want to give it back to her.
Trust me. You will not!
Welcome!!
Trust me. You will not!
Welcome!!
Fusion said:
SumpBuster
TY 4 Stroke God
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2003
- Messages
- 2,353
- Location
- Carlisle, NY .
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 18 sidewinder; 06 Apex RTX
I have yet to tire of the Apex, especially after a long day. It's a great all around trail sled, with a high smile/mile factor.
Ported Hornet
Expert
I have to agree with Welt, my wife hates the Apex, she much prefered her 800 X package rev. She said she felt the sled was too bulky and heavy for her. When she starts riding again, I pull try to put her on a Nytro, if not a XP 800 will be in her stable.
I on the other hand over my 07 RTX, engine is second to none. There are a few bugs on the sled but they can be tuned out or fixed.
I on the other hand over my 07 RTX, engine is second to none. There are a few bugs on the sled but they can be tuned out or fixed.
Fusion
Expert
What type of rider is she?
Some very interesting and insightful opinions - thank you to all.
She's a very non-agressive rider, pretty pokey - I'm always waiting for her. Not very strong, and not willing to muscle a sled at all. She likes the feel and handling of the IQ with the duelly carbides. She also has commented how much she likes the rider forward/higher position of the IQ to the Edge chassis. Sounds to me like if I go this direction, I'll be riding the APEX and she'll be on my IQ.
I was under the impression, based on pictures of the APEX GT, this is not a rider forward design, that it's lower sitting, and closer to the Edge? It appears I am all wrong about that.
If you look at an '08-'09 Nytro you clearly see it is rider forward, but it isn't as evident by just looking at the APEX. If it weren't for the handling problems, I'd have us riding an '08 Nytro, but I got scared off after all I read about them on this site.
Some very interesting and insightful opinions - thank you to all.
She's a very non-agressive rider, pretty pokey - I'm always waiting for her. Not very strong, and not willing to muscle a sled at all. She likes the feel and handling of the IQ with the duelly carbides. She also has commented how much she likes the rider forward/higher position of the IQ to the Edge chassis. Sounds to me like if I go this direction, I'll be riding the APEX and she'll be on my IQ.
I was under the impression, based on pictures of the APEX GT, this is not a rider forward design, that it's lower sitting, and closer to the Edge? It appears I am all wrong about that.
If you look at an '08-'09 Nytro you clearly see it is rider forward, but it isn't as evident by just looking at the APEX. If it weren't for the handling problems, I'd have us riding an '08 Nytro, but I got scared off after all I read about them on this site.
TonyVT
Expert
IF you want her on a 4 stroke go with a vector. Much more standard, tho not completely but much easier to ride. Its no slouch either...its sneaky fast and smooooooth.. YOud like it too...
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