Goodbye Yamaha

[SledFreak]

Thanks Stain, Yes there are a few on here that can be abit negative, glad I like being positive and helpful when I can, Hmm wonder why SledFreak didn't buy a Yamaha Sidewinder, maybe Cat dealer was closer.

I have bought several Yamaha's way before you were ever here... You are the one with the negative bashing... Also, if you have NOT noticed, the sidewinder/srx share the same motor and chassis/suspension as the TCAT. What does the Apex have in common with the Procross chassis? I will let you think about that one!

 

[20/80]

I have bought several Yamaha's way before you were ever here... You are the one with the negative bashing... Also, if you have NOT noticed, the sidewinder/srx share the same motor and chassis/suspension as the TCAT. What does the Apex have in common with the Procross chassis? I will let you think about that one!

The Apex has nothing in common with the procross, its a 100% pure Yamaha sled ...TotallYamaha!!!

 

[grubf]

They are all junk. A really stupid way to spend money. That said I have owned and ridden all colors. I have been doing this for a very long time. I consider the known problems with the Sidewinders to be trivial. I don't mind spending a little time wrenching. It is actually kind of fun. If you want a gas and go sled and have no wrenches go and buy something else. I will keep my Sidewinder. And when I get about 15000 miles on it I will buy another one.

 

[20/80]

They are all junk. A really stupid way to spend money. That said I have owned and ridden all colors. I have been doing this for a very long time. I consider the known problems with the Sidewinders to be trivial. I don't mind spending a little time wrenching. It is actually kind of fun. If you want a gas and go sled and have no wrenches go and buy something else. I will keep my Sidewinder. And when I get about 15000 miles on it I will buy another one.

LOL, no truer words said.

 

[Crossfire12]

Just go buy a old apex and be happy.

 

[sailor joe]

come on guys...this is starting to sound like Doo talk. If someone wants to buy the newest form of a sled then good for him, if someone prefers an older sled that is still a great sled then bravo. lets face it, Yamaha and Cat are now the same just different colors...accept it because as they say " it is what it is". Lets stop the sh&%#%$ show.

 

[JPS]

Sure there are issues with the Sidewinder but they are not a secret. this site points out all of the weak points so during the 9 months of the year that most are not riding you can address what the owners report so you limit problems during the riding season. My girlfriend has almost 7,000 miles on her SR Viper XTX which i have properly set up for her and has no problem riding 250 - 300 miles per day and she weighs 120 lbs and in her mid 50's and the sled never left us stranded. Most of the premium model newer sleds available from all builders have a pretty good platform to start with and they all have there quirks that need attention to suit your riding and i think the Yamaha Sidewinder and Vipers at the top of the heap in there respected classes.

 

[maim]

all sleds have issues. everyone votes with their $ and either fixes the issues or moves on.

keep it civil guys.

 

[Teamblue4]

The Apex has nothing in common with the procross, its a 100% pure Yamaha sled ...TotallYamaha!!!

Awesome comment!

 

[Upstater57]

I wonder how many "issues" discussed are about non - stock sleds? It has been my experience that when you boost the power, you find the weakness that may not reveal itself if the sled was bone stock. None of the companies are without sin, no machine is perfect. Some tolerate modifications better than others, some are lemons just like cars. IMO the procross chassis is well built and Yamaha 998 is the best engine in the snowmobile business.

 

[20/80]

I always thought the winder engine was a bit to much power for the pro cross, sense its a stolen design maybe this is why Cat never improved it, there has been some updated parts that were causing some troubles for buyers, talk to a guy last year that was on a black winder he said he had no issues so far with 2000kms on his machine with no tune, he said it didn't need one, talked to another guy in the highlands last year that had a newer winder he paid over 25grand for, he said he had over another 10 grand into his not sure what tune he had but it was fast, it wants to be at that price, he had all the winders issues he had fixed, he was selling the sled in the spring, I often thought what kind of power I could get for my Apex putting over another 10 grand into it, and run her along side a winder down a lake, wonder what the out come would be on these so called old dated Apexes.

 

[nbsledder]

I have been a faithful Yamaha snowmobile customer for over 34 years. Their attention to detail, quality and reliability were second to none. I’ve owned 14 Yamaha sleds over the years and enjoyed every minute of it until now. Three of my 2 strokes went past 25,000 km with not one of them ever being re-built. I usually average 5000 km per winter, once hitting 6600 km. I am a serious sledder who is meticulous about maintenance and has always tried to stay current.

People ask if Yamaha will continue to build snowmobiles, I’m afraid they’ve already exited the market. Their union with Arctic Cat has produced vehicles that have left me aghast. In no way do I fault Arctic Cat for any issues, Yamaha put their name on sub standard equipment so the blame falls squarely on their shoulders. They simply should have exited the business and sold engines to whoever wanted them.

