2020 Release

[20/80]

A very well connected dealer here in New England told us that Cat is coming out with something VERY different. He did not say if Yamaha would share the same sled. Same dealer said he rode the Alpha skid in 2015.

Its around that time that a new skid should be release from Cat, if Yamaha is still in the loop with Cat it will be shared I would think, unless this is the turning point for Yamaha to start using their own Jap built chassis and dissolve the Cat - Yamaha marriage contract and re write a new revised one.

 

[Mototown]

There will be 3 all new yama kitty's in 2020 .... and Yamaha is a motor manufacturer... artic cat isn't a motor manufacturer... keep it simple .
The guy I ride with the 2018 800 cat , it was by far the worst on fuel & oil , and speed wise it was the slowest against 850 skidoos & 800 Polaris , that was with mid season trip to dealer Ecu upgrades

 

[Sasquatch]

Well if the chassis can fit a Cat Triple it should fit a 4st too. Probably not the 4cyl we want though.

Yep it will fit, no wider then the three hole I think but how to fit that tuned set of triples is a whole new question! And anything not tuned individual pipes is pointless and gutless! Nothing like a big triple on the pipe! My 800 would sing to me at about 4,500 in the corners and jump to 8,500 in a heatbeat, we played that song through the bush until the wood had its happy ending and then motored home with a huge grin!

There will never be an Apex powered Cat or Yamaha again, so sad as its an awesome bullet proof engine that fills a whole in the current lineup! I also say that if you want a two stroke, Cat has two of them in the current chassis. Like the Apex motor a Yamaha Triple is a dream! Feels so right when your sleeping but when awake all your friends bust your knackers! That is a Yamaha reality that hurts, but I see no changes in the future not involving Cat!

Its a win win for them both, Yamaha build engines, Cat builds the sled, yes the people dream of a Yamaha built sled but at the speed they have moved in the past as an example, don't hold your breath or get your hopes to high! Yamaha sells Cats sleds and is comfortable with that, people buy their sleds and are comfortable with that, Yamaha sales have increased, so why change?

Its just the old diehards that ride their Yamaha chassis sleds, be it two or four stroke, that have and are lasting forever, that are not buying and sales are up! I have a hard time seeing why Yamaha needs to build a Chassis! For us old diehards? I think they have made it clear that if you want to ride a Yamaha you have to ride Cat. They dropped every model in North America save a 20 year old fisherman's sled!

You can't buy accessories for the 2018 Apex because they are discontinued and the ones you can buy, only till stock is gone and its limited! That tells me that Yamaha is not in it for the sleds they sold and now are only in it for the ones Cat sells! If I had a dollar for every next year is the year from about 2006 till now, or Yamaha is not out post, or Yamaha is going to build a game changer, I could buy a new sled! But now 2020 is the year!

 

[cannondale27]

Yep it will fit, no wider then the three hole I think but how to fit that tuned set of triples is a whole new question! And anything not tuned individual pipes is pointless and gutless! Nothing like a big triple on the pipe! My 800 would sing to me at about 4,500 in the corners and jump to 8,500 in a heatbeat, we played that song through the bush until the wood had its happy ending and then motored home with a huge grin!

There will never be an Apex powered Cat or Yamaha again, so sad as its an awesome bullet proof engine that fills a whole in the current lineup! I also say that if you want a two stroke, Cat has two of them in the current chassis. Like the Apex motor a Yamaha Triple is a dream! Feels so right when your sleeping but when awake all your friends bust your knackers! That is a Yamaha reality that hurts, but I see no changes in the future not involving Cat!

Its a win win for them both, Yamaha build engines, Cat builds the sled, yes the people dream of a Yamaha built sled but at the speed they have moved in the past as an example, don't hold your breath or get your hopes to high! Yamaha sells Cats sleds and is comfortable with that, people buy their sleds and are comfortable with that, Yamaha sales have increased, so why change?

