2015 APEX SE - First Ride

I like the top speed of my Apex but what I really love is the mid range torque! I LOVE cruising along between 50-70mph and just pin it! I am usually the one leading my group. When I notice by buddies getting a little brave in my mirrors, I love putting the skis up and leaving them in the snow dust!
 
sx7001 said:
Lots of fast sleds on the web!!! My old 03 Rx is still the fastest " box stock top end Genesis" I've had to date. That 1 inch nipple track rolled some good #'s.
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Very true,my 03 rx1 w/same nipple track and some light clutching still holds my best top speed verified on ice/snow 117 gps several pass's,now one day I had my apex 07 gt that was reading 135 speedo acrossed icy/snowy lake,but I did not have my gps,so it may of hit 118 not 100% sure,but like said earlier 100 plus on ice can be very tricky at times.
 
Wildyami said:
Last weekend, I took my new 2015 APEX SE out for its first ride in Northern Wisconsin and Michigan's U.P. 685 miles on her in three days. I am 48 years old and approximately 185 pounds. Here are my first impressions:

Engine - Strong, smooth pull and you better have the ski's pointed in the right direction when you pin the throttle. Very smooth power and I love the extended power band. Negatives - the engine/exhaust is loud as my ears are still ringing. I will wear ear plugs going forward. At 450 miles, I saw 101 mph top speed on the speedometer on a packed trail. This was very disapointing since I thought I would at least see 110 or something close. GPS would cetainly be less. I hope she loosens up for more top end.

Front suspension - I adjusted the air shocks back to the factory recommended spec pressure. I absolutely love the Fox shocks. The first day I rode this machine in Michigan's U.P., I could have easily gone over 300 miles. I rode it like my grandma during its crucial break-in. The first day ride was 275 miles!

Rear Suspension - I adjusted the air shock back to the factory recommended spec pressure. I felt the 185 PSI spec was too much. The manual states to adjust it up or down 5 PSI until it feels comfortable. I will adjust down for my next trip. It handled stutter bumps very well and tackled big bumps like a snow cross racer.

Fit/Finish/Build Quality - Absolutely outstanding! I added the xenon headlamp option and it is an absolute must. The headlights are so bright, they outshine anyone's standard lights in front of you. A friend of mine who has purchased over 20 Ski-Doos commented on how much better the fit and finish of the APEX was over his new Ski-Doos. I had multiple people on the trail stop me and ask about the sled. The number one question was, "What is that weird shock on the back of the machine?" The sled experienced no problems in its first 685 miles and it is now ready for its first oil change. BTW, I have been snowmobiling for over 35 years and this is my fourth new Yamaha sled. My last sled was a 99' SRX 700 and she is still with me as a backup. I hope this review provides some insight. Any comments or questions are welcome.
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Good report. Seems you like the sled.
Suggest you suck up limiter strap 1 hole .
These sleds love Semi Aggressive Sno Trackers.
You like those Air Shocks better than I do. I'm 200 lbs & run rear shock @155 psi & fronts @ 70. [Great when pushed hard, trail riding I prefer the standard coil overs on this sled]
I bought a demo with 300 miles on it so I imagine it was broke in hard.
It Radared at 109 MPH [113 speedo] at 500 miles, on the trail. [ Same day a 2011 SE radared 107, Attak, 106 & 1200 Doo 98. ] [trail was firm]
 
Murse said:
True I consistently hit 103 - 105 MPH on a good groomed trail.
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Any of you running Duponts? Some say they are worth a few mph on top. I know I can run them hard with little snow and when I stop they are cool to the touch. No heat means no friction which means more speed.
 
I've been using DuPonts for 3 years love them. Not sure if it's adding speed but can't hurt.
 
Yeah, good review!! I'm about to become 60 yrs old...lol....so I only hear my damn exhaust rattling..but speed cures that too!! Anyway, sx7001....you are right...my 2003 blue RX-1 would hit 128 mph on the speedo, which I know is wrong, but still pretty fast...on Salmon river reservoir and leave my old 2001 Mach Z triple/triple in the distance....wide open for 6 miles...smooth as glass...with that crappy track...and my 06 apex, with just some minor driven and clutch tweaks, will run 10,800 rpm at shift out, and will go past an indicated 100 like it goes past 50 on the speedo...and on grass, in 500 feet on our strip, I can get an indicated 98 mph from a standing start, with only my vector driven on for a mod....that lets it pull 11,000 rpm on grass..the stock driven gets bogged down from the weight/friction. Bottom line, Apex's can be very fast sleds, but I think they really need to pull past at least 10,600. A friends bone stock Apex only pulls about 10,100 at shift out, and honestly, I go past him very easily.
 
