APEX XTX - Yamaha's Best Sled Ever?

[BryKlu]

Well, I picked up a 2012 Apex XTX this year with 7k miles in pristine condition. Kept indoors in heated garage. I've had a 2010 Vector LTX, my first sled, for three seasons. I just wanted to write a post to add information to this forum if someone is looking at an XTX in the future as searching this forum and the help from others has been the key to my success with Yamaha snowmobiles.

I immediately added a 3.5in riser, 13mm sway bar (thanks Travis), snow trackers, Dupont slides, one step colder plugs, LED headlights, solid-state relays, higher CCA battery, transfer to maximum, limiter strap full loose. The skis came shimmed and I didn't remove them when putting on the snow trackers. So far so good.

This sled is amazing. It doesn't dig holes and get stuck like the Vector. I may go up a hole on the limiter strap. Torsion springs will probably need to go to soft from medium. I know the Star Kit is raved about but I'm not touching it this year. Definitely getting Ice Attak XT next year but traction is amazing when not icy.

I broke trail today in the UP today for many miles. Hit 85mph in 14in of powder. I ran through a mile of wetlands with 8ft tall grasses unintentionally. I was afraid to stop in the pow, but a flick of the throttle and she was right up.

If anyone is wondering about picking up one of these, if you can find one, then don't hesitate. Wet spots, ungroomed pow, moderate off-trail, lake ripping, even the twistys with EPS. This has got to be the 'Apex' of sleds from an all-around perspective.

Yea you can get a Sidewinder, but will it have the same build quality and 'Buy it for life' nature? Probably not. I highly suggest picking one of these up before they're all above 20k miles. Not that it'd really matter then but getting one with lower miles now feels good

 

[20/80]

I strongly agree with your review on the XTX, but there are some that have fallen to the blue Cats, that is all Yamaha offers now, not sure what the future holds for Yamaha sleds but right now their bed with CAT, next year who knows maybe blue painted yellow sleds, hang on to your XTX it shows what Yamaha Can be.

 

[burlyviper]

The XTX with the 1.75BC track is a very capable sled when breaking trails. Big difference over the 1.25.

 

[Teamblue4]

Yamaha Apex XTX is the best!!!!

 

[snobill]

Love mine!! Don’t want anything else! Yet lol

 

[yamadoo]

Love mine as well, but must admit despite having the Star suspension -on a long day or a Rough trail I will take my Viper, less top end power I know, but I can live with that.
I have had 2 Apex since 2006 and approaching 20,000 miles with smiles. Not sure why some feel the need to constantly run down the Yamacats, I feel we should let others feel good about their sleds as well.
You don’t need to buy one if you don’t want to.
Merry Christmas let it snow and GROOM away!

 

[BryKlu]

The XTX with the 1.75BC track is a very capable sled when breaking trails. Big difference over the 1.25.

I bet. Things are generally always groomed here and lots of lakes to run so a Pre-studded 1.25 makes the most sense.

 

[BryKlu]

The Western UP is open and in pretty good shape right now. Iron County Wisconsin opened today.

 

[BryKlu]

Love mine as well, but must admit despite having the Star suspension -on a long day or a Rough trail I will take my Viper, less top end power I know, but I can live with that.
I have had 2 Apex since 2006 and approaching 20,000 miles with smiles. Not sure why some feel the need to constantly run down the Yamacats, I feel we should let others feel good about their sleds as well.
You don’t need to buy on if you don’t want to.
Merry Christmas let it snow and GROOM away!

I got the Apex to eat up miles on the big trails of the UP. The Vector and Viper need to be wound out more. It's like having a Mustang GT vs Mustang GT350R.

 

[maim]

Running my 11 with 17000mi with a 1.5 lug composit track and DuPonts. Has great traction now and still not hurting the slides. Gf rides it now mostly but I did get to rip on it in the powder and I am liking that track. Have broken a lot of trail with that sled with no issues once I put the 09 apex mtx skis on it.

got a 16 now and still trying to get it to ride like my 11 does.

 

[BryKlu]

Running my 11 with 17000mi with a 1.5 lug composit track and DuPonts. Has great traction now and still not hurting the slides. Gf rides it now mostly but I did get to rip on it in the powder and I am liking that track. Have broken a lot of trail with that sled with no issues once I put the 09 apex mtx skis on it.

got a 16 now and still trying to get it to ride like my 11 does.

I broke about 50 miles of trail with my 1.25 and stock skis. I may look into wider skis next year. I do need pre-studded as I rip a lot of roads for forest road access. I did hit 105 speedo on a snowy lake yesterday. It was night so I let off because that's plenty fast. I think she's working ok

 

[WinderFab]

I had a few Apex’s since 07 and thought the same thing till I bought my 20 sidewinder. Believe me I’m a 100% true made in Japan sled guy but after many thousands of Km’s in northern Ontario and northern Quebec I couldn’t take the riding position of the apex. One 300km day on the sidewinder and I was sold, I can ride 300-350km days for 7 straight days and feel great while on my apex’s my knees would feel the pain of being bent passed 90 degrees.
I loved the apex but it was time for me to move on.

 

[74Nitro]

I think the best Yamaha sled ever built(relative to others in the same time era) would have to be the first Phazers 84-89, as they catapulted Yamaha ahead of all others.
Of course I would rank the Sidewinder a close second after the Phazer....

 

[yamahinn03]

Except it is not a true YAMAHA!!

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

I agree, love mine and hoping the Star upgrade with the seat concepts seat and riser make it even better.