2016 Yamaha Apex?

[biffdotorg]

Here is an observation from past years, it may be true or false. When yamaha has a good year in sales, which this year blows, they tend to leak a few photos and create a big buzz before announcement. This increases spring orders etc. Since the showfloors are full of 2015, let alone 2014 sleds that have not sold, I doubt we will see any sort of leaked photos. As much as they want spring orders, they need to clear out stock of 14/15 sleds.

Yamaha did the exact same thing just this week before the Miami boat show. Did you think it was an accident that they put up their new Center Console boat line website for a day, leaked some photos and specs, then pulled it down. Whatever. Boat sales have been huge, and people are ordering 2015's like crazy. They are generating even more buzz by announcing a whole new category of boat. So leaking it will only help sales.

If all they were announcing was BNG, there is no need to leak any photos. If it was a whole new platform, that may not hinder current model sales, then it would be worth leaking.

Heck, take a look at what has been out on the race circuit as well and it may give us a hint as to what may be coming. Shock options from third parties like Elka, more performance dampers and rear exhaust. That rear exhaust leads me to believe they may be doing some creative plumbing for a 4-cylinder turbo in a cat chassis. Even thought the turbo fits under the hood of the current three holer, it may not if a 4-holer is hiding in there. Why else did the racing team experiment with a rear exhaust? Anyone have a story behind that, or has it been swept under the rug?

 

[thor452]

just a thought the rear exhaust produces more hp and is more tunrable so that may be why.

 

[pdiddy]

If all they were announcing was BNG, there is no need to leak any photos. If it was a whole new platform, that may not hinder current model sales, then it would be worth leaking.

That let's a lot of air out of my enthusiasm - but I think you're right. Not a good sign that there's been no teaser ads yet.

 

[biffdotorg]

That let's a lot of air out of my enthusiasm - but I think you're right. Not a good sign that there's been no teaser ads yet.

Don't be too deflated. Remember when they did leak some photos and it was a free wrap you could get with your spring order! OMG was that a buzzkill. Thanks for the free BNG, HA!

There will be something, it's coming!

OK, this photo below reminds me of the pre-release Nytro that Robbie Malinowski raced at Duluth in 2007. There were odd pieces of sheet metal in places, and very non-stock exhaust sticking out the rear. It had enough plastics on it to make it look like a current model, but had upgraded shocks all the way around.

I smell something about this photo. What did they gain by closing in the rear of that tunnel? Is that something that form of racing gains, or are they hiding a new style skid/suspension in the rear. Obviously the space under the seat was half-#*$&@ mocked up to enclose the exhaust. That nose is a total mock up as well with the bumper removed. Maybe to hide the plumbing needed for the rear exhaust, or cover the front exhaust hole up.

Re Wadena's cross country sled is not closed off like that, and does that look like a cat skid? Maybe I am digging in too deep. I also like what CR said on Sled Talk about ET. An Enticer is totally possible and it may not be a phazer engine in a ProCross chassis, but possibly the same chassis as the 500 SnoPro.

 

[journeyman]

That let's a lot of air out of my enthusiasm - but I think you're right. Not a good sign that there's been no teaser ads yet.

Plus the dealers in MN and Wisconsin are not doing well this year with the poor snow season. Just the Yooper dealers are doing well around here. I know the Mpls/St.Paul dealers are cutting employee hours back as we speak. That tells me there are going to be allot of 2015's leftover. Probably just like every year for the Yamaha riders......BNG.....but wait 'til next year!! ....2017, ok next year.....2018, ok next year......and...and...and

 

[Murse]

Local dealers around here reporting good sled sales in the beginning. I went in today still the same 3 vipers in the show room. Hmm either way it's good for the consumer if there are left overs.

 

[Murse]

I was reading something about the Russian economy basically crashing which will cause sled sales in Europe to drop. Then cause North American sleds to go up in price....

 

[Grimm]

I was reading something about the Russian economy basically crashing which will cause sled sales in Europe to drop. Then cause North American sleds to go up in price....

Yup, and if the economy was exploding, then the price would go up. Anything that occurs in the economy, and the price will go up. Gas prices dropping? Prices will go up. It'll be interesting how much Yamaha will jack up the prices now that the Cdn dollar has dropped vs the US dollar.

 

[Murse]

Oh boy

 

[Sasquatch]

Yup, and if the economy was exploding, then the price would go up. Anything that occurs in the economy, and the price will go up. Gas prices dropping? Prices will go up. It'll be interesting how much Yamaha will jack up the prices now that the Cdn dollar has dropped vs the US dollar.

Already has I just bought a set of Duponts at 80 apiece and last year they where 60 apiece! Belt went up 10 bucks as well!

 

[journeyman]

Yes I looked at the Duponts on ebay they were $160 per set. Pat's price in the UP last week was $140 for the set. I spent enough dough up there and just put stock ones on with my new track for now.

 

[hibshman25]

Sure new sleds are exciting but I think everyone takes for granted the proven reliability of japan sleds. I have a viper and I was nervous about having it hold up. I take a vector as a spare on every trip. When I load up to go ride all I want to do is ride.....and japan sleds give me peace of mind.

 

[actionjack]

This

I have to agree with others that a new rear skid in the Apex and about a 20 HP increase is all they need for the current Apex. That would sell to the Apex faithful.

This
is an interesting post. I said something similar some time ago and I'll expand a little. 10-20 more HP 30lbs less, my ideas were refined lighter front suspension, rear Skid (done) refined Delta box chassis. We'll only know when we know but I like the progress with the skid and the similarity of a new skid the year before the Apex debuted.

 

[icebreaker]

For the guys that don't like the new Apex the way its designed, lets see you build it better. Maybe someone will buy your design. If you cant build your own then maybe you will have to buy something else!

 

[apex55]

Yep Apex is not broken! How do you make perfection betteor. And to those who say it is a bigger motor then the 3 they are wrong it is smaller, smoother and has more hp. Win Win Win! If they ever dump the Apex they better have a trail sled to replace it otherwise they loose a lot of Apex riders.

Viper is not an Apex replacement its a Nytro replacement even if they stuff an Apex engine in it. It would just be another engine swap not a ground up build. I would be hard pressed to buy a Catamaha. After looking at a Viper it was easy to see that it is cobbled together and the motor was an after thought. Yamaha's are not perfect but adding Cats problems to a Yamaha badged sled just makes them even less so! IMHO!

Can't agree more