New Phazer - Lots of steel unfortunatly

[AKrider]

I got to check out a new Phazer for the first time eariler this week and to be honest, I was slightly underwhelmed. For sure it is a nice sled and an excellent direction for Yamaha. If it had more HP I'd seroiusly be trying to figure out how to buy one. But... I was surprised that the toe holds were made out of steel tubing, the seat bracket was steel as was the lower bulkhead/a-arm mount. I can see how they went with steel tubing for the upper bulkhead framework but the rest of the items could have easily been made from aluminum.

I picked both ends of the sled up and didn't right away think, "Wow this is light!". Don't get me wrong, it is certainly a helluvalot lighter than my Vector... but I guess I expected more. In all fairness, there was not a 500cc two stroke sled sitting next to it that I could lift and get a good comparison. I suppose I just expected more. I'll have to wait for the magazine articles showing the wet weights of the 07's this fall and see how it compares.

Yamaha definitly left some fat on the table that can easily be trimmed off for next season. I don't understand why they didn't do it from the get go.

 

[HYFLYR]

Rockrider, where do you live in alaska? What dealer where you at that has one on display already. I know Fairbanks fun center does but thats all i know of. Anyway, i knew yamaha would add some weight after the demo sleds were beat on and hammered to death, it seems like they always find somethign they want to reinforce or make stronger before the public gets it, good for them bad for us i think. Anyway it is a good start for things in the future to come, i think in a few years we could see the same chassi with bigger motors, or i hope so at least but for now i will just put a turbo on it and call it good.

 

[AKrider]

Eagle River Yamaha has the Phazer FX sitting in their showroom. It was the first time I saw one in person and it looked so futuristic! It is definitly a nice sled.

I bet they strip even more weight off it next season. Something else I checked was tunnel clearance for a 15" wide track. It looked to me like a 15 would fit. The stock 14" track just barely hung over the rear idlers, very similar to a Polaris Pro-X with a 14.

 

[Oak Hill]

I think you will see more power coming for 08. Yamaha is on a roll and to keep eating away at market share they will continue to suprise everyone. I truly believe that the phazer is the next generation of sleds. There is plenty of room for a 120 engine. I also believe that the four cylinder is coming to an end. Turbo or Super Charged 120's are the future and possibly the same with twins. Just my 2 cents!

 

[The Snow D.O.]

I don't think it's such a bad idea to have a hearty front end. Everyone I ride with has a Rev and they torque thier front ends every time they simply brush against anything that is remotely solid. They don't seem to mind putting $600 into their sleds avery time they bump something. I'd rather a little additional weight and ride something I don't have to fix 2-3 times a season. MY $0.2

 

[pat the rat]

i agree with you, a bit of steel keeps those sleds together,remember when the firecats came out,they were feather lite but didnt hold together,so they got heavier,why go that way when you can build them sturdy from the get go,just my 2 cents

 

[HYFLYR]

As much as i was dissapointed with the official dry weight i am somwhat forgiving. For one it means they built the sled to last and lord knows i beat the hell out of mine so that is a good thing. On the other hand you can personalize it to your liking knowing that it is over built. I know i will be taking things off, putting lighter stuff on or just giving it my own personal touches. Pat the rat made a good point and so did the snodeo, i would rather have a over built sled rather than one i have to take in to fix a bent bullkhead. Let it snow!!!!

 

[AKrider]

You guys are right about heavier usually being tougher. I too would rather have a sled that might not be the lightest but will hold up over the long run. The Rev's weak bulkhead was one of the main reasons I never bought one even after riding Doo since '94.

The steel toe holds and seat bracket seem like a good areas to shave weight on the Phazer. The tube frame bulkhead is definitly different than the aluminum bulkheads used on the RX-1/Vector/Apex & trailing arm V-max chassis. Maybe aluminum won't work as well for the tube frame design?

 

[alaskanbowtie]

over built is a good thing...I agree

it's great that it has steel parts on it, you can leave it alone and still have a fairly light sled or lighten it some more with after market stuff, or put a huffer on it and be really happy.

 

[oldyammieguy]

how come you guys hit so much stuff... ??

properly ridden the REV (lightest sleds around) never needs to have a bulkhead or any other part replaced. (or any other sled for that matter)

an 800 cc rev weighs less than the 80 HP phazer... LMAO!

yammie might get the weight under control or just discontinue it like the rx-1...

I love the read all the justifications...

I remember my 489 lb Viper that actually weighed close to 589...

go yammie...

 

[nystateboysrx]

To bad I know alot of friends that bought rev's last year have piston problems....go doo


dream on...

 

[Bakemono]

I agree that it just goes to show you that Yamaha built this sled to last.
I would much rathar have a sled that is 500 pounds and is durable than to have one that is 400 pounds and is pretty much worn out in 5 years.
Ive seen a lot of REVs with busted bulkheads. I believe the weak point is referred to as the "flying nun".
On the trails that I ride there is often debris that is buring in the snow. It might be a fallen treebranch from last summer, a rock or even a tree stump near the edge of the trail. You dont always see those objects and sometimes you hit them. Id prefer a sled that can take a beating and not break all the time, even if its a little bit heavier.
I think a lot of people put waaaay too much emphasis on light weight. Unless you are a sno-x racer, you arent going to notice much difference between a 480 pound sled to a 580 pound sled (untill you get it stuck and even then ALL sleds are heavy in that instance).

 

[nystateboysrx]

all in all......get a sled and have a blast...

i hate it when everyone bash's people for owning a certain snowmobile

 

[low slung]

I had a chance to see a new FX and lifted it at the rear and the nose,pretty light for a four-stroke.Not the best for lake blasting or boondocking(two areas my 04WARRIOR excels at)but i could FREE-RIDE MY BRAINS OUT on the FX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Long live JIMMY BLAZE.

 

[True Blue]

A POO REV with all those Pistons/Rings & Cranks will out weigh
any YAMAHA out there. That hole behind the seat is not for a molded
gas can but a place to carry extra parts. :ORC


TB