After owning it for over a month, I finally rode the phazer!

[DigitalFusion]

Im sure some of you saw my other phazer project thread. Well today the wife was gone at an all-day work training thing, the kids were gone, the phazer is all back together, and the sun was shining. Even tho the trails are at the end of their life, I had to get out and at least try the phazer.

WOW

This sled is soooo much fun to ride. Seriously. I had only planned to rip over to a friends house and back, which is about a 10 mile round trip. Long story short I ended up with over 50 miles on her today 'cause I just couldnt stop. Sure, she doesnt have the power of the Apex, or the sexy smoth exhaust note, but I forgot all about my other sled while I was on the Phazer. This was a perfect way to end the season (unless we get more snow). The phazer is the most fun sled I have ever been on. If she had better traction (stock 1" track) and some more HP or at least different clutching I would seriously consider selling the Apex for another phazer.

 

[yamahas]

Amazing how it happens isn't it!

 

[Gone Blue]

Glad you got it together and out for a ride. Looks like you where dirt tracking it!

G.B.

 

[cannondale27]

Awesome!Now you know what we are talking about.Glad your hard work has paid off.

 

[Boston RX1]

I feel the exact same way. I am debating putting in a SC on my Phazer since I have everything else done. That is the only thing lacking and if I do that, I might have to mothball the two Nytro's.

 

[oldphazer]

i need one of these effin things!

 

[BombaPolaYama]

Glad all your efforts paid off and you enjoyed your first ride.
Too bad it's ending so soon - it may not be any different here with all the rain and mild now.

 

[couch]

Glad all your efforts paid off and you enjoyed your first ride.
Too bad it's ending so soon - it may not be any different here with all the rain and mild now.

Looks like its toast here on the Avalon! Last week was pretty good only wish it would have held on for a bit longer.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

Glad all your efforts paid off and you enjoyed your first ride.
Too bad it's ending so soon - it may not be any different here with all the rain and mild now.

Looks like its toast here on the Avalon! Last week was pretty good only wish it would have held on for a bit longer.

Yep, our winters are getting more pathetic every year! but

 

[Macheater]

DF, I also have an 06 Apex that I have a bunch of money into for aftermarket goodies. Well I bought an 09 RTX last year for my son to ride (ya right). Anyway, I couldn't agree more with your observations. After getting some miles in on the phazer and seeing its strong and weak points for myself.

I have already addressed several of the issues common to phazers in the last year. Added an Ulmer airbox and have one of his clutch kits sittin on the kitchen table waiting to be installed.

BTW, I just tell my son that I'm getting it setup for him. LOL!

 

[DigitalFusion]

I put 50+ miles on the phazer during the day Saturday, and then Saturday night I put 45 on the Apex. It was a great comparison day.

The Apex rails the flat twisties like no ones business, flies in the lakes and fields, and with the ZX2 under her takes big launches like they arent even there. Between the nose cone, windshield bag, and seat cargo area there is actually places to store things. When she gets airborne, she flies pretty damned flat... however it takes a lot more to get her in the air.

The Phazer takes the smaller shudder bumps with ease (revalved rear shock to be a bit softer), and is a lot more fun to play around on when there are little rollers and drifts. When it gets airborne, you really have to pay attention to both how you launch and how you balance on her. It will tip side-to-side in the air pretty easy and if the launch is uneven you really have to compensate with body weight/leaning to fly level. I had a few "Oh s**t" moments on her trying to learn that! I really didnt notice too much tippiness while on the ground to be honest. I do have the spacers set so the skis are at the widest point tho. There is no damned storage on this thing. I had to ride with a backpack in order to bring anything with me. I am convinced that I am going to put the 136" tip-up extensions under her, along with either the 17T top gear I already have and/or a clutch kit this summer/fall when I do the rest of the project.

Best part is that It looks like Im gonna get more time to play on both of my machines!

 

[OVR4D]

Glad to hear you were able to put it back together DF, and just in time too! Sure hope we get dumped on!

I finally got around to ordering a clutch kit (Schmidt Bros Stage II), and have been playing with the weight to get it dialed in (still making too many R's). Going to add a little more weight to tips tonight to try to get closer to the 11,300 I'm shooting for.

