Frame Strength

[rfabro]

Do all you freeriders, SX'rs, MX'rs think the frame is strong enough to really beat on? I saw a post a little while ago with a guy who bent his frame at the shock mount(I think). I think he said it was from a hard landing. If so, should we gusset the frame?

 

[Mars]

Was wondering the same thing. I'd also like to know more about the benefits of that "anti-botoming" kit that's out.

 

[phazerfly]

In my crew we've bent 2 spindles, apparently the one front end is tweaked and 2 bent tie rod ends. All from hard landings. Mine broke the brackets that tie the front and rear arm together in the rear susp. We free ride and jump alot, so IMO I don't think these are going to be built tough enough.

 

[ptrudel]

that's scary man..

 

[rfabro]

Very disappointing! Phazerfly, I'm going to treat my sled the same as you guys, so I guess I'll have to expect the same. Major bummer. Where is the front end tweaked(pics?)? Do you think the frame can be gusseted effectively? Bending and breaking parts just from jumping is bad enough, but, bending the frame is unacceptable. Why does the best handling sled have to be an "entry level"? WTF!

 

[phazerfly]

I haven't seen where it is tweaked, it's still in the hospital. Total damage was $2200.00, but we aren't fixing the sub frame yet. Its not bad, and doesn't affect handling so might as well ride it until it breaks, or deal with it next year. Dealer says what they all say "we haven't heard of anything like that before". The tunnel and bulkhead I think are good, seems to be the front like shock mounts and spindles and the brackets in the rear skid. I will say though 95% of people are likely never going to see these problems and for the rest of us we'll figure out ways to fix it and make it better cuz I'm definately not ready to give up on the way this thing work in the air yet.

 

[phazerfly]

I definately have to agree with you Gypsy, it seems like they didn't real world test them enough. Blaze was running them for his freestyle stuff, but who knows what all the did to them to reinforce those sleds. At the end of the day though even though they label it as a mogul bashing high flying type sled it is still a trail sled. This is absolutely not a bash against trail riders at all, but where I am its all ditches, fields, approaches, and generally hard riding. Not as extreme as you Gypsy but close, and the temp swings are huge. Last weekend it was -31C and tuesday it was +2C, and by the way my buddies FX started at -31. I hope that Yamaha notices these problems and is willing to stand behind it, I really like Yamaha but I've owned ski-doos, and cats so I'm not above switching again. I still have faith though its a first year thing and Yamaha will stand behind it and get it fixed. Like you said when it works there is nothing like it, it's way ahead of its time.

 

[rfabro]

Just got my mtn lite yesterday. My boss hooked me up with an advance. Ssswwweeeet. Riding it slow(8000 RPM=20-25mph) sucks, though. After giving it a good look, I can see that the tie rods, upper a-arms, upper ski skock mounts and both a-arm pivots are really weak. I would think aftermarket parts will be available after enough aggressive riders bend and break their sleds. Hopefully that will be soon. The frame at the pivots and mounts look like they can be reinforced with thicker steel and longer bolts but, even though they are out front and easily accessible, I'm afraid it would require a full tear down of the sled. I'll swing it by a fabricator/welder in the fairly near future to see what he says, but this will probably be a summer job- and no fun. But-with a beefed up frame, suspension, and powerplant(turbo or blower), I feel the phazer will not be bettered, even by Yami, in the next couple of years. Is it worth all that to have the best sled ever? Why not? The funnest things in life are money pits!

 

[rob]

I had mine for a two days and bent the right side spindle. took it to the yami shop and he replaced it with one off a new machine in the box. He told me that yamaha paid for the part and he paid for the labor. I didnt hit anything but he said he could see it had took a hit? And then he kinda hinted around by saying to take it easy for a while and be more careful. I race mx on a 2006 suzuki 450 and bought the fx after reading about on this site for about a month. I use it to keep in shape in the off season but now I'm scared to ride it hard. The dealer is really cool but if I bend or break something eles he might not be so forgiving. I was riding my brothers mxz600x before the fx and had no problems with it and I beat on it too. I was going to snow check the new snocross sled but now I don't know. I do love the way it feels it's just about like the quad. I'm going to have a aluminum plate welded to the outside of the spindle to beef it up. But I've heard of the rear suspesion breaking too.

 

[onlyblue]

Remember guys..... it is a first year sled, there will be some issues.... all sleds have them, dont you recall (lol) the 47 or more recalls on the Fseries cats? or the hood problems on vipers? the clutch rattle on the 05 yamis? all the fusion 900 issues? the mach meltdowns? etc... etc... etc...

in order for any manufacturer to push the limits and have the latest and greatest, we as a consumer, need to accept the shortcomings and realize that we are the R&D for the manufacturers, there is no way physically or economically that ANY manufacturer can properly test and tune any product to the utmost perfection without real world results.

Yamaha created a sled that even after the RX1 came out, that people said could never be built, a light weight 4 stroke.... Yamaha proved them all wrong..... and now with the Snocross development, i think we will all see a ditch bangin sled based on a race sled that WON in just its 3rd race..... NOW THAT IS IMPRESSIVE!!!

so lets all live with the growing pains, and help make yamaha even better, give feedback to your dealer, to yamaha consumer relations, wherever... OUR input will make OUR sleds and YAMAHA, BETTER!!!!!!

sorry to ramble.....

LET IT SNOW!!!!!!

 

[gargamel]

It's these little problems I don'y buy first year models. Keep all the reports coming, I love reading about "real world" testing, because we all know who really tests a sled - first year consumers

 

[phazerfly]

Its good to hear your dealer helped you out like that. I just got the call saying my FX was ready to be picked up, the exhaust and suspension were fixed. And then they told me I owed them $450.00 for the suspension fix because it wasn't covered on warranty. There tech said I hit something and thats why the brackets broke. The thing is nobody called to tell me it wasn't warranty, they just fixed and made me the bill. I work on sleds in my shop why the heck would I pay someone else 95.00/hour to fix mine. And I never hit anything that anyone else hasn't. If these sleds can't take the odd hit without failing I don't want it. Or at least a dealer that stands behind it. I will be going in to get it this afternoon, and won't be paying the bill on it. Sorry to get on a rant here guys but I'm just a little upset right now. I still have some hope that the issue will be resolved, but I guess we'll see later to day.

 

[ptrudel]

that sucks man..hope that all gets cleared up

 

[phazerboy73]

Hey, how did you guys notice your bent spindles? Was it just that noticable by looking at it?

And when you say bent I asume you mean it tweaked like how your neck twists when turning your head side to side, or actually bent as in bending your arm?


Thanks a ton for your information.

 

[rob]

I noticed mine when I was pulling it in to the garage after a ride. It was twisted and the bottom of the spindle was bent toward the engine. And the inside of the ski was not making contact with the ground. After I took mine in I went to another shop and asked if they had anyone that brought theres in for the same thing and they said they had one other one brought in and it also was twisted and bent inward. But they said he hit something. I rode about a hundred miles today it was awsome but when I would come down hard from a jump I would slow down and look at it. scared I guess.