Wow I forget how fast a boosted sled is my ole apex regularly hits 140 on the dream meter. What is that about 125 ish? This is on a trail that's good and packed. I remember hitting Gogebic in 8" of fresh snow I could go 95-100mph all the 800s were stuck at 70 now that is some power!!! Apex's FTW!!!


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kinger said:
Wow I forget how fast a boosted sled is my ole apex regularly hits 140 on the dream meter. What is that about 125 ish? This is on a trail that's good and packed. I remember hitting Gogebic in 8" of fresh snow I could go 95-100mph all the 800s were stuck at 70 now that is some power!!! Apex's FTW!!!


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On my warrior 120 was 105 on the GPS. So 125 is a good guess! My old Cat 1000 triple two up Pantera while riding double got a few double takes when I would pass someone at 100mp (speedo) in the powder (6/8 inches) on the lake while they where riding on the groomed trail. So they would pin it and I'd just roll on some throttle and stay with them. Sled would hit 120mp or 106 GPS riding double or single It didn't matter to it! Many people couldn't figure out why a touring sled just left them behind. Then they wondered why I bought a Warrior instead of the 800 Pantera they where trying to sell me. At least the Warrior could break 100mph!

What I loved last year was taking off in 1 and a half 2 foot deep snow with my Apex and slowly opening the throttle (at first the front rode high) till it was wide open which as the speed climbed upwards it hit a point that the rear of the sled began to lift/plane and the front dropped a bit reminding me of my boat on water. When that happened the sled began to gain speed rapidly, it suprized me a bit as I would have never done that on my Warrior it would have wallowed along with me happy happy happy!

I'm thinking its the 144 inch sneaker that gives enough lift, plus a few more pony's. Cool thing was when I went back and looked at the tracks they where only in 6/8 inches and I was back to wallowing in the snow till I throttled up again. I love the XTX!

If I was rich I would turbo my Warrior just for that speed rush but as its my spare sled I better not! Watching Don run his turbo at the ball licker and hitting 126mph in soft sugary snow and Jim Manning hitting 133mph at the Ball Licker coming in third, top speed was 136 I think also by a Turbo Yami is impressive!
 
Sasquatch said:
Any of you running Duponts? Some say they are worth a few mph on top. I know I can run them hard with little snow and when I stop they are cool to the touch. No heat means no friction which means more speed.
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I have been running duponts since that 500 mile mark when the stock sliders went bad. I am not sure if I gained on top end or not. I did notice that I used the brakes more. This year I went to Excell X wheels and use brakes even more. I kinda miss the "jake brake" on the RX Warrior. I have never done a brake job on a snowmobile. Might have to do that in a couple years. I absolutely love the XTX!
 
Stock 06 Apex. 121 on the dreamometer and 107mph on the GPS at St. Germain last thursday. Extra tall
windshield was folding back....lol.
 
i had my 2013 apex xtx out on the head pond today for a 1 mile full throttle run, sled has a woodys performance power up kit with a BSB spring and stock weights in the primary with some tinkering on heel and mid weight rivets, overdrive primary shive cut secondary helix and a silver spring i beleave mbrp can and i hit 120mph on the nose speedo and they say its within 3% og gps so thats 116.4 mph and ive seen 110 on the trail lots of times. i love my apex, nice upgrade from a 2005 rx warrior
 
Cummins6.7pwr said:
I have been running duponts since that 500 mile mark when the stock sliders went bad. I am not sure if I gained on top end or not. I did notice that I used the brakes more. This year I went to Excell X wheels and use brakes even more. I kinda miss the "jake brake" on the RX Warrior. I have never done a brake job on a snowmobile. Might have to do that in a couple years. I absolutely love the XTX!
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Ya my XTX engine braking new was like my Warrior after 18,000 miles. I did the Warrior brake pads around 12,000 miles or so.
 
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