Sidewinder
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 543
- Reaction score
- 39
- Points
- 908
- Location
- Ontario Canada
- Website
- www.streettechracing.com
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2017 Yamaha Sidewinder LTX LE
- LOCATION
- Waterloo
- WEBSITE
- www.streettechracing.com
Ill check tomorrow , thanks.
to me, this thing(GT) has a very fine line between junk, and good.
I came off of an '01 MXZ 800 Adrenaline. That sled rode well, and did NOT have any problems bottoming.
This sled is a bottoming night mare. I weigh 230# with gear, and the thing bottoms on the smallest of washouts or knife edgers.
When the suspension comes back, it rebounds SO HARD that it kicks your butt off the seat.
Without a shock revalve, this sled is a "7Gr$nd more than my '01 800 disappointment."
Yamaha gives you this crap about "average rider weight" but that is BS, they just dropped the ball.............
The only other thing is that the engine drone, not the exhaust, is a bit loud.
Get the GT, because the numerous adjustments available will allow you to tailor it to your liking, more so than the RTX and ER
On the plus side, the torque down low is train-like, and it handles well, for it's weight. The throttle response makes you feel like you have more power than you actually do, so that way, it is a great riding experience.
I came off of an '01 MXZ 800 Adrenaline. That sled rode well, and did NOT have any problems bottoming.
This sled is a bottoming night mare. I weigh 230# with gear, and the thing bottoms on the smallest of washouts or knife edgers.
When the suspension comes back, it rebounds SO HARD that it kicks your butt off the seat.
Without a shock revalve, this sled is a "7Gr$nd more than my '01 800 disappointment."
Yamaha gives you this crap about "average rider weight" but that is BS, they just dropped the ball.............
The only other thing is that the engine drone, not the exhaust, is a bit loud.
Get the GT, because the numerous adjustments available will allow you to tailor it to your liking, more so than the RTX and ER
On the plus side, the torque down low is train-like, and it handles well, for it's weight. The throttle response makes you feel like you have more power than you actually do, so that way, it is a great riding experience.
sawsalesman
Expert
Craze,
Thanks for your input on your setup. I have decided that during the off season the machine is going to get new skis, 13mm sway bar and the highest windshield I can find for when it is super cold out. I can't decide between the Simmons or Pilots. I guess I have to look at the Slydog skis as I see that you and a lot of others are using them. I really love this sled for the motor and skid but I have got to get the front end working to my liking. I came off a 99 XC700SP which handled like it was on rails. This Apex is good but not great in the handling department.
Thanks for your input on your setup. I have decided that during the off season the machine is going to get new skis, 13mm sway bar and the highest windshield I can find for when it is super cold out. I can't decide between the Simmons or Pilots. I guess I have to look at the Slydog skis as I see that you and a lot of others are using them. I really love this sled for the motor and skid but I have got to get the front end working to my liking. I came off a 99 XC700SP which handled like it was on rails. This Apex is good but not great in the handling department.
snobum
Newbie
Thanks for the responses. I guess the ride isn't what I'm concerned about as much as a "heavy" steering sled. The pushing of the bars and a heavy front end is what my biggest concern is. My ZX is very "light" feeling in the front and if I can get the Attack/Apex to not be a heavy steering sled that would go a long way in my decision making.
T-Bone
Expert
My buddie has the same sled you do Snobum andyou are right, it feels like he has power steering compared to my Apex. Have read on hear that the Skidoo Pilots make a big difference on reducing steering effort and darting. I will be adding them this summer. I think they will help alot but I would be overly optimistic to think that my Apex with Pilots and suspension adjustments would steer as easy as my buds 02 MXZ with Precisions. I believe most of that if from the rider forward positioning.
That being said, I could never go back to riding an old school sitdown style sled anfter riding the Apex for two years. I can ride it all day and not feel tierd or worn out at the end. I think the gains of the overall package of rider forward far outweigh the loss of lighter steering sit down sleds.
That being said, I could never go back to riding an old school sitdown style sled anfter riding the Apex for two years. I can ride it all day and not feel tierd or worn out at the end. I think the gains of the overall package of rider forward far outweigh the loss of lighter steering sit down sleds.
schmeg
Expert
I have a GT and an ER with 144 up the middle, 8" Berg's with 1/4 ski savers on the GT and 3/8th on the ER (for her) and they both handle and steer quite well. Even with the stock ski's. Scott Bergstroms setup makes a difference if you want to keep the stock ski's. The revalve from Pioneer made a huge difference on the GT. I don't find my sleds too tippy, so I haven't done the swaybar. I am more than tickled with both sleds, just set them up for your weight from the get go, and don't expect much off trail.
yes the triple pionts seem to ease the steering effort i have no problem at all keeping up with my bud in the twisties he is on a rev.now i jus got to get a fat boy spring and the sled will be perfect
trenchdigger3
Newbie
I know what you are saying ,I had a 02 xc 600 and a 03 xc 800 and these sleds would absolutely rail in the tight trails right out of the box,my bud who has a 02 xc 800 could never keep up with me when I was on the xc's now can leave me in the dust in these type of trails,I have tryed alot of the stuff I have read on this forum ,like loosening off the front shocks to the max,pilot skis,pulling up the limiter strap,nothing seems to work,love everything else about the apex but am not real pleased with the handling,I guess I will try the 13 mm sway bar as well.,something has to work.sawsalesman said:
sawsalesman
Expert
Trench,
I just left a message at Pioneer Perf. to talk to them about the 13mm sway bar. I'm going to order it as soon as they call. What do you think about your Pilot skis. Did they help? I haven't tried pulling the limiter strap up one hole yet but I'm going to when I get the sway bar. I just love so much about this sled, I've just got to get handling better.
I just left a message at Pioneer Perf. to talk to them about the 13mm sway bar. I'm going to order it as soon as they call. What do you think about your Pilot skis. Did they help? I haven't tried pulling the limiter strap up one hole yet but I'm going to when I get the sway bar. I just love so much about this sled, I've just got to get handling better.
trenchdigger3
Newbie
they are a decent ski and do seem to steer easier than the stockers,but they still do dart a fair bit at low speed this may be do to alignment but I have played around with alignment a lot but maybe haven't hit the sweet spot yet,mine are the 06 version and have alot of wear in front of the outsde wear bar in about 1200 miles,some of the darting could also be from the worn out A-arm bushings that I plan to replace this summer,but when I put the stockers on with deuce bars on there is absolutely no darting,I think I am going to leave the stock skis on with the deuce bars until I get this handling and darting thing figured out,it is much more pleasurable to ride this way.good luck.sawsalesman said:
sawsalesman
Expert
I put the deuce bars on mine and it elminited the darting. Now I just have to get it to stop pushing through the corner. You mentioned wear on the front of the outside wear bar. Sounds to me like the A-Arm bushings need replacing and that the skis should be shimmed a bit.
