Don’t feel bad, I’m in the same position. Been riding Yamaha since 99. And the biggest reason I do is for the reliability. When I take time off work, drive 7 hours up north, I want a sled that runs and won’t strand me in the woods. Ive seen countless people’s weekends ruined because of sled break downs. I’ve owned a Sxr 600, Rx1, 3 Apex’s, and a Vector. None of these sleds have left me stranded and not one mechanical issue in 50,000 miles. I read about some of these sleds breaking down with 1,500 miles and it makes me cringe.
I like you would like to try something different. I’ve also been paying attention to the 900T. I don’t want a 200 horsepower winder and the Doo turbo is right about the same horsepower as my Apex. I currently own a 13 and 16 Apex. I’m gonna sell one of them and probably give the Doo turbo a try. And if it sucks and is unreliable, I will still have an Apex to ride. It’s really the position we loyal Yamaha riders are in. I’m just not a fan of the Yamahas coming out of Thief River Falls. Until Yamaha comes out with a quality built new 4 stroke built in Japan, I won’t buy another one. It’s forced me to look elsewhere.
I like you would like to try something different. I’ve also been paying attention to the 900T. I don’t want a 200 horsepower winder and the Doo turbo is right about the same horsepower as my Apex. I currently own a 13 and 16 Apex. I’m gonna sell one of them and probably give the Doo turbo a try. And if it sucks and is unreliable, I will still have an Apex to ride. It’s really the position we loyal Yamaha riders are in. I’m just not a fan of the Yamahas coming out of Thief River Falls. Until Yamaha comes out with a quality built new 4 stroke built in Japan, I won’t buy another one. It’s forced me to look elsewhere.
coolio
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Amen Brother! I bet that Doo Enduro 900T I rode was even or better power wise than my Apex XTX. The Doo is 150+HP but it is probably 75lbs or more lighter than my 160HP Apex. Unfortunately, I don't want to go shorter in track length as we've got 4ft of snow on the ground in Northern Maine. The 900T only comes in a 137 I believe. But probably both are equal in deep snow due to the big weight difference.
coolio
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For those that want to hate on me for speaking the truth, here is my list of Yamahas I've bought for me or my wife: SRV 540, Exciter, Vmax 600, 500XT, 600XTC, SRX 700 (loved it!), Vmax 600 Deluxe, 2 Warriors, Rage, Vector LTX(current, wife loves it), Apex XTX (current, love it after installing Star kit). So I'll take a back seat to few for giving tens of thousands of $$ to Yamaha. So now Yamaha is only giving me one choice to update for $17,000+; a fantastic turbo engine, an outdated Artic crap chassis with fancy Yamaha graphics, Artic crap quality control, no power steering, no accessory fuel tank, no good solution for luggage, a tiny main fuel tank, a tunnel not rated for more than 5lbs to be carried on it or it will bend and they won't warranty it, very little on sled storage, still heavy, Artic crap suspension, few grease fittings, and a nightmare to service. This is 2019 and this stuff should not be. The Doo Enduro 900T I rode has solved most of these issues. I'm not getting ready to leave Yamaha, they are leaving me!
20/80
VIP Member
Yeah... you are probably right, but I often wondered what the out come would be if we put a turbo on the old 998 apex running the same boost as the winder at the end of a track, the old all Yamaha build Apex might not be to far behind.
SAB1
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2010 Vector GT
2006 Apex
Sounds like your mind is made up. time to spend your money.
TPAY243
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I have no problem changing the fluids on the new yamahas the oil is way easier to change than a Apex is. Chain case is a little more involved but if you have any mechanical back ground it is pretty easy. I enjoy doing my own work at least I know it is done right and if it is not, guess who's fault it is. I would have no problem about you guys complaining about the new Yamaha if you actually owned one but I guess you are not happy with your Apex seeing how you started a different thread about the problems you are having with it. Why do you guy's come on here and say how good the Ski Doo is and that you should buy one. This is a Yamaha site and I personally think it is carp what you guys are doing but who knows maybe I'm the one that's in the wrong for saying anything but anyways I hope you by the Ski Doo and all goes well. Oh wait they don't have the proper track length oh well maybe check with Polaris !maybe they have what your looking for. Peace out
20/80
VIP Member
Well.... I wouldn't mind you talking about your Cat your riding and some of the issues you may have and of course the good points also.
TPAY243
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Well you asked, My so called cat has had a few issues but not enough to make me look elsewhere i bleed blue i own 2 Yamaha atv's, 1 sxs, 4 snowmachines, and a generator. Oh ya and a kicking Hi Fi in my shop. Maybe I'm the dumb one, my Viper runs very well now. It had its problems like I said when I bought it but I worked through all the things thanks to this site. I have owned 2 Apexs and a Nytro I really don't think you want me to start on the problems i had with them either I'll just say it was more than the Viper. Most people are not as dedicated to Yamaha like I am but than again maybe that's my bad. I'm not trying to be rude but if you want to find out more about the 900T your best bet is to go over to Doo Talk. I never rode a 900T but I have rode a 850 that My body bought new last year he also was looking at a 900T for next year, that was until he rode a Winder.
74Nitro
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Don't think the Doos have a drain either...….
