Latest SnowGoer not kind to XTX

[Newfiebullet]

Also on this side of the pond the press is not very kind to the XTX. According to the swedish magazine "SnowRider", the XTX is outperformed by every other crossover sled as soon as you leave the trail (they use words like "spanked by Renegade 4-TEC"...). And it all comes down to one thing- the track choice. Over here every other crossover sled is delivered with 1.5" or 1.75" tracks, but Yamaha insists to deliver the XTX with the Ripsaw 1.25"...

In my opinion, this criticism is true. Yamaha needs to reconsider the XTX track choice. A true crossover sled needs nothing shorter than 1.5" paddle-style lugs, otherwise it will be outperformed also by short track sleds with proper tracks (a lot of people will find out during the coming winter...).

"Proper track" is very subjective. Where you live, and with the amount of trails that are available to you perhaps a 1.25" track is a limiting factor, and you need a bigger one.

I can even agree with you that perhaps the track choice available from all the manufacturers in North America is too limited. A 2" or 2.25" track is simply too tall unless you live in the Rockies, and perhaps there would be a market for sleds such as an Assault with a 1.5" or an Apex MTX with something less then a 162x16x2.25.

But for teh bulk of the North American market a crossover sled has to be trailable. No ifs, ands or buts about it. That means it must be easily studable, and not too hard on the hyfax.

That's why all the manufacturers sell their crossovers with 1.25" tracks. Now perhaps the added weight of a four stroke makes a deeper lug track a little more attractive off trail, but it doesn't change the fact the the sled has to be trailable.

Again, if you're the kind of rider who doesn't care about riding on trails, and who's willing to accept faster hyfax wear, your sled of chouce should be the MTX.

 

[Deadman]

This is no different than why most all SUV's come with useless street tires, yet they are often called Off-Road models! Its all in what the majority of them will REALLY be used for, and thats simply TRAIL RIDING with these sleds........

 

[Alatalo]

Re: track/skis

But for teh bulk of the North American market a crossover sled has to be trailable. No ifs, ands or buts about it. That means it must be easily studable, and not too hard on the hyfax. That's why all the manufacturers sell their crossovers with 1.25" tracks

If you ride off trail change the track and skis...problem solved.

The AC Crossfire, the Lynx X-Trim, the Polaris Switchback and the Ski-Doo Renegade are delivered with 1.5" or 1.75" tracks over here. Only the XTX is delivered with the Ripsaw 1.25". Putting a 1.5" or 1.75" track in the XTX would of course improve the soft trail and off-trail performance, but this is not the way the journalists are testing snowmobiles. The journalists are testing snowmobiles in box stock condition - and then the soft trail and off-trail performance of the XTX sucks compared to the competition. Please note that I am not bashing the XTX, I am just giving you the facts behind some not so kind magazine feedback.

 

[Grimm]

Then let's all let Yamaha address the negative publicity by coming out with something better next year.

 

[T T T]

I just put a 1.75 on my XTX, i didn't think twice about it, If I make a hundred miles on a trail this year it'll probably be to much. If I was going to put high miles on a trail though the ripsaw would work 100%. Like the guys are saying if it's not enough track change it. Not really a big deal. They're only going to make half of us happy either way. You do have to take the heat exchanger guards out, takes about 10 mins with a cut off wheel on a dremell. Oh yea after this thread I went out and bought a set of SLP powder pro's to help float the front end, I shouldn't come on here. Makes me spend the green it does.

Ted

 

[tomanytoyz]

i don'nt care! YAMAHA ALL THE WAY!! ski-dump,artic crap,pooplaris don'nt even make DIRTBIKES for cryin out loud!!

 

[Sxrlar]

Well, Mr John Dee rode one last spring, and he liked it so much, he bought one.http://johndee.com/ I am pretty sure John has more time off trail than the Snowblower guys.

 

[big_red1a]

if the weight is the issue maybe a bigger foot print is the answer 144x 16 x 1.325 and widder skis. This would still be studable trailworthy tunnel protection could stay in place. hyfax run cool ect
any opinions?????

 

[Mtnviper]

Thats just what I did. 144" 16" except it's a 2" lug. Also added Yamaha mountian skis.
Ski's alone shoud make a big difference, as the stockers are very narrow. But then I'm used to looking at mountian sleds with wider skis!

 

[tm969]

I've worked on Polaris, BRP, and Yamaha products, all have there good and bad things about them. It is b.s. that they talk about the xtx not having a mtn. bar, big deal the 08 shifts didn't come with thumb warmers (throttle) or gauges, the tail light was of their first atv, and the fuel gauge was a hose on the end of the gas cap! Bottom line is Yamaha's will still be running while the other sleds will be in the bone yard.

 

[T T T]

MTnviper, how did that 16 wide fit, just looking at mine it only looks like I might have a quarter inch on each side of the 15 wide. Looks like it would rub on the drop downs.

 

[Mtnviper]

TTT
It's close but it does fit! I had to cut the drop brackets, just below where the track rides over the idler wheels. I then made some aluminum bracing brackets out of 1/4" 6061. These are rivit/bolted to the outside of the tunnel to give it strength, where the OEM brackets used to mount on the insde of the tunnel.
There are 3 weld-nuts on each side, that I had to cut out. Two larger ones up by the drivers, and the rear foot well bar mounting bolt. These are replaced with stainless steel carriage bolts, facing outwards. I also ground down the crown of the carriage bolts slightly to give me more clearance.
I also ground down any long rivits that where sticking out where the track could ride, with a cut-off wheel.
I installed a thick washer on each side where the rear shaft bolts to the drop brackets. This spreads the tunnel slightly at the back. Probably could do without the washers, but I figured the little extra room couldn't hurt!
I replaced the drivers, with Doo anti-rachets. After I pressed on the driver's, mounted the axle up in the tunnel without the track and measured the spacing between the driver's and tunnel. To make sure they were prefectly centered in the tunnel.
Also made sure the driver spacing was correct on the track, to keep the track from "walking" back and forth on the drivers.

 

[T T T]

That's pretty cool, thanks for the pics, should be nasty in the deep with that much footprint.

Ted