APEX PERMA GRIN NOTES : GREAT 'MAYBE' LAST RIDE!

[yamadoo]

I just have to say I had a great 220 + mile ride with my buddies son this week end on the North shore of lake Superior and up the GUNFLINT trail.

He had picked up a new to him PRO X Poo and it was his first time to ride my APEX. He loved the APEX his dad tells me, he just said he liked it when we were together, he bleeds POO - great kid. LOL

On the way up trails smooth, fast and fun. On the way back the near 40 degree sun made for ROUGH trails for the last 50 - 70 miles.......and the APEX just sucked it up. I was not beat up at all, sled ran great, ( pulled 116 mph and still climbing when I ran out of trail - coldn't see over a rise and backed out, to bad to because was another third of a mile with slight down hill and smooth, might have seen 120's) he was really sore and beat up that tight suspension was kiking the crap out of him. I should have traded with him, but to late to think of that now.

Any way, great year so far, sled is / was bullet proof, always starts & runs great , rides great and looks awesome.


Just wanted to put in a little good news.

APEX for me!!!!!!!!!

Yamadoo

Now next year, hmmmmmm, Rocks hand warmer plug and play, may be Rox riser 2 inch and maybe 13 mm sway bar. Some thing to think and dream about.

 

[Blue Dave]

Yamadoo,

I was up there two weeks ago and also had a great ride from Grand Marais to Lutsen and up the Gunflint trail. We "snuck" into Canada for a short ride on the awsome trails north of Gunflint lake. I could have ridden those Canadian trails all day but we didn't want to get caught without the proper documents.

Next year we will come back with the remote border crossing and trail permits and try the 500 mile "circle tour". In the mean time you can probably ride up there on the MN side for a few more weeks.

 

[yamadoo]

Sounds great up in Canada, you are the 2nd person this month to talk about how great those trails are.

I justed loved my Apex that day, smooth, powerfull, fast and reliable.

Yamadoo

 

[journeyman]

Sounds great up in Canada, you are the 2nd person this month to talk about how great those trails are.

I justed loved my Apex that day, smooth, powerfull, fast and reliable.

Yamadoo

How do you guys like them in the tight twisties? All of my seat time on Apexes have been on long straight stretches. I have yet to run one hard in the twisties. My Viper just rails in those situations. I had one Apex, one ATTAK and one '08 Nytro on my UP trip. The Nytro rider normally would lead and I would run 2nd. He rides pretty aggressive and I kept up with him no problem. The two Apex style sleds were dragging back a bit. Not sure if it was the sled....I think it was mostly the riders. I had never ridden with them before so I wasn't sure what to make of it. They were friends of the Nytro owner but he said they usually could keep up better. They were new to these two sleds so maybe they were just trying to get used to them. The reason I ask is I keep wondering if I could bring them into a corner as hot as I sometimes do with my Viper without it pushing too much. I tried the same riding style with a 2003 RX-1 and it wore me out. I'm 6'1" and about 210lbs. and fairly strong so that is not an issue. I know the Apex has a much better semi-forward riding position so I would guess it should be easier to control. I'm trying to figure out what sled fits me best ,an Apex or a Nytro. The new FI Vector looks like a great trail sled but for some reason I keep thinking I would want more power after awhile.

 

[Blue Dave]

I also came from a Viper and I have owned two SRX's and many V-maxes & Exciters over the years. That having been said, you really need to set-up the Apex properly and learn how to drive it way differently than the old Yamaha's.

I absolutely hated my Apex the first time out and actually thought about asking the dealer to trade back to my Viper. I felt that I would never be able to ride the Apex as fast through the twisties as I could ride my old Viper.

However after setting up the suspension properly and figuring out how to ride it after a couple of weekends, now I would never go back. I can ride my Apex as fast if not faster than my old Viper through the twisties.

Once you get used to the engine braking you won't believe how fast you can get through the corners without ever touching your brake. The guys trying to keep up to me sometimes get into trouble if they are relying on my brake light to warn them of the sharp corners!

 

[journeyman]

I also came from a Viper and I have owned two SRX's and many V-maxes & Exciters over the years. That having been said, you really need to set-up the Apex properly and learn how to drive it way differently than the old Yamaha's.

