New Sled Decision

[snoprof6]

Looking to update my trail sled next year. I ride fairly aggressive, bumpy trails, twisties, or fresh groomed highways, doesn't bother me, I just love to ride. I do anywhere from 20 mile rides to 200 mile rides in one sitting. I consider myself very active on the sled, from hitting moguls at speed to seeing how much day light i can get under my track off a hill, but i've also found myself lately looking to do more distance rides in the future. I'm currently aboard a 2006 apex gt. Gusseted rear suspension, and hygear shocks set up to handle anything from wash board bumps to 3 foot moguls at speed. I love the apex, plenty of power, top speed is nice, not a huge deal to me, but nice. I'm looking to upgrade to a new sled. I'm torn between a Polaris Axys XCR, or the Sidewinder. I'm neutral on whether the sled is a two stroke versus 4 stroke. I have 2 other sleds, and both of those are two strokes. I do all the wrenching on my machines, from cleaning power valves, to exhaust gaskets on my apex, so i'm not worried about the maintenance aspect of either machine. I plan on keeping either machine for several years and putting some miles on it. We have a yamaha dealership right in town who'm my parents and I have been getting sleds, and parts from for years! Also have a great family friend with a Polaris dealership in town as well. Curious as to what your inputs are as for sled choice.
thanks
Nick

 

[Fleecer]

Looking to update my trail sled next year. I ride fairly aggressive, bumpy trails, twisties, or fresh groomed highways, doesn't bother me, I just love to ride. I do anywhere from 20 mile rides to 200 mile rides in one sitting. I consider myself very active on the sled, from hitting moguls at speed to seeing how much day light i can get under my track off a hill, but i've also found myself lately looking to do more distance rides in the future. I'm currently aboard a 2006 apex gt. Gusseted rear suspension, and hygear shocks set up to handle anything from wash board bumps to 3 foot moguls at speed. I love the apex, plenty of power, top speed is nice, not a huge deal to me, but nice. I'm looking to upgrade to a new sled. I'm torn between a Polaris Axys XCR, or the Sidewinder. I'm neutral on whether the sled is a two stroke versus 4 stroke. I have 2 other sleds, and both of those are two strokes. I do all the wrenching on my machines, from cleaning power valves, to exhaust gaskets on my apex, so i'm not worried about the maintenance aspect of either machine. I plan on keeping either machine for several years and putting some miles on it. We have a yamaha dealership right in town who'm my parents and I have been getting sleds, and parts from for years! Also have a great family friend with a Polaris dealership in town as well. Curious as to what your inputs are as for sled choice.
thanks
Nick

I don't think anyone here is going to tell you to get the polaris!!! Lol

If you think you wanna do long distance riding......4 stroke is the only way to go!!!

Good luck.

 

[Deeppow16]

I would agree. I've heard those XCR's are very nice rough trail machines but if your looking do to 200+ miles per day I'd go with the four stroke. It will be much cheaper in the end and there will be very little worry about the motor. Just my thoughts but completely up to you.

 

[SumpBuster]

Are you tired of the apex? Have you tried a wrp or higher seat, bars, skis, etc? To me, the apex is the best engine sitting in a typical snowmobile chassis, part rider forward, part traditional. The rest can be reworked to make almost any ride you want. To me, engine is paramount, getting back is a critical to quality issue, etc. We ride 200 mile days too, pushing for more, and have our share of suspension parts needing work, but that engine is worth it. Turn key, relax, and let er rip...time after time after time. I bought new sleds every 2 years. No more. The aftermarket works better for me than a new sled. But maybe someday....if I tire of one of the greatest sleds ever conceived. ..APEX!

 

[SumpBuster]

That being said, never been a cat or poo fan, but respect poo for a solid fair prices sled. Don't need external shocks...doo tried non traditional back with the prs suspensions. Different or new isn't better. Well valved shocks and springs are worth a ton. Doo? Afraid they are pushing the envelope and letting riders do the development. Pure cat? Quality control is always the issue. Solid chassis, usually, but maybe you get a good first shift Wednesday one...lol... So, with yamaha being the power provider, even if a joint venture with Scorpion and the pararail suspension...go with Scorpion! (Catmahamawinder).

 

[snoprof6]

Not so much tired of the apex. I have put an RTX seat on it (stiffer) hygear all the way around, usi triple threat skis, and extended to a 136, and excell exhaust, hands down no sled sounds sweeter! Don't need to sell, but the apex does beat me up a bit if the trails do get rough. Just wanting something newer as this one does have 10k on it. Not that i'm worried about reliability. Just simply looking for something new, more power is never a bad thing lol

 

[SumpBuster]

Agreed..power wins for me every time....but I will say, along with others we ride with, no yamaha seat compares to the wrp. It is a perfect match for an apex, with foam quality, narrowness, and height. I'm getting old and it's almost scary how fast I can go over garbage with the hygear and seat...just feels good for my size and that's worth a lot. But I did adjust the shock, progressive blue stop nuts and spring to get it where I wanted it...and lots of heel pressure on the curve skis.

