Apex for long distance crusing

[SledFreak]

The whole idea of the new riding position is better comfort. Why anyone would think that lowering the seat, and having to bend your knees more is more comfortable is news to me. You're also closer to the balance point in the sled. It's why the new sled will be far less fatiguing to ride on a long day.

If you consider the man and the machine as one unit, it only makes sense to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. The taller the seat, the worse the sled will corner and stability will be negatively effected. This is physics and cannot be argued. I predicted in 03 that many seats are too low and they will come up, But they have come up too much and sled are rider are now top heavy ala the rev. Now I predict that seats will come back down and overall ride height will come back down in an effort to improve handling. Seems the makers go up and down as the years pass. The fusion is likely to have the best positioning right now. The apex seat is too tall. Stability will be effected. I remember aruging with cat guys and their too low seat firecat. Now I argue with guys who like dirt bike seats on their snowmobiles. I guess I'm the moderate guy who knows the middle ground where seat height needs to go back to. Actually, the fusion seat height is real good. So I 'm referring to rev, which doo recognizes is too high and have dropped the chassis this year, (wont be enough) and yam apex which has a really bad looking seat thats worse by being too tall. I think the vector seat is fine. My opinion does not apply to sno cross racing class sleds where standing is 99% of the time. :ORC

I believe you will be left in the dark, if you don't want to change to the taller seat with a little higher ride height. It makes the customer ride alot longer without being cramped up and fatiqued. It's not comfortable to ride when your knees are touching your chin because the seat is to low and to soft. :ORC Suspension are evolving and the sleds are handling just as good as the days when the sled only had 6" of travel all the way around. OEM's will work on those parts of the machine to perfect the handling, than rather making the consumer squate down on a sled again. Your body is not made to be that cramped and then go out and beat on it on the trails.

 

[wolfie]

If you consider the man and the machine as one unit, it only makes sense to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. The taller the seat, the worse the sled will corner and stability will be negatively effected. This is physics and cannot be argued. I predicted in 03 that many seats are too low and they will come up, But they have come up too much and sled are rider are now top heavy ala the rev. Now I predict that seats will come back down and overall ride height will come back down in an effort to improve handling. Seems the makers go up and down as the years pass. The fusion is likely to have the best positioning right now. The apex seat is too tall. Stability will be effected. I remember aruging with cat guys and their too low seat firecat. Now I argue with guys who like dirt bike seats on their snowmobiles. I guess I'm the moderate guy who knows the middle ground where seat height needs to go back to. Actually, the fusion seat height is real good. So I 'm referring to rev, which doo recognizes is too high and have dropped the chassis this year, (wont be enough) and yam apex which has a really bad looking seat thats worse by being too tall. I think the vector seat is fine. My opinion does not apply to sno cross racing class sleds where standing is 99% of the time. :ORC

I hear what you're saying, but your arguments are flawed. This thread was about comfort on a long day in the saddle. Number 1, having less bend in the knees will put less stress on them on the long mile days, going from sitting to standing. Number 2, being 6 inches forward, ala REV, will help isolate the rider incrementally better from the bumps, as they are closer to the balance point. Number 3, I don't consider the man and machine as one unit, cg wise (this is a yearly argument btw), and the new front end geometry on the Apexes, will help offset any increases in seat height. All the early ride reports I've seen say the new sled corners flatter than the RX1s do. My 05 was dialed pretty good, but my brothers Fusion had a better riding position. I consider the new Apex to be very similar to the Fusion in riding position, up and forward compared to a conventional sled, but with the ability to stretch the feet out in front of the knees, which was my only real gripe with my 03 REV.

 

[X-APE]

You guys are making the same points I did when I argued for a taller seat in the early 2k's. But you have to stop at some point, which is my point. I say back up a couple inches, BTW, I'm 6'1". A couple inches back down ala vector will not make anyone except some basketball players have their knees to the chin. Listening to your own arguments that taller is better, at what point do you stop? Add a couple more inches and some shorties wont even be able to foot the floorboards. Right now, the GT seat height is approaching ATV seat height. You do realize how top heavy those are when riding dont you? Remember me when they bring it back down a tad. I forsee a more relaxed rev, and a firmer slightly lower seat on future yams. Arctic Cat's have what some argue as the best riding and comfy groomed trail sleds ala sabercat which has a low seat, and foot forward of knee ergos. Bottom line, if yam tries to mimic rev tall ride, they'll miss the fad as doo is on the way back down already.

