Well folks, for anyone interested I finally got to go ride the trails in northern MN last weekend with my new Apex XTX.
We did just under 600 miles in 2-1/2 days from Silver bay to Grand Portage, around Hungry Jack Lake, Devil Track Lake and up to Gunflint Lake. We were surprised to see a lot of other Yamaha 4 strokes. There were a lot of Doos and not that many Cats (saw two broken) or Polaris.
Changes from stock are 152 studs, Simmons Flex skis, 13mm sway bar, two turns in front shocks and limiter straps up one hole.
The sled rode and handled phenominally...no exaduration. No darting, easy to steer and control, neither end would break loose. Could take corners with confidence and way faster than I wanted to go. It is amazing how much speed it carries through the corners. Rarely used the brakes, just let off the gas a little and back on it coming out of the corners...and make sure to hang on! All I had to do is sit there, steer it and lean a litttle. It was that easy.
The suspension worked excellent on both ends. We saw everything from glass smooth to 2 foot moguls. It was a lot of fun flying off the bigger humps in the trail too. I'm a little older and after that many miles, I felt good going home on Sunday. Not beat up at all, in fact wanted to ride more. I didn't buy it for the EPS but, it sure is nice and I wouldn't be without it now.
The engine is extremely powerful. I'm up over 1,600 miles and it just keeps getting stronger. I've put clutch kits in my other sleds but, see no need to change anything about this one.
I considered buying a Doo E-Tech 800 but, am glad I didn't. It looks so flimsy like something will break if you touch it. And, I would constantly worry about blowing the engine. No worries of anything with my XTX even being 50 miles from no where in the north woods.
We've rode ditches, wide open rivers and lakes and now north woods trails. This sled does everything I wanted it for very well and I am very happy with it. With a fair amount of seat time on previous model year sleds I wouldn't trade for two of the previous year Apexes or Attaks. I think this sled is that good.
Our season is over so time to put it away for the summer and get the golf clubs out. Hacking a golf ball around is sure to wipe the grin off my face.
I can't wait for next year to get this thing out for a spin again.
Happy riding to all you lucky dogs who still get to ride.
We did just under 600 miles in 2-1/2 days from Silver bay to Grand Portage, around Hungry Jack Lake, Devil Track Lake and up to Gunflint Lake. We were surprised to see a lot of other Yamaha 4 strokes. There were a lot of Doos and not that many Cats (saw two broken) or Polaris.
Changes from stock are 152 studs, Simmons Flex skis, 13mm sway bar, two turns in front shocks and limiter straps up one hole.
The sled rode and handled phenominally...no exaduration. No darting, easy to steer and control, neither end would break loose. Could take corners with confidence and way faster than I wanted to go. It is amazing how much speed it carries through the corners. Rarely used the brakes, just let off the gas a little and back on it coming out of the corners...and make sure to hang on! All I had to do is sit there, steer it and lean a litttle. It was that easy.
The suspension worked excellent on both ends. We saw everything from glass smooth to 2 foot moguls. It was a lot of fun flying off the bigger humps in the trail too. I'm a little older and after that many miles, I felt good going home on Sunday. Not beat up at all, in fact wanted to ride more. I didn't buy it for the EPS but, it sure is nice and I wouldn't be without it now.
The engine is extremely powerful. I'm up over 1,600 miles and it just keeps getting stronger. I've put clutch kits in my other sleds but, see no need to change anything about this one.
I considered buying a Doo E-Tech 800 but, am glad I didn't. It looks so flimsy like something will break if you touch it. And, I would constantly worry about blowing the engine. No worries of anything with my XTX even being 50 miles from no where in the north woods.
We've rode ditches, wide open rivers and lakes and now north woods trails. This sled does everything I wanted it for very well and I am very happy with it. With a fair amount of seat time on previous model year sleds I wouldn't trade for two of the previous year Apexes or Attaks. I think this sled is that good.
Our season is over so time to put it away for the summer and get the golf clubs out. Hacking a golf ball around is sure to wipe the grin off my face.
I can't wait for next year to get this thing out for a spin again.
Happy riding to all you lucky dogs who still get to ride.
zeke-xtx
Extreme
you need to take a trip up here winter is just getting nice!!!! im going riding in the morning 
newtron
Expert
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2010
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- 489
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- Ontario
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- 2020 900 ACE Turbo, 2019 SRX, 2018 850 X
what is the inside ski lift like on the new apex compared to the older apex? I have a 2010 and am thinking about a 2012, but don't want one if there is still that ski lift in the twisties with aggressive riding.
i rode the first couple of hundred with the stock bars and runnin hard on twisty trails it was awsome, i changed to the woodys duelies and the ski lift came back! handled like crap. going back to a six inch single.
Terminator
Expert
newtron said:
The ski lift is still there, its the only category that doesn't get an A or A+. You could go to a 13 mm sway bar but I did that to my 07 RTX and didn't like the front end stiffness on groomed/ bumpy trails so learning to use more body English and dealing w/ it.
Terminator
Expert
iahacker said:Well folks, for anyone interested I finally got to go ride the trails in northern MN last weekend with my new Apex XTX.
We did just under 600 miles in 2-1/2 days from Silver bay to Grand Portage, around Hungry Jack Lake, Devil Track Lake and up to Gunflint Lake. We were surprised to see a lot of other Yamaha 4 strokes. There were a lot of Doos and not that many Cats (saw two broken) or Polaris.
Changes from stock are 152 studs, Simmons Flex skis, 13mm sway bar, two turns in front shocks and limiter straps up one hole.
