My first ride on a 2011 apex and nytro xtx impressions.

[2008 Nytro RTX]

HAHAHAHHAHA Nytro tiny bit faster then a 600 etec? HAHHAHAHHAHAHAHA your a funny dude! You don't like Yamaha sleds that is fine just stop bullshitting because there is no way a 600 etec is as fast as a nytro

 

[kinger]

It if wasn't for TY my yamaha would be in the scrap heap. Shouldn't take this much dinking around on a 14K sled.

I am not a basher just hope Yamaha is reading this and maybe one year they will actually listen. None of the changes needed to make these sleds handle are costly so they cant use that excuse.

Do the yamaha reps even ride in these? Do they listen to feedback? What do they say when someone comes in and says its scary tippy?

I hope its not the advice my father got from yamaha customer service....Slow Down REALLY? were talking about a 60 yr old man with 3 discs in his back that are shredded and he cant ride 30 mph around a corner without the inside ski 3' in the air on the flagship vector??

 

[RSVECTORFREAK]

I agree with the handling comments. I've been trying to get my Vector to rail since I bought it in 2005 and it's just not happening. I've tried the 13mm swaybar, limiter strap sucked up, loosened up front rear shock both ski shocks, Pilot skis, you name it. It still pulls the ski 2-3' in the air while cornering hard unless you hang off the seat like a monkey. The center of gravity is just too damn high!

 

[Banks93]

I agree with the handling comments. I've been trying to get my Vector to rail since I bought it in 2005 and it's just not happening. I've tried the 13mm swaybar, limiter strap sucked up, loosened up front rear shock both ski shocks, Pilot skis, you name it. It still pulls the ski 2-3' in the air while cornering hard unless you hang off the seat like a monkey. The center of gravity is just too damn high!

If you think a vector is bad don't ride an apex.

 

[Super Sled]

Do the yamaha reps even ride in these? Do they listen to feedback? What do they say when someone comes in and says its scary tippy?

The MN rep was there. He did not ride tho. I don't know if he even rides sleds. I know he fishes a lot. He said that was his passion. I was left with the impresion sleds were not any sort of a passion of his. I was there with LukeSJU from TY and we spoke to the MN rep for like 20 minutes before the riding started Saturday morning.

He said he used to log into TY from time to time (to leak stuff according to him) and no longer does. He said he can't even remember his TY user name anymore b/c he hasn't logged on in here years. He said that Yamaha USA restricts their internet usage at work and they can't access TY from work, so he doesn't log on here anymore. I told him Chris Reid is here all the time and he said nothing. He had to have known who Chris Reid is, Mr Yamaha Canada!

He said Yamaha plans everything out 3 years in advance (i.e., they planned 2011 EPS into the Apex 3 years ago; knowing it would be released in 2011). This is corporate Yamaha in Japan, not USA. The MN rep made it sound like he had very little input on this stuff and very little lead notice. For instance, he said he gets a sneak peak on Feb 16th atthe 2012's. He said he has to sign a confidentiality agreement first, and then gets his first look then. That is his first exposure to the new sleds -- only 12 days before the official release on 2/28/2011 on Yournextsled.com, when you and I get to see them. He therefore has no input and no intel on new products. Yamaha in Japan shows them to him just before we get to see them.

He said he works 60++ hours every week (Going to dealers and shows and demo events, etc.) and has to have 4 yamaha vehicles in his garage at all times (Free from the factory). That and he usually gives them back to Yamaha with zero miles b/c he has no time to ride, or just loans them out to friends to ride, as he never has any time. Very nice guy but not helpful about sled set up. He referred all questions/ comments to the dealer.

I'm not excactly sure why he was there on Saturday as I think about this.......

There was also a Yamaha mechanic there. He made all calls on settting the sleds up. The only changes he made was to the SE's on saturday, however.

Prior to the riding, I saw him crank up the Megafloat psi on the SE sleds (not front Floats). They would not say what psi they were running (I asked) them at, but it appeared to be high. I will say he was not very friendly, but his job was not to chit chat. He maintained the sleds. He also never rode or even sat on a sled on Saturday.

The riders pre rode the course, and came back and fed him information before the ride. The mech then made the adjustments, but only to the SE's Megafloat. Took him forever to do that, but there was like 8 SE's.

He utterly failed on Saturday to have those sleds in rideable shape, that is all I'll say about him.

The riders (3 of them) were all very nice. They were polite and courteous and would laugh and b.s. But they would not answer any specific questions about any products. They referred all direct questions to the dealers. My dealer was there and they referred all questions to him.

