Suspension

[mxsnow]

Since I was bumped from a GT to an RTX does anyone know yet if the valving setups are firmer on the RTX compared to the GT like the f7 vs. snopro.I still would like to put a rear Ohlins on it and am wondering about shock valving compatability between the floats and the Ohlins.

 

[Bakemono]

I cant speak for the valving, but I can tell you that the shocks are different on the 2 sleds.
The RTX has 45mm KYBs with remote adjust, the GT has the 46mm Ohlins electric with a compression and rebound clicker adjustment.
Here is a link: http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/produ ... mpare.aspx
From what I can tell, it looks like the GT gives you the ability to fine-tune the suspension more to the conditions and allows you to adjust more easily as the conditions change.
Cap'n

 

[impalapower]

Those clicker shocks are the ticket. Between those and that electronic Ohlins, it will be easy to set this system up. Then as you may get tired throughout the day you could soften them up and then return the setting to where you had them for the next day. I rode that GT, and tried a few different adjustments, an unbelievable difference, and easy to change in a short amount of time. My recommendation is to try what comes with the sled and if you don't like it change them out later.

 

[Bakemono]

I agree Impala. Im thinking that the Apex GT will be this year's must-have sled and Im sure the magazines will be raving about it all winter.
I personally wouldnt even want an RTX. To me it sounds like the Floats arent as great as they are hyped up to be. A couple of friends of mine race MX with their ATVs and last season they raced with Floats. They didnt like the Floats and had lots of problems with blowing out the air spring. This year are racing with Worx remote res clicker shocks.
If it were me, Id buy an Apex ER and swap out the stock shocks for GYT-R remote res clickers. According to the Yamaha reps who I spoke with, the GYT-Rs are actually better shocks than the Floats because they resist fading better.
Cap'n

 

[mxsnow]

I also wanted the GT because of the clickers on the front and rear,I was not worried about adjusting an air spring because you would normally set the preload and the twist the clickers,I also wanted the compression adjustability in the rear that the Ohlins has,the rebound adjuster on the RTX is not as important IMO.I was really concerned about a valving difference between the floats and the accessory Ohlins. Those GYT-R shocks do look BAD on the front of the GT.Maybe I will get lucky and some one will back out of a GT.

 

[Bakemono]

You could always just buy a set of GYT-Rs from your local Yamaha dealer and put them on your RTX.
Heres a link: http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/acces ... etail.aspx
Cap'n

 

[mxsnow]

I would prefer the GT over the RTX for $400 more and get the ohlins and gyt-r shocks.

 

[Bakemono]

True. When you consider that the GYT-Rs go for almost $400 EACH you could get the GT and have the GYT-R fronts and the Ohlins electric rear suspension and actually spend LESS money.
Personally, I think Yamaha would have been much better off to only make the ER and allow you to upgrade the shocks as a spring order program.
The Fox Floats dont impress me much and I personally dont see a lot of people making the switch to Floats. They just seem to high-maintenance. If you were racing sno-x they would be nice because you wouldnt need to carry around several springs and you could fine-tune the suspension to perfection. They also lower the sleds weight a little bit (Id estimate its probably 5-10 pounds). However, I think that for the average person they arent all that signifigant.
Cap'n

 

[Pullinfront]

The front shocks on the GT are not Olins shocks as in your link, as of this time I have not been able to find the part # for the GYTR double clicker shocks on the GT models.



Pullinfront

 

[BlueByYou2000]

Amazing that you have heard the floats are not very good. Take a look at WSA, How many sets of Ohlings fronts do you see. Now look how many Floats you see? According to alot of people, race teams and manufacturers, the Floats are the premier shocks in the bus...BBY

 

[Bakemono]

I dont know what to tell you, BBY.
I still dont see the big benefit that the Floats would give the average person.
If you were racing sno-x I could see it because you could set up the air spring to perfection and you wouldnt need to carry dozens of springs in your hauler.
I suppose if you believe that what the racers run is the best, we all would be riding REV Xs and F7 SnoPros.
However, something thats great on the racetrack isnt always the best thing for the average trail rider.
As I said, the Yamaha reps I talked to said the GYT-Rs were better than the Floats because they resist fading more. From what I saw, the GYT-Rs look to be easier to fine-tune.
Cap'n

 

[impalapower]

Now that you mention it, Yamaha used to do the Ohlins spring order. I did it on my '98 SRX. Maybe they will start that up again in the future.

 

[BlueByYou2000]

I dont know what to tell you, BBY.
I still dont see the big benefit that the Floats would give the average person.
If you were racing sno-x I could see it because you could set up the air spring to perfection and you wouldnt need to carry dozens of springs in your hauler.
I suppose if you believe that what the racers run is the best, we all would be riding REV Xs and F7 SnoPros.
However, something thats great on the racetrack isnt always the best thing for the average trail rider.
As I said, the Yamaha reps I talked to said the GYT-Rs were better than the Floats because they resist fading more. From what I saw, the GYT-Rs look to be easier to fine-tune.
Cap'n

If Fox Floats are good enough 3 of the 4 manufacturers to put on there premier big bump sleds, then they are good enough for me. This is exactly why I bought a RTX. Rough trail, vs. the GT=groomed trail. I had Ohlins on my 03 Turbo sled and they were great. I also have driven many sleds with Floats, I felt they worked better for my riding style and of the 4 buds with floats, and over 2500 miles each, no problems.

Listen, the bottom line here is we all had a choice when we ordered our sleds. If you chose the GT, well then great. Get the sled that best suits you and be happy. It doesnt mean I need to discredit the GT or ER because its not what I ordered. :shock: ...BBY

 

[Bakemono]

I understand perfectly BBY. Im not a big fan of the Floats but just because I dont like them, that doesnt mean they are junk.
Im sure the RTX will be a kick-butt rough trail sled!
Cap'n

 

[VX1R]

Since I was bumped from a GT to an RTX does anyone know yet if the valving setups are firmer on the RTX compared to the GT like the f7 vs. snopro.I still would like to put a rear Ohlins on it and am wondering about shock valving compatability between the floats and the Ohlins.

I installed some Floats on my SRX this past season along with installing a Mono-shock skid with a Ohlins EC shock similar to the one on the Apex GT. I've also got a Viper with some Ohlins on it so I know first hand how the two shocks compare.

First off, Fox does not make Floats for a trailing arm Yamaha so I had to do a little research to find out how to make them work. The ones I ended up with are from an A-arm suspension sled with totally different front geometry than the trailing arm set up on the SRX. My first time out the Floats were very rough riding. I rode them, took notes of what I thought they needed and had them revalved. Bingo. I now think that they are the best riding shocks that I've ever experienced. I've always liked my Ohlins and the adjustability they offer for different conditions. My only dislike about the Ohlins is I've never found one perfect setting for every condition. Once the Floats were set up for my liking they rode great in every condition. And with the progressive air spring they do indeed seem bottomless, where every now and then you can bottom any other shock. I never had any fading with them either, and that SRX carries a lot of weight over the skis. They may not have the bling factor that Ohlins do, but from my experience with the Floats I would give them a thumbs up.

I got a chance to test drive an Apex RTX in March and thought the Floats were set up a little stiffer than my SRX. I never had a chance to really check it out over a really rough trail, but I liked what I saw. I trust that Yamaha knows how to set them up. I've read some magazine reports that say the Floats are stiff in some sleds, mostly ditch bangers, but that is the intended market those sleds are for and the suspensions are set up accordingly. I believe that since Yamaha knows who is buying these sleds and how they're going to use them, and that the Floats will be just fine on the RTX.