Phazer or Apex ER -- handling and aceleration

[sportster64]

I wondered of any of you have ridden both - phazer and Apex.
Does the Apex feel any heavier than the Phazer when trail riding ?

How about acceleration - does the phazer give you more of a rush from 0-60 than an Apex ??

 

[sniperviper]

I have ridden both and they are two completely different sleds.

If you dont want to spend a lot of money, and like agressive ditch banging, wants a sled that have good accelration up to 60mph and if you dont need much more speed than that I can recomend the phazer.

But, it does not give me more of a rush from 0-60 than on a apex. The phazer feels "empty" from 60mph to top end and on the apex you will probelbly feel the same "rush" from 60 to top speed as you do from 0-60 on the phazer.

 

[sportster64]

sniper:
what about the weight in the short twisty trails -
does the apex feel heavier than the phazer or not ?

 

[sniperviper]

Yes the apex are and feels/handles heavier than the phazer on twisty and bumpy trials. But, you have to get used to the higher seat/gravity on the phazer before you get the full potential out of it. Just my opinion..

 

[Vmax4]

My 2 cents:

If you are always riding mintly groomed trails and have the ability to really fly through some long straight aways, fields, or lakes, you will want the Apex. It does not feel as heavy as it looks on paper. As far as a "rush", the Apex has all the rush!! Much more than a phazer. On groomed trails with some straights the Apex will far out "fun" the phazer in my opinion.

Now, on the flip side young jeti, if you are in an area where you are riding tight twisties with some rough stuff, and don't really have the long straights, or fields, or lakes, than the Phazer is your ticket. It is a blast in the corners and is just FUN!!! But, when the trail opens up and you have long straight away, I always end up wishing I had my RX-1...... However, after having just ridden a FX NYtro, I think that might be the total package for you. Since it will have the best of both worlds. Nimble and bump taking Monster, but has as much grunt as the Apex all the way up to the very top, when the Apex will eventually walk away.

I would say, sno-check a new FXNytro.

Just for comparision, I own a 2003 RX-1 and a 2007 Phazer FX. I am going to snow check an FXNytro MTX.

Hope this helps,
Steve

 

[tkuss]

I would agree alot with Vmax 4. I own an apex and my father and I own a phazer half and half. I owned my apex for most of the season then we got the phazer towards the end. After driving an apex and then switching onto the phazer I feel like there is barely any power, going from 150hp to 80 hp. But then I start to drive the phazer and get use to it and start feeling like it has pretty good power for one of the smallest engines out of the snow. That is just the engine though. I find that riding a phazer is not like riding a "regular" snowmobile. While riding the phazer I always seem to want end up looking for bumps in the trail so I can jump, wheelie and just play around with the sled. I can do this on the apex but it is not just the same as on the phazer. But then when I am pushing 50 or 60+ on the trails I appreciate the apex for giving me awesome power and a smooth ride. There has been many times on both sleds where I wish I was riding the other sled for the current situation I was in. So to answer your questions. I never feel like the apex is heavier than the phazer, but when riding in tight trails or just exploring around I would rather be on the phazer, Why? I don't know it just seems to be a better sled for the job. But, When riding in big open trails the apex is funner to drive. I also believe that the phazer will never give you a bigger rush at any speed than the apex does, whether it be from 0,30, or 50mph. But when I line up against the phazer it does stay surprisingly close for the first 1 or 2 hundred feet. If you are looking for a rush from 0-60mph I don't think the phazer will give it to you. From 0-30 or 0-40 it is pretty good but then things drop of fast. I like what someone else said on this site before about the phazer, it may not be the fastest or best handling sled i have ever owned, but I always end up walking toward it and firing it up when I have the option.

 

[sportster64]

Thanks - and keep them coming !
My experience is only from sitting on them and not riding them.
I love the feel of the phazer - standing on it - I can rock it back and forth - and it feels very loght.

The apex - while I can rock it back and forth while standing - it just feels heavy - and kinda scares me that it may be that way on the trail too.

