is handling that bad?

[AKrider]

Don't worry, AK is trying to justify spending his money on Cranks, pistons and oil now

Yeah...

Let's put it this way, when I can ride my daughter's Indy Lite 340 down a trail and it is more stable and better handling than my Nytro.... well, there is something wrong there. Can I ride her sled as fast through the big bumps? No, of course not. But hop on any other 600 class ditch banger and ride fast through the bumps or twisties and that will tell you everything you need to know.

In any case I don't want his thread to turn into a 2 versus 4 debate. The Nytro can be set up to handle specific conditions okay, it just isn't as versatile or forgiving to changing trail conditions as most every other sled. It is a very nice, make that excellent motor wrapped in a less competitive chassis. I'll even go as far to say that Yamaha at the factory level cannot make the Nytro competitive in USCC XC racing. They will be lucky to even place in the top ten this season. I guess I could say it isn't that the Nytro chassis is so bad, it is that the other three OEM chassis are so good.

 

[AKrider]

they wont handle as good flat out racing but for 95 percent of us it will be fine after you get it dialed in. i hated mine the first year i owned it, but with help from this site i got her dialed in. Everyone thinks they are a snowcross racer, but actually they just ride normally and wont even notice the problem. Heard a lot of good reviews about the skinz front end fixing the figity front end, A set of skis and making sure ur front end parts are good n tight goes a long way. Along with a OFT steering relocater.

There is a lot of truth to that. I think that probably 90-95% are probably very happy with their Nytro handling. I tend to forget I'm coming from probably the 1% that expects a lot more. But all it would take is for everyone here take one back to back ride on another 600 ditch banger and there would be no debate about handling and ride.

 

[grizztracks]

The biggest improvements that I've made on my 08 RTX are steering post relocate, Pioneer Performance revalved shocks and Curve XS skis. No problem with handling for me and I ride as hard as anyone. Just remember the Nytro needs a little more rider input so don't just sit there and expect it to corner. If the 08 still has the original frame you may want to reinforce it.

 

[rlcofmn]

Don't worry, AK is trying to justify spending his money on Cranks, pistons and oil now

Yeah...

Let's put it this way, when I can ride my daughter's Indy Lite 340 down a trail and it is more stable and better handling than my Nytro.... well, there is something wrong there. Can I ride her sled as fast through the big bumps? No, of course not. But hop on any other 600 class ditch banger and ride fast through the bumps or twisties and that will tell you everything you need to know.

In any case I don't want his thread to turn into a 2 versus 4 debate. The Nytro can be set up to handle specific conditions okay, it just isn't as versatile or forgiving to changing trail conditions as most every other sled. It is a very nice, make that excellent motor wrapped in a less competitive chassis. I'll even go as far to say that Yamaha at the factory level cannot make the Nytro competitive in USCC XC racing. They will be lucky to even place in the top ten this season. I guess I could say it isn't that the Nytro chassis is so bad, it is that the other three OEM chassis are so good.

Mayors cup here we come...

 

[AKrider]

I can't wait for the Mayor's Cup! I'm trying to get our club to nail down the date. AMMC listed it as March 10th I believe. Do you think you'll race the "Skuzball"?

MattyG,
Just do some searching around on here and you'll get a good feel for the handling issues.

Here is my take on the handling and posting in this forum. Most everyone that bought a Nytro in '08 and didn't like the handling left after the first year for other brands. Guys who bought 09's had life a little better but some still complain and the current Nytro is still an '09 with minor refinements. Those owners who are left really like their Nytro for one aspect or another and we all have found ways to make the sled work for us. But, I think it is foolish to not admit that other sleds exist that handle far better. These other sleds don't hold a candle to Yamaha quality or reliability but they deliver performance and that is what is most important to many people who buy sleds. Reliability is very nice and I bought my Yamaha for that reason. But riding a sled that handles well with far less effort (both physically and monetarily) and is easy to throw around is a very fun experience. I forgot about how fun it was. I guess its kinda like driving around in a minivan compared to a sports car. Sure the minivan is reliable and gets you from point A to point B with good gas mileage but the sports car sure is a lot more fun.

