The real reason Yamaha is not selling more Apex

[03RX1-ER-LE]

This is a great thread! You guys are racking up some serious miles that for sure.

I'm still a bit new on this forum although I've been reading it for years... Anyway, yesterday I was writing a reply to a comment on one of the 2020 threads when it was locked and I got kicked out. I don't know how to start a new thread so I figured I would find one that fits and chime in.

Its interesting to read about the Poo, Doo and Cat guys having trail trouble and then comparing those comments to any trouble with a Yamaha. Any sled can have trouble...most of which could be maintenance or operator error.

I've been riding for 48 years. Grew up in Northern WI (Near Eagle River), but now live in Northern MN.

I only have Yamaha’s now and I’ll average 1,500 to 2,000 miles a year (less in the bad snow years). I do a few long rides, but mostly local runs and those miles are spread across all my sleds (old and new). I can’t really relate to guys that have had a lot of problems. I had to think really hard to remember the last time I did.

Back in 2011, my ’82 SRV’s float failed (bad gas and corrosion) and she died while flying across a lake in Northern MN on a vintage ride. We dragged her home with my ’87 VMax 540 that my daughter was riding. Got the SRV up and running and she has been smoking ever since.

In 1996, my ’95 VMax 600 ST’s crank cracked and the clutch fell off while flying across a lake in Northern WI…Big Bummer. Yamaha fixed everything for free.

Way back in 1973, I knocked a ski off a Homelite when I hit a tamarack…No matter, I limped home on one.

Over the years I have run out of gas a few times, but that was not the sleds fault. Walked home or rode with a buddy to get gas and off we go.

I have blown a few Doo engines and a few belts on the Homelites, Doo’s and Poo’s and even once on a ’78 Enticer 250. Cut the chunks off, plug and play a spare and we were back to having fun.

So, all this time, I had to have my Yamaha dragged home only twice.

As for the Vector and Attak… Gas and Go… Gas and Go… Gas and Go… and man I mean Go.

Gas, Oil changes and a belt for each of them and nothing else. They are Off or On. A Turn-Key snowmobile, simple as that. They run just like my Yamaha Sport bikes.

So... How many times have you really had a Yamaha break down?

I have had a single break down in 45 years, it was my wifes 78 Arctic cat that burned a piston near Gaylord. Have never had an issue with any other of my sleds, however with that being said I am a ASE Master Mechanic and properly maintained my sleds with preseason maintenance.
Hope I did not just jinx myself, heading to UP for 5 day ride with some miles with my wife but mostly by myself, Knock on no issues.

 

[Bluebullet]

I tend to agree I have owned nothing but Yamaha's for many years, racked up 15,000 miles on 2 strokes and 4 strokes. SRX's and Vipers ( great 2 stroke motors) then RX1 and my current 2010 apex. I have ridden the newer machines but they just don't have that last a long time feel anymore. Yes I have worked on my own sleds and yes we have issues but not motors! I ride mostly groomed trails with some ungroomed logging rodes so the heavy apex is not a big issue for me. Yamaha is an engine builder and will continue. since they joined cat i am sure the snowmobile business has leveled out and maybe even remained flat. The 998T is a great motor and should last a long time! just my 2 cents.

 

[Preacher]

I have 3 07 Attacks (2 GT’s -awesome sleds)1 07 apex shorty and they all have 15,000 -16,000 miles on them.the 2 Gts will be used on a Gaspe bagger so they should end season over 17,500. My 14 XTX (which I will never sell) has 16,000 miles on it and That should end the season which at least 18500 miles . All these miles and only One breakdown on these 5 sleds and it should of been prevented.I changed 3 07 axles to the heavier axles (that became stock in 09 I think )and got lazy and put off changing the last one and got burned. Cant tow a broken axle so needed to get creative with that tow job.I bought RockerDan’s 2018 RTX SW last year.And I am going to do my best to keep it a very reliable sled ,so far so good I will say he did a phenomenal job on that sled as you guys all know if you followed his build. The sidewinder is definitely more of a challenge compared to the apex fleet we have reliability-wise but it is what it is and I am committed to make it reliable even though it has the arctic cat DNA.The Japanese built apexes have really spoiled us

 

[JERSEYJOE]

AGREE! My 2006 APEX GT just turned 15,000 miles. Many of them were Quebec 100mph miles. Sure the exhaust gaskets pop up now ang again but with pre-season look overs I have not had any issues. They don't build them because they are too bullet proof. Granted they are not ditch bangers but for 85% of my riding my APEX fills the need. If not I ride my 2001 SRX ( THE BLACK ONE) with APEX GT rear skid and wide/long travel front end

 

[maim]

well the 11 is up to 18500 mi and still going. 16 is at 2500 mi so far.

 

[Preacher]

I think the Apex XTX is The most underrated sled in the Yamaha line up. My 2014 has the tipped up rails so it rides just like all my other 137 apexes on the super highways of Quebec and northern Maine but it gives me tremendous flotation when I go off trail .I have guys that ride lighter sleds that can’t believe where I can go with that sled.Last year on a Gaspe bagger trip I had to break trail for the last leg of our trip, Would not have made it back that day if it wasn’t for the XTX.