My Next Sled?

[rums54]

I'll probably purchase another Yamaha 4-stroke sled this year. I'm very interested in any information I can get on the Phazer. I'm probably most interested in the 2-up Phazer -- wider seat, longer track, etc. Any and all information will be appreciated. I received great advice on this site on the first two sled I bought (the Vectors) and on the RS Venture. Here are some questions to get things started:

1. Is the 80 HP enough? I'm not interested in going like stink but I need to keep up with the pack - 60 to 80 mph on the lakes, 25 - 35 on the trails.

2. How do you like the suspension, especially if you own the 2-up sled? I rarely ride 2-up but at 295 pounds, me alone is like 2-up.

3. How is the handling and riding position?

4. Is it easy to stand up and operate the sled when necessary?

5. What kind of fuel mileage are you getting? I get in the high teens on my Vectors and Venture. At the price of gas, mpg is a consideration.

6. Have you had any problems with the sled and, if so, what problems have you had?

7. Is the sled difficult to maintain? The engine placement on my current sleds makes most maintenance fairly easy. I have a sled lift which makes most jobs easier.

8. Have there been any recalls yet? My sleds had the noisy clutches which were recalled and quieted down. Anything like this?

Thanks!

 

[Isthatahemi]

All of this stuff will be found by using the search function. It's all been covered about 20 times each. I don't mean to be rude, but it's all there already, and you won't have to wait! Good luck.

 

[DaveRX1]

I have an 07 FX, it has been troublesome however most all of the issues I have had have been addressed with the 08 sleds. I wouldnt buy the venture lite, it has severe issues wth ice forming in the tunnel and skid.

I usually get 18 mpg riding hard
I do not use any oil
These sleds will maintain 80 mph on hard pack but will lose 10-12 mph on loose snow.
The Phazer is alot of fun.

I would get an 08 RTX if I were you, but I would close off the rear hole in the tunnel

Also add 6" shaper bars and pull up limiter strap one hole

 

[SharkAttak]

I'll probably purchase another Yamaha 4-stroke sled this year. I'm very interested in any information I can get on the Phazer. I'm probably most interested in the 2-up Phazer -- wider seat, longer track, etc. Any and all information will be appreciated. I received great advice on this site on the first two sled I bought (the Vectors) and on the RS Venture. Here are some questions to get things started:

1. Is the 80 HP enough? I'm not interested in going like stink but I need to keep up with the pack - 60 to 80 mph on the lakes, 25 - 35 on the trails.

2. How do you like the suspension, especially if you own the 2-up sled? I rarely ride 2-up but at 295 pounds, me alone is like 2-up.

3. How is the handling and riding position?

4. Is it easy to stand up and operate the sled when necessary?

5. What kind of fuel mileage are you getting? I get in the high teens on my Vectors and Venture. At the price of gas, mpg is a consideration.

6. Have you had any problems with the sled and, if so, what problems have you had?

7. Is the sled difficult to maintain? The engine placement on my current sleds makes most maintenance fairly easy. I have a sled lift which makes most jobs easier.

8. Have there been any recalls yet? My sleds had the noisy clutches which were recalled and quieted down. Anything like this?

Thanks!

if you like running the trail's from 0-60, the phazer fx is awesome, it will never be a lake racer, but you'll be smiling all day long on the trail's, there are a few problem's that yamaha is taking care, good luck

 

[OST]

I wouldnt buy the venture lite, it has severe issues wth ice forming in the tunnel and skid.

Loose steering/a-arms/front shock/bolts falling off/slides/reverse/snow getting in and around steering and freezing ... the list goes on
... all issues ... some severe ... some not!

Mine is turning into a high maintenance sled pretty quickly!

 

[gerard143]

never owned such a problematic sled in my life.

susp link broke at 850 miles. got 08 update kit. needed rad fan kit installed. front a-arm bushings have excessive play at 1600 miles.

then brake light stopped working. then one rear suspension bolt fell out. then my exhaust manifold broke.

ughh whats next. all this and only 1,000 miles i put on the sled.

 

[no4smoke]

ughh whats next?

buy a two stroke and watch the motor blow! hehe

 

[SharkAttak]

once you get on a 4-stroke, you won't go back

 

[Vmax4]

Not to say you should have to do this, but don't you guys look your sleds over before you go out and ride? Suspension bolts falling out.......... Come on take some pride in some preventative maintainance............

 

[Vmax4]

Just to add to that, it really depends on the conditions you are riding in. My wife and I ride every chance we get, but after every couple rides, my sleds go directly into a heated garage and get a complete look over and a complete suspension and chassis greasing.

Now that may be the reason we have had 2500 miles of care free running on her phazer. Ice never gets a chance to be an issue since I thaw them in my garage. (yeah I own two 2007 phazers-a 144" version and a 121" version). Links have been fine, but both of us are lightweights. Overheating issue cured with the fan.

Been good sleds for us.

 

[rums54]

Thanks for all the information. I think I'll get to test-ride the Phazer tomorrow, if the weather cooperates. Right now, we have loads of snow but the temp is up around 35 degrees and we've had some rain here in Speculator, NY. According to the weather man, it's going to get cold later today ... and possibly some snow.

