RX-1 VS Vector /GT

[nived]

Hello,

New to the forum and I am looking for insight to both of these machines.

I am looking at the........

03 rx-1 5000 mi, $3950
04 rx-1 4372 mi, $4300

07 vector GT, 4000 mi, $5300

06 Vector GT 740 mi, $5999

We will be purchasing 2 sleds of some sort.

A bit of history..............

We are coming off of 2 ups, and my son 16yrs old, is coming off a 95 vmax 600. He will be riding one of the new ones. We mainly do trail riding and water.

We are looking for a "good" ride something we can do 100+ miles in a day and not feel all beat up after, reliable.

What to look out for.
I dont want a sled that will bleed me dry in repairs.
So any info good and bad.

thanks

Dave

 

[Len Todd]

For the RX-1, get the '04. There were like 113 (No B.S.) mods they made from model year '03 to '04. The Vectors are relatively the same. Take the one with fewer miles, if it looks like it was taken care of and not sitting around out the in weather, etc.

 

[Honk]

Newest ones if ya can swing it! Welcome to the site! great info here!

 

[berrob]

I would go for the newest ones. You can always mod the 04RX'1 with apex seat and such stuff.... I wouldnt buy the 03 RX1.

 

[tommyt5078]

I would go for the newest ones. You can always mod the 04RX'1 with apex seat and such stuff.... I wouldnt buy the 03 RX1.

What's wrong with the 03'RX1? Personal or problems with 03'?

 

[MNBlizzard]

No problems with my '03, in fact I would buy another. Can't refute the updates, but hey it was the first year. 2 things I'd look for... Check to see if the jackshaft bearing has been changed and look for a new track. The stock finger track is junk. Buy what the checkbook allows...either way you're getting into some nice sleds.

 

[LazyBastard]

There were NOT 113 *real* updates. Most of those are stupid things, like variations in graphics. Others are even stupider things, like when you change a bolt on one side of the sled, obviously you have to change the one on the opposite side the same way -- that is counted as TWO. They probably also counted doubly for removal of 03 part + addition of 04 part. It is important to realize that this number was invented entirely for marketing purposes and was intended to impress people with how much the machine had changed.

Some of the changes were actually REGRESSIONS, case in point the inside pivot pins for the front suspension... 04+ are harder to bend -- enough that the bulkhead is more likely to break rather than the pin bend, another related regression is the lack of the strap tying the upper pivot pin to the lower pivot pin, which in 03 stopped the pins from rotating in the bulkhead and thus prevented wear against the bulkhead bushings.


A few of the changes are legitimate, particular cases as follows;
front springs,
swaybar,
swaybar links,
grip warmer memory,
control rods are stronger in 04,
jackshaft locking collar,
track.

I would count that as 7. They probably count that as 24.
front springs: 4 (remove 2 old springs, add 2 new springs)
swaybar: 6 (remove old swaybar and 2 links, add new swaybar and 2 links)
swaybar links: 4 (remove 2 old add two new)
grip warmer memory: 1 (reprogram as required)
control rods: 4 (remove 2 old add 2 new)
jackshaft locking collar: 3 (remove 1 old add new + nut)
track: 2 (remove 1 old add 1 new)

And then some of the changes are really not that important, like hood bumpers (4 changes - add two bumpers and two rivets), and there were a few rivets in the tunnel, I believe that there were 4 rivets moved if I remember, so that would be counted as 8 changes.

I cant think of any other legitimate changes.


Point though is that when you see some silly number like "113 changes since last year", its totally B.S.

 

[RaWarrior]

While the "113 changes" was massively bloated, many of them were important updates, namely to handling which did improve, the stock 03's were very tippy in corners.

While parts are widely available for 03's to update the suspension, from the price difference you said, it would be cheaper to buy the 04.

Mileage on these sleds isn't the major concern it was with 2 strokes. 4k miles is nothing, these motors with 20k+ are still going strong. Not like with 2 strokes where as you approach 10k miles, your performance goes down the pooper and it's time for a major overhaul.

I'd probably take the newer Vector with more miles, and then you have $700 to spend on gas and riding gear.

Reliability? Yamaha wins, hands down. You cannot beat a Yammie motor. I have never had any issue with my Genesis 150 or the drivetrain that was a defect or "sled's fault".

If you ride mostly trails, then you'll be fine for as many miles as you please. The suspensions were cushy as a Caddy for your "average" moguls/bumps, but if you're going ditch-banging you'll feel it in the morning.

 

[LazyBastard]

Except that if I had an 04 or newer, I would *definitely* upgrade to 03 front suspension pivot pins, and that would be just as expensive as the suspension changes. Besides, the stock 11mm swaybar on the 04+ is still not stiff enough, nor are the 04 front springs, so for best results, they would need to be updated to aftermarket either way.

Of course, the 03 may already be updated... in which case its a no-brainer.

 

[nived]

Well if all goes to plan then I will be picking the 03 rx-1 and the 07 vector in 2 weeks.

both sleds have upgrades to clutches and other things.


Thanks for all the info.

now let it SNOW!!!!


Dave

 

[Anonymous]

2007 Vector GT for $5300.00 with 4000miles Where?

 

[Anonymous]

Any Contact info on the 07 Vector gt?

 

[Anonymous]

I'd like to buy the 07 Vector gt tonight. for 5300. Please Pm me .

 

[LazyBastard]

He's not selling, he's BUYING, and for that matter, he's buying the same one that you seem to want. So my guess is that he's not going to be telling you where he found them at least until after he has bought it, missed it, or decided not.

 

[RobWarrior]

$5300 for an 07 Vector GT with 4000 miles is to much, I just paid $5300 for a 07 Nytro with only 335 miles on it.
I would try and get the 06 GT for under $5000