2020 Release

[thor452]

My kids are ages 32 Colorado, 30 Wisconsin, 26 central Ill, 18 in college! So what are you telling me? Even if I give them each one of my older sleds, what are you telling me? If I do what I do now, maintain, transport, and help pay for them to go ride my sleds when they can, they still can't justify at this time in their lives to get into the sport the way their Mom and Dad are! So what are you telling me? Am I the only one in this situation, or is this the norm?

I think you took that the wrong way I was asking if you had so many sleds so that when they can ride you have something for them to ride in an effort to help them be in the sport you obviously love.

 

[Deeppow16]

There is no doubt that the wave of collecting recreational toys that began with the Baby Boomers is on the decline. The trend has swung towards more life experiences like holiday travel and less clutter and consumption of time and money that snowmobiles, motorcycles, trailers, planes, boats ect bring.
When you look around at your local Yacht club, snowmobile club, and flying clubs ect the age of the majority of members is definitely 50+++
Private recreational aviation, as an example, is virtually non existent and the market on used sailboats is dead, both of these activities were booming in the 70s and 80s.
Things change and if snowmobiling and other power sports are to survive and thrive it will be on rentals...not on ownership.

JM.02c

I have a buddy that sold his sled and only rents sleds now so your statement about rentals thriving is true. My buddies thoughts are with the few times we ride every winter its easier to just rent then maintain a sled of his own. Plus he always gets to ride the latest and greatest which I under stand. My problem is I don't like riding stock machines! Haha! I like to get every once of performance out of my toys! Plus as weird as this sounds I really enjoy wrenching on my machines. Not saying I like breaking stuff but fixing things is fun!

 

[biffdotorg]

I agree with that notion. I see these guys around "flatland" Minnesota with mountain sleds that they ride 2-3 times per year in the mountains. That would be a tough nut to justify. Although, they have hit every aspect of why they do it. They know their machine, they like to wrench etc. But if I went back to the mountains, I would be tempted to rent a nice light 800cc mountain sled. Hell a properly clutched/tuned 600, with a paddle track would out perform my Apex XTX.

We have a couple guys in our Michigan group that only really ride that one week per year. They both sold their sleds this summer. They will likely go again this year and rent. Or borrow, who knows.

 

[rxwhopper]

i find what yamaha sells are trail sleds. i love mine but love trails. my kids are both brain washed yamaha and we are into racing. I am finding the kids want lightweight because all they like to do now is boondock and do dohnuts and play all day. trail riding is boring they say and hate it. i still love the power of our heavy sleds but i think the power isnt everything any more,its still wanted but light weight is where its at. i ahve many friends that would of killed for yamaha products lol one was a dealer for 20 years. they are all on new 2 strokes and keep telling me i have no idea what im missing. polaris and cat and really had no issues yet.

 

[mikextx]

^^^ this. We all grew up riding lightweight, affordable, and easy to work on 2strokes. Thats where our love of the sport came from. I know for me, if yamaha released an 800-900cc 2stoke tomorrow, id be getting one. My 16 year old son says riding my apex feels more like driving a car.

 

[Deeppow16]

^^^ this. We all grew up riding lightweight, affordable, and easy to work on 2strokes. Thats where our love of the sport came from. I know for me, if yamaha released an 800-900cc 2stoke tomorrow, id be getting one. My 16 year old son says riding my apex feels more like driving a car.

I think Yamaha really needs to think about the future of sleds. What is the market telling you? More people are jumping ship and going to something lighter. Also the new 2 strokes seem to be much improved from ten years ago. Now I'm not saying Yamaha needs to stop building 4 strokes but they need to be more like ski-doo, the need to offer both or I feel they will keep shrinking. I seriously believe if Yamaha came out with a 2 stroke line that a lot of people would stop and take a look. Yamaha is a motor company so they have the technogly to build a wicked 2 stroke.

 

[srvfan]

big hole in lineup with nothing to compete with the 600-900 ACE they need a lighter weight lower powered cheaper 4 stroke. I am cruising Craigs list and other sites for a 600 ACE for the wife who just wants to cruise around at 25-45 and look at the trees. which is plenty fast on many tight trails we ride anyhow, at 115 lb and barely 5 ft tall she doesn't need 135 HP and a $14k sled to do that. I hate to think Ski Doo but its the only real option. Continually dumfounded how Yamaha missed the boat on that. Ski Doo sells more 900 ACE models then all other 4 strokes on the market COMBINED !!!!!......Yet people will tell you there's no interest in less HP 4 strokes hmmmm.`
The two stroke thing ehhh maybe but if its not in a great chassis with the smoothest suspension it won't matter.

