Metallicat
TY 4 Stroke God
Hi guys, I have been checking out the TY forums since I am seriously considering the purchase of either a new 2008 4 stroke (either an Apex or the 3 cylinder 130hp EFI 1000 IF it is available in the Apex chassis next year).
I currently ride a 1998 ZR600 which I have owned for the past 9 years. I am pretty much on the 10 year plan now (buy the latest sled and ride it for 10 years) since I only average 800 miles per winter, sadly enough.
My question is about long-term durability since if I do buy an Apex-style Yamaha, I will own it for quite some time.
I have bottomed out the suspension many times and even the front bulkhead of my ZR after coming off of a rise in the trail, only to find that there is a deep hole on the other side. Nothing to do at that point but stand up and hope for the best.
If I do this on an Apex, am I asking for trouble? On my last ride in the UP I bottomed out on the skidplate / bulkhead pretty hard with no negative effects on the chassis. I don't ride all that hard in the bumps, but sometimes holes and dips creap up on you and you can't avoid them.
It isn't like my ZR is the most reliable thing on the planet, I am on my 3rd stator and the top end was shot after 5000 miles (nicasil wore through on the exhaust side). But it is relatively easy to fix and maintain.
For those high mileage riders, any concerns at all about my "10 year plan"?
I don't mind having to adjust suspensions or replace axle bearings, track clips etc. Just want to make sure I am not in for expensive repairs 3-5 years down the road.
I was also thinking about a Polaris IQ 600 or 700CFI, but they seem so cheap next to the Yamahas. They are very simple, though, as far as engine access and overall chassis design is concerned.
Anyway, thanks for your input. Saw a couple of Apex models on the trail in the UP and couldn't get over how great they sounded and looked.
Oh, any thoughts on the IQ chassis / ergos / ride vs the Apex? I know they don't have the power of the Yamaha, but any other observations for those who may have had the chance to ride both?
Oh BTW, I grew up riding Yamahas. 300 Enticer, 440 Exciter, and the good old 485 Phazer!
Thanks!!!
Mike
I currently ride a 1998 ZR600 which I have owned for the past 9 years. I am pretty much on the 10 year plan now (buy the latest sled and ride it for 10 years) since I only average 800 miles per winter, sadly enough.
My question is about long-term durability since if I do buy an Apex-style Yamaha, I will own it for quite some time.
I have bottomed out the suspension many times and even the front bulkhead of my ZR after coming off of a rise in the trail, only to find that there is a deep hole on the other side. Nothing to do at that point but stand up and hope for the best.
If I do this on an Apex, am I asking for trouble? On my last ride in the UP I bottomed out on the skidplate / bulkhead pretty hard with no negative effects on the chassis. I don't ride all that hard in the bumps, but sometimes holes and dips creap up on you and you can't avoid them.
It isn't like my ZR is the most reliable thing on the planet, I am on my 3rd stator and the top end was shot after 5000 miles (nicasil wore through on the exhaust side). But it is relatively easy to fix and maintain.
For those high mileage riders, any concerns at all about my "10 year plan"?
I don't mind having to adjust suspensions or replace axle bearings, track clips etc. Just want to make sure I am not in for expensive repairs 3-5 years down the road.
I was also thinking about a Polaris IQ 600 or 700CFI, but they seem so cheap next to the Yamahas. They are very simple, though, as far as engine access and overall chassis design is concerned.
Anyway, thanks for your input. Saw a couple of Apex models on the trail in the UP and couldn't get over how great they sounded and looked.
Oh, any thoughts on the IQ chassis / ergos / ride vs the Apex? I know they don't have the power of the Yamaha, but any other observations for those who may have had the chance to ride both?
Oh BTW, I grew up riding Yamahas. 300 Enticer, 440 Exciter, and the good old 485 Phazer!
Thanks!!!
Mike
Honk
TY 4 Stroke Master
ride
Mike, You'll be amazed at the addvancments made in the snomo biz in the last ten years! Like night and day! I just bought a 07 Apex GT it is so much better than the 03 RX-1, which was soo much better than anything I'd had ridin at that time. I have 7 grand on the RX and kept it for the wife. Great sled no problems, and don't expect anything major with the GT either! I say" MOVE ON UP TO YAMAHA!! "
Honk
Mike, You'll be amazed at the addvancments made in the snomo biz in the last ten years! Like night and day! I just bought a 07 Apex GT it is so much better than the 03 RX-1, which was soo much better than anything I'd had ridin at that time. I have 7 grand on the RX and kept it for the wife. Great sled no problems, and don't expect anything major with the GT either! I say" MOVE ON UP TO YAMAHA!! "
Honk
Metallicat
TY 4 Stroke God
Re: ride
Yeah, even my dad's 2002 XC600 is soooo much more refined than my old Cat. I am to the point where I don't like the noise, vibration, and riding position of my ZR very much anymore. I want to buy something that isn't going to be outdated 2 years from now so I was thinking about the Yamahas. There really isn't anything else out there that I am excited about. Don't care for the new Cats at all, never have been overly warm on Doos, and the Polaris sleds, like I said, seem rather cheap. The Yammis are the only rigs that I can see spending my money on at this point. Maybe it would make me want to drive up north and ride more, too!
Yeah, even my dad's 2002 XC600 is soooo much more refined than my old Cat. I am to the point where I don't like the noise, vibration, and riding position of my ZR very much anymore. I want to buy something that isn't going to be outdated 2 years from now so I was thinking about the Yamahas. There really isn't anything else out there that I am excited about. Don't care for the new Cats at all, never have been overly warm on Doos, and the Polaris sleds, like I said, seem rather cheap. The Yammis are the only rigs that I can see spending my money on at this point. Maybe it would make me want to drive up north and ride more, too!