The Yamaha guys were nice and helpful, but clearly only there to facilitate rides and get you to go to the dealer with any questions or comments. They were not there to collect thoughts, comments, or feedback. They did, however have a sort survey they had all riders fill out.

I like Yamaha's strategy here to bring their sleds out to the masses. Gives those on the fence a chance to test ride and also creates an opportunity to expose riders of other brands to Yamaha's sleds. It was nice of them to come to Duluth and it was my first chance to drive any of the new sleds.

Oh btw, I also learned you can accidentally drive a 14,000 dollar Apex XTX over a 4" tall pine tree and the Yamaha people honestly could not care less. Please, don't ask how I know this (Damn ice!)......

 

[Super Sled]

Oh btw, I made the pitch to him for Yamaha to bring back the Apex Mountain/ MTX, saying some of us just don't like the Nytro.

I told him the Apex Mt had great balance and was popular also.

He looked at me with a blank stare and said nothing.....

Possible he did not know what model I was speaking about????????


Hmmmmmm.

 

[Banks93]

I like snowmobiling but I tell you what with the high cost I could see saying FI and just do 4 wheeling. I can at least ride the 4 wheeler on the river, lakes and go ice fishing.

I agree with others that the ski doo just seems alot more set up shock wise and handling wise then what a Yamaha sled.

Ski Doo sled
Change front shock 1 or two clicks and good to go.

Yamaha Sled
Darting Issue
Tippy or ski lifting
Change carbides - $$$$ or spend $$$$ on new skis
Replace hyfax every 330 miles or add bigger wheel kit - $$$$
Mess around with front and rear shocks until somebody from TY figures it out.
Add HID kit because factory lights are crap.
Make sure you bring the brights out of the clouds.

I would think Yamaha snowmobile tech on site would be able to go what kind of rider are you and what is weight. 5 minutes and sled is ready to go. Next.

4 sleds since 2008 all of them have the same issues so obviously Yamaha does not care.

 

[Sasquatch]

It still pulls the ski 2-3' in the air while cornering hard unless you hang off the seat like a monkey. The center of gravity is just too damn high!

I'd be more worried if it pulled the ski a couple feet in the air. Couple inches is nothing but thats me!

 

[pat the rat]

makes you wonder,why do we all want to rail in the corners at 100 mph,shouldnt we be concerned about the older couple coming around the corner on a venture who are there to have a slower pace ride,i slow down in corners so ski lift is not a problem,i do like to ride somewhat agressive when i see where i'm going,we have had alot of near misses over the years and seen lots wrapped around a tree,what fun is that,sorry for the rant but it gets to me sometimes

 

[BADSLED]

Why is it that Doo can get them so right out of the box? I know about 12 doos all brand new and the owners dont even know how to adjust the transfer or what it even is. They unload them ride them hard, the skis stay planted, it steers, it doesn't dart, it doesn't wear you out, it just works on almost every model.

Every new yamaha I have ridden was scary to me, tippy, darting all over, push through corners, etc.

I got mine sorted out but I wish they would hire a Doo suspension engineer to set up all the sleds out of the box.

x2... They need to hire the chassis and shock engineers.....

x3 When will they get it right?

 

[Vector1]

I have both sleds, an 08 Nytro stretched to a 136 with 5.7 pilots and a 2010 Renegade Back Country 600 e-tec. The Nytro handles so much better with the pilots compared to the stock skis, but nothing like the Ski-Doo and the e-tec is amazing, 1 pull every time warm or cold and it starts, no need for electric start and the added weight of a battery and starter. When jumping from the Nytro to the Ski-Doo, I can’t tell the difference in power, they feel equal, but the Back Country is geared like a Summit, so I sure that makes it feel stronger than a normal Renegade. The Ski-Doo needed nothing, no adjustments, no add ons, just gas it up and ride it. It’s also nice to be able to pick it up with ease and move it around the garage or trailer. It will be a hard decision next year if I have a Yamaha and a Ski-Doo or 2 Ski-Doos.

 

[Comatoast]

Hey Comatoast, it was poor set up.

I too was there Saturday AM and rode all those same sleds. It was the way they were set up -- they were all set up with too much transfer and no ski pressure.

I was talking to Ryan from RJ Sport and Cycle and the Yamaha rep about it. The lowered the ski pressure due to darting complaints. Big mistake.

Then they used a very icy and twisty route towards the State Trail with 4 inches of slop on top; hadn't been groomed in weeks either, so very rough.

The demo sleds handled terribly is my point. Set up is key in those conditions.