 

[crf]

my kids have always had dirt bikes and sleds, now that they are in the mid 20 s and are good at fixing, the grim fact is that they are buying used polaris 2 strokes that they can fix without breaking the bank and we are all riding and having a good time, ps, if you are buying mx bikes for your kids and want the least fixing buy jap not orange

 

[mikextx]

If Yamaha built new 2stroke sleds, AND continued to build the best 4 strokers known to man. They would get all the 2stroke guys that jumped ship back. Spark some interest from youngsters that want lightweight and ease of repairs. And keep all their 4 stroke faithfuls that love the trouble free riding. Seems like Yami would own the sled market.............A guy can hope anyway

 

[cobrajet ltx dx]

Yamaha has rode the most durable/ reliable 4stroke engine mentality for way to long and that is slowly erasing them.
They NEVER put a lot of stock in chassis development when everyone else was.
The closest ride forward design was the nytro BUT as we all know, it was very unpredictable handling wise.It was only competitive on the race circuit because they pulled in outsiders to make it competitive( they alone couldn’t).
So now in 2018-19 they have no competitive chassis they developed,
1 turbo lake racer(which is cool) but not for the masses.
1 1049 na viper that honestly has not so good fuel mileage as skidoo’s NA 4strokes.
Why would you buy Yamaha AS OF Now....want a 4stroke with or without a turbo, the latest chassis development with options, and the motor(s) are just as reliable as Yamaha, unfortunately SKIDOO owns the market and Yamaha fell asleep at the wheel while skidoo went right by.
I’m not even a hard core doo guy.
Just giving my opinion.

 

[1nc 2000]

big hole in lineup with nothing to compete with the 600-900 ACE they need a lighter weight lower powered cheaper 4 stroke. I am cruising Craigs list and other sites for a 600 ACE for the wife who just wants to cruise around at 25-45 and look at the trees. which is plenty fast on many tight trails we ride anyhow, at 115 lb and barely 5 ft tall she doesn't need 135 HP and a $14k sled to do that. I hate to think Ski Doo but its the only real option. Continually dumfounded how Yamaha missed the boat on that. Ski Doo sells more 900 ACE models then all other 4 strokes on the market COMBINED !!!!!......Yet people will tell you there's no interest in less HP 4 strokes hmmmm.`
The two stroke thing ehhh maybe but if its not in a great chassis with the smoothest suspension it won't matter.

I thought about going that route for a sled for the wife.

I bought a 2016 RS vector 146.
Put an Elka shock package on it all the way around. Wife absolutely loves it.
Different driving modes, power steering, she can drive her pace in the Twisties and then put the hammer down on the big trails all day long.
Yamaha didn't market that sled very well.
She has driven the Doo and says her Yamaha is way better.
Happy wife = happy life!

 

[greatwhite89]

I thought about going that route for a sled for the wife.

I bought a 2016 RS vector 146.
Put an Elka shock package on it all the way around. Wife absolutely loves it.
Different driving modes, power steering, she can drive her pace in the Twisties and then put the hammer down on the big trails all day long.
Yamaha didn't market that sled very well.
She has driven the Doo and says her Yamaha is way better.
Happy wife = happy life!

Were you able to drive it as well? My buddy bought the same sled at the end of last year, no chance to ride it yet. What did you think of the power in sport mode?

 

[srvfan]

I thought about going that route for a sled for the wife.

I bought a 2016 RS vector 146.
Put an Elka shock package on it all the way around. Wife absolutely loves it.
Different driving modes, power steering, she can drive her pace in the Twisties and then put the hammer down on the big trails all day long.
Yamaha didn't market that sled very well.
She has driven the Doo and says her Yamaha is way better.
Happy wife = happy life!

most say the slingshot rear suspension to put it in the Kings English sucketh . Curious how much differnce the Elka's make . 146" is very long it turns ok ? I would think it would be a bear to turn. I actually thought about that sled for me but everyone said viper was the way to go and I scored a smokin deal on one. curious how it would ride in the stutters compared to the viper.

 

[greatwhite89]

I have a 2016 Apex XTX 146". Very pleased with it, 5,600 miles. The updated Fox shock Yamaha came out with made a huge difference with ride compliance. Turns like a dream and really hooks up. 1.75" track does scrub some top end though.

 

[srvfan]

vector certainly is easier starting runs nicer and quality is better for sure compared to viper, I sort of have a love hate relationship with my Viper. Hoping Yamaha does a complete yamaha sled soon, built here is fine as long as it keeps cost down