Apex lovers?? Is this the end??

[Heritage]

As an apex owner...I gotta ask the question....is this it for our beloved apex??

I know many of you are like me, and love the sound and feel of the apex . But what is there to be disappointed about with the new sidewinder?? IMO nothing. We have to stop being hypocrites. If you want to harp on Cat for it's fit and finish...go ahead....but they are getting better (take a good look at the improvements on the sidewinder.)...I know my biggest complaint on my xtx was the rear suspension..Yamaha has done a poor job with their shock calibrations through the years (look how many of us had to hit the after market through the years to get our shocks revalved or get dual rate springs etc)....How many of you bought seats, ski's or even after market skids to get the machine to ride or handle how you wanted??...IMO..NONE of us Apex lovers can complain...Yamaha gave us a faster, better riding, better handling sled....if we are really being honest....a viper or srv equipped sled is a far better ride than the apex.

HAVENT WE BEEN ASKING FOR A FASTER, BETTER RIDING, BETTER HANDLING APEX??

Is that not what the Sidewinder is??

I think the writing is on the wall folks....sure it's a sad day for us Yamaha/apex purists...but all good things must come to an end....and honestly if this is yamaha's future....I'm fine with it.

The aftermarket has feasted on Yamaha riders for years....with this sled...I don't see a lot that needs to be done to it....maybe I am wrong or missing something....and again...don't get me wrong...I love my apex...but this is a hell of a machine guys....and I don't think it's that outta line price wise for what you get.
What do you guys think??

 

[MrSled]

Not the end for me... I still have 2 of them ...1 with over 16,000 miles on it.

 

[cannondale27]

I think Yamaha will make a 4cyl NA that will kick the Sidewinders butt next year!

 

[rtx moose]

my apex and srx will always be in the stable!!!!saying that i think the apex is done also,if they did the same to a 4cyl it would be epic but i cant imagine that to ever happen!yamaha pulled thru bigtime finally... most anyone bitching is pissed cause they own a viper and are jealous

 

[smokum613]

I think.... until the sidewinder series is actually in the general population of users hands (and had a season of snow riding) that any statements of 'better' or 'best' are nothing more than unproven hype & dreams of what might/should/can be.

Time will tell no doubt, but I'm happy with my 2011 Apex SE for trail and this bitch pulls like a mofo with its Yamacharger. I don't have mountains nor boondocking areas, so unless 2018 brings out a NEW Apex (w/4cyl) I'm not that excited to change over. Yet saying that, I'll never ever be 'the first' on new or new tech releases personally. Simply because I'm not one to be both a consumer (at stupid high recreational prices), AND a beta tester.

 

[tomanytoyz]

The sidewinder panels looks a bit wider then the Viper . Maybe a bit more room to fit a 1000 Apex engine inside?? I'm keeping my Apex for as long as I can . To much time and money involved. I do like the new sidewinder ! It just needs to snow earlier , longer and more offen for me to pay $14,000-$17,000 for a machine that I ride on frozen ground....

 

[sideshowBob]

I am still happy with my Apex and have no plan to get a new sled for awhile.

IMO:
Yamaha and Artic Cat's first coproduced sled the Viper was more Cat then Yamaha a "Cataha" this new Sidewinder is showing the evolution of their agreement and is more a "Yamacat". You can really start to see Yamaha's influence on the new sled. Sadly with a turbo triple you don't need 4 cylinder engine, its weight, cost, and complexity to make big power.
Only one point gives me a shred of hope that we may see another Apex.
Artic Cat is calling their version of the Sidewinder the "Thunder Cat" the name they always saved for their ultimate performance sled.
Yamaha has used a new name for this Turbo and still has the "SRX" and "Apex" model names for future new models....could we see a made in Japan ultimate Yamaha in the future to trump the Thunder Cat?
We can only hope.

 

[Tony S.]