My 2018 Yamaha Sidewinder has been the most disappointing and unreliable machine/vehicle I’ve ever owned. Yes it goes fast, it goes very fast. I’ve put over 14,500 km on it. I’ve tolerated all the prior Yamaha heavy weights but this one is over the top. Handling issues out of the gate necessitated a change of skis and thousands of km’s of fiddling with the suspension to get it dialed in to the best possible handling outcome. This website proved invaluable for assistance. I’ve had 3 tendons on each shoulder surgically reattached due to separate accidents. I can do 50 push ups, shovel dirt or split wood all day, ride my dirt bike, carry whatever I need to etc etc. The only thing that hurts my shoulders is driving this machine. Day 2 my shoulders actually throb like after my surgeries. I feel like it's an all day wrestling match. I’ve found myself consciously avoiding tight twisty trails on this snow plow. Yamaha’s addition of power steering for 2022 clearly demonstrates there is a problem. More weight!

Then there is the whole issue of quality and reliability.

-Steering shaft seized at ball and not lubricated from factory. When shaft female socket heated up from engine you could steer. This was a strange one
-Major side to side play in steering shaft collar below bars.
-Clutch rollers that seize up regularly despite annual disassembly and cleaning of clutch and all components.
-Fuel pump relays that continue to freeze despite same issue being present on both prior versions of the Apex (which I owned).
-Limiter straps that both needed replacement for some unknown reason. Perhaps the endless fiddling to try and dial in suspension.
-Belt blowing issues that appeared at 8,000 km. Luckily being forewarned about this issue I had fabricated a belly pan protector
-Taking top gears out of the chain case twice, now dealers suggesting annual replacement.
-Bearing tolerances so poor that the drive axle spins within the inner race. My axle had to be cut in half for removal it was so badly damaged. All needed replacement
-Fasteners and rivets all over sled corroding due to poor quality. At time of Arctic cat union a dealer commented better fasteners used on old Yamaha crates than new snowmobiles.
-Chain case maintenance system designed by someone who never had to perform it. Unable to remove any filings without complete disassembly.
-Instrument cluster had to be removed and backing pads installed to stop vibration and movement..
-Ignition switch that is now spinning in a stripped plastic lock nut. I’ve never once touched this assembly.
-Oil tank blowouts requiring a roll over valve bypass.
-Dirt and debris that continually runs down the sides of the tunnel from plastic items all rubbing and wearing.
-Decals that have all become de laminated on the tunnel with clear protective covers peeling off them and flapping.
-Tail light that wiggles because rivets have all come loose.
-Windshield that cracked simply due to vibration.
-Excessive price.

My patience hit the end of the road with this machine, I actually grew to hate the machine and all the BS associated with it. I became afraid to drive it as something always went wrong. Machine is now sold and off to a new home.

I will still be an avid sledder, however it will now be on a different brand. Perhaps my most upsetting issue is leaving my long time dealer of 34 years with whom I have had a fantastic relationship and stellar service.

Good bye Yamaha.

I don't
blame you a bit....I done the same....There out of the sled business as far as i'm concerned

 

[20/80]

I blame you a bit....I done the same....There out of the sled business as far as i'm concerned

Sad really, Yamaha stood for superior sled back in the day, with the dissolving of their R&D and their design engineers let go quality control will fall to Cat on any Yamaha sleds built at their plant, not sure if that's a good thing or bad for the Yamicat guy's.

 

[SledFreak]

I can tell you this, that Yamaha sleds had their issues as well. From exhaust donuts, suspension bushings, heated grips were junk and to to the bent sub frames on the Nytro's. I spent alot of cash putting alot of fixes on my Apex and the Nytro XTX. I spent a ton on the ill-handling Nytro XTX. I probably spent 4000 in complete shocks and springs from HYGEAR trying to make that sled handle. It made it better, but its NOT even close to a Procross or anything skidoo offered or Polaris for that matter. The worse handling sled I ever owned... period! Dont get me wrong, I enjoyed them, but no OEM has a perfect sled. They all have their issues. Its all how you deal with the issues will define if you think the sled is good or not.

 

[Todd Beenen]

I wonder how many "issues" discussed are about non - stock sleds? It has been my experience that when you boost the power, you find the weakness that may not reveal itself if the sled was bone stock. None of the companies are without sin, no machine is perfect. Some tolerate modifications better than others, some are lemons just like cars. IMO the procross chassis is well built and Yamaha 998 is the best engine in the snowmobile business.

At least the
Mighty zuk you could turn the motor backwards without worrying of it jumping time, now that motor was built tough.