I absolutely hated my Apex the first time out and actually thought about asking the dealer to trade back to my Viper. I felt that I would never be able to ride the Apex as fast through the twisties as I could ride my old Viper.

However after setting up the suspension properly and figuring out how to ride it after a couple of weekends, now I would never go back. I can ride my Apex as fast if not faster than my old Viper through the twisties.

Once you get used to the engine braking you won't believe how fast you can get through the corners without ever touching your brake. The guys trying to keep up to me sometimes get into trouble if they are relying on my brake light to warn them of the sharp corners!

That I believe. I noticed that a bit riding close behind my friends Nytro. He didn't need to brake very often. He was getting used to it though and did blow some corners. LOL!!

 

[yamadoo]

journeyman and Blue Dave,

I love my APEX but rail it won't like my old XTC / SRX or polaris edges or wedges.

The transition to inside ski lift is abrupt and unsettling. I find that I am actually cornering quite well, meaning keeping up with the 20 somethings, but not carving or railing as I did on the old sled. The more I think about it when the old sled would lift it was somehow less troubling. I am considering a 13 mm sway bar in attempt to solve this.

I just love this sled. THE RIDE HOME is were the Apex shines when even the kids are worn out,. I can still carry speed and cruise around rough corners. OH yea and then there is the motor, yes the motor is addicting. I do not know if I could give it up.

Yamadoo

 

[Blue Dave]

It would be impossible for me to go back to any of the old Yamaha's that I have owned. I love my Apex and have had two troublefree seasons totalling 3600 miles. I agree that the ride home is beyond compare if the trails get beat up.

I am done riding for this season after an awesome 375 mile weekend on the 13th & 14th in NE MN. I hope that you all had a great season like I did. For me it is time to pull out the summer toys.

 

[yamadoo]

Blue Dave I was up on the Northshore saturday from finland to devils track lake then up to Trails end restruant and back. I wonder if we crossed tracks ?

I am pretty sure I am done as well. I may try this weekend to trailer up some wear but unsure if any snow.

 

[kinger]

Head to the black hills they are getting 30-40 inches today and tommorrow!

 

[Blue Dave]

Yamadoo,

Friday the 13th I was closer to Finland. Saturday the 14th we rode from Pequaywan Lake (near Brimson) up the Hoyt Lakes trail and then on to Tower then Virginia and back to Pequaywan.

I summerized my Apex this past weekend and put it up into the storage loft in my garage. I took down the summer toys and took out my V-max bike for a ride!

 

[craig1155615]

Blue Dave it is too early to put it away,This is the best time of the year to ride up the gunflint. We are getting nailed with freezing rain now,does not look good trees are breaking with the weight of ice.

 

[Super Sled]

Riding up North Shore

My fiances relatives are all from Finland/Little Marais area and we have been up there the last few weekends, but I assumed it was over after riding last Sunday. The warm weather and sun have just melted everything. And then of course this god-awful rain the last day 1/2 is really a killer. I see you are from Tofte -- what are your thoughts -- Is it over up there now, unless we get more snow? It seems too early to end, but geez the weather is just not cooperating! I would note it seemed like there was a lot of snow off trail up the Gunflint Trail, once you got way over the hill.

 

[Blue Dave]

Blue Dave it is too early to put it away,This is the best time of the year to ride up the gunflint. We are getting nailed with freezing rain now,does not look good trees are breaking with the weight of ice.

Craig,

I was hoping for one more ride up the Gunflint this year but I figured that the warm weather and the rain ended the season up there also. This and the fact that I knew the guy that hit the tree and died near Devil's Track Lake on the 13th made me decide to call it a season.

I hope that you get some more riding in this year. Maybe I will run into you at Hugo's this summer otherwise I will see you again at the Windigo Lodge next season.

 

[craig1155615]

It is bad near the lake but not too bad when you get up a couple miles.I dont no what this rain has done to the trails but it sure made a mess with the trees.They are breaking off at the tops,fifty percent of the trees are broken looks like we had a major blow down.The state trail from Tofte to Devils Track was not to bad this weekend.With the freezing rain and the wind I bet there is some trees down on the trail.