new to the forum, asking for input

T

thats1nacho

Newbie
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
11
Hey guys, (sorry in advance for the novel)

I am new to this forum, but I have to say that this site is great. Here is some background, as of right now my sled is a '79 Enticer (which I just broke this weekend), And my dad’s '04 Polaris Switchback 600. Over the years I have had a bunch of different sleds, started out with a '80 srx 440, after that I had a Kawasaki, then an '83 Polaris 340 that never ran quite right, then I had an Inviter which I put over 3500 miles on and even though it was tiny, gold and brown and topped out at 67, I loved it.

After that phase of sleds I went onto bigger sleds. I bought a year old 2003 Polaris 700 xcsp. I liked this sled; but I feel like a big part of me liking it so much was the fact that it was my first new sled. I live in southern NY and my local riding around here is fields and ditch banging. I do ride in the Adirondacks as well. It was a big sled and I felt like it was very heavy. And after a while I sold it. At this point my dad already had his Switchback 600, which I enjoy riding. But I bought a 2000 Sx600R, which I loved. I have had great experiences with Yamaha, my Inviter was amazing. And the SXR was no different, the fit and finish of the SXR was great, the power was awesome. I loved it. But, we had a few years where I was young and didn't ride much and stupidly, I sold it a few season ago.

So here I am, sitting here with a $250 Enticer that I bought, which is a great little fun sled, but it is not what I need in a sled. I didn't pay attention to sleds for a while, and now that I am getting back into it I am realizing that 4 strokes may be the way to go. But I know no one around me that owns one.
I'm not going to be able to buy new, just got married and getting things rolling, etc. So as I look through the different things that Yamaha has produced in the last 10 years, I have somewhat narrowed things down. As far as affordability, I could pick up a SX Viper with low miles for relatively cheap(I know that this is a 2 stroke). And I have also found a lot of Phazers with low miles for great prices. I totally understand that the 2 sleds are completely different, but the more I look, the more it seems that they would be the 2 good options. At this point in my life, I am looking for reliability, fun and good value.

But, I have never been on a 4 stroke, so I thought I would ask you guys. I don’t know anything about the 4 strokes, and looking on here I get a little nervous, hearing about engine codes and the fact that they only have electric start. I also tend to like to do my own work on sleds and I don’t know how possible that is with a 4 stroke.
So, I guess I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the Phazer, 4 strokes and what not. Or if anyone in the Hudson Valley has one that would be willing to let me check out. I have no where around here to test ride one. Any input would be awesomely appreciated.

I am sorry for the novel.
Thanks guys :Rockon:
 
About the only thing you would need to be a expert to work on a Phazer would be the motor.Rest is pretty much same as rest of your sleds mechanically.As for motor I dont believe you will ever have to do anything other than oil changes so nothing to worry about!I would advise riding one unless you ride Sport quads or dirtbikes which have about same feel and skills as a Phazer riden hard.Alot different than what you have owned.
 
Thanks for the reply! I found something called snofest up in Old Forge where I can go and demo some Yamaha sleds. I am stoked to get on a Phazer and see what they are about. :Rockon:

Thanks again
 
does the fact I can't click on nacho's name mean his account is deleted? Was gonna pm and say if you wanna meet up with us on tug hill sometine, you can ride mine and see if you like it.
 
Like cannondale said they are a different ride. this is my third season with my phazer mtx and I now love the way it handles. my first couple rides were complete disasters, I hated the tipping feeling and despised the engine braking. Halfway through the first season I grasped the concept that the engineers had intended for the phazer and went back to my racing quad roots as a kid. Basically get your butt off the seat in corners and get your weight as close to the inside ski as you can and drive it like you stole it. the engine braking is now my friend, in the tight and twisty trails I barely ever touch the brake. Come to think of it I rarely ever use the brake. It can make it difficult for guys following you on trails, because they just don't understand how much braking the engine gives you and it's common to have someone overshoot a corner because they never see a brake light warning.
 
Like Cannondale said there is not much to worry about on the engines. 16,000Km on mine now and still going strong - first plug change this year! I was pretty much a greenhorn when I bought my 1st 4stroke but have pretty well done all the maintenance and modifications myself with the help of TY. I get a chuckle when the wife comes out to the garage and says "will you get it back together??" because it looks a bit daunting when she's all picked down for even a plug change - but ahah just like Lego it goes back one piece at a time! ;)!
 
I have had an 09 rtx for several years and then last year, I bought an 09 ski doo tnt 600 etec to add to the fleet. I have to say, I like the quick burst of speed from the tnt, but I prefer to drive the phazer most of the time. For the first couple of years that I had the phazer....I wondered if I had made the right decision in buying it....tippy, pushing in corners, not as fast.....let me tell you, it took me 3 years to finally get it "setup" to my riding style and for me to "adjust" to the way needed to ride it, but now I love it! When I ride 100 + days on the tnt....I am sore for 2 days after. With the phazer....it never affects me....not sure why....I guess it is because of the position that the rider is in when he rides. Totally different from other brands of sleds, but it works....seriously, with a 1.5" freeride track and woody's duallie carbides, this sled is really fun to ride after you "adjust" to it. Like someone said, ride it like you own it, lean forward, to the side and push down on the floorboard with your foot in the direction you are going when turning and the thing will fly around most corners. I almost never brake unless I am leading other snowmobiles so they can see the turn coming up. Reliability is great, never an issue with the phazer. Have already put $1500 into the ski doo and I have only rode it less than 600 miles, the phazer has over 2300 miles on it and never an issue. Great trail riding sled. Seriously....how fast do you really need to go on the trail? 84 mph is tops here, but that's fast enough for me and the places I ride. My two cents......
 
A properly setup Phazer is a great high mileage cruiser, and it handles WAY different then older sitdown sleds. The only issue is its a COLD bugger to ride long distance but getting the medium windshield helps a lot (Mines Identical to the windshield in Phazerwi avatar) I just put 301 miles on mine yesterday and feel pretty good, 60 of those miles I managed to burn through 5 gallons of gas doing nothing but carving in 3-4' of powder! Officially the worst mileage I've ever gotten with it but It put a BIG smile on my face and I've never had so much fun on a sled. Powder it where the Phazer REALLY shines.
 
Thank you to everyone for the input. This really does help a lot. irish_redneck, thank you for the offer. If i can't get on one at Snofest in Old Forge then I may take you up on the offer, I really appreciate it.

It sounds like the Phazer will do everything that I want it to do. It will be fun and reliable. And as much as I like the looks of the new Ski-Doos, I feel like I see a lot of people with issues with them, even when they have low miles.

As far as Snofest, does anyone know what is involved in demo rides? I can't get any info on them.

thanks again to everyone :Rockon:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

rnoonan
New to forum; radiator fan question
Replies
12
Views
2K
bnsf205
B
C
new to me sled, should I transfer the extended warranty?
Replies
9
Views
2K
RoicIND
RoicIND
marpolsdofer
Rear FRONT shock spring
Replies
2
Views
630
xt_gt
xt_gt
Mrplow
Help- input needed!
Replies
9
Views
2K
mnf7sp
M
Bill Bo's Beauty
New Sled Input
Replies
3
Views
1K
Idaho Nytro
Idaho Nytro


Back
Top