The sled rode and handled phenominally...no exaduration. No darting, easy to steer and control, neither end would break loose. Could take corners with confidence and way faster than I wanted to go. It is amazing how much speed it carries through the corners. Rarely used the brakes, just let off the gas a little and back on it coming out of the corners...and make sure to hang on! All I had to do is sit there, steer it and lean a litttle. It was that easy.
The suspension worked excellent on both ends. We saw everything from glass smooth to 2 foot moguls. It was a lot of fun flying off the bigger humps in the trail too. I'm a little older and after that many miles, I felt good going home on Sunday. Not beat up at all, in fact wanted to ride more. I didn't buy it for the EPS but, it sure is nice and I wouldn't be without it now.
The engine is extremely powerful. I'm up over 1,600 miles and it just keeps getting stronger. I've put clutch kits in my other sleds but, see no need to change anything about this one.
I considered buying a Doo E-Tech 800 but, am glad I didn't. It looks so flimsy like something will break if you touch it. And, I would constantly worry about blowing the engine. No worries of anything with my XTX even being 50 miles from no where in the north woods.
We've rode ditches, wide open rivers and lakes and now north woods trails. This sled does everything I wanted it for very well and I am very happy with it. With a fair amount of seat time on previous model year sleds I wouldn't trade for two of the previous year Apexes or Attaks. I think this sled is that good.
Our season is over so time to put it away for the summer and get the golf clubs out. Hacking a golf ball around is sure to wipe the grin off my face.
I can't wait for next year to get this thing out for a spin again.
Happy riding to all you lucky dogs who still get to ride.
X2, Couldn't have said it any better. Hoping to get 1 or 2 more weekends in Maine before I put her to sleep for the summer.
BigWhiskey
Newbie
I did the same loop almost the same weekend. Going up again this weekend. We leave from grand portage and head to lutsen. I have an 08 apeX gt and after that ride I'm spent. Would be nice to have power steering to see if that would help? I almost bought an 800 etec this winter also but after trying my buddies I'm glad I didn't. 3 of my ridin buddies are switchin to yammy next season from cat and doos!
Heck I may have seen you on the trail! We just got a huge dump of snow in thunder bay this week so the trails should be good for Saturday.
Cheers till next season
Heck I may have seen you on the trail! We just got a huge dump of snow in thunder bay this week so the trails should be good for Saturday.
Cheers till next season
Inside ski lift and other BS
You guys farther north are killing me with all the snow
With gas prices it's hard to fork over the money for travel. We spent $300 on fuel just to haul the the sleds to Tofte, MN.
I alway look for other TY riders but, never see anyone. I have the TY logo stickers on both sides of my sleds and wear my VIP hat to the watering holes. I'll keep watching. With the growing membership here, bound to run into someone eventually.
Ski lift on my sled is a non-issue. The combination of a 13mm sway bar, 2 turns in the front shocks and limiter strap up one hole (thanks for that advice Turk) make the front very stable and planted in the corners. I don't notice any harsh ride from the 13mm sway bar at all. The front shocks on it work very well.
I would recomend this exact set up to anyone riding twisty trails. It just doesn't get much better. Zero darting, just sit on it and steer it.
Here is an opinion on inside ski lift: The 4 strokes carry a lot of speed through corners. Going faster brings ski push and body roll when there is enough traction. I've heard other people I ride with comment on 4 stroke maintaining speed. Never really payed a lot of attention to the point until this year. I loaned my SRX to a friend for a Saturday ride on the local river. After riding my Apex for 20 miles I switched to my SRX just for fun. The SRX proved to be a lot slower through the corners. Four of our group have 4 strokes and we all notice there is no problem driving past 2 stroke sleds through the corners. I don't know exactly what it is but, you are going faster than you think on the 4 strokes through corners and don't need to use much if any brake.
We saw the same thing 3 or 4 years ago in the UP. There were 4 in our group on 4 strokes and 4 of us on 2 strokes. Us on the 2 stroke couldn't figure out why the 4 stroke sleds kept running away from us on the twisty trails. Now that I have an Apex, I understand why.
You guys farther north are killing me with all the snow
With gas prices it's hard to fork over the money for travel. We spent $300 on fuel just to haul the the sleds to Tofte, MN.I alway look for other TY riders but, never see anyone. I have the TY logo stickers on both sides of my sleds and wear my VIP hat to the watering holes. I'll keep watching. With the growing membership here, bound to run into someone eventually.
Ski lift on my sled is a non-issue. The combination of a 13mm sway bar, 2 turns in the front shocks and limiter strap up one hole (thanks for that advice Turk) make the front very stable and planted in the corners. I don't notice any harsh ride from the 13mm sway bar at all. The front shocks on it work very well.
I would recomend this exact set up to anyone riding twisty trails. It just doesn't get much better. Zero darting, just sit on it and steer it.
Here is an opinion on inside ski lift: The 4 strokes carry a lot of speed through corners. Going faster brings ski push and body roll when there is enough traction. I've heard other people I ride with comment on 4 stroke maintaining speed. Never really payed a lot of attention to the point until this year. I loaned my SRX to a friend for a Saturday ride on the local river. After riding my Apex for 20 miles I switched to my SRX just for fun. The SRX proved to be a lot slower through the corners. Four of our group have 4 strokes and we all notice there is no problem driving past 2 stroke sleds through the corners. I don't know exactly what it is but, you are going faster than you think on the 4 strokes through corners and don't need to use much if any brake.
We saw the same thing 3 or 4 years ago in the UP. There were 4 in our group on 4 strokes and 4 of us on 2 strokes. Us on the 2 stroke couldn't figure out why the 4 stroke sleds kept running away from us on the twisty trails. Now that I have an Apex, I understand why.
