Team Fast 136" M20 - 2011+ Apex XTX (Version 1.0)

[yamahatd]

You sure do some nice work... very impressed. Great job and doing things right!!

X2

 

[yamaha1973]

You sure do some nice work... very impressed. Great job and doing things right!!

X2 This thread is awesome!

 

[smoothride]

He must have a lot tools in that work shop.

 

[Redbeard]

I'm at the in-laws today for Thanksgiving, so I'm thinking about my sled. ..lol!
The new custom length throttle came yesterday. I'm going to work late in the shop tonight after I digest some turkey. Hopefully everything will be wrapped up by Sunday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[yamahatd]

I have the outlaws at my house today so I am thinking the same thing. ..lmao

Good luck with wrapping it upthis weekend and can't wait to hear how the first ride goes. Remember it will be stiff until it warms up.

 

[Redbeard]

I have the outlaws at my house today so I am thinking the same thing. ..lmao

Good luck with wrapping it upthis weekend and can't wait to hear how the first ride goes. Remember it will be stiff until it warms up.

Thanks Yamahatd!

 

[Redbeard]

New throttle cable is installed. I made one more bracket to protect the tunnel air line connection from getting stepped on and broken off. Here's a few more pics before everything is buttoned up:

Edit - I've since powder coated the Lake Effect riser white.

 

[Redbeard]

We received 5" of snow last night with more on the way! Just enough to give 'er a run.

First ride report - Everything is holding together! Seems cushy and smoooooth, but the true test will come when I find a 20 mile stretch of stutter chop on the trail.

Today is also the very first time I've ridden a Vmax 4. It's ride quality is not up to par with the Apex, but dang it's quick!

 

[yamahatd]

Awesome news....hopefully a pay-off for many hours of work! Not enough here to ride yet, but I hear it's coming soon. Can't wait!!!

I love V-max 4s, those sled are so cool. The ride isn't as good but I bet the old school muscle sled brings back memories. I was a Skidoo guy when I was young and had a 670 that screamed and could hold a wheelie for 100'. Rode like crap through the bumps and was a hand full in the trail.

Anyways, best of luck with the shake down ripp

 

[Redbeard]

Awesome news....hopefully a pay-off for many hours of work! Not enough here to ride yet, but I hear it's coming soon. Can't wait!!!

I love V-max 4s, those sled are so cool. The ride isn't as good but I bet the old school muscle sled brings back memories. I was a Skidoo guy when I was young and had a 670 that screamed and could hold a wheelie for 100'. Rode like crap through the bumps and was a hand full in the trail.

Anyways, best of luck with the shake down ripp

I was a Skidoo guy my entire life until I bought my first 4-stroke Yamaha (2008 Vector LTX). I bought a new Formula III 700 in 1998. I rode that sled for eight years and traded it on a new Skidoo Renegade 600 SDI. I just got rid of that sled in January of this year. It had over 9000 miles, so I was starting to worry about the crank, etc.

I went to Yamaha for more than one reason:
First - I was drawn to the 4-stroke engine; more reliable and less prone to burn down, sticking rings, etc.

Second - (memory lane) My dad always had Yamaha street bikes when I was growing up. The most memorable to me was his triple cylinder 850 Special. I swear that engine ran best at 80 mph! I'd love to have that bike now, but my cousins set the barn on fire playing with matches, and well...the bike was in the barn...long story...lol! That was over 30 yrs ago, Yikes!

Third - my last street bike (single before kids) was a 2000 Yamaha R1. Up until that point, I had never ridden a more impressive bike in my life. That 4-banger was a handful and never disappointed. You could still pull a wheelie at 65 mph!

January 2013:
I came across a deal on a leftover 2012 Apex XTX and bought it. Honestly, my buddy's 2013 Vector LTX is the best bang for the buck, but I had to have the 4- banger. That engine and sound never disappoints. It only got better with EFI. I wish we could see a sled with the 4-banger and crossplane crank before Yamaha discontinues it altogether.

I'm a southern guy (Indiana), but snowmobiles are in my blood. There's not one month out of the year that something snowmobile related doesn't happen around here. I never get tired of sled's, and owning a Yamaha has only made it better.
My wife gets tired of me never getting tired of sled's...lol!

 

[Redbeard]

Hey Smoothride and Yamahatd,
Tell me about your track tension again. My track looks really tight when the sled sits on the ground and while riding next to it on another sled. However, there is about 1.5" of sag at the rails when the rear is picked up. Do the tracks on your sleds look/react the same? Anyone else? My skid is the Platinum Spec with only one air bag in the rear, so maybe it just puts pressure to the ground differently. My track is brand new too.

This skid is a different animal (in a positive way) than the M10 in my Vector. Everyone that rode my sled the last two days agrees the Hook-up is way better than the M10. I'm anxious to get it up north for the true test!

I will also say that adjusting the air pressure on the fly is a nice feature and putting it under the hood is probably best. Here's what I have in parts:

Air compressor - $65.00
12volt solenoid - $35.00
Toggle switch - $13.00
Air lines - $60.00 (that includes a few spares I keep on the sled in case of a failures)
Hydraulic pipe and JIC fittings - $20.00
Wiring - Salvaged from a 1987 Buick Century...lol!
Brackets - Made at home

-Northernsledder

 

[yamahatd]

I run mine about an inch of sag with the rear lifted. Run it as lose as you can without ratcheting or ballooning.

Glad you're liking the m20 so far. I found it to have a lot less transfer than the stock skid. Changing pressure on the fly is the best but I find myself setting it and forgetting it. When it'sto soft it bottoms hard. Keep us posted and good luck

 

[Redbeard]

Me and the old man have been hammering the trails for the last couple days. We rode with Mr. Sled and other TYers yesterday. Good time! Made some new friends.

So far so good with the M20! Here's some pics! Cheers!

 

[smoothride]

Wish I was there.

 

[yamahatd]

X2