Getting an Apex Xtx. ...any advice? ?

[Heritage]

With 4 sleds in the trailer from 3 different companies, I'm not exactly brand loyal but the 2012 XTX that I bought new is the best sled I've owned or ridden out of the 20 or so machines that I've had - by far. It's real hard to take it back from anyone that tries it and well worth all this stuff, about $1500 worth in parts, that I've put into it for riding and handling the way I like at the speed and places I run it. I expect to have this sled until something much much better comes along...and having ridden a bunch of them, that's definitely not a new Viper with the lack of Apex power and quality. In no particular order (some of these definitely needed on the XTX, some not) :
- Pioneer 13mm Sway Bar
- Snowtrackers
- Star Suspension Kit & Pull Rods
- Hygear Revalved Rear Clicker Shock with Hyflo Valve & Hose
- Heavier Center Shock Spring (RX1)
- Star Revalved & Shimmed Center Shock
- Mack Studs (possibly an Ice Attak XT track in my future)
- Port Reinforced Tunnel Protector Brackets
- Excel Wheel Kit
- Marginal Snow Wheels
- Dupont Hyfax
- SlideKick Snow Scratchers
- WRP +2 Seat
- Lake Effect Riser
- HID's
- Gates Carbon Fiber Belt (better grip with less dust,squeel and hopefully grooves in the primary than the Ymha 8DN)

.....and I'm forgetting something... but running it with a very tight center shock spring, torsion blocks on soft, the limiter straps up 1 Hole and the A arms almost flat and it's about as dialed in and good as I can get it. Ride safe and have fun with it!

Wow...that's alot of extras and alot of work...I'm not gonna modify anything yet...I'd like to ride it more, and get a better feel for it, and figure out what my likes and dislikes are...so far...I am very happy with my purchase...what a great sled

 

[snowbeast]

OK, then that explains you telling us it won't corner. Full transfer might softened the ride some but now you can't go around corners. JMO but you should be starting with no transfer and work your way back until you find your sweet spot. all your weight is now to the rear of the sled. i have my sled set at medium on the stock torsion springs, which gives my 220lb weight a 1 1/2 to 2 " sit in, studded in the middle, one hole up on the limiters, front rear shock softened up and i adjust my rebound as necessary on the rear shock (i start at 3 to 4 clicks from soft). I also added a set of tuner skies with dual 6" carbides. With the EPS you can load more weight on the front end with no side effects. I can rail around corners just as well (pretty darn close and very good for a 144") as my SRX. i will need to rebuild the rear shocks next year but I'm really happy with the way this Apex rides and handles after i did some adjusting. Previous owner had the rear set way to hard with too much transfer. He also had the rear of the suspension bolted to the lower hole in the rear bracket which lifted the rear way too much, it felt like i was riding a teeter totter.

keep adjusting you will get it the way you like it

It corners,but not like I want it to,and you are correct,full transfer does squat and lift skis,i knew this,and told the rep who set it up,to do this,as I can dial the transfer rods back down on the trail,much easier than I can pull straps up on trail. My biggest concern was the 60lbs I have lost sense last riding season,so I just wanted this set up soft,i will make slight changes as I go,i have had this suspension once before on my 07 rtx apex,and it sucked on that shortie,but this 144 may be completely different just because it is stretched out,i did research star suspension rail/rods out,but figured if you go changing your point of transfer from a design change,that is far more complicated than just working with what I now have,once I exhaust that area,and am not happy,well than I may invest in the star and shock valve changes.

 

[ranger1]

I currently am riding a 06 Attack which I re-valved the mono shock from a single stage to a triple stage stack. In my opinion it's one of the best riding Apex's. The only thing keeping me from stepping up to a XTX is the fear that it might ride like my previous 07 lumber wagon rough riding RTX with the same dreaded CK skid. Hopefully they made some kind of refinements to it!

 

[snowbeast]

I currently am riding a 06 Attack which I re-valved the mono shock from a single stage to a triple stage stack. In my opinion it's one of the best riding Apex's. The only thing keeping me from stepping up to a XTX is the fear that it might ride like my previous 07 lumber wagon rough riding RTX with the same dreaded CK skid. Hopefully they made some kind of refinements to it!

well I just don't have enough miles to quantify that statement,and I had the same 07 chuckwagon lol I really hope this xtx rides much better than my old rtx.