But I love seeing the responses that the Apex may give me the biggest rush from 0-60.
I typically don't ride on lakes - mostly all trails.
But it sounds like the apex will still throw you back more when you pin it - even if just for a short 100-200 yard sprint.

 

[STORM-CHASER]

Thanks - and keep them coming !
My experience is only from sitting on them and not riding them.
I love the feel of the phazer - standing on it - I can rock it back and forth - and it feels very loght.

The apex - while I can rock it back and forth while standing - it just feels heavy - and kinda scares me that it may be that way on the trail too.

But I love seeing the responses that the Apex may give me the biggest rush from 0-60.
I typically don't ride on lakes - mostly all trails.
But it sounds like the apex will still throw you back more when you pin it - even if just for a short 100-200 yard sprint.

Have you thought of the the new nytro it should give you the best of both sleds

 

[sportster64]

Yes - but I am looking at the used market right now if I go with the Apex
I wish I could afford the new nytro - I know that is the real answer for me.

Thanks - and keep them coming !
My experience is only from sitting on them and not riding them.
I love the feel of the phazer - standing on it - I can rock it back and forth - and it feels very loght.

The apex - while I can rock it back and forth while standing - it just feels heavy - and kinda scares me that it may be that way on the trail too.

But I love seeing the responses that the Apex may give me the biggest rush from 0-60.
I typically don't ride on lakes - mostly all trails.
But it sounds like the apex will still throw you back more when you pin it - even if just for a short 100-200 yard sprint.

Have you thought of the the new nytro it should give you the best of both sleds

 

[STORM-CHASER]

Yes - but I am looking at the used market right now if I go with the Apex
I wish I could afford the new nytro - I know that is the real answer for me.

Thanks - and keep them coming !
My experience is only from sitting on them and not riding them.
I love the feel of the phazer - standing on it - I can rock it back and forth - and it feels very loght.

The apex - while I can rock it back and forth while standing - it just feels heavy - and kinda scares me that it may be that way on the trail too.

But I love seeing the responses that the Apex may give me the biggest rush from 0-60.


What state are you in, I just bought a new fazer for 5150, I dont think you will find a apex for that price

 

[Vmax4]

tkuss, great additions to the blog here. I agree with what you said about the "wishing I had the other sled" in some conditions. And all around fun of the phazer. Your right, when I ride the phazer, I look for bumps, I try to double them up, I turn into the 15 year old kid that used to jump and goof off all day on the sled, just cause I could!!!!! It takes me back in time.

With that said, I don't think anyone that trail rides on a regular basis will have any dissappoinments with the APEX. That motor man!!!!

But, I would say the FXNytro is going to be the best of both worlds!!!!! Save your pennies, take the Yamaha financing, give back the yamaha-bucks, and find a dealer willing to blow them out to sell sleds this spring. You might be surprised what the wallet can take............

Steve

 

[cswan]

I own both. I've had the APex RTx since new in 2006, the phazer I've ridden about 250 miles this year. Phazer is a blast to ride, but hands down the Apex is my favorite. I like playing around on the phazer, but if I could only choose one I would take the Apex. On long trail rides that Apex motor and power is so smooth that you forget that it may be a little on the heavy side. Switching from the APex to the phazer half way through a trip you really notice the power difference.

 

[SumpBuster]

Agree mostly with cswan. A few weeks ago, Barnstormer came out with his Phazer FX, and I had my 06 RTX, which was still a little new to me. I had been adjusting the straps, air shocks, etc. One look summed it up....Barny just stared at the snow and wished he bought an Apex after riding it. Apex's are awesome sleds and do feel heavier, but ride and handle very well. As far as power, we had some real rough woods and then open fields..the Apex was a rocket through it all. Yes, it'll bottom on some nasty rollers, but I got the Phazer to bottom too. And then the suspension broke on the Phazer. My son's Vector and RTX took it all in stride. Power is a blast and roosting slush is a riot.
For me, Apex all the way.