My wife does not like her sled. Advise?

[Berg570]

Gentlemen,

My wife just does not like her Phazer. I have tried everything this forum has suggested, and its not happening any longer.

So, I need to get her a new sled. I refuse to get a two stroke, and would prefer to stick with Yamaha for reliability sake. We do not "live, breathe and eat" snowmobiling, it is not our primary passion. While I will get her a new sled, it is a tough sell for something we might ride 10 times a year.

We primarily ride roads and the open meadows in the high country. Very seldom does she get into anything technical.

So, do I get her a new Viper MTX for $9,000?
Or a used Nitro for $4500? I have never ridden a Nitro, and am not sure if they ride/feel similar to her Phazer?
Or????

Thanks for any advise.

 

[4strokeluvr111]

My .02 not know the specific year and miles of the sleds (other than the MTX is new) I'd say get the Viper as long as all of the updates are done to it. Hard to beat the Nytro motor in a Cat chassis..again, as long as all the updates are done to it.

I should have asked first....what doesn't she like about the Phazer? How about a longtrack Doo with the 900 or 1200 4S? Pretty dang reliable sleds tthere!

I'm in the "if the wife is happy then the family is happy" camp. If a Manta would make my wife happy I'd get her one! Don't narrow your focus to Yamaha IMO.

 

[josnow]

Vector with power steering

 

[4StrokeAddict]

Get her on some test rides, everyone is different. My Mom rides an Apex but prefers my Viper for its seating position and ride. I think its partially because it's lighter and handles better then the Apex. She also isn't an extreme rider by any means. Vector and Nitro are also both good choices. That Axis chassis is very attractive, but I'd worry about the engine. The 1200 Doo is also not a bad sled. I looked at them all when I bought my viper and found each had strong points. Ride them all if you can find one to test.

Good man, keep that wife happy!

 

[Grimm]

I would suggest a Skidoo MXZ, either an ACE 600 (super quiet with an almost diesel like sound, plus excellent fuel mileage) or an ACE 900, if she wants a bit more power.

 

[tomanytoyz]

What is it that she doesn't like about the sled ? Sell the Phazer , and look into a used Yamaha Rage ? Maybe put some money in your pocket ?

 

[Pstn head]

Reliability and ease of operation Yamaha for sure, a vector or viper I would suggest. There both easy to handle sleds, the vector with power steering and the viper in the dx model with the softer but still capable shocks.

 

[tator]

Vector with power steering

X2

 

[titanrcr]

Vector with power steering

X3

 

[4strokeluvr111]

X3

Disagree....unless she wants something LESS nimble than her Phazer.

But we don't know WHY she doesn't like it.

 

[bleedyamaha]

2012 Vector is the first year with power steering FYI to save a few bucks

 

[4strokeluvr111]

2012 Vector is the first year with power steering FYI

IMO...power steering didn't turn a Vector into an entirely different and more nimble sled. I have a hard time thinking that his wife wants a heavier sled that's harder to handle (Vector, Apex). She wants something lighter with a slightly lower CoG and MAYBE a little more giddyup(?).

 

[4StrokeAddict]

If she isn't riding hard, being nimble doesn't necessarily matter. An Apex or Vector may be a good choice with power steering. If she is light, she may not like that Apex. Light riders tend to experience more inside ski lift on an Apex then an average fully grown man. But without more information on what she does/doesn't like, we can't make any recommendations...

 

[DGZRT]

My 2 cents, for the riding you like to do and playing in the meadows, I would go with a used Ski doo Ace 900 Renegade and install a nice 1.75" lug track and some Slydog 7" powderhound ski's. You get ok power, quiet running , fuel efficient, 4 stroke , lighter than most 4 strokes, Very nice seat and seating postion ! If I had to buy something to keep the wife happy this would be it.

 

[Berg570]

Thanks for the reply's. This is good information.

She came off of a 2007 Ski- doo 55o summit. She really liked it until it lost a cylinder while on a sledding vacation. We decided reliability is the #1 priority after that. She has ridden my Apex, but she is a small lady, so it was a handful on anything off of the roads.

Her qualms with the Phazer are that it feels "tippy", it darts, has sloppy steering and wants to "roll" on her when she gets into anything technical.

I have tried everything this forum has to offer with regards to addressing these issues. I like the sled, its a kick in the pants to ride. But, she is done with it after it rolled on her. Im sure you guys can relate, once they get an opinion on something, its over.

The cost is not a huge concern, but I also don't want to invest too much in something she only rides a dozen times a year, on a good snow year.

We have had bad luck with Ski Doo ( two 800R's died on me, plus her 550 fan), so that is not an option

In four years of snowmobiling I have seen two Apex's, and two Nytros. Sadly Yamahas are not very popular around these parts.

I would likely have to ship a Vector in from somewhere? Im not familiar with that sled to be honest. I have never seen one in person.

How does the Nytro compare to the Phazer with regards to handling?