 

[ranger1]

well I just don't have enough miles to quantify that statement,and I had the same 07 chuckwagon lol I really hope this xtx rides much better than my old rtx.

Well mnmsnowbeast, what are you waiting for, get out there & put on some miles!!!!!!!!! I need a good comparison of the old CK to the new one, lol!! I wan't a new XTX but am very skeptical, I still have nightmares of the "old" CK, YIKES hahahaha

 

[sgauthier]

ranger1 your up north so not sure what your waiting for? This is were the XTX shines is on those big wide trails you have up there. sorry but i can't comment on a comparison between it to the old version because i didn't have one back them. i came off of an SRX, but i think it rides quite well and all i did was some adjustments to the stock skid. i'm very happy with it and don't regret it one bit. love the power and ride.

 

[thor452]

do it you wont be dissapointed love my XTX

 

[snowbeast]

Well mnmsnowbeast, what are you waiting for, get out there & put on some miles!!!!!!!!! I need a good comparison of the old CK to the new one, lol!! I wan't a new XTX but am very skeptical, I still have nightmares of the "old" CK, YIKES hahahaha

Absolutely,heading up to camp middle next week,hope to put at least 300 plus miles on,i do think I will haul the straps up at least one more hole and take some transfer out,as we do ride quite aggressive,so I do need it to turn when needed lol,I will gladly report back,with gps speed vrs speedo rpm at top speed,ride and handling.

 

[ranger1]

I wish Yamaha would have put the "mono" skid in the XTX. It is in the shorty version & works fantastic. A buddy of mine just confirmed that the CK in the XTX does ride a bit better than the older 07 RTX but would have liked the mono better.

 

[JPS]

have an 07 attack and a 11 xtx. attack has a little better ride compared to stock xtx. I took the XTX to a new level with star suspension, night and day compared to stock. make sure to have Robert revalve shocks. he dialed me right in. fox floats on front with hy gear dual pressure takes care of everything up front. excel wheels, WRP seat and lake effect 3 inch riser work excellent. D & D power commander 5 short intakes and bulls eyes along with D & D clutching really brings the motor up another level. tuner skis with john master 8 inch carbides all 4 work great. 171 sharp ones down the middle sticks the rear. this XTX is now great in every way. impresses everyone who rides it. power, handling, comfort its got it all.

 

[corey miskolczi]

I currently own 2 2011 apex xtx's. Previously had a 2007 apex mountain and a 2008 apex ltx gt. The xtx'x hands down are 100% better. The power steering is amazing. My nine year old boy made 3500 km in one year on xtx. No fatigue what so ever. Fit and finish are#1. Hope they come out with a japenese apex not viper style. Sure they are heavier than a 2 stroker but the performance and torque make up for that. Good job yamaha

 

[bix96]

Yep Caveman, you and I went much of the same route. I am on a brand new 2012 XTX this year. It makes a really, really good sled a great sled

-Star Suspension Kit (haven't done the shocks yet) Many say this is the single biggest improvement you can do the rear suspension on an XTX. I agree.
-Simmons front skis
-HID's Awesome, turn the night into day
-WRP +2 seat. You wouldn't think 2" higher is that big of a difference, it is
-Lake Effect Riser, I went 6" taller which is perfect for standing, but a little tall for sitting (I'm 6'1") I would probably go 4" if I did that again. My wife says I put "ape hangers" on it. lol
-Sled Start remote start. A total luxury item, but damn nice on a frozen morning.
-Dupont Hi Fax
-Billet rear and addition front snow wheels, same size as Excel
-Warthog studs
-Front bulkhead reinforcement kit from Barn of Parts
-Front touring windshield. Looks a little silly compared to some of the small windshields. Ride with it on a long sub zero day and you'll think it is the best looking windshield out there.

Comfort and long term reliability were my goals. I may play with some shock calibrations, but this is very close to the perfect trail sled. Now we just need some damn snow in the midwest!

 

[Sledroll]

I would like to see as well how if anone carry's on the back . I have a 2500lb Warn winch I have strapped to the rear platform on my Attak and at some point would get into a Apex XTX but the exhaust looks like a problem. Would some turn outs help? I think they make them for that machine. I saw a guy yesterday that had 8 in extensions(straight out thou) on his exhust (Apex 2007) he must of fabricated them himself. The Warn 2500lb winch I made. Get's black on my 07 on the XTX I could imagine the XTX burning holes.

Can you post a pic of your warn winch set up on your Attack ?