20/80
VIP Member
I would say you are a true blue, and the Viper makes you happy and puts a smile on your face, and that my friend is what its all about, I am true blue also with wheelers and boats and motors, but feedback is a great tool and you must keep a open mind, how would you ever know you are riding the best if somebody didn't give feedback from another brand, that's why I am always interested in hearing feedback from another rider and respect their opinion and the choices they make.
Turtle
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'15 Viper RTX SE w/ MPI turbo - sold
'07 FX Phazer GT
Poo doesn't have a chaincase drain either. But the case cover is super easy to take off and the drain out of the plastics is clean.
BaddAsp
Newbie
Why even buy the ace they aren't as fast as an apex they handle on par with one? If you're going to switch brands buy a two stroke then, no ones four stroke compares to the yamaha engine. Or just keep the apex for another 20k miles and throw a turbo kit on it lol those things will run forever. I'm sure in a few more years yamaha will start building their own sleds again. I tend to brand bash so much I have an obligation to keep yamahas in the stable, my r1 my rx1 now my sidewinder. Never would i ever own a skidoo though, maybe a polaris or a full blown cat though, if i ever wanted to smell after a ride. I feel like back to back riding the ace to the sw the opinion would be different? If a bent tunnel is the biggest concern in design get a brace for it. I'd stick with an apex if the only other option was a skidoo though, i loved my rx-1 just didn't like the riding position.
biffdotorg
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I'm with the OP on this. For all the whiners that wanted a 150hp sled that was lighter than an Apex, with better storage, and options, the 900T fits that bill. Put the color of the plastic aside and look at something that has been thought out.
If I truly had to replace my Apex XTX, I would consider one of these for sure. CONSIDER is not buy. As their MSRP is higher than a similarly configured 850! They are really selling these at a premium for the loyal doo folk that have been asking for a turbo 4-stroke with plenty of ability for the aftermarket to wick it up to 11.
For the same reason I don't own a Sidewinder, I won't buy a 900T and spend over $10K let alone $15,000! Or $13,000 carryover. That's my personal budget on 3-4 months of personal fun. Now that Sidewinders are falling below $10K, I will look closer. But again, if I am happy with the power of the Apex, which I am, why not consider a lighter and possibly better handling sled? Everyone of my buddies tells me I can toss the old trail tank around in the twisties, but I would be less tired at the end of the day on a 600 or lighter sled. For the same reason my other buddy just sold his 9000 AC for a 6000. He was tired at the end of the day, and a 600 was just more fun in our tight trails.
Anyone that says why buy a slower 900T over an Apex, probably is waiting to actually hear from someone that has lined them up. As I have yet to see it. Everyone in the blue camp kept comparing it to the sidewinder, which is just flat out stupid. Everyone on the Doo camp is saying, you don't compare those too. Honestly, the closest comparison is the 900T to the Apex, why wouldn't it be?
If I truly had to replace my Apex XTX, I would consider one of these for sure. CONSIDER is not buy. As their MSRP is higher than a similarly configured 850! They are really selling these at a premium for the loyal doo folk that have been asking for a turbo 4-stroke with plenty of ability for the aftermarket to wick it up to 11.
For the same reason I don't own a Sidewinder, I won't buy a 900T and spend over $10K let alone $15,000! Or $13,000 carryover. That's my personal budget on 3-4 months of personal fun. Now that Sidewinders are falling below $10K, I will look closer. But again, if I am happy with the power of the Apex, which I am, why not consider a lighter and possibly better handling sled? Everyone of my buddies tells me I can toss the old trail tank around in the twisties, but I would be less tired at the end of the day on a 600 or lighter sled. For the same reason my other buddy just sold his 9000 AC for a 6000. He was tired at the end of the day, and a 600 was just more fun in our tight trails.
Anyone that says why buy a slower 900T over an Apex, probably is waiting to actually hear from someone that has lined them up. As I have yet to see it. Everyone in the blue camp kept comparing it to the sidewinder, which is just flat out stupid. Everyone on the Doo camp is saying, you don't compare those too. Honestly, the closest comparison is the 900T to the Apex, why wouldn't it be?
BaddAsp
Newbie
The same reason th 800-850 people still whine that the sw is compared to their sleds... the apex is an na sled the 900t is too close to the sidewinder to not be compared to it, its not yamacats fault brp didn't make their sled more powerful... before you say anything it is possible through tuning and overall engineering. The 900t is single throttle body the sw is not, it has a more responsive throttle because of such. Yamaha knocked it out of the park with the 998 tbh it feels so much like a two stroke to me aside from trail handling, but i atribute that to the floats being set up for off trail. Really wish i would've found a 19 xtx just for the shocks but that's moot since I rarely ride trails and don't race the damn thing anyways. I haven't ran into any cat issues yet but I'm only at 1200 miles (first belt also) In the end though OP needs to buy what makes him happy the extra storage sounds like its a factor but most people that have cat problems with the sw tend to be the ones that rode yamaha the past twenty years and are used to the easy maintenance they had. The chain case is a big issues when looking at one of these thats for sure idk why they have a sight glass and not the traditional dip stick that the last sleds had, made things so much easier really.
74Nitro
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If he is looking to buy a new sled how can we put an Apex in the mix. It's gone.
In addition, the Apex, Nytro, and Vector were the worst when it comes to storage.
A Winder may not like a bunch on fuel on the tunnel, but it is a great spot to put carry bags. (I've done it)
