2018 Yamaha Sidewinder L-TX LE First Ride Impressions

[HMTurbo]

Put about 150 miles on my Sidewinder on Friday. Overall I was extremely impressed. No question a different type of sled than the 2 strokes and new that as I have a 800 Gade and Z1T. I got on the Doo 6.9 pilots and 192 studs as well as the Hurricane Flash Programmer which is simple and provides some unreal performance. Steering and control was excellent and while you can "feel" the extra weight the light steering does not make one feel tired by days end. We ran into a variety of conditions and on the good trails this sleds fun factor is off the charts. As a puddle jumper not so much.

Although I never buried it in any hole its inability to quickly pick the front end up made some of them interesting.

Power in the upper flashes 260-280 is simply incredible. Good running 800's are like they are standing still once the boost comes on. (As it should be considering the power difference). Its hard to understand how fast it pulls away until you actually see it. Overall I'd say I will really enjoy this sled for the types of riding I will do on it.

Pro's

Power

Handling was a bit of a surprise.

Hook up. This had good and bad. Comes out flat and hard with minimal spin but I prefer a bit more lift in the front end. We only were doing rolling starts from about 30.



Con's

Cold (hand seat and thumb warmers quit working after about 75 miles.) Go figure cat parts.

Clutch noise. Annoying as fu^$.

Weight transfer (soft front and rear and fairly stiff center with coupler blocks removed and still couldn't lift ski's much.)

Parts Added to Sled.
Hurricane Gap Flash with anti-lag
Hurricane Supertips
192 Stinger 1.64 studs
Doo Pilot 6.9 ski's with 4" out and 7" shaper in.
Yamaha 4th wheel kit.
Yamaha Rear Tunnel Protector
Suspension (soft front, med center, soft rear with coupler blocks removed)

 

[snowdust]

What do you have your limiter straps set at?

 

[HMTurbo]

What do you have your limiter straps set at?

Stock. Might lengthen them a bit but there doesn't appear to be much room on the stock ones.

Does anyone off an easily adjustable kit? That would be nice.

 

[snowdust]

Yeah, just one more hole available. I am running a very similar setup and am heading up this week so I'll let you know how it goes. (Mine is on longest hole)

 

[HMTurbo]

Yeah, just one more hole available. I am running a very similar setup and am heading up this week so I'll let you know how it goes. (Mine is on longest hole)

I might be back up next Tuesday. The conditions were kind of shitty last weekend so I pulled the spare off the trailer and rode it after the first day. Didn't want to hurt my pretty blue turbo.

Hopefully the lakes are safe around St. Germain and I can do more clutch tweaks.

 

[Doc Harley]

Rode all last year on second to last hole on strap. This year went to last hole. Nothing noticable.
Trail was loose. Maybe when things tighten up I'll see a change?

 

[**sj**]

probably not Joe....its a spring and shock valving/ geometry thing mostly.....off season barn of parts adjuster and cannondales revalving is a traget for me..

 

[HMTurbo]

probably not Joe....its a spring and shock valving/ geometry thing mostly.....off season barn of parts adjuster and cannondales revalving is a traget for me..

Yes, I'm a pretty big guy (250+) and the rear is plenty firm. I'd prefer not to change the springs/valving if at all possible. Lower hole scissors adjustment might be my first step or I might make my own coupler blocks that allow full transport to about a 1/4" before the rear wheels.

 

[swampcat]

I might be back up next Tuesday. The conditions were kind of shitty last weekend so I pulled the spare off the trailer and rode it after the first day. Didn't want to hurt my pretty blue turbo.

Hopefully the lakes are safe around St. Germain and I can do more clutch tweaks.

I would be VERY careful on the lakes in St Germain, just got back from there 12-21-17. The cold so far has not been cold enough. The cold coming next week MIGHT be enough.

 

[HMTurbo]

I would be VERY careful on the lakes in St Germain, just got back from there 12-21-17. The cold so far has not been cold enough. The cold coming next week MIGHT be enough.

What I'm hearing too. Plan on avoiding the lakes unless marked which is highly unlikely. Might even leave the Winder at home.

 

[DooZ]

Any lake of any size will be unsafe. St. Germain, Three Lakes chain, Minocqua area lakes are all no go right now. The cold coming next week will do wonders for the lakes and swamps.

 

[cannondale27]

Any lake of any size will be unsafe. St. Germain, Three Lakes chain, Minocqua area lakes are all no go right now. The cold coming next week will do wonders for the lakes and swamps.

Man I hope so!

 

[HMTurbo]

Man I hope so!

Yep. Want to dial in the anti-lag and am not about to do that on anything but ice. Studs took enough of beating in the UP last week.

 

[HMTurbo]

Put on another 350 miles in Northern Wisconsin with some slight changes.

Original set up in first post.

Lengthened the limiter strap on both ends and added significant length to the center shock. Was about .5" threads showing now at least 1.5" Center clicker in 1.

Went to the 290 Race Tune from Hurricane with deto notification.

Went to stiffest setting out front to gain a bit of ski pressure. Flattened my a-arms slightly but are still just a bit above level.

Overall I liked what this did to the handling of the sled. virtually no push in corners (wasn't much previously) , stayed a bit flatter in corners which also was good prior to the change. This set up gave a little lift to the front end but cornering was still extremely true and flat. High amount of confidence in cornering hard with this set up.

The largest noticeable difference was hook up on bare or almost bare ice. Previously I was spinning violently coming out of the hole or from slow speeds. Now hook up is immediate with the front coming up just a tiny bit. Did some runs on the bare radar run track on Little Saint and acceleration was unreal. My boosted Z1 T felt fast but this is unreal. I've even ridden 300+ HP Turbo Apex's that didn't have the pull I feel this sled does.

On rough trails its still a far cry from my 16 XRS but without question I do not care with everything else this sled offers. Fun factor again is off the charts. Extremely pleased with sled.

 

[snowbeast]

Stock. Might lengthen them a bit but there doesn't appear to be much room on the stock ones.

Does anyone off an easily adjustable kit? That would be nice.

You have 5 holes to play with,stock may of come all the way out,for max travel,i run mine in 2nd hole,most of the time depending on how it rides and handles.