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2016 Models


I have had both and for me the seating position on the Viper is near perfect. I am 47 and my knees/back aren't what they used to be. My Nytro was starting to bother me on long rides and the Apex was a step backwards for me in comfort. The 4 cylinder is sweet but my 12 apex was a thirsty one(12mpg with a 9 gallon tank) and constantly looking for or riding to gas is no fun. A 4 holer in an updated chassis would be interesting.........
 
Sasquatch said:
I don't really care what comes out as long as the Apex is still a true Yamaha! A catamaha Apex would just leave a foul taste in my mouth! I love the motor but not that much! By 2017 or 18 I will be thinking of a new sled old one will be approaching 20,000 miles and it will be time to sell the Warrior and let the XTX take its place as second sled. Its up to Yamaha if they want to sell me another flagship sled!
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I am of the same feeling. After talking with oodles of Viper owners in Michigan a couple weeks ago and hanging around the dealership all week where we stay, I pretty much found out what we always knew......they are just a Cat with a Yamaha motor in it. Still way too many gremlins that are unlike Yamaha happening. The only ones that don't seem to be bothered by these gremlins are the guys that rode something other than a Yamaha before they purchased a Viper. Several that came off Apex models said they liked how they handle but missed the power and they had it in the shop too much. I too am hoping for more sleds made at the Yamaha factory.
 
Lets face it, the number 1 reason to buy a Yamaha is the motor/driveline. Now I agree the Vipers arn't screwed to gether as well as the Apex/Vectors but lets not pretend they were trouble free. Cracked W-arms, cracked rails, cam chain tensioners, a-arm bushings, snapped drive shaft, poor warmers , Phazer ECU's, etc...... Don't get me wrong I would buy another Yamaha again and have ridden nothing but the last 10 years but all sleds have there problems and it depends what you want put up with. My Viper has not left me in 4000 miles, and I expect to put many more on.
 
Yep but they always started without backfiring and dropping broken chunks of metal into the motor! All sleds do have problems but that is one I will not forgive! I'll ride a Cat or a Yamaha but don't want anything to do with a Catamaha.

The NA four stroke Cat is a very nice sled and very cheap as well. Best bang for the buck on the snow and IMHO a much better sled then the Viper!
 
Sasquatch said:
The NA four stroke Cat is a very nice sled and very cheap as well. Best bang for the buck on the snow and IMHO a much better sled then the Viper!
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X2! A fine sled indeed! Very comfortable and a solid performer. I almost bought a turbo version a few years ago but when I couldn't hear the turbo whine I lost interest.
 
STAIN said:
Lets face it, the number 1 reason to buy a Yamaha is the motor/driveline. Now I agree the Vipers arn't screwed to gether as well as the Apex/Vectors but lets not pretend they were trouble free. Cracked W-arms, cracked rails, cam chain tensioners, a-arm bushings, snapped drive shaft, poor warmers , Phazer ECU's, etc...... Don't get me wrong I would buy another Yamaha again and have ridden nothing but the last 10 years but all sleds have there problems and it depends what you want put up with. My Viper has not left me in 4000 miles, and I expect to put many more on.
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You are talking about years of use, cracked W arms come from heavy use or road salt getting in there from a few seasons of trailering on an open trailer. All sleds will have issues like that over time. I agree they didn't address the poor warmers very well, left it up to aftermarket. Exhaust bushings yep, but depending how you ride they can go thousands of miles or very few miles. Definitely a unique to Yamaha design though. No one else has this type of engine and exhaust system. I am talking a first year AC/YAM sled, most common is chain case issues and ignition starting issues I am hearing (Cat's electronics and gearbox). As for the Apex, I think much of their issues get hyped on here. Including myself we have several in our group and very few of the things mentioned have happened to any of us. The Apex is no ditch banger or boondocking machine. Ridden on trails it's a pretty reliable sled. Got to remember there are lots of them on the trail like mine that have 10,000-20,000 plus miles. Not many 2 strokes are even on the trails this long. Apex owners tend to keep their machines longer because they can. After 15 years of Michigan trips running and seeing plenty of everything on the trails I can honestly say I don't recall seeing many Yamaha's pulled over with the hoods opened.
 
you rather ride a suzu-cat than a yamma-cat!!!! LOL I"ll have to disagree on that one!!!!
 
6 days til the release and nothing. No rumors, no spy photos, nothing. I saw some spy photos of a Doo 880 Etec, but seems like it turned out to be Photoshopped. Very tight lid this year... hopefully not for new decals.
 
STAIN said:
you rather ride a suzu-cat than a yamma-cat!!!! LOL I"ll have to disagree on that one!!!!
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Any day of the week - month - year -- decade - millenium........
 
Normally I hear something when I go on my Michigan trip being many times over the years they test up there and things get seen and heard. I was told this season all the testing was done out west. Probably a good idea on their part being Michigan has been hopping with sledders everywhere. The rest of the Midwestern states are not rideable so everyone is flocking up there. Not one person has heard squat. I do know a couple guys on the IN that have seen all the new stuff but I haven't talked with them for quite some time. Normally they only give hints anyways otherwise they wouldn't be doing what they do with the manufacturers. 6 days isn't too long to wait anyways.
 
ydog said:
I know that the Seney and Grand Marais trail system are some of the best well kept groomed trails in the U.P. and I too love to ride the crazy eights. I have a friend that owns a house in Grand Marais and we're riding out of there alot, he actually held his wedding ceromony at Jerry's Hot Dog stand. Jerry's health isn't doing to good so he couldn't get set up this year and I hope he gets better soon and maybe he'll be back next year and for many years to come. It's strange running down 443 north of 431 and not seeing Jerry and having some of his hot cider, we're praying for you Jerry and I hope to talk again soon.
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I too miss Jerry. Not only was he a joy to visit with he made the best chili ever.
I hope you are right about why Jerry isn't open this year. I was told by a business owner that local bar owners complained about his stand and the one northwest of Paradise operating without a license and got both of them shut down.
 
This is getting stupid.
I"ll get out on this. I was first very against the Yamacat. I even called it the "bastard son of Yamaha and artic cat"
Then I thought about it for a while.
Then I rode one.
Then I GOT OVER IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would I have liked Yamaha to come out with there own kick-#*$&@ chassis---YES!!!
Did they---NO!!!!
Was I going to buy another $10k plus Yamaha with a chassis that was 12 years old---NO!!!
I have put over 25k miles on 5 different Yamahas in the past 10 years. The Viper is the best handling, most comfortable of the bunch no contest. It is the most fun I have had on a Yamaha sled.
If you don't like it and think another brand is for you, go buy it. But please stop pissing and moaning about it. It's getting old.
Yamaha did what they had to do to stay relevant and sell sleds. It's their fault they fell so far behind in chassis development. Maybe that will change in the future but not right now.
I'm out
 
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