Sidewinder decision

[Smz]

Have decided to bite the bullet, take advantage of good deals on 18 sidewinder. General consensus seems to be to stay away from Dx package because of shocks. My choices are a bit limited in mn, am pretty sure 137 but am a bit up in the air about package. Any suggestions, opinion, experiences would be appreciated.

 

[krm]

Le for sure .

 

[STAIN]

If you have a choice for shocks, go with the better ones for sure. I like my 129 better than my 137....

 

[Wingwong]

Have decided to bite the bullet, take advantage of good deals on 18 sidewinder. General consensus seems to be to stay away from Dx package because of shocks. My choices are a bit limited in mn, am pretty sure 137 but am a bit up in the air about package. Any suggestions, opinion, experiences would be appreciated.

I got the LE model because I wanted easy adjustable shocks and heated seat and with heated grips of course and 137 track to handle bumps better. DX shocks are non adjustable but still a decent shock for a cruiser type sled. Yamaha doesn’t slap low end products on their machines. Either model sled you choose, a sidewinder is a sidewinder —>fastest machines on snow
Everything can be upgraded along the way to your exact needs as a rider. Go for in-stock products and save a lot of money

 

[Winderman69]

I was lucky enough to find a 50th anniversary someone didn't pick up, definitely go for the upgraded shocks. I prefer the 129" way over my 137". I saw no difference in ride quality, but the feel of the sled and the difference in transfer of the 129" are way superior to the 137" in my opinion!

 

[Doowithblue]

After owning both for a full season I thought I would easily prefer the 129 due to the awesome weight transfer. Funny how I'm dialing transfer out of the 129 vs the opposite of the 137. I personally didn't find the 129 turned all that much better.
One thing I find a bit unnerving is on decel from high speed into a corner the back end gets a little too free for my liking so you really need to be aware coming into a sweeper or tighter corner. My 137 never did this. I would go back to a 137 now that I have a great tune that accelerates hard and have figured out what skis work for me.

 

[Beerman]

Better not wait too long, they've been going fast. I picked up a '18 LTX SE to replace my wrecked RTX SE and didn't have a lot to choose from in MN. I didn't see any LTX LEs, just SEs and DXs. I have a full set of custom Axis shocks for mine, so the model wasn't that critical to me, but in speaking with a couple guys who have the DX it handles and rides just fine.

 

[tony lawhead]

how are you liking the axis shock package

 

[Beerman]

how are you liking the axis shock package

I like it a lot. If I could have gotten an LE I wouldn't have done it. I wanted the adjustability, but I don't tweak them during a ride, just leaving them set in the middle of the adjustment range (how Hygear sends them) seems to work well in all conditions. Maybe I could gain some bu adjusting them when it gets bumpy but I haven't bothered.

 

[Wingwong]

After owning both for a full season I thought I would easily prefer the 129 due to the awesome weight transfer. Funny how I'm dialing transfer out of the 129 vs the opposite of the 137. I personally didn't find the 129 turned all that much better.
One thing I find a bit unnerving is on decel from high speed into a corner the back end gets a little too free for my liking so you really need to be aware coming into a sweeper or tighter corner. My 137 never did this. I would go back to a 137 now that I have a great tune that accelerates hard and have figured out what skis work for me.

I have to ask
What skis did you go with?

 

[Doowithblue]

Pilot R shimmed with 7.5 shapers.

 

[waldo1]

once i drove the xtx 141 uncoupled - for a wile - i was hooked - i like the smaller sleds but the 137 just isnt as fun and both feel heavy, and the 129 is too short, wants to jump back and forth in huge mogals, i never liked longer sleds because of the push in corners but this chassis handles great and dosent push anymore. id like to try a 153 btx next but tracks r too big for michigan.. 141 has a nice fun factor, lifts the skiis and gone, its also about 40 pounds lighter than the 129 or 137, and u can feel it.. big time.. the 1.6 track is really 1.45 to the top of lug, i guess they measure to the nipples?? - i thought it would be too much but i find its better than a 1.25 more often than not.. if u get a 141 1.6,, make sure its a 2 ply track - all 17's and some early 18's had a single ply and there garbage - but it really boils down to price for me - if ones way cheaper than the other - do it - there all very similar and youll lov whatever u get.. my friend has a 17 DX and an LE - DX shocks r junk. SE and air shocks are better i think - getting hygear now for the po go stick.

 

[geez150]

Dx shocks are way too soft. I have an lxr zr9k and had to have the shocks revalved by hygear. Money well spent. So if you can grab a sweet deal on a dx I wouldn't pass it up, unless you need the stiffest shocks out there. But truth be told if I had it to do again I would have went with a limited zr for the shocks and painted tunel, mostly the painted tunel.

 

[waldo1]

hygear told me the stock dx shock has a bypass valve that just blows out and bottoms if it gets hot and or u start banging it hard and weigh over 225 so it dosent pop a gasket - so its garbage - different shocks needed.

 

[snowbiscuit]

I have a DX and have to agree with Travis.....All this hype with LE shocks. My sidewinder is a dx and my fathers viper was an LE. Jumping back and forth on our last trip we both agreed that the dx rides so much nicer for all day riding comfort. Sure the dx will bottom out easier on a nasty bump, but doesn't it make more sense to have shocks that provide comfort for 95% of the ride vs 5%?