die hard cat man might go blue

[STAIN]

hi, new to this forum, been lurking for a while doing some research on these RX1's. As the title suggests I have been riding cat for about 25 years and think it might be time for a change. Yamaha has always intrigued me but I have never been impressed with the ride of the pro-action suspension. Maybe I never rode a properly set up one? I have no intrest in swapping a pro-action for a cat skid after spending 8 large on the sled to begin with but this mono shock is interesting. Has anyone put significant milage on this skid? I know that product quality will not be an issue and I belive that power won't be one either as it seems that there are many capable tuners on this site. How are these things through the twisties? I don't ride as hard as I used to through the junk anymore [ who does?] but I don't want to have my knuckles dragging on the ground after a 200 mile day either. suspesion adjustability and weight transfer and the ability to handle the choppy stuff are important to me .I guess what I am looking for is some affermation that these are good ALL AROUND trail sleds as I need that little extra push to lay down my cash on a RX. old habbits die hard

P.S this seems to be great site with many helpful people on it---keep it up! Excuse my terrible typing

 

[Yamahnator]

Welcome Stain. My biggest gripe with my 04 RX-1 was the rear suspension. It seems they've listened to us and addressed this for 05. Those that have ridden it compare the monoshock ride to the M10 (which is lauded to be a very smooth ride). So I think you would be making a good choice.

It'll be 30 lbs. lighter and the seat is raised by two inches (two other things that were probably secondary gripes).

Through the twisties I can keep up with a friend of mine who rides a 440 rev. He's much more experienced than I. The more that I got used to my sled the more I started keeping up with him. Now I he can't lose me at all and if I'm in front he's doing everything he can to stay with me. Says a lot that a sled which weighs probably 80 to 100 pounds more can keep up with something as nimble as a 440 rev. We leave the polaris and firecats in the dust. Now a lot is the rider but theres only so fast that you can take corners. The RX-1 will handle wit the rest of them. Just make sure you get your suspension dialed in. I corner like I'm on rails.

Power is right on with the big twins.

 

[Kachess]

I also have always been a cat man. My dads first cat was a red tank and had a leaping polar bear on the side. His second was a 69 panther with a 399 kohler. After that it was all cats right up to my powder special and even my 02 660 trail 4-stroke. I went for the four stroke cause I was tired of seized engines, fouled plugs and stinking clothes. I then went for the Rx1 cause I wanted some "clean" horsepower for climbing. What I found was a level of quality and refinement I didn't know existed in snowmobiles. When it comes to fit and finish the Yamaha is the lexus and Arctic Cat is the pinto. My A/C 660's engine may last 100k, but the sled is already shaking apart at 2K. My RX1 has 3K of tough mountain riding and has held up incredibly well. So well I have invested another three grand shedding 80lbs and feel confident that I will be happy with the sled for a long time.

 

[philip d estes]

STAIN, welcome. I was a cat man for years and tried a new warrior last year. loved the motor, fit and finish are the best i've seen. not having to worry about motor trouble and other cat problems ( f-7 ) was money well spent. after seeing the new sleds at colebrook and watching the new mono shock over very rough trails and talking too people who rode it, i think it may even better. so i baught a new rx1-er hope this helps you phil

 

[welterracer]

I have two buddies who i thought would go blue but they ended up going from polaris to CAT!! they are more worried about the color than the performance and reliability..

I had a 04 warrior and hit a tree with it and totalled it....

SO i went out and bought another one... DOES THAT TELL YOU ANYTHING!!

THEY ARE AWSOME SLEDS........ THey do require some suspension tuing to make handle the way you want.. but what sled doesnt!!

as far as being fast.....Ive smoked a zr800, 2=xcsp 600s(with go fast goodies), doo formula z 583, and srx 700....... ALL LIKE THEY WERE STANDING STILL!!

 

[Swiss Sledder]

Stain, I came from the Polaris Edge suspension to the RX-1. For all the griping you read on here, I actually thought the 03 RX-1 suspension was not that bad. Sure it was not as good as the Edge or Cat suspension, but it was way better than the Viper Pro-Action stiff board suspension that would leave you in pain at the end of the day. But the 03 RX-1 suspension was not quite as nice as what Poo, Cat, and Doo had.

My only real complaint with the 03 RX-1 was conering in the twisties. After reading stuff on this site, I installed the straight rate springs and longer links, which are now standard items on the RX-1. This made a big difference in the cornering. I then added a set of Simmons Flexi skis, and now it handles better than my old Edge sled.

