My GT is a bit tippy (Pic)

[Nice Rumble]

Thank you Craze for you thoughtful and well written critique of my GT trying to take a turn at speed. I actually was trying to some degree to hang off to the left while approching the corner in order to maintain respectable speed for the camera. As I am still trying to learn the limits of this machine with only 150 miles on it, I was not 100% sure how it was going to handle compared to my '03 RX-1 and '05 Vector. As I was powering out of the corner it spooked me as lifted it so quickly. I think I actually chopped the throttle to save it as I thought I might roll it. I think that is when the picture was taken and the machine is about to drop back down. I didn't carry the ski for more than a second, hence I was trying to get back on top. I was merely showing off for the camera and do not normally ride with this kind of attitude. I had clear view of the open field I was about to enter. I was more concerned for the photographer.
Your description about body position is a good read and I value your input.

 

[Iceman57]

This is my first time on here so I would like to apologize in advance for any ignorance on my part. I have a Apex ER and I'm getting the ski lift real bad. Can anyone tell me if I should stiffen or soften the front spring pressure to help with this problem. Isn’t this something Yamaha should be resolving?
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06 Yamaha (the only real sled) Apex ER

 

[DaveyBoy]

U guys should check ur clicker shocks that have them We adjusted them on a new gt this weekend thtaw as way off from dealer 18 on bottom and 6 on top we adjusted them and what difference sled was much better i couldnt believe this adjustment and the transferod itself would make such a difference but tit did i think yammi has did good with this sled But u should take some timean dchange these things or atlleats check them to know where u are at

 

[Iceman57]

my sled in not a GT or Attack so I dont have clickers, just a big nut at the top of the shock. I just want to know which direction I should start adjusting

 

[craze1cars]

As I was powering out of the corner it spooked me as lifted it so quickly. I think I actually chopped the throttle to save it as I thought I might roll it. I think that is when the picture was taken and the machine is about to drop back down.

Ya know....it kinda looked to me like you were maybe trying to save it from a dump...but I didn't want to assume that!

It takes a LOT of time for ANYONE to learn the limits of a new sled. Take your time and enjoy....you'll get it figured out.

And by the way, there may very likely be MANY, MANY good tips here on setup changes to help try to control that to some degree. It's kind of funny...when the skis hook like that cause it to nearly dump, people often complain and say it lifts a ski too easily. Yet when a sled is set up to not lift a ski at all, people have a tendency to complain and say it "pushes" too much and needs more bite. There's a fine line between the two...and for every person that fine line is in a different place. The combination of the right setup for YOUR riding style is the sweet spot you're looking for. On ANY sled it take a lot of experimentation in both setup and body position, and it's all trial and error.

Again, I haven't even ridden one yet, but common sense tells me that the combination of a front-heavy 4 stroke motor and the top-heaviness that comes from a long travel suspension and a more rider-forward seating position is simply going to cause more ski bite and lift than many 2 stroke riders are used to. Center of gravity is higher than ever now. Maybe it can be dialed out, but I doubt it'll be as easy to achieve as it was on all our old 2 strokers that are lighter in the front and closer to the ground. I think people will need to expect this tendency to some degree....nature of the beast. Then again, you're coming off RX-1 and Vector, but those also had your body closer to the ground than it is on this Apex...that makes things more challenging from a "railing the corners" perspective.

Good luck! I'm jealous of your new sled...still waiting to buy mine...

 

[Nice Rumble]

Oh, by the way, just to throw some perspective into the equation. I'm probably not supposed to riding like a speed demon as I'm almost 62 years old. Hey, what can I tell you, it's fun!
I've always believed in the philosophy you don't stop riding because you grow old, you grow old because you stopped riding.

 

[rhoag]

There is so much to being a good rider as well as set up. I do alot of track days on my R1 Motorcycle. What I find is the more sessions I do on that track the faster I get. I get familiar with the track and start hitting my lines (apex of the turn) better. On a snowmobile picking good lines is harder because you have to stay on your side of the trail. But, in the pic it's a left hander in an open field where you can see through the corner, in a case like this you would use the whole trail. In right handers it's easier to hit the apex because you will stay on your side enough to see through the corner. I also try to set my corner speed before turn in and then steady throttle through till I start to straighten the sled out. So the bottom line on these new sleds is set up, riding style, and have fun. The mid range pull should make us faster in the twisties anyway!!!

 

[craze1cars]

Oh, by the way, just to throw some perspective into the equation. I'm probably not supposed to riding like a speed demon as I'm almost 62 years old. Hey, what can I tell you, it's fun!
I've always believed in the philosophy you don't stop riding because you grow old, you grow old because you stopped riding.

Keep doing it, regardless of age, and have a blast!