 

[Tork]

With you being 6'1" a tall seat is important for rider forward. Lower the seat and you have no room for your knees and it forces your butt backward. Then you are moving mass out of the center of the triangle. We debated this alot last spring. Do what you want if you prefer to sit back further. But I doubt you will gain stability and/or comfort.

 

[welterracer]

I feel the seating position is PERFECT for me and im only 5'8 tall... if anything i think the handle bars could be 2 inchs taller!

 

[byoffcr]

I feel the seating position is PERFECT for me and im only 5'8 tall... if anything i think the handle bars could be 2 inchs taller!

I agree with the seat heigth but the bars are high enough for me but Im 3 to 4 " shorter than you. Wifes 4' 10" or 11" and likes the seat also at that height.

 

[SledFreak]

Right now, the GT seat height is approaching ATV seat height.

That's too funny. I think you better bring a measuring tape. My Polaris Sportman, is probably 10" inches higher than the seat on my sled. The Apex is rider forward but not as much as a REV. On the REV your knees are actually bent and your legs are angled back. The Apex your knees are at 90 degress to your legs, which in my opinion is perfect and most others agree. I also think the bars could be an inch or so higher.

 

[Tork]

X Ape,
Sleds are pretty to very good right out of the crate these days. The rule I have for myself right now is no changes for the first 100-200 miles other than bigger carbides and studs. I think it is important to get a baseline. Only then do you know what a sled needs and what you want to do to it to make it suit you better. Also you can better tell if a modification really improves the sled later on.

 

[BA APEX]

Sleds are pretty to very good right out of the crate these days. The rule I have for myself right now is no changes for the first 100-200 miles other than bigger carbides and studs. I think it is important to get a baseline. Only then do you know what a sled needs and what you want to do to it to make it suit you better. Also you can better tell if a modification really improves the sled later on.

BINGO !! finally the right answer.

 

[X-APE]

X Ape,
Sleds are pretty to very good right out of the crate these days. The rule I have for myself right now is no changes for the first 100-200 miles other than bigger carbides and studs. I think it is important to get a baseline. Only then do you know what a sled needs and what you want to do to it to make it suit you better. Also you can better tell if a modification really improves the sled later on.

No doubt, I plan to wait at least a couple hundy miles and then evaluate. If that seat is soft and sit in is as some have suggested, it might be good to go. Tall handlebars work great for me, I love them wide too.

Oh and the guy with the sportsman, that likely the tallest atv available. I mean a typical atv like a foreman or warrior. I have a grizzly 660 and I swear its only a couple inches taller than the apex I sat on the other day.

 

[APEX 21]

What are you guys talking about, I'm 6'6 and coudlnt ride feet forward til my 03 RX-1. My knees were scraping the boards (riding with my feet back). Even If I put a 8 inch riser on the 99's my knees would have been on a harsh angle making it very uncomfortable/painfull to ride. This new chassis is going to make me a very happy camper. I rode the MZ and my knees hit hard on the hood, so Yamaha's approach seems perfect for me. I think they made a sled for a wider market of people now. BETTER AND MORE COMFORTABLE

 

[Tork]

Some debate about seating, but all the 4 strokes are masters at long distance cruising. No oil to add, no worry about a burn down and great gas mileage

 

[sfraser]

Some debate about seating, but all the 4 strokes are masters at long distance cruising. No oil to add, no worry about a burn down and great gas mileage

I agree, as per my original post in the start of this thread. I was also happy to see that people were happy with the Yami saddle bags, I will assume the apex saddle bags will be very similar to the RX1's. I have been riding a 02 Viper for the past few years, I shopped around for the biggest bags I can find (Royal distributing). Of course the viper seat/tail is more conventential, and there were many bag choices available. With the 4 stroke's it appeared you are limited to the yami bags which appear a tad small for extended tours. I'm sure this will change as the APEX's become more popular.

Cheers,

Scott