Yes, I think it is. I love my N/A Apex, but the motor in the Sidewinder appears to be very well done. Yamaha will not release a new Apex next year- Chris Reid said "I hope it has what it takes to move our Apex faithful."
One can only hope the fit and finish is Yamaha, not Cat.

 

[tomanytoyz]

Adding a Turbo and all the plumbing to go with it has to be close to the same weight as a 4 cyl apex ? ? Engine only.

 

[watersuper]

Apex, sadly, will got the way of the Vmax4....RIP

 

[DSimps10]

another point is that the vector is gone in 2017, i know this wasn't a big name sled for Yamaha but it is on the same chassis as the Apex, was it not? And I dont think they got rid of the Vector because of the engine because the 1049 is still in the Vipers.

 

[MrSled]

another point is that the vector is gone in 2017, i know this wasn't a big name sled for Yamaha but it is on the same chassis as the Apex, was it not? And I dont think they got rid of the Vector because of the engine because the 1049 is still in the Vipers.

Not gone: https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/trail/models/rs-vector#

 

[whitedust1]

I don't need 180hp but if I can get a used low mile cherry SW in a few years for a good price I wouldn't pass it by. My 2012 Apex xtx is about to turn the 10K mile mark & is in great shape. For me I just need to see what Yamaha does for 50th if on the same course as 2017 I would not be impressed. So far only doo 4s have my attention but Ace is a joke for me & 1200 old tech. I'll just wait and see 2018 should be a big year for Yamaha.

 

[DSimps10]

Not gone: https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/trail/models/rs-vector#

I read the snowgoer article and read that a few viper MODELS and vector MODELS and misunderstood thinking entire sled.

 

[vodoo child]

As an apex owner...I gotta ask the question....is this it for our beloved apex??

I know many of you are like me, and love the sound and feel of the apex . But what is there to be disappointed about with the new sidewinder?? IMO nothing. We have to stop being hypocrites. If you want to harp on Cat for it's fit and finish...go ahead....but they are getting better (take a good look at the improvements on the sidewinder.)...I know my biggest complaint on my xtx was the rear suspension..Yamaha has done a poor job with their shock calibrations through the years (look how many of us had to hit the after market through the years to get our shocks revalved or get dual rate springs etc)....How many of you bought seats, ski's or even after market skids to get the machine to ride or handle how you wanted??...IMO..NONE of us Apex lovers can complain...Yamaha gave us a faster, better riding, better handling sled....if we are really being honest....a viper or srv equipped sled is a far better ride than the apex.

HAVENT WE BEEN ASKING FOR A FASTER, BETTER RIDING, BETTER HANDLING APEX??

Is that not what the Sidewinder is??

I think the writing is on the wall folks....sure it's a sad day for us Yamaha/apex purists...but all good things must come to an end....and honestly if this is yamaha's future....I'm fine with it.

The aftermarket has feasted on Yamaha riders for years....with this sled...I don't see a lot that needs to be done to it....maybe I am wrong or missing something....and again...don't get me wrong...I love my apex...but this is a hell of a machine guys....and I don't think it's that outta line price wise for what you get.
What do you guys think??

As a former bleed green cat guy (Had good ones and bad ones that were complete junk. Those are the ones you remember!) your points are valid and spot on. Jumped ship to my Attak in 08 as a leftover and 15,000+ miles and many mods. later I haven't looked back ! The Sidewinder is quite a sled for sure. That being said, as an old muscle car guy I'm not a fan of hair dryers on gas engines. (The candle that burns twice as bright burns 1/2 as long) I was hoping for a 180+hp N.A. 4cyl. japan built Apex replacement for 17/18. But with C.R.'s comment about the Apex faithful being moved to the Sidewinder I believe the end is near for the 4cyl . The Viper and the Sidewinder are both beautiful looking sleds that ride and handle better then my Attak no arguing that. But with my past experiences there's a little voice in my head whispering ""THERE STILL JUST A CAT""!!!! So flame ON.