2020 Release

[sk-rx1]

I recall reading on some sled weights in American Snowmobiler. The had an SR Viper LTX with turbo listed as a full wet weight of 630lbs. And they had a stock Sidewinder LTX listed as a full wet weight of 670lbs. I for the life of me can't figure out why the Sidewinder gained 40lbs over an MPI turbo Viper. It's the same chassis, so the bulk of the weight must be with the engine.

You cannot believe all the weights in AMSNOW. For a couple years they listed an AC600 as 509 wet. No way. They said they checked the weight, should have checked to see if it had any gas in it.

 

[T-Bone]

So are we saying the Arctic Cat chassis is heavy? (Sidewinder)
Why did they not weigh the Viper?
Some of the extra weight does comes from the Turbo and related components.
With EPA regulations getting stricter I can not see Yamaha going back into the 2s market and we will see how long the 2s stays around due to these ever increasing regulations.
And yes if you want a light weight 2s N/A mountain sled then there are plenty of choices out there.
I guess everyone has their style, if you ride west of the Mississippi then mountain sleds it is.

Two strokes are not going away. If anything, EPA regulation will stay where they are or they will pull back some IMO. Just an opinion.

Regardless of you riding style or location, weight is always a factor. It’s more of a factor with the off-trail and mountain guys than it is with the trail guys. It has to be very difficult to balance cost, strength,durability and weight when building a sled.

 

[SumpBuster]

My stepson has been very ill, and a Sidewinder was high on his "bucket list." I found a used Sidewinder RTX that I could afford, and if all goes well, he will be riding it this winter. I took a quick "rip" down the field with it at home. OMG!!!! When you touch the throttle on a Sidewinder, the machine feels totally "weightless." I have never experienced anything like it.

Very sorry to hear about your step son. I hope he will recover, and get his strength back....he will need it to hang on the the sidewinder!! What a nice dad!

 

[murdered141]

I recall reading on some sled weights in American Snowmobiler. The had an SR Viper LTX with turbo listed as a full wet weight of 630lbs. And they had a stock Sidewinder LTX listed as a full wet weight of 670lbs. I for the life of me can't figure out why the Sidewinder gained 40lbs over an MPI turbo Viper. It's the same chassis, so the bulk of the weight must be with the engine.

I have that issue of amsnow , it's the one with the sidewinder btx on the cover, I think the intercooler and piping adds a bit of weight, sidewinder also has a bigger heat exchanger that holds more antifreeze, I could see where the extra weight comes from.

 

[Wannaviper]

Very sorry to hear about your step son. I hope he will recover, and get his strength back....he will need it to hang on the the sidewinder!! What a nice dad!

Thank you for your kind thoughts; he is doing better now, and we are all very hopeful for the future. Just seeing that Sidewinder made him happier than I have seen him in a long time. I am blessed with a wonderful family, and doubly blessed by the fact that they all love to snowmobile (and they all ride Yamahas).

 

[sideswipe77]

I you kidding me!? Its ALWAYS about profit and growth private or public or a corporation is doomed to failure. This makes no sense at all.

We have been asking yamaha for how many years for a light weight 2s. How many people have left yamaha for a 2s. You look at Polaris that have awesome suspensions, really good 2s and crazy light weight sleds. We have asked yamaha for a really good suspension, compared to the other brands they not even close.

 

[STAIN]

Polaris has really good engines??? This is news to me.

 

[sideswipe77]

Better than yamaha 2s oh that's right I forgot they don't have any. So yes better than artic cats and yamaha.

 

[STAIN]

I disagree. Polaris big twins are terrible. They have no track record of reliability. Give me a four stroke Yamaha any day.

 

[whitedust1]

We have been asking yamaha for how many years for a light weight 2s. How many people have left yamaha for a 2s. You look at Polaris that have awesome suspensions, really good 2s and crazy light weight sleds. We have asked yamaha for a really good suspension, compared to the other brands they not even close.

What’s that have to do with private or public company???? You seemed to jumping around with your thought process. Anywho my response to your current post is:
I thought the mono EC was pretty darn good and Yamaha 4s snowmobile engines are flawless.
Polaris engines you got to be kidding their Weber 4s was discontinued and the burn down rates of there 800 pistons were off the charts. Lol. You want Yamaha to produce crap like that then dream on it will never happen. Yamaha’s quality standards are much higher than that. Best we can expect is a lighter 4s platform so Yamaha can leverage their 4s experience.

 

[SumpBuster]

Lots of hype around Polaris...light weight, awesome this, awesome that...yet ski doo kills them in sales. Must be the engines, imo, or they would be tops in sales. Cheaper too.

 

[cobrajet ltx dx]

If they produce a 4 stroke that is in the 140-15o hp range, start’s and runs like a vector (flawless) gets decent fuel mileage, hits 100mph ( not 88 and flatlines), then.....im fine with whatever redesign procross chassis they use.
Another point.......
They need to COMPLETELY take care of all those existing vipers owners that have the SHOE HORNED version now.

That would speak volumes to there commitment to there snow division going forward.

 

[Sasquatch]

If they produce a 4 stroke that is in the 140-15o hp range, start’s and runs like a vector (flawless) gets decent fuel mileage, hits 100mph ( not 88 and flatlines), then.....im fine with whatever redesign procross chassis they use.
Another point.......
They need to COMPLETELY take care of all those existing vipers owners that have the SHOE HORNED version now.

That would speak volumes to there commitment to there snow division going forward.

Yep the Apex engine is all that and then some. I don't think you will ever see it again though!

 

[Mototown]

The above video was eyeopening. I know that two strokes are lighter but I had no idea that the sidewinder was about 130 lbs heavier than the Polaris RMK 850. I know they are a couple inch difference in track length but 130 lbs is a lot. Thats why Yamaha needs a 2-stroke so they can be competitive to those who are concerned with weight.

U can make a big deal out of weight , it's great if u are jumping 30' through the air or all out drag racing. But reg trail riders it's not a big deal . I rode a 08 Apex with a tall seat , revalved rear shock and snow trackers . No one I have ridden with can keep up to a 10 year old heavy sled , and still didn't get beat in a drag race against new 2 strokes ( with some tuning,lol) so wouldn't get to hooked on that.

 

[cobrajet ltx dx]

Honestly I truest believe they could take the vector motor and electronics,
HOT TUNE it to achieve the hp #’s and gear it to hit 100mph in a NA version.

My last conversation with my Yamaha dealer was that the apex motor was just to heavy and not doable in the procross.