Any word on future Yamaha entry or mid level sleds?

[Frostbite]

It won't be long before my son will want to be riding his mother's Phazer 500. He has a Bravo now and I will probably get him an Ovation at some point. My wife is 5 feet tall and 96 lbs. If Yamaha doesn't make some kind of entry or mid level sled in the future I could be forced to buy her a foreign sled :shock:
I'd also like to see a kid's RX-1 or Vector to compete with the other kiddies sleds. Once a kid starts riding a green or yellow sled they will tend to gravitate toward that color. I guess it's kind of like tractors. I bet John Deere guys don't ride Case tractors either. I wonder if they have a tractor forum? Hum?

Has anyone heard of a smaller four stroke in the works?

Is Yamaha completely done with new two strokes?

Is 500 lbs. going to be the lightest weight sled we can get from Yamaha?

 

[LazyBastard]

Get her a Vector... I bet she'd really like that. Or a new Phazer... they still make them, but only with a 2-up seat.


As for JD vs Case machines... (Generally) JD is a more farm and yard maintenance oriented company, whereas Case is construction oriented. I'd like to see a farmer plow his field with a Case 580.

 

[jimmie d]

I don't think Yamaha can compete at the entry level sled. Skidoo is giving away the REV fan.

Jim

 

[rupprider]

LB a case 580 is the worlds best underground cable locator. Inside joke from the telephone guys!RR

 

[Frostbite]

I was a little worried this post might go the way of the tractor. That's fine, tractor guys seem to be very brand loyal too.
Although there is little money in selling mini sleds or starter sleds I really do think Yamaha needs a smaller 400 lb. twin cylinder four stroke with an A arm front end. Maybe it's only 60 h.p. but at least it gives 12 to 15 year olds and people of a smaller stature something to ride.
More importantly it gets them indoctrinated into driving Yamaha snowmobiles. Yamaha can think if starter sleds as seed. If young people start out on Yamaha chances are they will stay on a Yamaha and once they become seasoned riders the money that Yamaha invested in getting them onboard will be more than made back.
Look at the other manufactures. It must be as plain as day to them. Look at Yamaha's TTR dirt bike line. TTR90, TTR125, TTR125L, TTR225, TTR250, they make it so simple to make the next step and everything is already familiar to you.
If you start out on a Polaris XC120 and move to a Indy light (I'm dating myself) chances are you next sled won't be a Yamaha.

 

[jimmie d]

Skidoo has wrapped up this market with the REV fan, besides kids love the looks and it is soooooo cheap. You are right on you stick with what you learned on.

Yamaha seems to be priced way out of the market if they call the $12,000 Canadian Vector a "mid level " sled.

Jim

 

[NEED SNOW]

Now this is what my dealer said about 4 weeks back. He thinks they 'might' have a new sled for 06 or 07. He said it would be a smaller 4-stroke, and it could be a twin, for a entry level sled. His rep didn't come out and say this but the rumor is they will have a turbo option for the RX-1 with about 175 h.p. or so. For me, now that I have a 05 RX-1 I would just get a CPR turbo and get 194 h.p. He said they might upgrade the hood but nothing big. The rep did say YAMAHA is 'not' in a hurry to get out EFI, because it would cost more, and they dont need it untill 09, to meet the new regulations in 10. He dont think we will ever see a 30 lbs drop in weight at one time agan ,but it will continue to come down with time. Ther just isn't any way to really find out about the 06's until next spring...

 

[Frostbite]

That's just what I was hoping to hear "Need Snow". There is hope! A factory turboed RX-1 oh MAN! I remember how excited I was to read the specs on the RX-1 mountain. 140+ h.p. with power valves and to think it came with a three year waranty.
To be able to buy a RX-1 factory turbo (I bet it's a Vector and that's why it's 175 h.p.) and purchase the Yamaha extended service program for four years would be out of this world. I would bet the Yamaha turbo is a take off (if not actually a CPR) turbo.
Thanks for the spark of hope.

 

[LazyBastard]

Power valves? Thats 2-stroke tech, not applicable to 4-stroke sleds.

 

[snowsweat]

175 hp won't be a vector. A factory turbo would be more likely to raise hp from 140 to 175, not 120 to 175. The warranty department would be most unhappy. It will be interesting to see a factory turbo RX-1. Will it be more like the Bender or the CPR? Will it have internal changes (oil jets to cool pistons)? Think how easy it will be to go from 175 to 2?? hp? I am frightened.

 

[trekkr]

All I can say now is "Attak" and "Apex." Still muddy on what the "Nytro" will be, if anything. More to follow...

 

[looking4speed]

There are types of power valves used on 4 strokes.There are valves that restrict the intake track for low speed torque then open for topend.There are also valves that disable some valve lift at low speed for more torque.

 

[Turbo Tim]

Some carbeuretors on 4 strokes have power valves , believe me ..............they blow out every time the engine backfires on holleys.

 

[Mighty]

It's a Yamaha built Turbo.

 

[LazyBastard]

Those are not power valves in terms of snowmobiles, and they are not present on RX.