nhrxrider
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Because we own sleds that just weren't "mainstream" when most of us bought our first one, I was wondering what other owner's experiences were. How your friends felt, how you felt, etc.
I first read about the prototype RX-1s in a magazine and got very excited, since I was a big 4 stroke fan. I had money to spend on a new sled, and I knew my future was shaky since I was moving and spending all of the rest of my savings on a home and shop. This was going to be my last chance to make an extravagant purchase for some time, so I wanted a reliable, fun sled that would last me many years. I started checking out Yamaha's web site with my friends and although they showed some interest in the RX style and engine, they were turned off by the weight, and the Yamaha snowmobile name. I had a friend who had bought a first year SRX and his nightmares were in my mind, but no other manufacturer had anything like an RX. Basically I was on my own, with my friends showing curiosity but none of them would buy one. In fact, my 2 closest riding buddies both bought new sleds about the same time and both went to Doos.
I started making the rounds of dealers, and trying to work a good cash price, but most dealers had inflated prices because of too many buyers and not enough sleds around here. I finally found the sled I wanted for the right price and put $1000 cash down, and came back a couple days later when the sled was ready to be picked up and paid the rest in cash. I wanted this sled as a long distance trail cruise with the performance to run with the big dogs. Number 1 was reliability, with performance a close second.
My friends all gave me crap. It was instantly named the RX-1-ton by a couple friends, and my usual riding group had their doubts. With the stock track I didn't have much to brag about. I got beat in most drags, and trail handl;ing was poor with the stock track and skid. I did draw attention though. I got looks and stares wherever I went, from people who had never seen or heard of the RX.
Once I swapped to Cat parts I haven't been beat since, and the ride and handling is awesome. My friends are now very impressed!
Jim
I first read about the prototype RX-1s in a magazine and got very excited, since I was a big 4 stroke fan. I had money to spend on a new sled, and I knew my future was shaky since I was moving and spending all of the rest of my savings on a home and shop. This was going to be my last chance to make an extravagant purchase for some time, so I wanted a reliable, fun sled that would last me many years. I started checking out Yamaha's web site with my friends and although they showed some interest in the RX style and engine, they were turned off by the weight, and the Yamaha snowmobile name. I had a friend who had bought a first year SRX and his nightmares were in my mind, but no other manufacturer had anything like an RX. Basically I was on my own, with my friends showing curiosity but none of them would buy one. In fact, my 2 closest riding buddies both bought new sleds about the same time and both went to Doos.
I started making the rounds of dealers, and trying to work a good cash price, but most dealers had inflated prices because of too many buyers and not enough sleds around here. I finally found the sled I wanted for the right price and put $1000 cash down, and came back a couple days later when the sled was ready to be picked up and paid the rest in cash. I wanted this sled as a long distance trail cruise with the performance to run with the big dogs. Number 1 was reliability, with performance a close second.
My friends all gave me crap. It was instantly named the RX-1-ton by a couple friends, and my usual riding group had their doubts. With the stock track I didn't have much to brag about. I got beat in most drags, and trail handl;ing was poor with the stock track and skid. I did draw attention though. I got looks and stares wherever I went, from people who had never seen or heard of the RX.
Once I swapped to Cat parts I haven't been beat since, and the ride and handling is awesome. My friends are now very impressed!
Jim
Prairie Dog
Expert
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2004
- Messages
- 239
I bought my 03 in the spring of 04 new and it was cheap. Been spending money on upgrades ever since.....
I had never riden a snowmobile before, but had put a recent addition on our cottage and it was winterized. Thought I would buy a cheap sled for the cottage. Bought a 93 Cat 580. Had such a blast that year put on 1800 miles. Heard about this new four stoke coming out. It was only about a week till the dead line to snow check one. Went to Yamaha and they only had pictures. I told them I would snow check one only if they put a clause in the contract that I had till Oct 31st to change my mind. Put my $500 down without even seeing one. The rest is history, seen them when they came out in the fall. Had the 03 two years hit a rock and wrote it off. Got an 04 cheap in March of 04. Now the Apex definately has my attention but I still have 2 more years warrantee on the 04. Who knows maybe 07 or 08. See ya all at the TY Manitoba Ride.
Grassfirebob
Pro
I've been riding off/on for 30+ years. I read an article when the RX came out and thought "they finally nailed it". That planted the seed.
Last year on a trip to WI one of my buddies needed a stator for a '95 Vmax. We went to a dealer for parts and there sat an RX in the snow. First time I'd seen one in person. Dealer started it up and I fell in love. I knew I'd have one "someday".