Its just the old diehards that ride their Yamaha chassis sleds, be it two or four stroke, that have and are lasting forever, that are not buying and sales are up! I have a hard time seeing why Yamaha needs to build a Chassis! For us old diehards? I think they have made it clear that if you want to ride a Yamaha you have to ride Cat. They dropped every model in North America save a 20 year old fisherman's sled!

You can't buy accessories for the 2018 Apex because they are discontinued and the ones you can buy, only till stock is gone and its limited! That tells me that Yamaha is not in it for the sleds they sold and now are only in it for the ones Cat sells! If I had a dollar for every next year is the year from about 2006 till now, or Yamaha is not out post, or Yamaha is going to build a game changer, I could buy a new sled! But now 2020 is the year!

I hear you. Its all third hand info I have too. Why change though? Well I bought a cheap used 800 Cat and others have done similar. If I could have afforded a Doo850 or Axis as a Play,local/MX sled I would have. If going lighter 2st this Cat chassis while still fun is way to big plain and simple. For my High mile rides will always be on a 4st.

 

[yamadoo]

Yep it will fit, no wider then the three hole I think but how to fit that tuned set of triples is a whole new question! And anything not tuned individual pipes is pointless and gutless! Nothing like a big triple on the pipe! My 800 would sing to me at about 4,500 in the corners and jump to 8,500 in a heatbeat, we played that song through the bush until the wood had its happy ending and then motored home with a huge grin!

There will never be an Apex powered Cat or Yamaha again, so sad as its an awesome bullet proof engine that fills a whole in the current lineup! I also say that if you want a two stroke, Cat has two of them in the current chassis. Like the Apex motor a Yamaha Triple is a dream! Feels so right when your sleeping but when awake all your friends bust your knackers! That is a Yamaha reality that hurts, but I see no changes in the future not involving Cat!

Its a win win for them both, Yamaha build engines, Cat builds the sled, yes the people dream of a Yamaha built sled but at the speed they have moved in the past as an example, don't hold your breath or get your hopes to high! Yamaha sells Cats sleds and is comfortable with that, people buy their sleds and are comfortable with that, Yamaha sales have increased, so why change?

Its just the old diehards that ride their Yamaha chassis sleds, be it two or four stroke, that have and are lasting forever, that are not buying and sales are up! I have a hard time seeing why Yamaha needs to build a Chassis! For us old diehards? I think they have made it clear that if you want to ride a Yamaha you have to ride Cat. They dropped every model in North America save a 20 year old fisherman's sled!

You can't buy accessories for the 2018 Apex because they are discontinued and the ones you can buy, only till stock is gone and its limited! That tells me that Yamaha is not in it for the sleds they sold and now are only in it for the ones Cat sells! If I had a dollar for every next year is the year from about 2006 till now, or Yamaha is not out post, or Yamaha is going to build a game changer, I could buy a new sled! But now 2020 is the year!

This time I am not kidding when I say “he is right again “, OK maybe kidding on the again.

 

[cobrajet ltx dx]

Sasquatch is absolutely correct with his statement.
When your on the trail, and you see a vector, apex, viper, sidewinder of old screaming down the trail you’ll start going down memory lane for a few minutes, shake your head and say GOD DAMN!!!. Then you’ll proceed to get back on your skidoo, Polaris and arctic cat.

 

[STAIN]

There will never be a Japan built chassis, so we need to get over that. There may be a Yamaha built chassis in the future but it will be built in the U.S. or Canada. I am fine with that.

 

[20/80]

I'm thinking Yamaha will end the Viper line soon also, just the Sidewinder models will be available only along with the VK540 and snow scoot ,it will be tricky for Yamaha if there intentions are to build their own chassis, if this happens it will take away the hype used to push the Cat built Sidewinder that they are currently trying to sell customers on now, but maybe this is their intentions all along, reduce their line of sleds to a bare minimum to make it not so big of a loss when they changeover to their new line of chassis models, if this happens their new chassis models and motors will be highly sought after especially if they introduce a Yamaha built 2 stroke in their mountain lineup, Yamaha will continue to sell engines to Cat for now but I see Textron soon supplying their own 4 stroke engines in the near future to their Cat line of snowmobiles.

