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2011 impressions

Superman

Superman

TY 4 Stroke Master
Joined
Jan 21, 2005
Messages
1,355
Location
Gaylord MI
Website
www.lakeffectsnow.com
I got to ride Yamaha's 2011 mystery sled in Gaylord MI, today. A group of 5 of us took these new sleds for a 125 mile ride. I was extremely taken by what I rode. Here are my impressions.

First thing I noticed is the sled is cool looking. Yes it looks like the current Apex but the new styling cues really look good in person. Seating position and ergoes feel close to the current Apex but the seating changes do feel better than the current Apex.

The Motor- I'm calling it a 4 cylinder and I'll bet my left kahuna that it is. Hope I'm right. It sounds different, a slightly higher pitch/tone more like a formula 1 sound. The power feels slightly different too. Smoother. Is it faster than the 2010? I'm guessing because its new it probably is. Something I think I noticed was the 35 mph 5,000 rpm drone of the old Apex didnt' seem to exist on the new sled. I heard it on the 2010 today but I really don't recal it on the 2011.

Handling- :-o :Rockon: Best thing I liked about the sled. This new "Apex?" is the easiest sled I've ever rode. You can turn the skis sitting still on a trail. When slowing down at intersections or doing a U-turn is a Breeze. It's like the power steering in your car. On the trail at lower speeds in the twisty's is were I loved it the most. Riding this new sled at 15 to 40 mph speeds is amazing. Steering effort is so light you have the sensation that the skis aren't even touching the snow. Going thru the corners is cool. There are times on current sleds where your in the middle of a corner and you have to adjust the handlebar input because of the input coming back thru the skis. Well the input coming back to the rider on the 2011 feels more like a feeling of touch and feel vs. the feeling of force and resisitance. I think everyone on our ride agreed the sled was fantastic in the corners. That old feeling of having to have the throttle in a certain position to control the weight on the skis is gone as far as I'm concerned. The skis go where you point them and stay there- period. All traditional sleds get lighter steering the faster you go. Not with this 2011. You don't have to go fast to feel sporty on this new "Apex?". I never experienced any inside ski lift today. All Yamaha's should have this steering system. It is soooooo easy to ride.

Suspension- The last Mono-shock I had was in 2006. I've heard the mono-2's are better and now I've felt it. Even the 2010 comparison sleds we rode were fantastic . Whatever Yamaha has been doing to this skid is working. Those who know me, know I'm not a light guy. And the trails we rode today I would rate in the 4 to 7 range. I never bottomed out and the skid overall felt plush.

Darting- I didn't think there was much darting. A few others in the group thought it was a little more of an issue than I did. I think darting is a person to person issue. I could have taken any one of the 2011' sleds just the way they sat there for my personal trail sled. 3" factory carbides and all. We did have one 2011 sled there with duallies. I never rode it. I should have but I really didn't feel the need. Some of the others thought the duallies tracked better to their liking.

Based on my ride today I love this sled. I usually ride faster than what we did on the Demo today but didn't lolly gag out there today. It was a fun, good spirited pace and I felt like I could probably ride these sleds 250 to 300 miles without any fatigue. We rode the Starvation lake and Lakes of the North trail system. These trails have a good mix of twisty's, sweepers, straights....etc.

I think this new sled is going to take the best high milage trail sled and make it even easier to rack up miles on a wider variety of trails. For guys who want to buy the wife or girl friend a sled, You should take a hard look at this thing. I'll bet my lefty again that this new Yamaha is easier to rider than any make or model she's currently riding. We had a woman with us today and IMO she rode the sled terrific.

Thanks to Yamaha for the Demo ride. 125 miles is one heck of a Demo ride. I'm very grateful to have the opportunity. Switching back and forth all day between the 2010's and 2011's I feel other's need to get out there and try this new sled out. I gaurantee you'll love it. If all new sleds from this time forward go to this steering system that might qualify as a game changer.
 

Turn down the handwarmers? OMG I gotta buy this sled...LOL
 
Great review of the sled, was good to talk to you on the phone tonight also.
Take care and keep the track side down. Dan
 
Agman 57 said:
Great review of the sled, was good to talk to you on the phone tonight also.
Take care and keep the track side down. Dan
Click to expand...
Always a pleasure Dan. Hope we can hook up for some riding in March.

