2016

[yamajammer76]

Lots of changes but just not that excited.
Way too many Viper models. Would hate to be dealer trying to explain differences to the average joe.
No Vector LTX wow!? I just dont see that many people wanting a 146" x 1.75" Apex/vector even if it is coupled suspension.

You can get them with a 1.25" Ripsaw II as well so I guess with the new suspension being 10 lbs. lighter even with the extended length they just decided that "most" people will prefer the longer length to improve floatation in these sleds. Remember the short track version is now 129" as well so do they really need a 136" in between? If you really want that length they do have a 137" Viper. My Dad owns the XF 7000 with the 137" and it is a very nice set-up.

You can complain all you want, but in defense of Yamaha this is the most they have done with their Apex/Vector line in over 5 years. They probably should have face-lifted the hood and plastics along with these other changes to give the impression of being "all new" but still there is enough here to make these worthwhile updates. At the end of the day there is only so much you can do when corporate makes your division finance their own improvements and they demand a return on investment. Say what you will about the Viper, but it's likely provided some development dollars for the Apex and Vector lines. The new rear suspension will be interesting. I wonder if they learned a little from Arctic Cat when they developed it? People are making fun of a 10 lb. savings, but that is good when you also extend the track. Ripsaw II is also a nice addition.

I agree that an all new sled is long overdue (especially the Phazer!) How long will they keep the old Phazer going? I have no idea. I also notice a few other interesting developments. The Yellowstone certified Venture is a GREAT idea! They can sell many of those to rental and tour companies.

With the engine improvements, new engine control system, new rear suspension and especially the new longer track as a crossover rider I'd seriously consider a Vector X-TX over a Viper X-TX for 2016. There is no way I would have ever considered a Vector over a Viper the last couple years. Sure it would be nice to see them drop 50 lbs off of their sleds, but when you are talking 4 stroke it's hard to do.

What all of us should take from this is Yamaha is still trying. If you had seen no improvements made and only BNG I'd be really worried about their future in the snowmobile business. These improvements tell me that they still have an active engineering department. Yes it's a C effort for 2016 at best, but that is better then an F. Before we knock all the improvements lets see how these new sleds work out. I'm hoping they will have enough success with these improved models and the Viper series that they will push ahead and give us a new chassis (or at least a radically re-worked one) at some point in the next couple years.

 

[gytr done]

I'am just glad to see the Apex still in the line up, although I do like the Fox coilers on that Viper. Now off to the cryogenics lab to freeze myself until MY2018.

 

[RobWarrior]

My god, enough whining...doo doesn't even have a true performance 4 stroke, intro a gimmick ski and everyone want to jump ship, I'm glad there still sinking money into the sled market. Just rode my Nytro today and love it...hoping for an all Yam upgrade in the future..the Vip isn't it.

 

[TheProfessor]

I switched to a '12 Doo last year after wrecking my Vector for ONE reason…SEATING POSITION. I like the new suspension, always loved the Deltabox chassis. Can someone tell me…did they do anything with the seat height on the Vector? It is just too short for my height! Makes me squat while riding! Drove me crazy…even had more padding added, did not help.

Also - does the SingleShot have grease fittings?!?! Please tell me they learned from the original MonoShock fiasco.

 

[pat the rat]

just came off my new to me 2013 apex xtx to get on the computer and read all this b.s,I have never enjoyed a sled like this apex,and everybody is saying its no good,i think the line up is solid with many improvements,yamaha is going in the right direction,way better than a few years ago where there was only 15 sleds in the line up,were lucky there are still sleds made in japan imo,the only thing I thought was weird is a redesigned vk,its ok ,but all these current apex whiners should of got new bodywork,just to make them happy

 

[bjowett]

The Single Shot looks good to me. It's what the Mono shock ultimately needed, a rising rate design.

 

[Grimm]

Boy, is Yamaha getting raped on Facebook. I sure hope they finally get the message.

 

[blueblood68]

My buddy waited until today for the big news from yamaha and well nothing big came so he just snow checked a new 1200 ski doo renegade and the 900 ace. This is his last year on a yamaha.

 

[blueblood68]

Also rode a ace and I gotta say wow what a ride, just eats up the bumps . I wish my vector rode half as good . Now my vector is certainly faster but my body is tired of getting beat up on the trail.

 

[journeyman]

My buddy waited until today for the big news from yamaha and well nothing big came so he just snow checked a new 1200 ski doo renegade and the 900 ace. This is his last year on a yamaha.

You have 2 posts on this site. Thanks for adding that.......geez

 

[Metallicat]

Mono vs singleshot

 

[hibshman25]

I am just glad to see purebred japan sleds still in the line up. I am convinced the viper sleds are used to buy time and make sled division profitable. The cost of viper parts is dirt cheap compared to what purebread yamaha parts cost. Viper retail prices are not much cheaper than the japan sleds so that tells me the vipers are very profitable for yamaha. A few profitable years of viper sales will hopefully fund tooling and r&d which yield some sleds to silence to critics.

 

[sledheadgeorge]

just came off my new to me 2013 apex xtx to get on the computer and read all this b.s,I have never enjoyed a sled like this apex,and everybody is saying its no good,i think the line up is solid with many improvements,yamaha is going in the right direction,way better than a few years ago where there was only 15 sleds in the line up,were lucky there are still sleds made in japan imo,the only thing I thought was weird is a redesigned vk,its ok ,but all these current apex whiners should of got new bodywork,just to make them happy

X2

But I must say from all my experience with snowmobiles over the years that Yamaha Owners are probably the most demanding. That being said, thats probably why the Apex is such a refined piece of machinery. We'll see where this new skid design goes. That is certainly one dept Yami has to improve on.

 

[ShootToThrill]

I will say r motion skid is nothing special at all. The 144 XTX skid with the cheap star kit outperforms it. R motion is stiff with no comfort at all. XTX is super plush Cadillac style and very rarely ever bottoms out. Pure misery when trading with the Etec.

 

[Yamaporn]

Just sifting through the changes they did quite few across the board. New rear skids, performance dampers,intelligent throttle designs, revamped Vector engine specs,Ripsaw II tracks......yeh I don't see a turbo or mention of increased Apex HP but much better than BNG IMHO.

Apex hp is increased too. Look on the Yamaha Canada site, they cover it there but not on the US site.