RS Vector LTX GT vs Apex LTX

[ontarioyamaha]

I have been riding a 2010 RS LTX for the last two years and love it. I love the ride and the pull. I'm not much of a top end guy. I like to get on it occasionally when the trail permits it but I ride conservatively now. I just love the hard pull of this machine.

I let my wife try it out this past weekend. She rides a 600 rev. We switched machines and she was instantly in love. Riding the rev it felt like a toy. Its fast but nothing like the RS.

Anyway long story but now she wants a RS. There are only a handfull in our area and after buying my first one I am not going to drive a long distance to get on. Peoples interpretation of mint varies dramatically....

I am considering an Apex Ltx as there are more of them available.

Is there a big difference? After riding the RS will I be disappointed with an Apex or are they relatively the same?

 

[theCATman]

Owning an Apex and our '10 Vector LTX ( I say our because at that time my wife rode the '10 Vector, and I then ultimately traded the Apex on a '15 Vector LTX for her and took back the '10) at the same time I can tell you 1st hand the differences.

1. Power. They are side x side til about 60-70 mph and then the Apex walks away, no... it RUNS away. No comparison in upper midrange and top end.

2. The Apex is much louder. The 4 cyl has a very loud drone at "normal" cruising speeds of about 35-45 mph. So much so I personally had to wear ear plugs or it would give me a headache. Maybe it was just my helmet that amplified it?? But I'm not the 1st to say this either.

3. Fuel economy. My Apex got 14 mpg no matter how I rode it vs 17-18 mpg the Vector gets.

4. Slight weight gain with an Apex. At slow speeds the weight difference is noticeable, but not terrible.

Otherwise, as you know the chassis is the same, so providing you have them setup correctly, they will ride/handle identical.

 

[ontarioyamaha]

Great thanks very much. I have the vector set up as per your set up instructions and it handles great

 

[theCATman]

Copy that. That setup originated on an '06 Apex.

I'd buy another Apex myself. I really liked the one I had. Probably the biggest downfall for me personally was the drone and having to wear ear plugs.

 

[Dara]

I think one major issue is the ease of an oil change on a Vector compared to the PITA on an Apex

 

[CaptCaper]

I bought this 2016 RS XTX new and love it now over the Apex LTX. I don't go above 60 mph to say the least so who cares but over all there is no drone (which I lived with after 25000 miles combined on 3 Apex's) It is lighter, cheaper to run,easier to maintain. If I couldn't get a RS and a decent deal was there on an Apex I would grab the Apex for sure.
With that said there are plenty of RS Vectors out there as people don't appreciate them. Far as I'm concerned their loss my gain.

 

[biffdotorg]

I think one major issue is the ease of an oil change on a Vector compared to the PITA on an Apex

This one is news to me. Can you explain? Is there a door in the belly for the filter? Or do you pull the airbox and battery like the Apex? Draining the oil should be the same.

 

[CaptCaper]

This one is news to me. Can you explain? Is there a door in the belly for the filter? Or do you pull the airbox and battery like the Apex? Draining the oil should be the same.

There is a door in the belly for vector filter

 

[biffdotorg]

No $hit! I never knew that. I learned something today. If I didn't have an aftermarket skid plate, I would say I would have loved that on the Apex!!!

But I have gotten used to pulling all the crap from the top now, that it would probably be easier than dealing with Rivnuts. I'm amazed I never knew that, but then again, I have never owned a Vector.

My only advice to the OP, would be test drive if at all possible if you find a cherry Apex. Then you can decide if the difference is noticeable. And if you find a vector/apex with EPS, don't let the wife drive it. You will be back on that LTX quicker than you can imagine.

 

[theCATman]

Really Biff, you been under a rock since 2005. Lol!!!! Just busting your balls.

Yes, the filter is just a tad easier to access on the Vector. The only drawback is the stock size filter has to be used.

 

[CaptCaper]

I have no issues with rivnuts.

 

[biffdotorg]

Ya, I guess there was no reason for me to ever look at the procedure. But what a nice feature

 

[biffdotorg]

I have no issues with rivnuts.

And for that matter, a person has to drop it to get to the crankcase drain anyway

 

[steiner]

Having owned a 08 Vector at the same time as my current 07 Attak. I will add this;
As mentioned the power is lower on the Vector. Its a 90mph all day long. the Apex is 105ish.
When cruising the trails the Vector is slightly quieter.
At idle the Vector sounds like a diesel with that clutch rattle. Spent many $ trying to rid it of the rattle. All solutions I tried where only short term.
Because the Vector and Apex share the same chassis the ride quality between the two will be the same.
End of the day it comes down to, rattle like a diesel at idle and top out at 90ish and use $20 of fuel or
purr like a tiger, grin as the speedo hits reaches 110mph and use $23 of fuel.
Either way you cant really lose.

 

[CaptCaper]

Having owned a 08 Vector at the same time as my current 07 Attak. I will add this;
As mentioned the power is lower on the Vector. Its a 90mph all day long. the Apex is 105ish.
When cruising the trails the Vector is slightly quieter.
At idle the Vector sounds like a diesel with that clutch rattle. Spent many $ trying to rid it of the rattle. All solutions I tried where only short term.
Because the Vector and Apex share the same chassis the ride quality between the two will be the same.
End of the day it comes down to, rattle like a diesel at idle and top out at 90ish and use $20 of fuel or
purr like a tiger, grin as the speedo hits reaches 110mph and use $23 of fuel.
Either way you cant really lose.

Don't forget the cost is much higher for Apex. Who cares about rattle if it's the nature of the beast and performs. 90 or 105 ha.. either way that speed will kill you someday. Rode Attaks for 25,000 miles before this Vector and can say it's quite the copy cat on pulling thru trails in the mountains I ride. Matter of fact I took it out of S mode to T mode as it's way to punchy for my liking.