I might not be able to make it into work on Tuesday (LOL) ... Sure hope my boss is understanding.

 

[biffdotorg]

See I respect a phazer opinion like this as your primary sled is not the phazer.

I spent Friday night and Saturday on my Apex. Sunday, my father rode the Apex and I spent the day on the phazer. After 85 miles chasing my dad, it reminded me that they are all fun sleds, they all have strengths and weaknesses. Every one of them makes me smile like a little kid!

For all those naysayers that laugh at a "85hp Kids sled" need to throw a leg over it and mash the fun flipper!

I've said it before, and I will say it again. If you don't do the 136" kit, get a 121" freeride. I was hooking up great yesterday.

Enjoy it, we only have so much winter left and this "storm" looming over us is a bust so far for our region. Good thing we own trailers and have understanding wives because her daughter agrees with me. We will ride till it melts away.

 

[OVR4D]

Biff - The title of your video says "Trail to Ice Crackin" ... as in, Ice Cracking Lake? My brother-in-law has a place there, but I've only ever visited in Summer. Nice little stretch of woods. You're making memories your daughter won't forget (I like that). Thanks for sharing.

As for this "storm", we are a bit further south than you, but so far have received a dusting only ... fingers crossed for one more dump before the trails a too far gone to ride.

DF - my apologies for hyjacking your thread.

 

[DigitalFusion]

Glad to hear you were able to put it back together DF, and just in time too! Sure hope we get dumped on!

I finally got around to ordering a clutch kit (Schmidt Bros Stage II), and have been playing with the weight to get it dialed in (still making too many R's). Going to add a little more weight to tips tonight to try to get closer to the 11,300 I'm shooting for.

I might not be able to make it into work on Tuesday (LOL) ... Sure hope my boss is understanding.

Yeah, I really thought that the season was over and Saturday was the last ride. Pretty stoked that we might get one more week of riding in. Lemme know how you end up liking that clutch kit. I too might be taking a snow day! Hope this storm turns out to be all they are saying it is. Barely even a dusting thus far, but they say the heavy stuff will come tonight and overnight.

See I respect a phazer opinion like this as your primary sled is not the phazer.

I spent Friday night and Saturday on my Apex. Sunday, my father rode the Apex and I spent the day on the phazer. After 85 miles chasing my dad, it reminded me that they are all fun sleds, they all have strengths and weaknesses. Every one of them makes me smile like a little kid!

For all those naysayers that laugh at a "85hp Kids sled" need to throw a leg over it and mash the fun flipper!

I've said it before, and I will say it again. If you don't do the 136" kit, get a 121" freeride. I was hooking up great yesterday.

Enjoy it, we only have so much winter left and this "storm" looming over us is a bust so far for our region. Good thing we own trailers and have understanding wives because her daughter agrees with me. We will ride till it melts away.

Like you said before... they are very different rides and both have pros/cons. I still feel like the phazer is more 'fun' to ride, but I have to admit that this could be because its new to me, the day was beautiful, and I was just out playing all day long alone with no one else to worry about. Going out and just screwing around is always fun, regardless of which machine I am on! I agree on the whole kids sled thing. This is not strictly a kids sled, or a sled for the ladies. It bugs me to read that, and I am sure its insulting to some of you long term phazer riders, regardless of age or gender. Sure, I bought the phazer hoping to get the wife out but it was based on price, power, and weight and was just as much of a selfish choice as I've always been curious about them and thought they'd be fun... turns out it was more fun than I though it would be. The phazer is soo much fun its hard to decide which one to call my primary sled 'cause im torn on which one to hop on when we go out! Geez, talk about a first world problem huh?

I hear ya on the 121" freeride. There are losta great feedback posts about it here. Since I already have the extensions and they are tip-ups Im still convinced to put them on. I'm pretty sure I will still do the freeride track unless I find a smoking deal on something else. Plus stretching it will allow a rear tunnel bag for some storage.


Pretty sweet Vid! Your daughter is lucky girl!

DF - my apologies for hyjacking your thread.

No worries. Im pretty sure Im one of the worst on TY for being a thread hijacker. I always seem to read forums like a conversation, and conversations have lives of their own and tend to go all over the place. This was a good example of it!