Missing the Point of 4 Strokes?

[Indy]

I am beginning to wonder if it is me, but I just don't see the point in buying a new sled yet. I do consider the the fact that many people finance thier sleds, and just keeping the payment going is easy with a new sled, but really, why? Was the 05 mono shock worth it? How about the 5 or 10 HP extra, worth it? My 03 does not burn oil, the handwarmers work great. My jack shaft bearing is just fine, as are my boogie wheels (M10). No broken W arms. No chain case problems. Yes I have done lots of mods, damn near all of them except turbo or nos, but still on the same sled. I have been beat twice on the ice, once by NOSPRO, duh, and once by an APEX, my m10 sucked some of my top end. But I don't see any reason to trade in a 4 stroke that will go 1000's of miles trouble free for basically just another identical sled with a couple of small changes and different plastic. I could spend a couple of grand each year on mods and still be ahead of the game. I do 95% of my own wrenching, and I really enjoy it. Its easy to get caught up in the "Gotta have a new Sled" mentality, but really . . . why? Its a 4 stroke, and its a Yammie, it will last 4 ever. I wouldn't take a new Apex or Attack for it.

My mods so far as I can remember;
Simmons - C&A Pros - Slydogs (fav) shims
ECP + stage 2 clutching
Ohlins all around
Links and swaybar 13mm
Bergstroms
M10 + 136
Ripsaw
05 seat
mirrors
chrome, chrome, and more chrome + polished
Boss seat (sent back, poor fit)
risers (1st 1", now 2")
clear tail lights & LED bulbs
100W headlights
washers on secondary

Now I know I am forgetting some mods I've installed or removed, and no I am not done yet. I think I am going to put on a wide front end kit this summer and maybe mess with some gearing. I am also considering an Expert X and putting the M10 in my Vmax.

I only have 4500 miles on her, she is just getting broke in. Why spend another 10k+ ?

But then maybe an Exciter in 08. LOL

 

[Red2003]

I'll keep my 03 at least a few more years. The way winters in VT have been going I might as well beat my 03 through rocks and stumps a while longer. Why trash a $10,000 new sled???

 

[NY_Nytro]

I myself find it easier to afford a new sled if I trade or sell my old sled while it's still worth a good amount. One year is usually too short and you'll take a big hit normally, two or three years seems to work the best.

With all the mods you have done you have basically bought 2/3s of a new sled so that would give more incentive to hold on to it for longer than normal.

I dumped a lot of cash into my 05 Warrior and after 4500 miles other than motor I found it to be a major disappointment in the handling department. Mainly my fault as it is just not a good sled for my riding style and I should have realized that before I bought it. I was hoping to get another year out of it but after swapping sleds with a couple guys during my last trip I found I really like a foward and stand up sled, so fun to ride.

 

[number1kyster]

i have almost 4400 miles on my 05 vector and after the next 2 weeks i will prolly have over 6k on it. Am i trading anytime soon? nope i will run this sled to 20k if i have too. I love this sled and its paid for. I would love an apex but thats a lot of money for a sled. I normally ride 5k+ a yr so it is not worth buy a 10k sled to have for 3 years bc u take a major bath on it bc of high miles.

 

[RX1Jim]

Indy,

I agree completely with you. A couple of my friends have always gotten caught up in the "got to have a new sled every year" trap. Every year they would sell or trade in their sleds for new ones, usually a different brand because that what the magazines said were the best. Every year they would be working out the bugs on a new model sled while I was riding (usually it was me working on their sleds during a major trip). Even if I could afford to buy a new sled every year, I wouldn't. I usually go 5 or 6 yeras on a sled before buying a new one. With the short riding season, I just can't justify the expense plus, once I get the sled setup the way I want it, I like to enjoy the setup. I have an 03 RX-1 with about 5000 miles on it. I spent this season working on all the improvements to make it much more maintenance free such as replacing all the plastic bushings with oil-lite bushings. Some people say sleds are "worn out" once they get close to 10,000 miles. I have a 94 Vmax-4 with 11,000 miles and an SRX with 10000 miles on them and they are in very close to show-room condition inside and out. My RX-1 is used for cruising on trails, usually 3 trips a year through NH, maine and Quebec averaging 1500 miles per trip. This sled will last 50,000 miles easily with proper care. People buy recreational vehicles based too much on emotion rather than common sense. My dealer has 12 sleds which were traded in for new sleds or motorcycles. Some of these trade in sleds have less than 300 miles on them, all have less than 1000 miles. You can dump a lot of money pretty quickly letting emotions make decisions for you.