 

[snomaniac]

Skis are a must to eliminate alot of the darting. I tried the stock skis with the bergstrom triple points and ski savers, decent in some conditions, no floatation off trail, but darting was still there in loose oatmeal type snow on the trail( like after a groomer goes thru sometimes) it was bad. That was the end of the stockers for me. Put a set of simmons gen 1 on with 8 inch carbides(wrong color for my sled but great deal and wanted to see performance) They worked great, good floatation, and no darting. I have since hit the swap meets hard and obtained usi triple threats, sly dog powder hounds, and c&a xt's. My uncle and I will be testing these out when we get some snow. He will be running the triple threats and I the c&a xt's. I sold the simmons(blue skis on a yellow and black sled didn't get it for me.) but have my eye open for more in case the others skis aren't up to the bar the simmons set. So start looking for skis is my advice they make a huge difference, and you can find used skis for 150 up to 300, and can get 100 to 150 for your stockers, so it's a reasonably cheap upgrade.
The tippy handling was the issue with the 07 phazer also and a set of skis(usi spx in my case) cured most of that also. Skis are the weak link for most of it.

 

[WNY PAT]

Get some good skis, I'd recommend Curves with the Leading Edge. Plan to spend a couple hours tweaking the suspension settings and getting used to the Nytro and you will love it. I had Doos before this and now that I've got it set up right, I like it better than any X package Doo I owned. I've also ridden is back to back with 600 e techs, Dragons and even a RR last year. For the trails I ride, with lots of 20 to 80 fields and some really nasty bumps thrown in, I personally think it is great. I can't wait to get back in it when I trade off. If you are an experienced rider, I think all the issues can be worked out. Hell, everyone bitches about inside ski lift - I've experienced it at times but it isn't unpredictable and you can just ride it right out of the corner that way and it settles back down. My last Renegade did the same thing. Don't get discouraged!

 

[Grimm]

This is a brand new 08? I would remove the subframe and weld in some strengthening gussets. It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when you'll tweak the subframe. Strengthening now will be easier and give peace of mind.

When you have the subframe off, consider installing oilite bushings on the A arms. The stock bushings are flimsy plastic and will wear quickly, resulting in a loose front end and quirky handling.

 

[yam177]

Don't worry, AK is trying to justify spending his money on Cranks, pistons and oil now

Yeah...

Let's put it this way, when I can ride my daughter's Indy Lite 340 down a trail and it is more stable and better handling than my Nytro.... well, there is something wrong there. Can I ride her sled as fast through the big bumps? No, of course not. But hop on any other 600 class ditch banger and ride fast through the bumps or twisties and that will tell you everything you need to know.

In any case I don't want his thread to turn into a 2 versus 4 debate. The Nytro can be set up to handle specific conditions okay, it just isn't as versatile or forgiving to changing trail conditions as most every other sled. It is a very nice, make that excellent motor wrapped in a less competitive chassis. I'll even go as far to say that Yamaha at the factory level cannot make the Nytro competitive in USCC XC racing. They will be lucky to even place in the top ten this season. I guess I could say it isn't that the Nytro chassis is so bad, it is that the other three OEM chassis are so good.

We will see this winter BTW I heard the new cats have some serious issues as well in the handling dpt. So it could be interesting.

 

[Nine2Nine]

Get some good skis, I'd recommend Curves with the Leading Edge. Plan to spend a couple hours tweaking the suspension settings and getting used to the Nytro and you will love it. I had Doos before this and now that I've got it set up right, I like it better than any X package Doo I owned. I've also ridden is back to back with 600 e techs, Dragons and even a RR last year. For the trails I ride, with lots of 20 to 80 fields and some really nasty bumps thrown in, I personally think it is great. I can't wait to get back in it when I trade off. If you are an experienced rider, I think all the issues can be worked out. Hell, everyone bitches about inside ski lift - I've experienced it at times but it isn't unpredictable and you can just ride it right out of the corner that way and it settles back down. My last Renegade did the same thing. Don't get discouraged!