If you don't ditch bang or like to fly in the air, I think the RX-1 is the best option out there. Not because I bleed Blue but after riding over 5,000 miles on the RX-1. You can ditch bang and take big jumps, but the manufacturers sleds are better suited to this type of riding. Heck, look at VT.RX1 who put 10,003 miles on his 03 RX-1 and then bought an 04 RX-1 and put over 11,000 miles on it. Now he is getting an 05. Or look at Dukester who was a Poo M-10 guy and went to the Warrior in 04 putting over 8,000 happy miles on his sled and snowchecked a 05 RX-01. That should say alot about the RX-1.

If you like to trail ride, have reliability, great gas mileage, constant power from 0 to 100+ mph, and not smelling like an engine at the end of day, the RX-1 is for you. Good luck with your decision.

 

[QCRider]

This is starting to sound like a 12 step program... Hi, my name is QC and I am a former Cat owner.... :lol:

Anyway, I AM a former Cat owner. For the last 8 years I have had 4 Cats. Unlike some, I have no particular beef with Cat other than the fact that they have taken too long to build the sled I wanted. If they would have thrown a Suzuki Bike engine in a ZR Chassis, I would have probably ordered one of them instead of an RX-1. But that was based on my dealer as much as anything else. I have ridden my Dad's -03 RX-1 for probably a total of 50-100 miles. I absolutely loved the engine and the fit and finish, but the ride was rough and the seat was absolutely BRICK hard. So I held off from buying an '04, and lo and behold what does Yammi address on the '05's? The two issues that I had with the sled. Once they did this I jumped up and ordered one. I am not a Cat basher, I think they make a good sled. And unlike Polaris for example they are always pushing the technology envelope and this leads to occasional design/quality issues. But they have always stood behind their product in my experience. Yamaha just makes a VERY different product. I don't mean this in an offensive way to anyone, but I think Cat makes sleds that appeal to the 18 - 30 year old demographic and Yamaha makes sleds that appeal to the rest of us. There is some intelligence in both strategies and it seems to work for both of them.

My point. Buy the RX-1, you will NOT regret it for second, and we haven't even discussed the merits of 4 strokes yet. No oil, no stink, longer life, flatter torque curve, etc....

 

[Blue Vector]

I also have ridden Cats for the last 10 years. I snowchecked a Vector ER. I actually had good luck with Cats but am looking forward to the 4 stroke. I seriously looked at a 660 turbo but in my opinion the Vector blows it away. One more Cat guy switching to Yamaha Blue!

 

[Bob Miller]

Stain, I've been riding for almost thirty years now, and I do all my riding in Quebec ( Highways of snow) and I put 2800 trouble free miles on my Warrior. This sled has been without a doubt the best sled I have ever owned. It was quicker than an 800 EDGE an MXZ 800 with go fast goodies, an 03Viper with go fast goodies and it was about even against two REV 800 HO's that I rode with. This sled is very comfortable, very quick, and very RELIABLE.
And it always got the best gas mileage, and all it needs is 87 octane, needless to say:I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT 8) :wink:

 

[JWL600CC]

hi my name is jeff and i will be yet another Cat guy swithing to the 4-stroke......never had a problem with Cat either but i too ride in Quebec and i think i will love this sled....will probably put Simmons skis on it as per the many recommendations on this site..........will come up with a new handle when i take delivery

 

[impalapower]

Welcome aboard, you won't be using that tow rope anymore.

 

[impalapower]

You also might want to check some of the other colors. Yamaha is currently using up all of the left over blue paint. So if you crash your sled down the road a blue hood might be hard to find.

 

[ricco]

hi my name is Richard ive owned many a sled polaris skidoos cats all the bigger aggressive trail one's ,not into the racing . my 03 rx1 shorty is my first yamy the genusis extreme rocks . Right now all i have to say is once you get the taste there won't be any turning back. loads of critics around here which is fine.They probably have never had the luxury. and I have pleasure in tellingl them (the critics that is) be carefull what you say if its critisism the only way i will tow you home is if you tie you green thong into a rope Ha Ha.

but honestly in my case as a sport touring type i absolutly adore this sled and can't wait to ride more.

 

[STAIN]

thanks for the replys. just got back from riding, had to tow my 99zl 500 with D@D 711 engine home because of stator failure!!! I think that a trip to my local yammi dealer is in order. If they give me a reasonable trade for my f7 a red RX1-ER is going to be in my stable

 

[manitoban]

What's the maintenance like on the shocks?As much as m10?

Just wondering :x if anyone knows what the maintenance will be like on the 2005 shocks? Will not be as many trips to the dealer, as it was for me with my X firecat!