2008 Vector GT 40th Anniversary Edition

[Yamu1]

I am selling my 2008 Nytro and considering buying a 2008 Vector GT 40th Anniversary edition. I am a groomed trail rider and lake runner. I liked my Nytro but found it a little nippy on long hauls and with the smaller tank was nervous on some of my trips even though it got great mileage. Comments on the vector would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[MadMax]

My buddy owns one.. He really loves it.. I own a 05 vector. It now has over 5,000 trouble free miles.. We both averaged 18.7 mpg on our last trip.. We put on 430 miles. We kept a close eye on the amount of gas we both used. To our delight we got the very same mileage.. You will like the motor.. It's not guite as strong as the nytro but it's strong enough for me... It's more stable than the 08 nytro.. By the way, if you want it to track true buy some studboy duece bars... Takes care of any darting issues.. Good luck. MM.

 

[flesh]

In my opnion after riding for about 25 year and on many different sleds the Vector GT is by far the best overall sled I've ever owned. I was a little scared going with the Vec after owning a couple cats and finally a Firecat as far as light weight feel went. But after some seat time in the Vector I felt right at home. Compaired to the Nytro I think you will enjoy the seating position much better if your the type of rider who likes to rack up the miles in a day. If you do a bit of off trail riding you should be happy with the performance. I'm a fairly big guy 6'2 and about 245 with gear on and am able to throw the Vector around really well...actually almost as easy as my old F7 believe it or not. The fuel econ. is great too, the last ride out last year I got 23.8 mpg (thats Canadian gallons) which was GREAT. The performance is great if your main objective is trail riding, the 30-80 punch is quite impressive but will fall off quite quick at the C note. I've only had mine to 100 on GPS. Again if your mainly on the trail and corner to corner is what you after then it will hold its own against the Nytro.
Hope this helps.

 

[Groomerdriver]

I am selling my 2008 Nytro and considering buying a 2008 Vector GT 40th Anniversary edition. I am a groomed trail rider and lake runner. I liked my Nytro but found it a little nippy on long hauls and with the smaller tank was nervous on some of my trips even though it got great mileage. Comments on the vector would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I have a 2005 Vector with a dual clicker M-10 skid in the rear. I'm pretty much the same kind of rider as you are...except the lake racer part. I have 4000+ miles on and echo the above comments....but not the 23+ per gallon. LOL!!!
My only question is will you like getting dusted on the lake by 600 and 700 class sleds? The sled is great from 0-80, but after that it takes a while to get to the magic 100, and the conditions have to be just right to top 100.
Have you been on an Apex?...my guess is that you have. If you want to contend in lake races....get the Apex..otherwise...be prepared to spend some $$$ to even try to keep up with the big boys.
My Vector with the M10 is the best trail sled I've ever owned...and I'm on sled #15.

Just my .02

 

[radianguy]

I have to agree with you guys as well, but I have to disagree with getting dusted by 600 and 700's on the lake. I rode with alot of guys last year and the only sled faster on the lake was an Attak.

 

[Metallicat]

Mine was just as fast as a Polaris IQ600 cfi and Cat F6, but quicker than both up to 80.

 

[Groomerdriver]

M-Cat - well you're clutched too plus a few other goodies.
I've yet to see a stock Vector "beat" an "in tune" 600 or 700. There are exceptions of course, but if you buy a stock Vector and expect to always beat 600 and 700 class sleds, you will be disappointed.

 

[Metallicat]

The newer 600 and 700 sleds absolutely rip, and the IQ6 does too, but my longer track with the 1.25" ripsaw allows me to pull ahead of the more powerful and lighter 2 stroke sleds with lesser tracks. By the time we hit 80 I am usually 5 sleds ahead of my cousin's IQ6 (I think it has a shockwave track?) and then we seem to just stay the same length apart past the century mark. I was probably 10 lenghts ahead of the F6 (2004 non sno-pro), but of course we were racing on an open rr grade with looser snow and not a hard, flat road so things could turn around in different conditions. I am sure under ideal conditions both sleds would pull me on top end. I haven't been able to top the 108mph mark on my speedo yet (about 95mph gps). That was on a pretty hard trail, but I was also over-reving by about 500 rpm on top end which may have hurt my performance somewhat.

M-Cat - well you're clutched too plus a few other goodies.
I've yet to see a stock Vector "beat" an "in tune" 600 or 700. There are exceptions of course, but if you buy a stock Vector and expect to always beat 600 and 700 class sleds, you will be disappointed.

 

[Groomerdriver]

The newer 600 and 700 sleds absolutely rip, and the IQ6 does too, but my longer track with the 1.25" ripsaw allows me to pull ahead of the more powerful and lighter 2 stroke sleds with lesser tracks. By the time we hit 80 I am usually 5 sleds ahead of my cousin's IQ6 (I think it has a shockwave track?) and then we seem to just stay the same length apart past the century mark. I was probably 10 lenghts ahead of the F6 (2004 non sno-pro), but of course we were racing on an open rr grade with looser snow and not a hard, flat road so things could turn around in different conditions. I am sure under ideal conditions both sleds would pull me on top end. I haven't been able to top the 108mph mark on my speedo yet (about 95mph gps). That was on a pretty hard trail, but I was also over-reving by about 500 rpm on top end which may have hurt my performance somewhat.

M-Cat - well you're clutched too plus a few other goodies.
I've yet to see a stock Vector "beat" an "in tune" 600 or 700. There are exceptions of course, but if you buy a stock Vector and expect to always beat 600 and 700 class sleds, you will be disappointed.

All good point MCat, but if you were the guy asking the original question....would you buy a Vector for lake racing? A well setup Apex will handle the trails as well as a Vector and kick some booty on the lakes too.

Go ask Racerdave what he thinks....his Apex isn't his all time fav sled, but it handles northern WI trails well, and goes like heck on the lakes.

 

[Metallicat]

I didn't even know what the original question was, but somehow I responded anyway. I just do that at times. Ok, so here is the deal...the Vec is happiest in the sub-90mph cruising speeds. If you don't like to ride above 90mph very often you'll be happy with it.

 

[Flipper]

Well after putting on 20 000 kms on my 05 Vector, I bought an 08 Vector GT so that says something. Rode my buddies 08 at the end of last year and really liked it.

My 05 was very reliable and economical to run. As others have said very strong up to about 80-90 mph and then it falls off.

 

[flyinwrenchz]

I have an 06 Vec and love it. The only things I don't like are lack of hand warmers ad that when the trails get rutted up and your riding at decent speeds the rear suspension will bottom a lot. there is no question though I would buy the sled in a heartbeat again. I'm sure the newer chassis would help a lot in the bottoming out department as well. I get a consistent 17.5-18.0 mpg. I would go for it. On a different note though what didn't you like about the Nytro. I was going to buy one this year and give the Vec to the wife to ride. One thing I liked about the Vec is that I could ride it all day long and not feel to beat up at the end of the day as long as the trails weren't complete crap. I'm hoping to get the same thing with the Nytro RTX SE please tell me I' not kidding myself. I'm 28 And like to hammer the corners pretty good and unfortunately I'm not a big ditch banger but Where I ride the trails are never that great so end up riding trails with usually with 1-2 foot moguls all day the hoping the Nytro would make those times more pleasant. Anyhow good luck with the vec