2020 Release

[Snorunner]

One thing that is Yamaha on Cats new 2 Strokes is the Windows in the pistons on the intake side. I have owned a couple of Yamaha RD350 motorcycles over the years and they have the same 2 windows in their pistons as Cat.

 

[SumpBuster]

Ya I have to agree Yamaha is now an Arctic Cat manufactured sled! Where that will lead to is the question! It has already led to no more VK professional work sled and no more touring sled, they could have put Yamaha stickers on the Pantera and the Bearcat but probably better they didn't. Its now down to just two sleds build and designed by Arctic Cat with Yamaha motors because I won't count the VK540 just because its not even made in this century! Thats it, three sled builders as it stands now! There are no Yamaha sleds to choose from, just two motors! Some think 2020 will be the year and if I had a dollar for everytime someone said that in the last ten years, I could afford a 20,000 Cat!

I think my Apex will be my last Yamaha sled, I only say that because I just don't think they will ever build a sled again! I may buy a Cat at some point but still happy with my current sled! At my age Yamaha doesn't have to many years left to WOW me! I heard 2021 is the year! I'll buy one for my 65 birthday!

I can't part with my Apex! But I do like several things about the sidewinder, mainly the driveability and power, but also I have yet to bottom it out. Still, it's nice to have both.

 

[Deeppow16]

One thing that is Yamaha on Cats new 2 Strokes is the Windows in the pistons on the intake side. I have owned a couple of Yamaha RD350 motorcycles over the years and they have the same 2 windows in their pistons as Cat.

It would not surprise me if Yamaha had some input on cats new 2 stroke but just stayed quite on the whole thing.

 

[Vmax]

Wait...….did I just read Yamaha and 2 stroke in the same sentence. Ah the good ol days

 

[cannondale27]

It would not surprise me if Yamaha had some input on cats new 2 stroke but just stayed quite on the whole thing.

I highly doubt they had any input. If Yamaha had even a iota of input on anything at Cat other than what is expressly stated in a contract such as Vipers and Winders us Viper guys wouldn’t be saddled with a crappy ecu and tune from factory that has had 4 or 5 updates already.

 

[Deeppow16]

I highly doubt they had any input. If Yamaha had even a iota of input on anything at Cat other than what is expressly stated in a contract such as Vipers and Winders us Viper guys wouldn’t be saddled with a crappy ecu and tune from factory that has had 4 or 5 updates already.

That is something I have never figured out. Why would Yamaha offer up a motor to another brand and not supply the computer that controls its, because the nytros never had any major ecu problem controlling the motor. And another thing that doesn't make much sense to me is why did they have so many problems with the reflashes? Its almost like they never even tested it in the real world. I can bet you that Arctic cat got input form someone on there motor. They have never been a real serious engine supplier for there own products so they just so happen to come out with this super great engine? I doubt they did it by themselves.

 

[cannondale27]

That is something I have never figured out. Why would Yamaha offer up a motor to another brand and not supply the computer that controls its, because the nytros never had any major ecu problem controlling the motor. And another thing that doesn't make much sense to me is why did they have so many problems with the reflashes? Its almost like they never even tested it in the real world. I can bet you that Arctic cat got input form someone on there motor. They have never been a real serious engine supplier for there own products so they just so happen to come out with this super great engine? I doubt they did it by themselves.

There is plenty of very smart people at cat capable of designing any motor. It’s the execution that can suck. Same with Yamaha or any other big company. The one thing you can be sure of is nothing is done without $ and lawyers getting involved somehow. The politics also have led to a much more unreliable 2st compared to the older designs also. Way to much too go wrong now.

 

[Deeppow16]

There is plenty of very smart people at cat capable of designing any motor. It’s the execution that can suck. Same with Yamaha or any other big company. The one thing you can be sure of is nothing is done without $ and lawyers getting involved somehow. The politics also have led to a much more unreliable 2st compared to the older designs also. Way to much too go wrong now.

That's one reason I opted for a left over cat 2st versus a new one. The tried and true Zuk 800 has years under its belt . I think we can all agree that politics can ruin just about anything.

 

[cannondale27]

That's one reason I opted for a left over cat 2st versus a new one. The tried and true Zuk 800 has years under its belt . I think we can all agree that politics can ruin just about anything.

