First ride impressions of my New 2011 Apex SE

[MarkRTX]

Got to put about 110 miles on my new to me Apex. The conditions were not the best with real loose snow and got a little bumpy thru the day. Ride wise the SE rode a bit stiff but at 250 or so suited up I had the MegaFloat set at 185lbs so gonna take out 5lbs and see. The Curve skis are IMHO the best skis I have used to date. The EPS is sweet but not having a Apex to jump on for a bit I probably didn't realize the full benefits. I do like not having all the feedback thru the bars like you have on pre EPS models. Power wise I was unsure at first. First thing I was riding with my NO FEAR 12 year old son and took it real easy most of the time. The real loose conditions weren't ideal for hooking up either even with 153 studs. But like I said we got 5-8 inches of fresh powdery snow the night into the morning. I did get one chance to crack the flipper on a recently plowed section and was pleasantly surprised. Low to Mid this thing plan out rips had to shut it down around 90 or so remember I had my 12 year old behind me. I really can't wait to get on some freshly groomed hard packed trails to put it thru the paces. Handling seems to be much flatter compared with past Apexes I've owned even with the same mods-13mm sway bar and floats. Like I said the rear was a bit stiff for my liking but a little adjustments can get me to that sweet spot. Any recomended air pressures from others who have more seat time than me? Also do you have to check the pressure in the Megafloat with the rear off the ground like the fronts? Seems like a real PITA to make trail adjustments if so. But all and all one great sled. The ergos are better with the seat rise(maybe another inch or two) but need another 2 inches in the riser. I'll report back more especially after my trip in a few weeks to the County where I'll be riding with 2 Turbo Cats a very well running F7, Warrior, RX1 and 2 Skijunks I mean Skidoos one 800r and a 800 ETEC. Time to put them all to shame....LOL Ride Safe but Ride like HELL

 

[Hammer 1]

Let us know how you make out. Bring the crying towel so your buds have something to dry the tears up with...LOL

 

[Soldier'spapa]

Nice review!

I got to put a few hundred miles on mine since Thursday. The Mega Float is more sensitive than I expected. It builds pressure as it warms from use so trail side adjustments have a different net result from cold pressure readings.

To take the weight off and make adjustments on the trail (if you are riding with a buddy) tip the sled on a 45 degree angle and have your bud hold it while you make the changes. The pressure I'm running may not apply in your case so i won't share my it with you because I had Hygear re-valve mine and add their volume reducer.

I installed my 13mm sway bar this weekend and found it to be a sweet mod. I tried it on my 07 attak a few years ago and promptly took it off because it made for way too much feedback in the bars for my liking. Not the case on the EPS Apex. This thing flat out cornered 10 x better than with the stock bar with minimal additional feedback!

Thanks for the review you wrote up. Looking forward to what you have to say after your trip. Nothing beats out Yamaha's for dependability... I had to tow a brother's skidoo 600 SDI home today after a meltdown. His sled gives a better ride (hands down) but at 4600 miles he is in for an expensive rebuild.

 

[Curve Industries]

We're glad you like them Mark!

- Sean

 

[Daranello]

Agree. I have a Rox 2" riser and she could use a 4" in the bars and 2" extra in the seat

 

[MarkRTX]

Update with my 2011 Apex SE review. First rode Saturday with My wife and did a tad over 150 miles. Trails were groomed well but loose in some areas and a bit beaten up later on in the day. The motor is truly awesome like all Apexes. I did miss the 136 track from my 09 LTX the 128 is good on well packed trails but when the trails loosen up or you get to a area where a different groomer takes over I miss the 136er. I also noticed with the real loose snow its harder to get much over a hundred compared to my 09. Hope I didn't get a slow one. I made a air adjustment down to around 168 and that improved the ride alot from the 180 I started at. All in all I like the improvements Yamaha has made to the Apex. Sunday's ride well this was a day for the books. Left the Jo Mary area and headed to the NE Carry area. Took it easy for the first 25 or so miles breakin in a new belt after that it was off and running. Was with two buddies a 05 RX1 and a 02 SXR 600. Sled handled awesome with the transfer adjustment I made 2 marks from full transfer. Very flat handling with the occasionally bad ski lift mostly just from a real hard bite in a corner along with a bump or two but very managable and maybe a another adjustment or two will make it even better but can't be perfect for each and every condition. Did jump on my buddies RX1 and made me realize the benefits of EPS that much more. My buddies also noticed the major reduction in trail feedback which I almost like more than the PS itself. I also got to realize the power of the 2011 after riding the modded 05 RX1. Much more pull throughout especially mid range. So day was good till my buddie thru a stud thru the front exchanger and cooked his RX1. Then it was tow time back to Kokajo and Me and my other buddie back to the truck. Which neither of use were familar with where the truck was and ended up lost. But the blessing in disguise now is I'm now where near as beatup and sore after a 250 mile day with my new Apex as I would have been with my other ones. I still have very few adjustments to make I got my Lake Effect Riser so I need to install that. I did notice today after traveling alot of plowed road till 1am looking for the truck that my stock slides are bad at all worn but not bad with my Excel Wheels still plenty of meat. My sled did automatically shutdown while looking at the friggin map but it was a little hot but not enough to puke any fluid out like if my other Apexes got real hot in thin conditions so they probably turned down the temp of when that safety feature engages. Good idea in my book. The Curve skis are the best in My opinion. The perfomed very well in every condition I encountered. Did have some darting here and there but I can live with that. More to come. Next ride is for 4 1/2 days in the County with some Cats,Doos and 1 other Yammie. Ride safe but ride like Hell

 

[Daranello]

did you test before(stock skis) and after with the Curves skis?

