IAVECTORGT
Expert
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2011
- Messages
- 331
- Location
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2015 Arctic Cat ZR 8000 El Tigre
FINALLY got the chance to ride my new Apex this weekend. Got the first 113 miles on my blue beauty. Just a short review for you all because I love reading other peoples' reviews on their sleds on this site! Other than the first like/love listed, the pros are in no particular order.
1) The power steering is the best, hands down! I had the opportunity to ride an '09 nytro, '09 apex, '12 F1100 sno-pro n/a, and '11 phazer and coming from those sleds back to mine, WOW! What a huge difference! The power steering is the $hit!
2) This thing hauls the mail!! 'Nuff said!
3) The clutching is outstanding! I was thinking of going with an Ulmer kit but was told by fellow TYers to ride it first. I'm glad I listened!
4) This sled does have some darting. But I expected that. It's no big deal. I have 153 studs but I only had the stock carbides on. They will be replaced with 6" duallys on my trips up north. That will fix the issue.
5) The exhaust note is frickin' sweet! I will not be putting the Bender silencer on it. This thing sounds awesome!
6) I really believe this sled rides better than my '10 Vector GT I traded in. I left everything at stock and really liked it. It does have the occasional inside ski lift, but not bad.
So in a nutshell, this sled rocks! I'm extremely excited and happy I purchased this baby. I really thought I was going to miss my Vector not knowing if I was going to love this sled like the Vector. But I'm love with my Apex and I look forward to riding it more this season. Hope to see all you fellow TYers on the trails!
Here's to an awesome sledding season and Happy Holidays to you all! Happy trails!!!!!!
1) The power steering is the best, hands down! I had the opportunity to ride an '09 nytro, '09 apex, '12 F1100 sno-pro n/a, and '11 phazer and coming from those sleds back to mine, WOW! What a huge difference! The power steering is the $hit!
2) This thing hauls the mail!! 'Nuff said!
3) The clutching is outstanding! I was thinking of going with an Ulmer kit but was told by fellow TYers to ride it first. I'm glad I listened!
4) This sled does have some darting. But I expected that. It's no big deal. I have 153 studs but I only had the stock carbides on. They will be replaced with 6" duallys on my trips up north. That will fix the issue.
5) The exhaust note is frickin' sweet! I will not be putting the Bender silencer on it. This thing sounds awesome!
6) I really believe this sled rides better than my '10 Vector GT I traded in. I left everything at stock and really liked it. It does have the occasional inside ski lift, but not bad.
So in a nutshell, this sled rocks! I'm extremely excited and happy I purchased this baby. I really thought I was going to miss my Vector not knowing if I was going to love this sled like the Vector. But I'm love with my Apex and I look forward to riding it more this season. Hope to see all you fellow TYers on the trails!
Here's to an awesome sledding season and Happy Holidays to you all! Happy trails!!!!!!
Cobalt
Expert
Great review! I too had my first ride on my Apex SE (221 miles on Saturday) and it was amazing as well!
Consider the Snowtrackers over Dually's, you will NOT be disappointed...SERIOUSLY! I also have 153 studs!
Consider the Snowtrackers over Dually's, you will NOT be disappointed...SERIOUSLY! I also have 153 studs!
Daranello
Suspended
Love to see some pixs....how do you have your rear suspention setup...I'm taking mine out for its first ride shortly
Soldier'spapa
Lifetime Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2006
- Messages
- 729
- Location
- Naperville, IL
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- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2018 Sidewinder Ltx LE 50th Anniversary
Outstanding!!!!
I have about three days to wail until I get my chance.
Merry Christmas!
I have about three days to wail until I get my chance.
Merry Christmas!
IAVECTORGT
Expert
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2011
- Messages
- 331
- Location
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2015 Arctic Cat ZR 8000 El Tigre
Sorry, didn't take any pics. But my suspension set-up is bone stock settings. I'll do a little tweaking here and there but probably nothing major. I really felt the stock settings are good!Daranello said:
kinger
VIP Member
Where are you riding? Trails aren't usable in Clear Lake even after this blizzard...bummer...