 

[Sasquatch]

There will never be a Japan built chassis, so we need to get over that. There may be a Yamaha built chassis in the future but it will be built in the U.S. or Canada. I am fine with that.

I think we know that there will not be a Japan built sled, no one said there will be! We don't need to get over it! The dream is a Yamaha built sled and its slim to none! What you will see is the Viper 7000 engine replaced soon with a NA 998 making 110 120hp! Very possible they could put a phazer in A Cat chassis! There will still be a hole in the hp lineup! Cat will put in a new rear skid and that's it! Cat id due for a new chassis but big investment and the old one sells!

I think everyone gets hung up on the fact they moved their offices to Canada! Why not? Closer to the snow, closer to their dealers and closer to Cat then Japan! When they build a factory to build sleds I'll take notice!

 

[cannondale27]

Think about it Textron didnt even put thier name on the sleds. Maybe they dont care where a new chassis comes from. In these cost saving times its highly likely the Yamaha chassis if ever made will be made down south along with all the atv and utv chassis they are making there now. Hope to see some beautiful aluminum castings from Japan incorporated in chassis though but really the sheetmetal Cat bulkhead work ok. Flexes like a red solo cup though.

 

[Sasquatch]

If you mean that Cat will built a new chassis on the Cat line and sell it to Yamaha I would have to agree but then is it a Yamaha Chassis Built by Yamaha? The answer is no! Could Yamaha and Cat build a chassis together? The answer is yes! Is it a Yamaha built chassis? The answer is no! Its still the Yamaha Cat marriage with Textron (mother in law) in control and the wildcard! Yamaha still answers to Cat and Textron! Cat has two strokes and Textron 4 strokes! Its complicated!

Now if Yamaha has a divorce ans strikes out on their own anything can happen and I for one am hoping for that but when you sleep with someone for awhile you really hate to leave, you become family! Could Yamaha build a sled of their own and still sleep with Cat? Maybe but if anything they learned from pillow talk was in it and Textron or Cat feels jilted or used, is the marriage over? Yep complicated!

I think Cat may come up with something for both of them with Yamaha's help and Cat will build it and Yamaha will share it same as now! I just don't see Yamaha on their own in 2020, or anytime soon after that. Its a huge step making sleds over here but they do have a patent for a Cat/Doo style pyramid style frame with what looks like a Nytro front end and a jackshaft driven supercharger! Add a 998 and instant 150hp with a docile fuel efficient cruise ability! So NA 998 100hp 998 supercharged 150 and 998 200! One engine three sleds! Maybe build a small bore 998 for good measure and tune down to 70 hp? Its economically efficient and very doable! Doo is on that path with a 600, 900 with a 900 t all same engine! Just sayin!

 

[T-Bone]

If you mean that Cat will built a new chassis on the Cat line and sell it to Yamaha I would have to agree but then is it a Yamaha Chassis Built by Yamaha? The answer is no! Could Yamaha and Cat build a chassis together? The answer is yes! Is it a Yamaha built chassis? The answer is no! Its still the Yamaha Cat marriage with Textron (mother in law) in control and the wildcard! Yamaha still answers to Cat and Textron! Cat has two strokes and Textron 4 strokes! Its complicated!

Now if Yamaha has a divorce ans strikes out on their own anything can happen and I for one am hoping for that but when you sleep with someone for awhile you really hate to leave, you become family! Could Yamaha build a sled of their own and still sleep with Cat? Maybe but if anything they learned from pillow talk was in it and Textron or Cat feels jilted or used, is the marriage over? Yep complicated!