 

[Doc Harley]

Trade offs. Can't live with them, can't live without them.

Figure out what type of riding you do most of have the most fun with, And go with the best sled that fits.

Bangin corners hard, was fun. I'm getting older, so cruising is becoming appealing. So, why not a Sidewinder?

Axys looks to be a possible candidate.

Hearing lots of good things about the 850doo.
Reports are; sleds very quick, 18mpg, etc. Only an acceptable few melt downs & fires.

 

[SumpBuster]

Trade offs. Can't live with them, can't live without them.

Figure out what type of riding you do most of have the most fun with, And go with the best sled that fits.

Bangin corners hard, was fun. I'm getting older, so cruising is becoming appealing. So, why not a Sidewinder?

Axys looks to be a possible candidate.

Hearing lots of good things about the 850doo.
Reports are; sleds very quick, 18mpg, etc. Only an acceptable few melt downs & fires.

How about the castings? If we ride home, there's a tendancy to hit stuff with a ski once in a while. Ok, a guardrail broke the rx1 casting where the a arms attach, but some metal like those kits Travis sells worked for years...Doos with trailing arms got pushed back at the tunnel mount, but fixable. That was a hidden rock. I hit a ditch with my apex and bent the lower a arm bolt so the arm attach points were up and down...wierd, and hard to get it out but castings fine. From what I've seen from posted gen 4 pics, the sway bar transfers a hit cracking the tunnel. Not good.

 

[snoprof6]

100% never see do in my yard. Dislike them all together. Never owned one, never will. I think they went a little far in terms of light weight and sacrificed durability with the gen 4 chassis.

 

[icebreaker]

Looking to update my trail sled next year. I ride fairly aggressive, bumpy trails, twisties, or fresh groomed highways, doesn't bother me, I just love to ride. I do anywhere from 20 mile rides to 200 mile rides in one sitting. I consider myself very active on the sled, from hitting moguls at speed to seeing how much day light i can get under my track off a hill, but i've also found myself lately looking to do more distance rides in the future. I'm currently aboard a 2006 apex gt. Gusseted rear suspension, and hygear shocks set up to handle anything from wash board bumps to 3 foot moguls at speed. I love the apex, plenty of power, top speed is nice, not a huge deal to me, but nice. I'm looking to upgrade to a new sled. I'm torn between a Polaris Axys XCR, or the Sidewinder. I'm neutral on whether the sled is a two stroke versus 4 stroke. I have 2 other sleds, and both of those are two strokes. I do all the wrenching on my machines, from cleaning power valves, to exhaust gaskets on my apex, so i'm not worried about the maintenance aspect of either machine. I plan on keeping either machine for several years and putting some miles on it. We have a yamaha dealership right in town who'm my parents and I have been getting sleds, and parts from for years! Also have a great family friend with a Polaris dealership in town as well. Curious as to what your inputs are as for sled choice.
thanks
Nick

I ride with a freind who has a new Polaris its a nice machine but only time will tell how it holds up. I can let you know in a year from now. His 2011 800 rush had 3 engine rebuilds in 9000 miles, sorry to say I am not a fan of the sidewinder either Yet. It is going to be hard to beat the apex for reliability. Have you rode a newer one with power steering ? hands down better!!!

 

[roadking]

traded in my 2012 apex for a sidewinder, miss the power steering but the turbo makes up for it, hopefully it has the reliability of the apex.

 

[Sledroll]

traded in my 2012 apex for a sidewinder, miss the power steering but the turbo makes up for it, hopefully it has the reliability of the apex.

I went with the LTX LE , because of the shock package .
I kept my 2015 Apex XTX , with the WRP seat , and Star set up .
With the 144 tipped up rails , and the power steering , this is night and day better than my 2006 Apex GT, and I loved my GT.
I dont think you would be disappointed in either sled , for your intended use .

 

[SumpBuster]

100% never see do in my yard. Dislike them all together. Never owned one, never will. I think they went a little far in terms of light weight and sacrificed durability with the gen 4 chassis.

Lol...kinda gathered that from your name, f6. My Cat friends around here detest skidoo. I had great luck with them except the 98 mach z with 176hp worth of mods. Fast, but cracked a piston and needed a crank eventually. Went to mxz's, and more machz's. Never a Rev fan.
They would never buy a yamaha, but they had to admit, they like my apex. Not for them though...wrong color..lol.

 

[BIG BLACK WARRIOR]

Not sure which way I would go, but I can tell you this. the five guys I now ride with most often, all have Polaris Axys 800 switchbacks. 2 are 2015's, 2 are 2016's, and 1 is a 2017 model. No one has had any problems yet. They are fast and ride better then my Apex did and even better then my 2015 AC 7000. Wish Polaris made a 4-stoke in that Axys model, and I would be on it in a heart beat.