New 2017 Yamaha Sleds...

[RIGIDONE]

2017 lynx, so the doo will more than likely look the same..

 

[sheetwright]

Well here is the spy picture of the Cat running second in line. Seems to be a tide lower, flatter hood, and a few other noticeable changes. Wonder if that was to set the Yamaha motor in a more centered position....

 

[number1kyster]

Well here is the spy picture of the Cat running second in line. Seems to be a tide lower, flatter hood, and a few other noticeable changes. Wonder if that was to set the Yamaha motor in a more centered position....

Maybe they widened it so they could get the 3 cylinder lower in the chassis?

 

[sheetwright]

Picture was snapped somewhere outside the RWTC from what I was told fyi

 

[Heritage]

How can you even say that? They are identical twins other than clutching, which in my opinion Yamaha has done much better at, so are you telling me that a different set of clutches improves ride characteristics. I don't think so.

WRONG....the shock calibration and clutching are different...do some reading before calling BS on somebody.

 

[TheHenTio]

2017 lynx, so the doo will more than likely look the same..

That one is 2014 lynx boondocker.
And in the cat picture is normal eltigre maybe -14 MY.

 

[Heritage]

i have to ask, if everyone loves the apex, why do people keep asking for an update/replacement? i know they are great sleds but it seems after nearly 60 pages people are saying.."i want something brand new!!...just like my apex".

They are great sleds...but people want something new...they haven't changed the basic apex design in nearly 10 years (13 if you count the Rx-1 as being similar)...Yamaha does need something exciting...something fresh....to shake things up a bit...they haven't done that in quite a while.

 

[4StrokeAddict]

I beg to differ on quality and fit and finish. The 2016 I just bought is spot on. I went over every seam, curve, panel and more. Everything was tight and lined up. First impression on quality the same. Granted it only has 170 MI at this point but not a rattle or odd noise to speak off. Starter spot on warm and sitting in negative temps for the night. Not even a hesitation. Valving of suspension was awesome, soaked up big woops and hard chatter. The tunner 3's were amazing. Light steering that didn't push or lift in corners. My wife and I are comming off razors with 8" tripple points. Those turn on a dime but you look like Popeye at the end of the day! Not the tunner 3's, no power steering needed with these. Not any darting to speak of in soft or hard pack snow. To me this Sled is spot on! Love the colors and great job on fit and finish. I'm sure some of this is due to an awesome dealer and his set up as well. Can't wait to buy another!

I'm a huge fan of the viper, but even I have to give fit and finish to the Apex. The rear clips for the hood never snapped into the gas tank plastic well and definitely don't stay in my turbo'd version with the air box interference. The tri-hub is a liability and very poor design. The ECU and starter issues are just plain inexcusable...

That said, I still say Viper a huge improvement to the Apex. We own both and the Viper ride is no contest better. EPS is nice but the viper doesn't steer that hard at all unless you start changing skis. Don't get me wrong, I'd take it if it were available. If apex is so great, why are the dealers not ordering more than a couple a year these days. Talked to a couple dealers recently and the consensus was order 1/3 or less the number of Apexes to vipers. Apex is not selling for many of the reasons already identified throughout the sleds. Apex doesn't turn well in stock form. Ski lift from hell and twitchy! I could take either machine and spend the same amount of money in mods to get a good riding machine. The huge difference is the base cost of the models. I've spent far less in my viper to get it to perform than I would an Apex after initial sled purchase.

I'm hopeful that the collaboration will make both companies better. AC recognized Yamaha's fit and finish in that interview. Yamaha acknowledged their dated nature. Yamaha is not proactive or visionary where AC is as acknowledged by Yamaha. AC fit and finish is still not up to par. Viper is a good stepping stone but they can do better. I'm hopeful for a joint chassis that will be Apex quality with Viper ride and have all the features as options across the serious editions that have been identified as wish lists above... True blue hasn't given us an amazing new machine in well over a decade. Maybe Blue and Green will.

 

[4StrokeAddict]

WRONG....the shock calibration and clutching are different...do some reading before calling BS on somebody.

Careful. Both 7000 and Viper clutching suck out of factory. AC clutches break belts. Viper fails to shift all the way out causing half the lack of top end. Three belts pay for clutching kit and filing to fix Yamaha's clutch... Shock calibration in the 2015 and older viper was far worse than AC. Yamaha didn't understand or do a good job in valving the shocks for the chassis causing them to ride incredibly stiff. Most acknowledged the 7000 to have a better ride out of box. I spent too much money correcting that. Was valved for someone weighing in access of 250LBS naked. Can't speak for the 16 suspension or clutch.

 

[Yamacat21]

WRONG....the shock calibration and clutching are different...do some reading before calling BS on somebody.

I rode both AC and Yamaha in 14 prior to ordering a viper. I came off of cat so my loyalty would have been to them if their sled was in any way superior to the viper but it's not. They rode the same, the only reason I went with Yamaha is I didn't want to continually buy $200 belts every 400 miles

 

[Grimm]

Theoretically, the hybrid AC/Yam Viper should pale in comparison to their next joint venture...the Sidewinder. The Sidewinder will be co-developed and manufactured by AC/Yam from the ground up, not cobbled together like the Viper.

 

[Heritage]

I rode both AC and Yamaha in 14 prior to ordering a viper. I came off of cat so my loyalty would have been to them if their sled was in any way superior to the viper but it's not. They rode the same, the only reason I went with Yamaha is I didn't want to continually buy $200 belts every 400 miles

Both Am snow, and Snow Trax...have stated that the Viper's are stiffer, and don't ride as well as the cat versions....AND go look at the posts in the viper section here...plenty of guys revalving shocks....Clutching has been an issue for both...lots of performance being left on the table..just look at the after market kits and the performance gains...if you truly don't want to worry about belt issues...go to ulmer's setup for the 8DN...easily one of the toughest belts ever made (I have over 4,000 miles on mine...and it's just now ready for a change).

 

[Yamacat21]

Both Am snow, and Snow Trax...have stated that the Viper's are stiffer, and don't ride as well as the cat versions....AND go look at the posts in the viper section here...plenty of guys revalving shocks....Clutching has been an issue for both...lots of performance being left on the table..just look at the after market kits and the performance gains...if you truly don't want to worry about belt issues...go to ulmer's setup for the 8DN...easily one of the toughest belts ever made (I have over 4,000 miles on mine...and it's just now ready for a change).

Your never going to get a shock set up out of the box perfect for every rider. As I stated my test ride showed no difference in shock set up. And I'll take my seat test over some magazine editors opinion. To each their own, just saying I didn't notice any difference. Also I have 3700 miles on a stock belt with no clutch changes.

 

[biffdotorg]

Apparently you have never been around a 15 or 16 T3......

I actually have, but you may be right and that may not be a photoshop. A the lug height is that obscene. I am an obvious flatlander. But just look at the angles and thickness of the skid structure in the rear, come on, that was obviously stretched in photoshop. If it were built with that thin of metal it would fold up like a drink straw. Or maybe I am just drinking way too much. Not sure. It's cool to see either way.

The best I could do was find the original photo that this may have been derived from, and post it below. The fact that is uses identical graphics as the previous model year leads me back to believing that it is a stretched photo. They would never use identical graphics, unless it was a prototype they were testing in plain site and wanted it to blend in.

 

[gytr done]

I wouldn't worry to much about bombardier, there failing rail and plane division which is lack luster to say the least. There stock value is almost in the penny range and they are begin propped up by the government just to stay a float, I wouldn't buy anything from them.