The one notable exception was the Nytro XTX which had so much ski pressure it was hard to turn.

The Yamaha Mech was there. He should've re-calibrated those sleds different.

Last week they were apparently in Green Bay or somewhere with wide open tyyrails and long straight stretches.

Did you ride the rtx there? That thing was ridiculous. Im 5'11 210 and can throw my weight around good and that thing was scary unstable. Good to see another member was up there. Lots of snow up there as well. The trail was rough like you said, about 5 minutes before the turnaround point in the gravel pit there were some NASTY craters I ran into. The first sled I took out was the apex xtx. And thankful that I did otherwise I would have been in the woods. As I hear a couple ppl ended up there anyways on Saturday lol

 

[KnappAttack]

And everyone thought I was crazy for selling my new 2011 Apex XTX so soon.

My neighbor has his 2011 Apex for sale now too with just 850 miles on the clock. He like I was, have been pretty loyal to the Yamaha camp for quite some time. But, there comes a time when you just can't stay loyal any longer.

I won't tell you how much better the Ski-Doo's are because others are doing a good enough job of it. Ski-Doo is number one in sales for a reason. They take pride in their snowmobiles!

The Yamaha's have gotten heavier with every model that gets "upgraded". This and evidently having the same old engineers working the snowmobile product is flat out killing their sales. Hard to imagine what is going thru managements minds at Yamaha corporate. I know they ride the other brands to compare their stuff. Maybe they just go down the roads?

Hey Yamaha, there is a reason there are no rave reviews of the new sleds here! Plenty of complaints though. Hello, Is anybody in the office in Japan listening?

It's time to make some wholesale changes Yamaha!

 

[Super Sled]

And everyone thought I was crazy for selling my new 2011 Apex XTX so soon.

My neighbor has his 2011 Apex for sale now too with just 850 miles on the clock. He like I was, have been pretty loyal to the Yamaha camp for quite some time. But, there comes a time when you just can't stay loyal any longer.

I won't tell you how much better the Ski-Doo's are because others are doing a good enough job of it. Ski-Doo is number one in sales for a reason. They take pride in their snowmobiles!

The Yamaha's have gotten heavier with every model that gets "upgraded". This and evidently having the same old engineers working the snowmobile product is flat out killing their sales. Hard to imagine what is going thru managements minds at Yamaha corporate. I know they ride the other brands to compare their stuff. Maybe they just go down the roads?

Hey Yamaha, there is a reason there are no rave reviews of the new sleds here! Plenty of complaints though. Hello, Is anybody in the office in Japan listening?

It's time to make some wholesale changes Yamaha!

I may just be starting to see some of your logic, Mr. Knapp. But with Yamaha's set up is key and these sleds were set up for long, wide, straight trails. Not the icy, twisty trails they had us on. Actually, they just picked a poor location to have the event, IMHO. Island lake is a big reservior lake with tons of pressure ridges and unstable ice. And there are no good, wide trails nearby. And the local club up there (Reservior Riders) has not been very good at grooming this year, at all.

But it was nice of Yamaha to come to town and let us ride their sleds.

 

[Banks93]

And everyone thought I was crazy for selling my new 2011 Apex XTX so soon.

My neighbor has his 2011 Apex for sale now too with just 850 miles on the clock. He like I was, have been pretty loyal to the Yamaha camp for quite some time. But, there comes a time when you just can't stay loyal any longer.

I won't tell you how much better the Ski-Doo's are because others are doing a good enough job of it. Ski-Doo is number one in sales for a reason. They take pride in their snowmobiles!

The Yamaha's have gotten heavier with every model that gets "upgraded". This and evidently having the same old engineers working the snowmobile product is flat out killing their sales. Hard to imagine what is going thru managements minds at Yamaha corporate. I know they ride the other brands to compare their stuff. Maybe they just go down the roads?

Hey Yamaha, there is a reason there are no rave reviews of the new sleds here! Plenty of complaints though. Hello, Is anybody in the office in Japan listening?

It's time to make some wholesale changes Yamaha!

I would say you are a little bitter.

I had my sled up for sale too but the more I ride it the better I like it. I still prefer the Yamaha engine to any other mfgs. We just need them to get there head out of there a$$ and figure out the slide wear, darting and shock valving. Things that Ski Doo has done a great job of when you buy the sled.

I agree with you that it is BS that Yamaha can't figure it out but I will still take reliability of the engine.

My guess is next year you will have slide issue solved and snowtrackers will be available for US customers just like Canada.


Who knows maybe everyone on the site needs to quit drinking the kool-aid. Probably somewhere in between.