Yup I did the same thing. 13RR Plan to just put pistons in at 8000mi or so. Simple,light and cheap to fix but even as a second sled the miles rack on way to fast for any 2st to be my Primary sled would have to do a Top End job every two years for sure. Dont kid yourselves guys especially if you like 2-300mi days. A good weekend can really rack the miles on and oil and gas usage vs our 4st's is very noticeable. Last season a buddy had to use mine when his Turbo broke,Oldest daughter used it twice and I used it once or twice all weekend 2 day trips almost 3000mi on it in one year and I barely used it. That 8000mi top end is coming up quick at that rate. Thats just not something I even worry about with my 4st.

 

[Deeppow16]

Yup I did the same thing. 13RR Plan to just put pistons in at 8000mi or so. Simple,light and cheap to fix but even as a second sled the miles rack on way to fast for any 2st to be my Primary sled would have to do a Top End job every two years for sure. Dont kid yourselves guys especially if you like 2-300mi days. A good weekend can really rack the miles on and oil and gas usage vs our 4st's is very noticeable. Last season a buddy had to use mine when his Turbo broke,Oldest daughter used it twice and I used it once or twice all weekend 2 day trips almost 3000mi on it in one year and I barely used it. That 8000mi top end is coming up quick at that rate. Thats just not something I even worry about with my 4st.

I dont ride trails at all. Im lucky to put 100 miles on my sled in 3-4 days. If i get 500miles a season that was a good season for backcountry riding. It would probably take me 10-12 years to get 8000miles.

 

[snowfever27]

That's one reason I opted for a left over cat 2st versus a new one. The tried and true Zuk 800 has years under its belt . I think we can all agree that politics can ruin just about anything.

The 800 Suzuki is a great engine but the new 600 Cat two stroke is a great power plant as well. It seems to be just as bullet proof as the 800 Suzuki. Only time will tell if the new 800 is as reliable as the old Suzuki.

 

[snowfever27]

Yup I did the same thing. 13RR Plan to just put pistons in at 8000mi or so. Simple,light and cheap to fix but even as a second sled the miles rack on way to fast for any 2st to be my Primary sled would have to do a Top End job every two years for sure. Dont kid yourselves guys especially if you like 2-300mi days. A good weekend can really rack the miles on and oil and gas usage vs our 4st's is very noticeable. Last season a buddy had to use mine when his Turbo broke,Oldest daughter used it twice and I used it once or twice all weekend 2 day trips almost 3000mi on it in one year and I barely used it. That 8000mi top end is coming up quick at that rate. Thats just not something I even worry about with my 4st.

Steve, did you ever check the valve clearance on your viper? I haven’t seen that tight valve thread pop up since this spring. That’s the only thing that scares me about the 3 cyl with the cat ecu. Wasn’t there some high mileage 7000/viper guys that had tight valves wreck the valve train?

 

[cannondale27]

Steve, did you ever check the valve clearance on your viper? I haven’t seen that tight valve thread pop up since this spring. That’s the only thing that scares me about the 3 cyl with the cat ecu. Wasn’t there some high mileage 7000/viper guys that had tight valves wreck the valve train?

Not yet. Planning on it though.

 

[DVW]

Steve, did you ever check the valve clearance on your viper? I haven’t seen that tight valve thread pop up since this spring. That’s the only thing that scares me about the 3 cyl with the cat ecu. Wasn’t there some high mileage 7000/viper guys that had tight valves wreck the valve train?

Tight valves did not wreck the valve train on my high mileage 7000. The second time my valves tightened up the symptoms where extreme and I was worried that I had burnt the valves. I was relieved when it passed a leak down test and ran just fine after a valve adjustment. The first time it happened the factory was involved and they replaced the entire head because they assumed it was a defective part but they did not know which part. In hind sight we probably could have just adjusted the valves and chocked it up to the nature of the beast or maybe the way I drive it. The verdict is still out as to the root cause.

 

[snowfever27]

Tight valves did not wreck the valve train on my high mileage 7000. The second time my valves tightened up the symptoms where extreme and I was worried that I had burnt the valves. I was relieved when it passed a leak down test and ran just fine after a valve adjustment. The first time it happened the factory was involved and they replaced the entire head because they assumed it was a defective part but they did not know which part. In hind sight we probably could have just adjusted the valves and chocked it up to the nature of the beast or maybe the way I drive it. The verdict is still out as to the root cause.

DVW, I know I’m not the only one hoping to find out what happened when your valves went out the first time. It’s good news the second time around it wasn’t another rebuild, just an adjustment. I plan on adjusting my valves every 5,000 miles. Hopefully you figure out what happened to your sled the first time. And maybe it was your riding style. But I doubt it. You should be able to drive a 4 stroke at any speed (as long as you’re not overheating) without worrying about wrecking your valves.