Climbmax said:
Real world.....thanks for the report
:Rockon:
Click to expand...
Your welcome, Based on what's happening on other posts I hope people at least take the time to set up a Demo ride. I also have sticker shock. But that being said I don't want to buy a left over or used Apex now that I've rode this 011' Apex. No way!.
 
We will find out how much they are going to wheel and deal. I would pay 10K for it but not anything more.
 
Superman said:
I got to ride Yamaha's 2011 mystery sled in Gaylord MI, today. A group of 5 of us took these new sleds for a 125 mile ride. I was extremely taken by what I rode. Here are my impressions.

First thing I noticed is the sled is cool looking. Yes it looks like the current Apex but the new styling cues really look good in person. Seating position and ergoes feel close to the current Apex but the seating changes do feel better than the current Apex.

The Motor- I'm calling it a 4 cylinder and I'll bet my left kahuna that it is. Hope I'm right. It sounds different, a slightly higher pitch/tone more like a formula 1 sound. The power feels slightly different too. Smoother. Is it faster than the 2010? I'm guessing because its new it probably is. Something I think I noticed was the 35 mph 5,000 rpm drone of the old Apex didnt' seem to exist on the new sled. I heard it on the 2010 today but I really don't recal it on the 2011.

Handling- :-o :Rockon: Best thing I liked about the sled. This new "Apex?" is the easiest sled I've ever rode. You can turn the skis sitting still on a trail. When slowing down at intersections or doing a U-turn is a Breeze. It's like the power steering in your car. On the trail at lower speeds in the twisty's is were I loved it the most. Riding this new sled at 15 to 40 mph speeds is amazing. Steering effort is so light you have the sensation that the skis aren't even touching the snow. Going thru the corners is cool. There are times on current sleds where your in the middle of a corner and you have to adjust the handlebar input because of the input coming back thru the skis. Well the input coming back to the rider on the 2011 feels more like a feeling of touch and feel vs. the feeling of force and resisitance. I think everyone on our ride agreed the sled was fantastic in the corners. That old feeling of having to have the throttle in a certain position to control the weight on the skis is gone as far as I'm concerned. The skis go where you point them and stay there- period. All traditional sleds get lighter steering the faster you go. Not with this 2011. You don't have to go fast to feel sporty on this new "Apex?". I never experienced any inside ski lift today. All Yamaha's should have this steering system. It is soooooo easy to ride.

Suspension- The last Mono-shock I had was in 2006. I've heard the mono-2's are better and now I've felt it. Even the 2010 comparison sleds we rode were fantastic . Whatever Yamaha has been doing to this skid is working. Those who know me, know I'm not a light guy. And the trails we rode today I would rate in the 4 to 7 range. I never bottomed out and the skid overall felt plush.

Darting- I didn't think there was much darting. A few others in the group thought it was a little more of an issue than I did. I think darting is a person to person issue. I could have taken any one of the 2011' sleds just the way they sat there for my personal trail sled. 3" factory carbides and all. We did have one 2011 sled there with duallies. I never rode it. I should have but I really didn't feel the need. Some of the others thought the duallies tracked better to their liking.

Based on my ride today I love this sled. I usually ride faster than what we did on the Demo today but didn't lolly gag out there today. It was a fun, good spirited pace and I felt like I could probably ride these sleds 250 to 300 miles without any fatigue. We rode the Starvation lake and Lakes of the North trail system. These trails have a good mix of twisty's, sweepers, straights....etc.

I think this new sled is going to take the best high milage trail sled and make it even easier to rack up miles on a wider variety of trails. For guys who want to buy the wife or girl friend a sled, You should take a hard look at this thing. I'll bet my lefty again that this new Yamaha is easier to rider than any make or model she's currently riding. We had a woman with us today and IMO she rode the sled terrific.

Thanks to Yamaha for the Demo ride. 125 miles is one heck of a Demo ride. I'm very grateful to have the opportunity. Switching back and forth all day between the 2010's and 2011's I feel other's need to get out there and try this new sled out. I gaurantee you'll love it. If all new sleds from this time forward go to this steering system that might qualify as a game changer.
Click to expand...



Nice informative write up, Mr. White!!!!!


I sense a Jet Black 2012 Apex XTX SE with Fox Floats all around in my future!!!!!

;)! ;)! ;)! ;)! ;)! ;)! ;)! ;)!


Mike
 
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