IAVECTORGT
Expert
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2011
- Messages
- 331
- Location
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2015 Arctic Cat ZR 8000 El Tigre
Just north of Iowa City about 10-15 minutes. Our club has been grooming! The trails aren't perfect but they are not bad either. Going out again christmas day!kinger said:
cmharcou
Expert
I rode my 2011 Apex XTX wiht 00000 miles on it yesterday for the 1st time. I put 1 mile on it! Very low snow, but the power steering was very noticeable easy to turn but still had plenty of feedback. I have 177 studs on it. 9-12" coming tomorrow I'm sure I'll have over a hundred miles on it by then!
polarisconvert
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2006
- Messages
- 576
- Location
- Corunna, MI
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2005 Yamaha RX1
Ted Jennety Clutching, jetting, air box mod.
Arctic Cat Z1 Turbo 128" Rear Suspension
128" Hacksaw 1" track.
Heated seat
Break in on your new sleds.
Are you guys following Yamaha's break in? We have a 2012 in our group. He said he had to keep it below 35 mph for like the first 100 miles. He only has like 250-300 miles on it and still has not run it wide open for any length of time. I think he is almost done with the break in.
Are you guys following Yamaha's break in? We have a 2012 in our group. He said he had to keep it below 35 mph for like the first 100 miles. He only has like 250-300 miles on it and still has not run it wide open for any length of time. I think he is almost done with the break in.
livinlife
Extreme
Below 35? That would be impossible for me. I always break my engines in with a few WOT pulls. Seats everything in and all my engines broken in like this have never used oil or given me any problems. Dont be afraid to ride it like you stole it once in a while during break in, it is best thing for a new engine imho.
polarisconvert
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2006
- Messages
- 576
- Location
- Corunna, MI
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2005 Yamaha RX1
Ted Jennety Clutching, jetting, air box mod.
Arctic Cat Z1 Turbo 128" Rear Suspension
128" Hacksaw 1" track.
Heated seat
Break in
Your telling me. I could never do that. I have a hard do enough time starting out of the throttle to break in a newe belt.
He keeps his sleds forever and follows the break in procedures by the book. I bought my 2005 RX1 in 2006 used and still have it.
Your telling me. I could never do that. I have a hard do enough time starting out of the throttle to break in a newe belt.
He keeps his sleds forever and follows the break in procedures by the book. I bought my 2005 RX1 in 2006 used and still have it.
IAVECTORGT
Expert
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2011
- Messages
- 331
- Location
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2015 Arctic Cat ZR 8000 El Tigre
Honestly I kept it at 6500 rpm max! It was very tough though!! I did do an occasional burst up to 9k but once I hit that, let it coast back to 6500. Trying my hardest to follow the manual! Almost to 300 miles. 187 more!
MarkRTX
Expert
No not again My theory is run them they way your gonna ride them just don't keep a constant speed alot of the time. Do this with my sleds Harleys which have major engine mods and never had any of them burn oil. I go from zero to 10800 and hold it for a short amount of time I never cruise at any given rpm range for to long. Another benefit I found was I was just a little faster or in the case of my HDs made more HP and TQ than others with similar mods. Just my $.02
polarisconvert
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2006
- Messages
- 576
- Location
- Corunna, MI
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2005 Yamaha RX1
Ted Jennety Clutching, jetting, air box mod.
Arctic Cat Z1 Turbo 128" Rear Suspension
128" Hacksaw 1" track.
Heated seat
I remember now that the early break in was for him to keep it under a certain rpm. Him running that rpm put the sled around 35 mph for the first 100 miles. That would be very hard to do. He went up north by himself during that time so that he wouldn't have to put any body else through that. I know he has run some short blast but not very long.
