New 2017 Yamaha Sleds...

[Bpatch50]

I think those of you that are geeked up on a new high HP motor or sled are going to be sorely disappointed.

The fact that Cat is looking for a replacement engine for their big hp machine points to Yami dropping a big engine into a sled. Personally, I'd be very surprised if we don't see a factory turbo 3 cyl or the new R1 motor in the 17 lineup.

This is one thing I like about having the marriage with cat. Yami seems satisfied 'matching' the hp numbers of the other 3 even though they can easily surpass it. Cat is not. I can see cat pushing yami to do something over the top hp wise.

 

[super_rash]

I am wondering if the EPS will still be there in the 4 stroke linup, the viper doesn't have it but the vector and Apex do... this is a critical point for me, i think all 4 strokes should have it.. but i fear it might dissapear...

 

[ccrider]

I see Chris Reid just put out a new post trying to squash the rumors of a snowbike. Or deflect the attention away from it a bit trying to hide it.

 

[Tarzan]

I see Chris Reid just put out a new post trying to squash the rumors of a snowbike. Or deflect the attention away from it a bit trying to hide it.

Link

 

[Bpatch50]

Link

I think he's referring to the one that was put out a couple days ago:
http://snowmobiles.yamahablogs.ca

 

[ntm_08]

thats shot coming around the tree is from another video just cropped..he is riding a apex from a different video

From another video yes, but he is riding a blue Viper in that shot. Later he rides a vector/apex

 

[Buran]

To continue on this Snowbike-talk/rumours... now when CR also has given his comment.

Snowbike-world have gained a lot of traction last years, and I would say that Timbersled is the one to "blame" for that.
You had kits before them, but their kit was so much better than competion when it came.
Now, it´s clear that AC will realese their own SB, with a machine from Sherco as donor.
Polaris bought earlier Timbersled, and rumours are a SB from them, with help from KTM...fun if its true!

And then of course it would be easy for Yamaha, to just take their own, in house, bike and transform it to a SB.
But, like CR himself says, Yamaha is already in this world, just by selling MXbikes to people who make their own SB.

So now to the speculation part.
How about that one of the new machines are a replacement for Phazer MTX.
Some people have, in this thread, already been into this thinking in some way or another, and I have myself been thinking the same.
This replacement would be a radical new machine, just like the Phazer was for 2007.
Radical in the way, that it would be a machine that will be closer to a SB than a normal sled, but still a sled.
Still with 2 skis, CVT and the 2cyl 500, but much more skinny.
Narrow track, like 12-13 width.
Narrow front end, maybe artculated.
High seating position, more like a bike. Light and agile, and pure fun.

With this kind of machine, Yamaha would work in their own niche once again, like so many times before.
And they could still sell their bikes, and in the same time grow marketshare with picking up the people who think it looks fun with SBs, but still want a snowmobile.

I suppose it is too many days left until 1 of March...

 

[soldi]

I loved my phazer after a few mods, 156 track, timbersled skid, oilite bushings and machined balljoints.. A new phazer would be a good sled, it had so many things going for it but never got updated..

Cat seriously needs to update the look of the viper and replace the Suzuki 4-stroke.. So I'm going for an updated nytro engine or apex engine in a updated viper chassi (skinnier plastics)

Could be good could be crap

 

[fxnytrortxkid]

Would be cheaper to pay lawsuits to Polaris and copy timbersled design and bolt to existing 450 than to produce a twin powered (500) extra wide bike with 12" wide track and articulated front end.

I think you might see the 450 single as an entry level motor, 2-450s bolted together like ye phaser has now with the 250 to make a 900 mid level motor. And a revised variant of the 1049 all in the new chassis.

 

[Tarzan]

From another video yes, but he is riding a blue Viper in that shot. Later he rides a vector/apex

Hehehe ,so this video from Yamaha is some old video-shots? Maybe the sound is not from a sled either we are been fouled

 

[biffdotorg]

I am wondering if the EPS will still be there in the 4 stroke linup, the viper doesn't have it but the vector and Apex do... this is a critical point for me, i think all 4 strokes should have it.. but i fear it might dissapear...

Amen, I spent a day yesterday riding my daughters Viper, while my buddy rode my Apex XTX. Not that it wasn't easy to get used to, but I missed my EPS. We rode 80+ mile of tight, technical trails. The type that give anyone a bit of arm burn. This is where my Apex with EPS shines over all. If I had nothing to compare to, the Viper would have been just fine. But I do, so I know I like EPS to the point that it would be a deal breaker on spring ordering an Apex replacement without it.

If anything was released as a new flagship without EPS, I would leave that on the back burner until I had the chance to ride one. Nothing could convince me otherwise.

 

[Grimm]

I love EPS too... Until you have to replace the power steering unit... $$$

 

[fxnytrortxkid]

The eps is on the pure Yamaha models. I think it's something you will see comeing from Japan not from trf

 

[rtx moose]

well I hope Yamaha is watching this site because I just have a feeling a lot of die hard Yamaha fans will be starting to climb the fence if all they can do is build a wanna be snowbike that you cant ride all day or weekend!!!I have been watching there race teams disappear over the years also...its a matter of time with machining technology up to par in the US that reliability will be across the board with nothing else to lean on!!Yet to understand the story with the new singleshot,it sounds like they did not do extensive testing being I have yet to hear a good review?somebody please chime in with good reviews,how in the hell could this be another undercalibrated shock problem?somebody should lose there job if it is!!Sorry guys had to vent after a bad day at work!

 

[Yamaporn]

The Yamaha-Cat partnership isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Both seem to be loving it: