*2020 UPDATE*

[greatwhite89]

Here is an article from sled magazine.com regarding the latest on Yamaha. Doesn't provide specifics to some of our questions, but does provide some light on things. Enjoy!!!! Think Snow!

https://sledmagazine.com/actions/pa...maha 2019, How Is It Going?&request_locale=en

 

[Red Hornet]

Read the article and it is refreshing to hear of some life from the company. They should keep communicating. Since everything went to Canada you swear they were 3 people that ran the whole snowmobile division and were too busy updating their resume or boxing up their office to bother selling sleds. Im probably on to them, but I sure hope they are just too busy for the big push of their all new chassis with 2 and 4 stroke options. Yamaha once had an add in the snowmobile magazines that had Tim benders Phazer race sled held up by all people of the company. I want that company again.

 

[jjmoneysauce]

I'm definitely wired for sound in March.

 

[Big_Phil]

That doesn't sound very promising. Sounds like they sold less sleds than in 2019 than in 2017 when the sidewinder came out. Also says they didn't order/make that many sidewinder engines this year, and spring orders were more than they thought, hence there arent many 2019s sitting in dealers for purchase. If they were continuing to make a sled with the sidewinder engine, having an extra 1000 or so made would be no big deal.

 

[jjmoneysauce]

That might be oversimplifying, and doesn't fit with the concepts of Japanese manufacturing systems in which overproduction is typically identified as wasteful and avoided. Just casually having 1000 extra motors around is probably not as easy or practical as it sounds.

 

[YukonMP]

Thanks for posting the link. Everything in the article seems pretty credible to me. I'm pretty sure 99 percent of the speculation will turn out to be just that. And I don't have the time to go sifting for the one percent that will come true.

Regards having a 1000 engines warehoused. Not a good business call as I see ... money tied up earning nothing. These are motors, not scotch.

I bought my first sled in 2012 so I haven't been following this long but I was appalled at the used and non-current prices of Vipers. If I bought the first year because I wanted Yamaha's best and then they offer turbo the next year. Then the rod fiasco and then they bring out the Sidewinder. Those events must really have tried the patience of loyal Yamaha enthusiasts. And how about the ongoing Viper concerns.

Thankfully Yamaha seems to have hit it out of the park with the Sidewinder and maybe the Viper guys are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I do believe there could be improvements in Yamaha's marketing and communication. There seems to be a bit of a ' Take it or leave it, it is what it is attitude.' Unfortunate, they have a very dated style in my estimation.

 

[jjmoneysauce]

Interesting point. I guess I don't pay close enough attention to the other 3 to compare their sled marketing preview strategies other than mostly in generalities. It is definitely frustrating for any enthusiast, but then I wonder, why would they tip their hand and allow their competitors to counterposition themselves for the next few moves.

 

[YukonMP]

They already know what they are up to and it is too late for the other three to react. I don't advocate spilling the beans on everything but think about it, wouldn't it be nice if some of the speculation was at least initially grounded in fact. Wouldn't it be nice for your dealer to have something factual to share, it makes him look good. This is an information age and when Yamaha plays it this tight they only frustrate guys. Yamaha devotees are passionate and if you don't throw them the occasional bone they'll chew your leg off. I mean it.

 

[soldi]

This should be in the 2020 thread.. shurley we only need one??

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

This should be in the 2020 thread.. shurley we only need one??

I agree, Mr Sled?