 

[RedRX1]

I wish I would have kept my 03 and traded one of my Vmax 2 strokes. If I had done that I would now have a pair of 4 strokes. As it is now, my daughter is older and likes my sled. She keeps "sweet talking" me into riding her Vmax.

 

[Yamahnator]

I got the sled I want now in the Attak. It handles the conditions I ride in (bumpy usually) very well and is super fast, gas and go. I don't know why but even starting up my RX with the choke is too much work for me now lol. Couldn't imagine making sure oil is always in the sled and worrying about holding it to the bar or whether it's going to start in the morning like my two stroke riding friends do.

I agree somewhat. I didn't have the sled I wanted in the RX. Nothing against it, it is a great sled, just not suited for how I ride.

 

[sandy8657]

With new sleds priced over $10,000, you can bet that I'll keep my new APex GT for at least 10 years.
And that reliable Yamaha 4-stroke will definately last the entire duration!!!

 

[Indy]

My 03 was one of those low mile, 1st year sleds, it only had 400 miles on it when I bought it. I bought it cheap and now have 3 great trouble free seasons on it. I could understand if someone wanted a completely different type of sled, but to buy an 03, then an 05, and then an Apex or Attak, well that I don't understand. None of those sleds were broken in yet. I really don't see all that much difference in the model years. None of them are that much better than mine with the mods i've done.

RX1Jim, my old Vmax has @ least 10k also. But I did rebuild it front to back. 98 XTC.

But if there is an 08 Exciter or Mountain Lite, with 100-120 hp , I might be forced to buy one.

 

[impalapower]

One must stick with the sled they feel good with. I was hoping to get rid of my wife's Viper, but she likes it too much.

 

[local 25]

I also feel the same way Indy does. I love my 03 RX-1. It is absolutely been trouble free. With all the mods now it rides and handles just fine.Sure id love a fuel injected Apex,but cant justify the cost,with the short riding season here in New England and this years lack of snow,my 03 is looking better and better.Also,I dont know if its me and my own preference ,but i still like the look of the RX style better than the new line ups (just my opinion) So untill Yamaha comes out with some thing so innovative like the Rx-1 was when it was introduced in 03, im happy.

 

[Indy]

I also feel the same way Indy does. I love my 03 RX-1. It is absolutely been trouble free. With all the mods now it rides and handles just fine.Sure id love a fuel injected Apex,but cant justify the cost,with the short riding season here in New England and this years lack of snow,my 03 is looking better and better.Also,I dont know if its me and my own preference ,but i still like the look of the RX style better than the new line ups (just my opinion) So untill Yamaha comes out with some thing so innovative like the Rx-1 was when it was introduced in 03, im happy.

Ditto. couldn't have said it better myself. I can afford to buy a new sled every year, but haven't seen any reason to. But I do appreciate you guys that have to have the new sled every year. It gives the rest of the guys a great deal next year. LOL

 

[7 skulls]

Soon (if all goes well) I'll finally own my Nytro (outright). I had my previous sled for 6 seasons and will probably keep the nytro for that long. As a rule, I would never buy a first year model, even a yamaha.
The nytro's not perfect but its mostly ergonomics and learning its balance, just minor stuff to change or accustom to.
In 6 years or so, in the spring, when the nytro has 12-15000 miles on her, if I see a 470lb, 130 hp, exciter (phazer chasis) going unloved at my dealer, would I give it a home? You know I would.
Until then, I'll oggle the new models, be glad I ride a yamaha, pray for snow and hope for a late spring and an early winter.

On a serious note, yamaha's four-strokes and their long-term reliablity are gonna mean that new sled purchases are strictly gonna be people who must have the latest/greatest and can afford it. Or cyclic purchasers: a new sled ever 4-10 years. Once people get out of the 2-stroke mindset that their sleds will only last 10,000 miles, the market will alter to look more like the motorcycle market. Anyone know that demographic/buying habits?

 

[Mighty]

I myself like making other buyers happy, ask jimmie d, RXWarrior and motorhead how they like their sleds

 

[novarossi]

I myself like making other buyers happy, ask jimmie d, RXWarrior and motorhead how they like their sleds

When ya gonna sell the RTX?!