Should Yamaha build a small introductory sled?

[sandy8657]

I got a 1975 GP246F in the garage,
It's gonna be a "starter sled" for my grandson, For now, it's a vintage resoration project.

Imagine a small sled with a YZF250 motor in it?

 

[RSVECTORFREAK]

I started on a 1973 SL292c free air and loved it. My father had 2 sleds at the time and he originally tried to start me on a 1971 Skidoo 399 Nordic but I kept looking at the white Yamaha under the cover and asked him if I could try that. Needless to say I haven't owned any other brand since.
Here's a good link to a sl292c. It brings back alot of childhood memories.
http://www.vintagesnowmobiles.50megs.com/PP1024.html

 

[Vmax540]

Come on Yamaha put, the old reliable 485 FC. in the Phazer for a low cost light weight sled !

 

[radta7]

I picked up a AC 120 for the boys to start on. since all the 120's are 4 strokes already Yamaha should offer a 120cc or 150cc for the kids. even a HP 120cc that out of the box did 20mph???

The AC120 will only do 8mph.

 

[Ported Hornet]

Heck ya. I have the 89 Sno Scoot that my Dad brought new for my bro and I for Christmas still in my garage awaiting my son. I also had a Inviter and a Phazer along the way. I will probably pick my son up a Bravo or something along the lines of that when he out grows the Scoot. I am a big believer kids become better riders if they work their way up and start out on "junk" sleds. My kid will not get a nice sled until he earns it, not by paying for it but buy being a good rider, taking care of his equipment and by helping Dad (me) in the garage.

 

[Ported Hornet]

Heck ya. I have the 89 Sno Scoot that my Dad brought new for my bro and I for Christmas still in my garage awaiting my son. I also had a Inviter and a Phazer along the way. I will probably pick my son up a Bravo or something along the lines of that when he out grows the Scoot. I am a big believer kids become better riders if they work their way up and start out on "junk" sleds. My kid will not get a nice sled until he earns it, not by paying for it but buy being a good rider, taking care of his equipment and by helping Dad (me) in the garage.

 

[Ported Hornet]

Heck ya. I have the 89 Sno Scoot that my Dad brought new for my bro and I for Christmas still in my garage awaiting my son. I also had a Inviter and a Phazer along the way. I will probably pick my son up a Bravo or something along the lines of that when he out grows the Scoot. I am a big believer kids become better riders if they work their way up and start out on "junk" sleds. My kid will not get a nice sled until he earns it, not by paying for it but buy being a good rider, taking care of his equipment and by helping Dad (me) in the garage.

 

[asrx600guy]

they should stick a free air single 4 stroke in the phazer chassis. seams like they could knock a grand off the price (with a few other corners cut like a lower riding suspension) and sell the snot out of it. they may have quad engines that would slide right in already set up for a CVT.

 

[terret725]

i was just talkin about this the other day at work when we were prepping a pol 120 we sold. i was like " i wish yamaha came out with one of these or the snow scoot again, if they did id have to find a girl and get her pregnate so i could buy one" my buddys response " ur messed up"

 

[Vmax540]

they should stick a free air single 4 stroke in the phazer chassis. seams like they could knock a grand off the price (with a few other corners cut like a lower riding suspension) and sell the snot out of it. they may have quad engines that would slide right in already set up for a CVT.

Heck yea..... if they run in summer temps they certainly should run well in winter !

 

[rs-mn]

My thought is that they should produce a "bridge" sled.

The little ones are already out there. The big ones are there, so why not build something akin to a 20 HP "junior" ski?

One that's not a "child" ski, but one that's for someone who's 11-15 so they can really get into it but not be overpowered or more importantly, overpowering. That's also the kid who will probably be brand loyal as it's the first sled they loved.

Exactly.

Something 3/4 or 7/8 scale & 4-stroke - with better style and handling than the POS Doo Freestyle. The 4-stroke could maybe be a single cylinder to keep the weight/size/cost down. Keep it simple and smaller.

 

[couch]

Intro Sled YESSSSS

An intro sled is needed - phazer is nice but still not really an intro sled. I bet there are lots of people who want to / would try but starting on a heavy / big sled / too powerful sled is intimidating and too much work.
The old ET 250 / 300 / 340 were lots of fun and more than quick enough for many first rides other than the lousy rear suspension. Light weight made them very easy to handle and light enough than when stuck you didn't need three helpers to get it out.
Notice how many of the new sleds - all brands - are way up in the air as opposed to the older style sleds and fixated on power / speed? How about a small, lightweight sled, low slung with progressive damping shocks (lower cg and less tippy) equiped with reasonable power (40 - 50 hp) - maybe a high strung, single cylinder turbo'd 4 stroke (clean, quiet, and fuel efficient). It would be a hoot to throw around on trails and short runs. Add a programable governor and it would make for a great starter sled for kids / teens and rentals.

Phazers are fun but way too tippy for first time / novice riders / those with no riding experience on quads / bikes / etc. First timers are not going to start off doing back flips, drags, snow cross, water skipping, etc. till they get comfortable / proficient at riding - many riders will likely never do any of the above anyway. Wife is a case in point - out of a mountain lite, Cat T 660 touring, ST 660 turbo, and an Enticer II - she finds the ET II the easiest to handle and the least intimidating (ditto for brother's wife)

Yes, the old bravo is still for sake here too - and it has its place in many rural areas as it will go just about anywhere, run for ever and is cheap - but as an intro sled it just doesn't have the fun factor needed - its 1970's tech in the 21 century..

If Yam etall were serious about increasing sales, they would look to introduce more people to the sport by incorporating a good quality, reasonably priced intro sled into the mix rather than sleds which retail for the price of many small cars.

 

[AKrider]

Re: Intro Sled YESSSSS

Yes, the old bravo is still for sake here too - and it has its place in many rural areas as it will go just about anywhere, run for ever and is cheap - but as an intro sled it just doesn't have the fun factor needed - its 1970's tech in the 21 century..

If Yam etall were serious about increasing sales, they would look to introduce more people to the sport by incorporating a good quality, reasonably priced intro sled into the mix rather than sleds which retail for the price of many small cars.

IMO, the base Phazer is pretty reasonable in price, especally when consider you're getting an EFI 4-stroke, rider forward chassis and e-start. That is a better value than its 2-stroke competition. Plus, it seems like you can get pretty good deals on them, and pay far less than MSRP. The major down side is the 14" wide track.

I agree their line up is not well rounded and too heavily weighted towards large displacement, heavy sleds that are not well suited for women and young children. A 4-stroke version of the Tundra/Freestyle would be good and even if the don't see a good return on investment with a 120 class sled, they still need one. There is no shortage of mini-bikes and quads in their line-up and all of the other OEM's offer the same products so why does it work for them and not Yamaha?

 

[ragerider]

I want a newer sno scoot with a 250 4 stroke half phazer engine for around $1500 I would buy one in a minute!!!!

 

[pdiddy]

I think its a no brainer that a couple introductory sleds would go over well in the lineup. The 120's hold their value like they were made of gold or something which is a good indication of the used market demand. My kids are just beyond that stage now and riding an old 87 Doo Safari. It seems nearly impossible also to find a good condition Bravo for cheap. Hope the kids don't imprint on "yellow"!