Some of you mentioned an overheating problem and a fan installation that cured the problem. Does the Phazer have a radiator? Is there any cooling in the tunnel?

Lately, I'm seeing more and more Phazers on the trails. I'm looking forward to taking a test ride.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

I'll probably purchase another Yamaha 4-stroke sled this year. I'm very interested in any information I can get on the Phazer. I'm probably most interested in the 2-up Phazer -- wider seat, longer track, etc. Do you mean the Venture Lite, I don't think there is a Phazer 2up?
1. Is the 80 HP enough? I'm not interested in going like stink but I need to keep up with the pack - 60 to 80 mph on the lakes, 25 - 35 on the trails.
The motor is quite peppy, with quickness from the start. Trails are no problem at the speeds you quote. I'm not sure about top speeds on the VL. But consider it is a heavier sled than the Phazer, so probably not comparable to the regular Phazer

2. How do you like the suspension, especially if you own the 2-up sled? I rarely ride 2-up but at 295 pounds, me alone is like 2-up. No trouble to bottom it out and it does not have to be a harsh bump (wife and I at about 350lb with all the gear on plus 30 - 40 lb wt on the rack). I believe there are heavier springs available for the rear suspension. The sled tends to be a bit tippy due to its high centre of gravity - I have my rear tightened up for 2up riding; the front springs soft, the skis at their widest stance, and the limiter strap at it's tightest setting to try and reduce tippiness. But you always get this uneasy feeling that it wants to tip over at any moment

3. How is the handling and riding position? Good, but it is more aggressive and sporty than the Venture RS and other older style touring sleds. You have to use more body language to get it to respond - for that reason, it is not a great two-up IMO. It is fun for a while but aggressive riding will get tiresome

4. Is it easy to stand up and operate the sled when necessary? Standing position is good, but side hilling or leaning this machine for turning in soft stuff is a loss cause - I don't know but I think better skis would help - the ones on her has no floatation capability and trail handling is not great either. Guys will say that it is a touring machine - but eh everyone goes off trail occasionally; whether or not it is intentional (ahaah).

5. What kind of fuel mileage are you getting? I get in the high teens on my Vectors and Venture. At the price of gas, mpg is a consideration. That varies of course - but it seems I need good trail to squeeze out 20mpg (that's the Can/Imperial 4.54 litre gallon - not the 3.82 litre US gal)

6. Have you had any problems with the sled and, if so, what problems have you had? See other posts under the Phazer General section such as "VL Ice Boogers"; Phazer Problems", and the list goes on. There is no reason to repeat all that and there should be no problem to make an informed decision.[/b]

7. Is the sled difficult to maintain? The engine placement on my current sleds makes most maintenance fairly easy. I have a sled lift which makes most jobs easier. I'm not mechanical but apparently things are not straightforward on this sled - again refer to other threads.

8. Have there been any recalls yet? My sleds had the noisy clutches which were recalled and quieted down. Anything like this? Again see the other threads re reverse, starter, ice build-up etc, tunnel exhaust issue - The 80hp? - It is noisy any way for a 4 stroke.
Thanks!

All the best, Oh yeah and there is no cooling in the tunnel on the VL and it does have a radiator.

 

[Motoman765]

Thanks for all the information. I think I'll get to test-ride the Phazer tomorrow, if the weather cooperates. Right now, we have loads of snow but the temp is up around 35 degrees and we've had some rain here in Speculator, NY. According to the weather man, it's going to get cold later today ... and possibly some snow.

Some of you mentioned an overheating problem and a fan installation that cured the problem. Does the Phazer have a radiator? Is there any cooling in the tunnel?

Lately, I'm seeing more and more Phazers on the trails. I'm looking forward to taking a test ride.

Yes there is a radiator on the right side of the sled, that is where they install the fan to band aid fix the problem. The real issue is the amount of clearance between the small heat exchanger in the front of the curve of the tunnel. (picture 1) With the stock track the gap is too large and an ice dam is allowed to form over the heat exchanger effectively cutting off all the cooling the exchanger provides. (picture 2) The only way to correctly fix that is to put a larger lug track on the sled to not allow the ice dam to form. (picture 3) The fan really only helps for keeping the sled cool when not in motion and idling. After installing the 1.5" freeride track I have no longer had any of these ice dam problems. Only cost $425 out of my pocket to fix that issue.

 

[rums54]

Well, I had the test ride day screwed up. It's this Saturday and I will try out the Venture Lite, the regular Phazer and Phazer Mountain. I must say I'm not overly impressed with the information in the postings. Sounds like there were plenty of problems ... it also sounds like some have been addressed and corrected by Yamaha. I'd like to stay with Yamaha and will also test ride some of the other models with longer tracks. The other manufacturers are also demo-ing their sleds on Saturday and I'll probably try the new Skidoo 4 stroke machine.

Anyway, thanks for all the information.

 

[new mountain]

I just got my phazer mountain and i've never had that much fun driving a snowmachine before. I put 200 miles on it last weekend and it was a blast and it went through some pretty impressive trails. We had about 4 feet of powder and it never got stuck once. Also they sound awesome. here is a clip of my phazer mountain with twin pipes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpoLX_3XcqA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGD6VYrH8_Q