How well does an 07 Apex RTX handle?

[nate007]

Bottom line is that whatever Apex you might buy is going to get you hooked, but although the build quality, fit and finish and durability are arguably the best out there, it WILL take some getting used to, and then it's going to take some patience and understanding of how to tweak to handle to your liking. Everyone is different, every trail or riding location is different, but you've got to find the best compromise to suit you! There's tons of potential in any of them, and I'd bet you'll be happy with whatever you choose as long as you learn what to adjust. You'll get more advise and help that you can imagine here, and we all have our favorites.

 

[nanoonanook]

Thank you! Thank you!
I wanted to thank everyone for their upfront replies and also the lack of bashing (refreshing really).

As you can tell from my initial post, I have been hesitant; however, after reading the vast majority of replies, I am going to go look at the machine next weekend (its a 5 hour drive, so it is a bit of a commitment!).

I will post a follow up to let everyone know the results.
Thanks again everyone,
A

 

[Ak Yammy]

Mono only if you are not going to hit big bumps. If you do a CK (twin shock) RTX a revalve for the rear shocks is a must. Needs agressive skis/carbide to get it to turn as stock are a joke. Track on my 07 RTX has to be banjo string tight or it will ratchet especially in any loose snow with bumps. Even with mine super tight I will still get a whole season (long season here) out of the yami graphite slides. Def night and day over a Zirt. Motor is the best and once you learn the compression braking of the 4-stoke you will never look back.

 

[tbanzer]

There are two big parts to this question that you should probably look at first...

1. Where do you ride? If it is ungroomed bumps and backwoods trails, dont buy it. If your looking at riding groomed trails that could have bumps, and you have railroad grade and corders in the woods. (Northern WI, MI, Maine, etc) then it is perfect.

2. Honestly, do you know how to really turn a snowmobile. If you are a "Set it and forget it" type of rider, this sled is not for you. One of the riders said the RTX Rails through corners. I agree with him to the point that it is the ONLY way your going to ride the Apex fast. You must set your ski/carbide and use the gas all the way through the corners. If you ride like this, then your buddies on the Skidoo's will be pissed that your passing them up. The sled has a ton of power all the way through and you dont have to do a ton to get it to handle great.

The fox floats should be set to collapse fairly easy in the corners. I do NOT prefer the mono skid personally. I have seen 2 of those crack and need the beef up kits. One of our riders has an 08 LTX GT and prefers the ride of his 07 RTX. Really all you need is studs down the center of your track or a Camoplast Ice Attak / Ice Ripper track. People will tell you to change skis too, which there are other threads to give you info on that. For the start, if you just ride Bergstrom 8" tripple carbides with the shims, it will handle great. Then just crank down the limiter strap a bit and you will be ready to roll. If you find yourself pulling wheelies too much, get the limiter strap down more.

We have 3 RTX's in our group of 6 that all ride some variation of the Apex. Our group has never been passed and when anyone joins our group, we are usually waiting for them at every stop sign.

Just an FYI when looking for one...

1. Exhaust doughnuts should be replaced (by 4000-5000 miles)
2. Grease zerts in all 4 A-Arms where they mount to the sled and the bushings replaced. (by 4000 miles)
3. Make sure they did their bearing maintenance every 2500 miles or so. A lot of guys do them every season.

If you buy one with less than 3000 miles on it, most likely you will be wanting to do all of these things before you ride.

When your looking, it is pretty easy to tell by talking to the owner if they really knew how to maintain their Apex or if they just rode it and stored it. A lot of people think because the motor is a 4stroke that it will just run and run. The motor will, but you still have some high maintenance costs.


Good luck!

Like was stated above if you ride on tight rough trails you be miserable and wore out trying to keep with your buddies on any other brand if they ride hard. It all starts from the ck skid. Even after pioneer revalve that was worlds better than stock it still was rough in the stutters and bottomed way to easy. When you adjust the transfer to keep the skis reasonably level it rides even worse and still pushes in the corners with any kind of throttle. I loved the motor so much that I spent untold hours and money trying to get this machine to my satisfaction after coming from a Rev. I finally put in a zx2 suspension last season and it tranfered the machine into acceptable but still no match for a rev in the big bumps or the tight rough trails. Unfortunatlly I only was able to get out once last season with the new skid due to lack of snow.