Meirda's 06 Yamaha Demo Ride Review. (PICS ADDED)

[RTX Meirda]

What an awesome day...I still cannot believe that I was a part of this Demo ride!

I still do not know how the demo riders were picked.....but thanks to MR. Sled, Chris, and John from Yamaha Canada. You guys have no idea how messed up i am going to be.....waiting for next season to begin!! Usually I do not start getting excited until September....and now I am excited about next winter already!!

It is going to be a long summer. The worst part is that I have a couple of trips left this year and I do not even want to ride my sled any more!

But that is another story.

TY guys...it was great to meet you all....I think it was amazing how easy it was for a bunch of strangers to become good friends.

Here is my review of the day.

My first impression......pictures do not do these sleds justice!

You really have to see them in person. The pictures are good...but in person...these sleds are a work of art. The fit and finish are true Yamaha quality.....and these are the prototypes!! (These sleds are stripped and crushed once they are done with them....what a shame!!)

The 06's have a cool key....sort of similar to the VW keys to give you an idea. Also the cigarette lighter is cool too...but I do not smoke...LOL

Our riding order was

05 RX1
06 APEX GT
06 APEX RTX
06 APEX ER
06 ATTAK
05 VECTOR
06 VECTOR
06 RS RAGE
06 VECTOR GT
06 NITRO

I was lucky enough to start off the day on the APEX GT

I fell in love instantly.....although it does not ride anything like my 03 RX1...I adapted to the new position in minutes! The EFI motor makes the Carb version of old feel ancient. The response and low end pull surprised me every time I blipped the throdle. There is no steering effort at all....the motor is set so far back that there is way less weight on the skis. I have never searched out BUMPS before riding this sled. The electric Ohlins work great....you can really feel the difference from full soft to full hard. Home Run Yamaha!!!

APEX RTX

This is the sled that I wanted to ride!! I really like the chrome red on this sled and I also always liked the looks of the Viper S! I was upset, however, since my turn on this sled would be over so early in the day!
Again, I loved it.... I cannot say enough about how much I LOVE the APEX.
(and I do not throw the L word around loosely...just ask my girlfriend...LOL) I thought that the shocks would look bare without the springs....no way....nice Fox chrome sticker on them too!

The sleds do seem slightly different to me, but I cannot put my finger on it....really it is not worth talking about...just pick the one that suits you appearance wise and go for it!!! By the way...the Yamaha guys are going to put a Ohlins electric in the rear skid of the RTX and see if the guage is already wired for this install! I do not really need it, but it would be great to show off to my buddies!!

APEX ER

Again, I was very happy with this as well. The only thing that would stop me from buying this sled is the colours. I have always liked the hood colour matched with the side panels. Since Yamaha is staying with black side panels....I am getting s black sled! I am not a fan of the clear wind screen either. I am sure I am in the minority on that statement....but this year Yamaha has something for everyone!!

ATTACK

Very nice machine....awesome rear skid and wild hook-up even without studs!!! I have never riden a long track before and I liked it! If I were to install a turbo...I would buy this machine.....but since I am not....I need every MPH I can get...shorty for me.

VECTOR

The 05 and the 06 looked similar in graphics. They rode really well for the conditions.....but it is not fair to come from a 150 hp sled to a 120 hp sled. I think the sled moves along great but missing that jerky pull that i love so much. Great for some...but not for me.

RS VENTURE

Wow, did I beat up this sled. Of course, this is the sled that I end up with when the trail is the roughest. I appolagize to those riding behind me....I am sure you ate some snow dust and I cleaned the trail right off!! I cannot beleive the way that this big bus went through the trail!!! Why don't they make an RX Venture ? Add EFI?

VECTOR GT

I like the colour combination. The suspension was bang on. This would be a great sled for the average sport rider! Great shocks and decent power. Perfect for the 600 class market.

NITRO

Everyone that got off this machine were saying the same thing. "You are going to love this sled...what a blast to ride" I was Johnny Sceptical. I did not look it over much before hand. The graphics are cool and the little windshield as well...but is has the old style hood. (which I have been looking at for the past few years)

Well, what a shocker. I was laying back and just hammering over everything until I caught the group again. I did this repeatedly. This machine engaged hard! I spent most of the time standing up since It was so effortless...I felt like a snowcrosser!!! The rear suspension in this thing is not set for stutter bumps....instead....line up the first one and jump the rest!!!

Really cool machine!! Let's get a APEX on steroids next year....just like this thing!!!

CONCLUSION

After riding every machine in the pack....we still have 45 min back to the resort. Guess what? I am back on the APEX again !!! First the GT and then the RTX.

Simich eyed up a nice jump and asked Chris if it was OK.

Next thing I see is an APEX GT 4 feet in the air. I launched the RTX right behind him. Wow this thing lands really flat and effortless.

Last was the Lake....Stimich....I think I took you buddy LOL but then the Turbo took us both.

Yamaha Chris let me take his Turbo for a run....what a great guy!!!

I did not want the day to end....I helped Yamaha John fuel up the sleds just so I could start and move them one more time.

After a few pints and a steak dinner it was time to head home.

This was a day that will never be lost in memory. Thanks again, to everyone for a great experience!

I am getting calls from people all over my home town asking me details. I did not tell too many....but word of mouth is spreading. It does not matter, I can recite these stories a million times.

I am going on a cruise in a couple of days....and everyone asks me "Are you excited?"

All I can think of is snowmobiing! Is that wrong?

 

[Fox1_RX-1]

Excellent report RX1 MEIRDA. Everyone from TY has done a great job of posting thier reports and it is interesting how we have picked different sleds that we liked or for you MERIDA "LOVED" LOL. It you want the snap go with the 150s and you won't be dissapointed. If you are not looking for that snap but want a quick, smooth, dependable sled then the 120s is a great sled. Yamaha has done a excellent job for the new line-up.

 

[welterracer]

Thats for the great story MERIDA..

I really enjoyed it..


If GT i ordered is half as good as you say... IM HAPPY!!

 

[SIMMER]

Excellent report Meirda.....except one thing.....THE LAKE....I had ya but I decided to let off!

 

[MrSled]

WOW great reports Meirda

 

[RTX Meirda]

Thanks guys.....it took me a long time to type.

Two fingers on the keyboard....you know what I mean?

 

[RTX Meirda]

More Pics!

More Pics!

 

[Yakuza]

Good reporting Meirda! Thanks a whole bunch.

 

[Dano]

I appolagize to those riding behind me....I am sure you ate some snow dust and I cleaned the trail right off!!

:shock: It was clean snow at least..lol....great report and it was nice meeting you! Here is a pic just before departure...

 

[welterracer]

Awsome pictures..

THe more i see the GT... the more i like it...

THe Guage is BAD #*$&@

 

[Mighty]

I didn't really like the RTX the two times I saw it but It does look good on the snow. That Red/Chrome really sticks out

 

[welterracer]

What all does the Guage display??

 

[Blue Me]

I'm sad........I wanna go!!!

 

[T-Bone]

can you see the guage sitting in the saddle wit the new handlebar position?

 

[RTX Meirda]

No problem!!