Next day my son burned a piston and jug out of his '95 Vmax. That night I rolled my vmax and banged up the shock/hood, etc... By the time I got home I was REALLY in the mood for some "new iron".
Fast forward to fall when it was time to drag out the old iron, fix/repair, etc... I'd had enough. Emailed half dozen dealers and made a deal on a new '03 RX for my son and a new '05 RX for me (I wanted the '05 based on the reviews I'd read re: the mono).
I had never ridden one nor even sat on one to that point - I just had a gut feeling. So far - couldn't be happier (unless of course we had more snow to ride 'em on!). Only been out 4 times this year (500 miles total).
Last year on a trip to WI one of my buddies needed a stator for a '95 Vmax. We went to a dealer for parts and there sat an RX in the snow. First time I'd seen one in person. Dealer started it up and I fell in love. I knew I'd have one "someday".
Next day my son burned a piston and jug out of his '95 Vmax. That night I rolled my vmax and banged up the shock/hood, etc... By the time I got home I was REALLY in the mood for some "new iron".
Fast forward to fall when it was time to drag out the old iron, fix/repair, etc... I'd had enough. Emailed half dozen dealers and made a deal on a new '03 RX for my son and a new '05 RX for me (I wanted the '05 based on the reviews I'd read re: the mono).
I had never ridden one nor even sat on one to that point - I just had a gut feeling. So far - couldn't be happier (unless of course we had more snow to ride 'em on!). Only been out 4 times this year (500 miles total).
cobalt650
Pro
I've been riding for 30 years. The RX-1's looked great, but I was very happy with a pair of '97 VMAX's that my parents passed along to me. Went to a dealer this past October to look at a used Viper, an '05 RX-1 was sitting there, gave my wife the puppy dog look, she said go ahead, I seized the moment, and Holy Smoly, it has been great!!! Much better/different than I expected. Smooth, fast, quiet, great ride, just likes to get warm a little too easily, a rear heat exchanger is on the summer project list.
I just had a feeling when the reports came out on the prototypes. I thought it would have a lot of potential, and it did.
Put a spring deposit down on the '03, and was happy I did. Previous sled was a big bore 900MXZ.
After a year of suspension upgrades it was time for more power and the Turbo went on.
Hands down the best, most reliable, fewest problems hot rod sled I have ever had!
I said I would not trade it till there was factory EFI to go with a turbo or blower, and here it is.
'06 Apex of some sort will be in the shop next winter!
Put a spring deposit down on the '03, and was happy I did. Previous sled was a big bore 900MXZ.
After a year of suspension upgrades it was time for more power and the Turbo went on.
Hands down the best, most reliable, fewest problems hot rod sled I have ever had!
I said I would not trade it till there was factory EFI to go with a turbo or blower, and here it is.
'06 Apex of some sort will be in the shop next winter!
I have had at least 1 Yamaha in the garage since I started to ride in 1984.
Would by one and then it would end up being my girlfriends sled while I tried something different. A Polaris and then a Thundercat. But I kept coming back to new Yamaha's.
In 98 I bought a SRX7 and in 99 a SX 500 for my girlfriend. In 2002 an SRX 7 again.
Been scanning Totallyamaha since the first SRX.
But I had my mind made up on an 05 ZR900EFI. My buddy has an 04 and the sled has never had any problems. Rides great, handles great and fuel injection was nice.
I made up my mind that with a herniated disk in my back I definitely needed more suspension.
Started reading RX1.info in late 2003. When the mono shock came out all the guys posts talked me into the 05 RX1-ER.
Would by one and then it would end up being my girlfriends sled while I tried something different. A Polaris and then a Thundercat. But I kept coming back to new Yamaha's.
In 98 I bought a SRX7 and in 99 a SX 500 for my girlfriend. In 2002 an SRX 7 again.
Been scanning Totallyamaha since the first SRX.
But I had my mind made up on an 05 ZR900EFI. My buddy has an 04 and the sled has never had any problems. Rides great, handles great and fuel injection was nice.
I made up my mind that with a herniated disk in my back I definitely needed more suspension.
Started reading RX1.info in late 2003. When the mono shock came out all the guys posts talked me into the 05 RX1-ER.
Attachments
Gilbey
Expert
Got sick of blowing cats up year after year. Decided I wanted a 4 stroke but the cat didn't do anything for me.
I wanted reliability and power, and in my opinion, that's what this was and is.
No...not really happy with the skid. I long tracked it and found that it did much better than the 121.
