Need some advice

[hahler2]

I want to buy a new sled this fall. I've been a long time Cat rider. I'm currently on an 03 F7 and have decided that I want to go to the hybrid market. I'm trying to decide between an Crossfire 7 or an Attak. I'm more familiar with AC and have a pretty good idea of what the Crossfire will be able to do since my brother-in-law has an M7 but I know nothing about the Attak. I would really like the fuel milage/reliability of the 4 stroke, but I'm concerned about the weight. I know after reading on here that on the trail you don't notice the extra weight. What about in the deep snow? And when you're running ditches hard? I don't do the hard ditch riding like I used but it's still fun to go out and do that once in a while. I know you guys are a little biased on here but which sled do you think I should go with?

 

[Mighty]

Ooooh, that's a tuffy, which sled.......... :ORC

If I was in your position, I would try to read any an all publications I could that have ridden both. The weight is going to be the issue. For trail and lake riding I welcome the added weight but not in the steep and deep. I guess it's really gonna depend on where you spend the most of your time.
With Gas here in mid Michigan just hitting $2.60 per gallon the gas milage of the 4-stroke is looking better all the time :ORC

 

[hahler2]

I would tend to agree with you MightyWarrior. On normal years, I do the majority of my riding in the ditches and trails of Eastern South Dakota with a few trips to the Black Hills. The last 2 years however we haven't had ANY snow in South Dakota and so I've been going to the Rockies. So I guess to answer the question as to where I do most of my riding it really depends on the year and the snow conditions.

 

[4Fighter]

Seriously consider this:

If you buy an Attak, you may forget about ever owning a 2-stroke sled again.

 

[Bakemono]

You really dont feel the weight when trail riding but if you get the sled stuck you WILL really feel the weight.
For me, the 4-stroke aspect sells it. Ive enjoyed my 2-stroke sleds and they are very nice machines, but the 4-strokes in my opinion are really nice.
You've also got to look at the overall reliability as well. There is no nice way for me to put this, so Im just going to say it. Cat isnt known for their stellar quality and reliability. Yamaha, on the other hand, is known for making sleds that hold up rathar well and dont require frequent repairs. Not bashing Cat, but it is what it is.
Both are nice sleds. I think you should try to attend a Yamaha demo ride event this winter, ride an Attak and then see how you feel. I didnt think the 4-strokes would be that great but after a short demo ride I was impressed (and thats a huge understatement). I like my 600 XC but in all honesty I cant see myself buying another 2-stroke sled at this point.
Cap'n

 

[LazyBastard]

When you're stuck, it doesn't matter WHAT it is, its HEAVY. Thats because the track and tunnel fill up with snow, and the nose gets held up by packed snow under the belly.

 

[byoffcr]

I and my wife had 5-F7s and a sdi 600 doo in the last 3 years and got 2 RX1s and for 06 we ordered 2 Attaks and 2 GTs . We will never own 2 strokes again. We do not notice the weight every one talks about. People that are saying they are so heavy have never ridden one. We put on over 4000 miles each last winter so we have a good feel for the sled.. Last you should know I,m 62 and she is 61 and is 4"11' and125lbs and I,m 5"4' and 155lbs.. No weight problems at all. Hope this helps.

 

[APEX 21]

I switched from cat to yamaha and will never look back at cat or a 2 stroke again

 

[hahler2]

Well thanks for all the advice eveyone. I've always heard people say that they think Cats are really reliable but I've never had any trouble with them. Byoffcr I really appreciate your post. I'm only 25, but I'm not a very big or strong guy. I'm only 6'2 and about 165 lbs. I was kind of concerned if I would be able to throw the sled around very well or not. I haven't made up my mind yet but this thread has definitely helped me out a lot. It's nice to hear from people who have sleds like mine and are happy having made the switch.

 

[Bakemono]

I'm only 25, but I'm not a very big or strong guy. I'm only 6'2 and about 165 lbs. I was kind of concerned if I would be able to throw the sled around very well or not.

Hahler2, I ride an '01 Polaris 600 XC and the RS Vector that I test rode last winter didnt feel any heavier than my Polaris does.
I also demo rode an RX-1 last winter and while it did feel a little bit heavier than the Vector, it wasnt a lot. It was more of a cornering issue. It takes a little bit more caution in the corners because it takes more to get a 480 pound sled woahed down as compared to a 580 pound sled.
I dont think that the weight issue is anywhere near as big of a deal as some of the Yamaha haters would like us all to believe.
Cap'n

 

[Tom-RX1]

I'm 6'5" and 165 and have no problem with my 03 rx1
Tom-RX1

 

[Slush Monster]

Hi.. I put 2129 miles on my Rage last year, most of that on the lakes and in the deep snow up here in the snow belt of wisconsin. At first I was woried abought the weight but as soon as snow flew and I got out in it I realized that all the talk abought weight is just talk. It was a non issue. I think alot of the people who complain abought the weight have never ridden one or are not experianced riders who know how to adapt to the sleds charictaristics. Also if you ride in the higher elevations don't forget the 2006 has fuel injection so your fuel delivery is spot on perfect. I can tell you from personal experiance that our group experiances unacceptable breakdowns from the polaris and arctc cat sleds that boondock with us. The RMK has siezed on one trip and the crank bearing went out on another and is ALWAYS stuck (riders fault ). What a pain pulling them out from the middle of nowhere. The yamaha 4 strokes have had 0 yes 0 breakdowns of any kind. I think if you rode a cat and than a Attak for 1 year or 1 minute, the choice would be painfully clear. Read the review on www.maximumsled.com abought the yamaha attak. Good info

 

[Convert]

I switched from an XCR600 I'm a little guy 5'9" 140 had a little trouble with steering the twisty's at high speed but once i shimmed the ski's oh baby :shock: steers light handles great I have 7500 miles between my 03 and my 05 been stuck once (stupid me) The milage, reliability and engineering on these four strokes is untouched by any other manufacturer. Try before you buy but i am willing to bet after you put a few miles on a demo Attak you'll be taking out your checkbook The thing your wife or girlfriend will love the most about it is the lack of stench you have when you get back from riding a 2 stroke I demo rode the 06's with Byoffcr they are all great sled's even the Vector was a blast to ride.

 

[p0wd3rp1l0t]

buy the apex mtn and u wont have to worry bout diggin ur #*$&@ out..i am one of the guys that also has a 4 stroke 3 holer and cant say how good it is. as soon as u go to the yammie 4 stroke, u wont go back to any 2 stroke. i think the attak would be the perfect sled. i think its up for the sled of the year-correct me if im wrong. the crossfire looks like a firecat with a longer susp.-not like that's been done before. i gurantee u the 150hp fuelie will kick the snow right out of that crossfire. i think a lot of NON-yamaha riders will be amazed by how much the new apex/attak will kick #*$&@ on the lake. i dont think it'll beat the almighty mach but u fine tune it and throw some NOS on her and she'll be doin just fine. if u buy the attak u wont be disapointed

 

[byoffcr]

Convert,How u doing? You hit the nail right on the head with the fun factor of the Vector. I would take that lil 3 cyl. 4 stroker over any 2 stroke on the market.It was a fun day and meeting u again made it even better. Hope to see u at the grass drags..Byoffcr