I noticed something....maybe you guys have too

[Heritage]

unless Honda starts making sleds I dont think any other brand can build a better 4 stroke sled. I actually would love to see Honda enter the market but now with the econime it is a pipe dream

honda has patents on sled parts. in fact they even built a prototype 4stroke sled! BUT, they will never build one for production. THEY say that they do not have enough dealers in the snow belt regions to build a production sled. especially with 204 honda dealerships that have gone or going out of business this past year(my work included).

Honda aint gonna do squat!!!! If arctic cat was smart they'd drop suzuki, and start using honda motors. Im shocked bombardier hasn't dropped a honda 4 stroke into one of their sleds....if any sled maker ever puts a honda in their sled, id have to seriously take a look at it.

 

[guardrail]

Why don't we start a petition for our members to sign(moderators??), stating for Yamaha to use a 3 stage valve pack as noted in the sticky? If they get thousands of loyal riders from a respectable forum voicing their dissatisfaction with something that is easy to fix, maybe they will listen.
It can't hurt.
Anyone else think it's a good idea?

 

[yamadoo]

I would like to say a word in favor of my APEX GT / Yamaha.

On two different occasions(Cats, Poo's and Revs) last year my buddies said that my sled must ride better than theirs as they couldn't comfortably keep up on rough trails. Now these were not races, just high speed high mile cruising on a rough late afternoon trails. I traded sleds with both the cat and poo guys - they both loved it. My sled has a big boy spring, stock Mono 121. No sway bar change or ski change, do have Bergson tipples shim.

I agree this(ride and handling) is an issue for Yamaha, but it is not like they are junk. I would like to see them make this a point of emphasis. If they were recognized as ride, as well as reliability and engine leaders they would be unstoppable in the market demographic who actually buys new sleds (40+, good income, etc).

So I agree, but feel if someone who doesn't know Yamaha sleds read this they would think they are crap, and they are not. IMHO

Yamadoo

 

[ahicks]

Yamadoo, nothing personal, and no intention to criticize, but when you are talking about a big heavy power cruiser like an Apex, that's what any sled in that category is all about. Long, high milage days are absolutely what these things are made for, and you can't do that well unless you are able to maintain a pretty good clip the whole time. So your buddies saw your sled with it's best suit on? Poo doesn't even have a sled in this class any more. That's pretty much why me and a lot of other Poo faithfull are here? A good power cruiser will make a lighter sled like an Rev or an IQ feel like riding around on an empty pop can on rougher trails. They're rattling along on top of the bumps, while a sled like the Apex in plowing right through them.... if it's right.

I haven't seen anyone say the sled's crap. My take is most owners love this sled, including myself - despite the fact Yamaha could be doing so much better so many different ways. Proof of old problems ignored for too long, as well as proof they may finally be getting their act together regarding stuff that should have been taken care of earlier, can be found in some of the Apex updates for this year ('10).