Glad I did it. Friends are still reluctant about it, but every one of them that gets on it and hammers it down comes back with a big grin and basically kills their doubts.
I love 99% of this sled. Wish I could get an 06!!!
I wanted reliability and power, and in my opinion, that's what this was and is.
No...not really happy with the skid. I long tracked it and found that it did much better than the 121.
Glad I did it. Friends are still reluctant about it, but every one of them that gets on it and hammers it down comes back with a big grin and basically kills their doubts.
I love 99% of this sled. Wish I could get an 06!!!
F1Rocks
Veteran
I hadn't ridden in 20+ years. Last year my neighbor invited me to go to Watersmeet and ride with his crew. I used his 600 Cat, he had just bought an F7. After about an hour of riding I said, "I gotta get another sled." Since I live in the snowy (yeah right) state of Minnesota.
One of my supervisors had just modded an RX-1 and was telling me about it so I called around, got a good deal on an '04 and have been hooked ever since.
Would love to pick up a new suspension sled but can't justify the cost difference when my sled only has 1000 miles on it. Maybe in a couple years....
One of my supervisors had just modded an RX-1 and was telling me about it so I called around, got a good deal on an '04 and have been hooked ever since.
Would love to pick up a new suspension sled but can't justify the cost difference when my sled only has 1000 miles on it. Maybe in a couple years....
goldbergrx1
Extreme
my last 2 sleds were yamahas..98 srx and 01 srx..i always like being behind the handlebars of a yamaha...fit and finsh is great and makes you feel like your driving an expensive sled...anyway, i couldn't justify payments on a sled so being that i own a roofing company and my cousin builds houses....instead of him paying me for the jobs, i told him to buy me a new sled.......here i am and i love this sled...power is awsome and handling is great....very happy
QCRider
TY 4 Stroke Master
I wanted one as soon as I heard about it, but was not in the position to buy a new one in '03. My Dad did buy one in '03 and he loved it. I rode it and liked it a lot except I thought that the suspension was not that great and the seat was hard as a rock compared to my Cat. I held off until '05, partly because I was hoping Cat would come to the market with a similar sled (they didn't) and partly because it seemed the RX-1 was still maturing. By Spring '04 I decided it was pretty well mature and I jumped on the Power Surge and spring ordered my '05. So far I love it. The seat is still too hard for my taste, but much better than the '03.
Indy
TY 4 Stroke God
I was in Paradice MI, I was walking out of the Restuarant in front of the hotel, and 2 red and silver le's pulled up, so quiet, and they backed up and parked. I wanted one right then. Next fall I was at White Star auction when my sled came up for bid, I out bid every one.
BLUEDOG
Pro
sleds
Been buying one or two new Yamaha's for the last 15 years so it seemed like a natural progression, couldn't be happier, just ordered an 06 APEX ER, getting rid of my 04 Warrior and keeping the new RX-1 ER and the RS Vector ER. Every year I tell my self I'm going to keep these sleds a couple of years but Yamaha always teases me into the new sh-t!
Heading to the UP tomorrow anybody have any idea of the snow conditions it the western end?
Thanks,
Ron M
Been buying one or two new Yamaha's for the last 15 years so it seemed like a natural progression, couldn't be happier, just ordered an 06 APEX ER, getting rid of my 04 Warrior and keeping the new RX-1 ER and the RS Vector ER. Every year I tell my self I'm going to keep these sleds a couple of years but Yamaha always teases me into the new sh-t!
Heading to the UP tomorrow anybody have any idea of the snow conditions it the western end?
Thanks,
Ron M
Ted Rogers
Newbie
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 6
I was trying to find a friend of mine that sometimes hungout at the local dealership. He wasn't there so I asked the owner about the sleds. I just bought a 2002 Warrior motorcycle earlier that year and the dealer told me I had to buy a new Warrior sled. Also it was the last day for the snow check. So now I have two Warriors, and dam-t the new ones are out. I checked them out last week and its a tuff decision to buy new. I haven't riden my 04 yet this year and I only have 500 miles on her.
By they way my last sled was a 58 phazer I bought new.
By they way my last sled was a 58 phazer I bought new.
rx-1 blue reverse
Expert
After I rode an 97 ski-doo grand touring se(solo) for 5 years I was ready to go into a new sled. Some of my friends had 98 srx's and I loved how they handled and rode. I was going to buy a 2003 srx. Now if you are on this site you know how they canceled the srx for the rx-1. I first saw it at Tip-Up-Town, I only went because Yamaha was their w/ the rx-1, no snow didn't even take the sleds. I loved it the first time I saw it. Snow checked 1 later that month.
