Since the 80’s my family and I have been buying Yamaha’s for the engine. We need them for transportation and not just Sunday drives on groomed trails nor for reaching the mountain peeks. I’ll be the first to admit that other sleds are more capable. In fact, my father for example has owned VK’s since the late 90’s and is on his 2nd VK pro as he thought it best to trade the first one in at 44,000 just in case. Now he breaks trails and hauls logs with it, it can tow the devil but $&@“ does it get stuck in deep snow easy. Ski-Doo’s SWT can effortlessly go in reverse through willow beds where the VK can’t go in forward but is he about to change his brand? No. Because, like myself, I need the bullet proof reliability that I’ve only experienced in owning Yamaha and not just snowmobiles. I have Yamaha boats, personnel watercrafts, outboards, Motorcycles, dirt bikes, 4 wheelers. Also, I can’t afford to go out and get a new sled every 3 or 4 seasons like I know BRP, Cat and Polaris owners need to once that nervousness comes along for the ride once warranty is gone. I have 95’ Vmax4’s that I put higher trust in than any new sled of the other big 3 on the snow. I realize Yamaha doesn’t need the snowmobile market. Hell I bet they could scratch off atv’s too and Outboards would keep them well afloat by the way they dominate that market. But if they are going, then go. If they’ve lost that much interest to let what was once such a fine fit and finished machine become what feels like a cheap China brand from Arctic Cat then leave well enough alone. I know my dated Yamaha chassis doesn’t ride like a Winder or Viper. But I know like the rest of my 22 Yamaha’s. It won’t see the inside of my local dealers mechanics shop because it’s Japanese from front bumper to tow hitch. I for one am holding out to see if they do indeed make sleds again in their entirety and I can hold out for about 100,000 on the odometer I’m willing to bet.
You are right in the joint venture saving Yamaha (if they wanted to be saved) snowmobiles. I am down to the last person I know (besides my family) who is still riding Yamaha’s. My most die hearted Yamaha fan friends have all traded in the tuning fork for BRP’s. Even the ones who swore they would never. But having the same options since 2003 gets old fast and some of us have spent way to many years bashing brands like Artic Cat to sit on one today. Powered by a Yami or not.
As great as they ride, your winder etc. Just imagine if Yamaha was in the mood to compete and develop a new chassis from ground up? You know it would be better.