I think Cat may come up with something for both of them with Yamaha's help and Cat will build it and Yamaha will share it same as now! I just don't see Yamaha on their own in 2020, or anytime soon after that. Its a huge step making sleds over here but they do have a patent for a Cat/Doo style pyramid style frame with what looks like a Nytro front end and a jackshaft driven supercharger! Add a 998 and instant 150hp with a docile fuel efficient cruise ability! So NA 998 100hp 998 supercharged 150 and 998 200! One engine three sleds! Maybe build a small bore 998 for good measure and tune down to 70 hp? Its economically efficient and very doable! Doo is on that path with a 600, 900 with a 900 t all same engine! Just sayin!

Totally believable because of all the exclamation marks! Just breaking your balls Sasquatch!

Here is my take and I don't know anybody and have not been to a stealership for a couple years. But I do know that Yamaha had no choice but to step into the agreement with Arctic Cat. I was not ideal but necessary for survival. That being said, the sooner Yamaha is able to stand on their own the better off they will be. If the partnership approach/strategy was ideal, then everyone would be doing it. Ski-Doo doesn't do it, Polaris doesn't do it in their snowmobile divisions. They each sell more sleds in one year than Yamaha does in 5 years. Why? Because they build what the majority of snowmobilers want. They let product demand drive their business and Yamaha decided that they knew better than the customer and built nothing but 4-stroke sleds. Turned out, that was only about 25% of the market. That's as far as Yamaha was able to take the 4-stroke market until it got a boost from Ski-Doos 4-Stroke. That was a huge mistake by Yamaha and to this day, unfortunately, they have not and will not recover, in my opinion, until they offer their own 2-stroke and 4-stroke sleds. The current arrangement between AC and Yamaha is not sustainable for Yamaha long term. If Yamaha does not start making their own 2-stroke engines, they are done as a snowmobile manufacture. Some will say they are already done as a snowmobile manufacture and they just produce engines. In six months we will know for sure if they are serious about building complete snowmobiles, engines only, or buying out AC. Just my .02

 

[Deeppow16]

Totally believable because of all the exclamation marks! Just breaking your balls Sasquatch!

Here is my take and I don't know anybody and have not been to a stealership for a couple years. But I do know that Yamaha had no choice but to step into the agreement with Arctic Cat. I was not ideal but necessary for survival. That being said, the sooner Yamaha is able to stand on their own the better off they will be. If the partnership approach/strategy was ideal, then everyone would be doing it. Ski-Doo doesn't do it, Polaris doesn't do it in their snowmobile divisions. They each sell more sleds in one year than Yamaha does in 5 years. Why? Because they build what the majority of snowmobilers want. They let product demand drive their business and Yamaha decided that they knew better than the customer and built nothing but 4-stroke sleds. Turned out, that was only about 25% of the market. That's as far as Yamaha was able to take the 4-stroke market until it got a boost from Ski-Doos 4-Stroke. That was a huge mistake by Yamaha and to this day, unfortunately, they have not and will not recover, in my opinion, until they offer their own 2-stroke and 4-stroke sleds. The current arrangement between AC and Yamaha is not sustainable for Yamaha long term. If Yamaha does not start making their own 2-stroke engines, they are done as a snowmobile manufacture. Some will say they are already done as a snowmobile manufacture and they just produce engines. In six months we will know for sure if they are serious about building complete snowmobiles, engines only, or buying out AC. Just my .02

I strongly agree with this! I have been saying this for awhile now. The 2 stroke market is too strong to not have a 2 stroke in your line up. I really believe if Yamaha had a 2 Stroke mountain sled that they would sell way more then they do now. I'm on a bunch of sledding Facebook pages and I can tell you at least 75% of the people talk trash or say a 4 stroke sled is not for them so clearly the 2 stroke market is stronger then ever. Why doesn't Yamaha listen to what people want? it just like you said, Ski-doo and Polaris actually listen to the market and that's why they lead it. Why cant Yamaha get over themselves and do the same?

 

[brandonallen]

I still think they should bring the sxr chassis back or something like it with a 440 and 800 triple. they would have something between the sno scoot and 130 hp full size sled for kids and a nice twisty trail sled with the 800

 

[STAIN]

Every conversation on this subject devolves into the same thing.