I agree with this, don't read too much into all the info until you ride the machine. Many guys have come off Revs ( Which I thought was a great sled) and like their Nytros. My sled had Pilots skis on it and I find it rides well, I also put a few miles on the machine before getting overeducated on this site. Then you look for every issue. Once the torque of the engine bites you, you'll forget you have skis.

 

[AKrider]

Seth,
It's good to see you are forever the optimist but every year you post criptic messages that Yamaha has something up their sleeve but the race results don't improve. Who cares about a new front end that Yamaha won't put into production? What's new and exciting this year.... a 128 track, yet another revised front end that breaks?

Cat got their sno-x set up improved within a week after Duluth so I'm sure their XC sleds will be much better prepared. Yamaha has had years and spent hundreds of throusands of dollars to make the Nytro work and they can't.

 

[yam177]

Seth,
It's good to see you are forever the optimist but every year you post criptic messages that Yamaha has something up their sleeve but the race results don't improve. Who cares about a new front end that Yamaha won't put into production? What's new and exciting this year.... a 128 track, yet another revised front end that breaks?

Cat got their sno-x set up improved within a week after Duluth so I'm sure their XC sleds will be much better prepared. Yamaha has had years and spent hundreds of throusands of dollars to make the Nytro work and they can't.

Nothing cryptic I know Cat has some issues worked out but I know they still have some issues with the sled in the rear skid. I know people that race cat and some are worried for sure. So we will see. Heck the first race could end up being the I500 with the weather we are having. That could make it really interesting.

 

[zeke66]

Ok so i just bought a brand new 08 nytro rtx and have not gotten a chance to ride it yet do to the lack of the main ingredient. All i've been reading about since my big purchase is how TERRIBLE the handling is and it's starting to make me nervous and wondering if it's that bad and if i'm going to to have to dump hundreds upon hundreds of dollars into my sled with zero miles on it before i even get a chance to see for myself.
I'm going from a 1999 vmax 600sx with almost 7k on it for miles and the one and only sled i ever owned and drove for 6 years. Soooo i guess my question is..... will i really notice the god awful handling coming from a sled nearlly ten years older? And if so should i start saving now to ugrade what ever it takes to correct the problems?
Also... sorry for so many questions.... but what do i uprade and with what? thanks so much

I can only tell you what I did after my first 50 miles on my 08 RTX.

-aftermarket skis, I got Slydogs (W/Berg trips). They work so much better than the crap Yamaha ones.
-68 psi in floats
-pulled front limiter strap down 2 holes from full out
-Can't remember for sure but most of my comp/rebound settings were in the middle of their adjustment. I went by one of the guys in the setup thread in FaQ

The sled was set up like crap from the dealer.

230 lb rider ( no gear ) and studded.

Skis were the biggest improvement. Played with the PSI and 65-70 seemed to be the best for me.

This year, I am hoping its a different sled. Everything has been rebuilt and revalved by Hygear. I also replaced the front bushings and top ball joints. My RTX was sloppy from the factory. Those Yamaha bushings are way too loose.

If I had to give you one thing to do, SKIS! I have heard nothing but good about Curves with Leading Edge. My buggy has them on his Poo and loves them. No problems with my Slydogs. No experience with Simmons or CA's.

 

[rindtj]

If i had a nytro i wouldn't be spending a dime until skinz had long term front end reviews out....

 

[raginyamaha]

If i had a nytro i wouldn't be spending a dime until skinz had long term front end reviews out....

def watch for this, if it is the cure then its money well spent IMO. till then i will tweak till i get it right- a neverending mission i think.