 

[MarkRTX]

did you test before(stock skis) and after with the Curves skis?

No I got the sled used and it already had the Curves on it. I really think with a couple minor adjustments I can get this sled to rail even better and get rid of the very few times I had any darting

 

[Irv]

did you test before(stock skis) and after with the Curves skis?

No I got the sled used and it already had the Curves on it. I really think with a couple minor adjustments I can get this sled to rail even better and get rid of the very few times I had any darting

I just pulled this up for a bud so thought I'd post it here in case you haven't seen it?
Imo, it is the best information available when it comes to adjusting toe in/out on our sleds.
http://curveindustries.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=87

 

[MarkRTX]

Well another update of my 2011 Apex SE. The more miles I put on the better I like this sled. Rode 2 1/2 days up in the County in Maine. Had a variety of conditions from icy trails and fields to non groomed (in a while anyways) trails with some fresh snow (4-6 inches) over the time I was there. The last day the trails were groomed nice and there were some hard and fast trails. Handling, this is by far the best handling Apex I have owned. It corners on rails with the occansional ski lift which I think was more due to some real good bite and hitting a rut or two. The Curve XS skis performed very well in all conditions only complaint I heard was from those following me and getting into my path. No complants at all. I also like the ski for its durability. It'll take hitting a loose rock or gravel here and there and not show damage. Suspension the air shocks are the ticket IMHO the Mega rode nice a little stiff at times but for me and the very aggresive style I ride I like this setup very well. Didn't bottom once and hit some big air several times. Slide wear was on par with other Apexes I have the Excel wheels so that helps big time. I will go to the Duponts when these are worn out. Power well all I can say is awesome. Mid range is way better than my other Apexes and My 06 RTX had a Woodys power up kit and my 09 LTX had clutching Ram Air PC3 and Ing module and this sled feels alot more stout in the low but more so in the mid range. I'm judging this based on the other sleds I was riding with and races we had throughout each days ride. My buddies modded F7 would always give me a run for my money with my other sleds especially in the mid range we'd be pretty much neck and neck till about 80 were my other Apexes would pull away. Now completely different story I hammer it and I'm gone 5-6 lengths and then the gape gets bigger. The 2010 Turbo Cat was the same. From dead stop to 40 mph rollons he had nothing for me. In rollons I'd pull 3-4 lengths and stay there. He did say on one of our longer races he was starting to gain but we ran out of room. My buddies modded RX1 was really nothing either. This sled like I said before is so much better in the mid range than my other sleds. I only saw 106 gps of all the days but this was more due to the conditions than anything. I was also only revving 10200-10400 at the most due to the fresh snow. Even after we hit some groomed railbeds I was still only getting 10400 at the most with the loose snow. All in all this Apex is one awesome sled. I love the power steering and the greatly reduced trail feedback to the bars. About the only thing I would like to have is around another 2 inches of seat foam other than that in my eyes this is the best snowmobile for me and my needs on the planet today. I can't imagine theres anything out there at this time better. Great sled PERIOD...

 

[yamadoo]

Glad you like it. Keep us in formed as the miles pile up

I have often wondered if the pick up in rpm in the fourstrokes is loss of belt width. Others propose we are pulling through the clutching with more 'broke in' power. Yet when i replace the belt my Rpms drop to your range .
Right now you are in perfect RPM range, at least for my 06 specs.

Enjoy
Yamadoo

 

[MarkRTX]

My clutching is setup for 10600 area and have pulled it before on real hard packed. The loose snow and fresh snow has always effected my rpms in all my Apexes. I may just take a washer out of the tip and give it a try but really not worried about it that much especially if I can pretty much walk all over my buddies 2010 Turbo Cat now......

 

[yamadoo]

Keep us informed. If we ever get snow so I can be enthused again. I hope to add either an Apex XTX or Vector with the EPS to the fleet. I will rely on great true reports like yours to make the call.

thanks Enjoy

 

[journeyman]

Interesting reads. I have been wondering how the SE 128" track versions stack up compared to the Pre-2011 136" LTX/Attak type models. I would think the 136 would still bridge the bumps better when the moguls start to setup on the trails. I know the XTX 144 is what replaced that model but do they corner as well???? hmmmm

 

[Mighty]

Better hope your buddy doesn't put a programmer on that cat. It will be untouchable if so. I witnessed 2 in action at the Muni ride today. Wicked fast. The only thing I didn't like about them other than their shody workmanship/quality, was their sound. Kinda like a tractor. Not pleasing at all