Honk said:Mike, You'll be amazed at the addvancments made in the snomo biz in the last ten years! Like night and day! I just bought a 07 Apex GT it is so much better than the 03 RX-1, which was soo much better than anything I'd had ridin at that time. I have 7 grand on the RX and kept it for the wife. Great sled no problems, and don't expect anything major with the GT either! I say" MOVE ON UP TO YAMAHA!! "
Mighty
TY 4 Stroke God
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Get use to simply changing oil once a year, adding 87 0ctane fuel about every 150 miles and riding. I came over from Doo in 02 and honestly can say I kinda miss wrenching........NOT 
nate007
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I'm like you, Metallicat, I too came from Cat. I rode a '96 ZRT 600 that would pretty much pound my kidneys out even on the smoothest trails! I bought an '06 Apex GT last season, and have just about 800 miles on it to date.
Honestly, if you told me 2 years ago that I should buy a $10k sled, I would have laughed you out of the room. But now that I have this one, I have continued to spend money on it because I love it, and I get so many great ideas here at TY. At this point, I definately feel like my sled will last me indefinately, and if you read many of these threads here, you'll see there are a ton of guys that ride many, many miles each season, and continue to enjoy these sleds.
Don't be fooled, however, with the criticism of certain aspects you may read about here. You will find that everybody here wants to be a Yamaha engineer, and find and extort everything that we think we can improve upon. This is a great asset to this site. I come here before I even think of asking my dealer for anything, because honestly, I feel these guys know more.
Don't hesitate on your purchase, you'll be in good company, and welcome to TY.....
Nate
Honestly, if you told me 2 years ago that I should buy a $10k sled, I would have laughed you out of the room. But now that I have this one, I have continued to spend money on it because I love it, and I get so many great ideas here at TY. At this point, I definately feel like my sled will last me indefinately, and if you read many of these threads here, you'll see there are a ton of guys that ride many, many miles each season, and continue to enjoy these sleds.
Don't be fooled, however, with the criticism of certain aspects you may read about here. You will find that everybody here wants to be a Yamaha engineer, and find and extort everything that we think we can improve upon. This is a great asset to this site. I come here before I even think of asking my dealer for anything, because honestly, I feel these guys know more.
Don't hesitate on your purchase, you'll be in good company, and welcome to TY.....
Nate
Tork
TY 4 Stroke God
What Nate said^^^^^^^^^^ 
Metallicat
TY 4 Stroke God
Cool! That is what I like to hear!
I read some threads about exhaust flanges / headers failing and bulkheads breaking, etc so I was wondering if the Apex is really going to be a very durable sled.
But when I think about it, I have read sooo many horror stories on the Cat, Doo, and Poo forums about their new sleds...the problems here seem so minimal in comparison.
Oh, and it only took me 9 years to get my ZR to ride good
Finally, it does ride good and it does make good power now ($3000 in mods later....). But it still is a noisy, vibrating beast with a flat cement slab for a seat.
I read some threads about exhaust flanges / headers failing and bulkheads breaking, etc so I was wondering if the Apex is really going to be a very durable sled.
But when I think about it, I have read sooo many horror stories on the Cat, Doo, and Poo forums about their new sleds...the problems here seem so minimal in comparison.
Oh, and it only took me 9 years to get my ZR to ride good
Finally, it does ride good and it does make good power now ($3000 in mods later....). But it still is a noisy, vibrating beast with a flat cement slab for a seat.ericsno
Extreme
i feel the engine is reliable ,but it seems to minor problem wheels and now my exhaust is cracked ,on my nytro i cracked the oil tank,for ditch riding it seems they hold up about the same as my past cats and doo
SledFreak
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yamadoo
Yamadoo is a snowmobile ' aholic'.
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Nate summed up pretty well. Very picky group of guys yet I (we) love these four stroke mass center/rider forward chasis. Lots of guys from cat, doo, poo are coming over. I don't hear of many ? any leaving.
Yamadoo
Yamadoo
Mighty
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Of the 6 Yamaha 4-strokes I have owned I must say the 04 Warrior was the worst as far as durability. That damn sled blew a belt while I was running a goofball across a deep snow covered lake. Can you beleive that; it blew a Belt 
First thing I did when I got home was sell that turd
First thing I did when I got home was sell that turd
Tork
TY 4 Stroke God
Too funny Mighty 
I talked to a guy in michigan this week with an '06 Attak, and he has 8,200 miles on it, with a 4,000mi trip coming up this month in Canada.
The only thing he's replaced has been the hyfax.
I came over from Doo. Doo engineering is second to none(including Yamaha), but I want to pick my own riding position, and be able to run my sled without needing 25$ worth of oil every weekend.
I am impressed witht eh quality of my 07 Apex GT, but am disapointed with Yamaha's stupid, heavy and power robbing reverse/chaincase system.
Doo definitely has an advantage there,
just not a big enough one to make me buy their sled!
The only thing he's replaced has been the hyfax.
I came over from Doo. Doo engineering is second to none(including Yamaha), but I want to pick my own riding position, and be able to run my sled without needing 25$ worth of oil every weekend.
I am impressed witht eh quality of my 07 Apex GT, but am disapointed with Yamaha's stupid, heavy and power robbing reverse/chaincase system.
Doo definitely has an advantage there,
just not a big enough one to make me buy their sled!
Tork
TY 4 Stroke God
RER is not really doable on a 4 stoke, stalling the engine and running it backwards
nate007
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My brother in law keeps his REV at my house. And I've hopped on it a few times to see if I'd like one. Yeah, it's nice to push a button for reverse, but given that a 4 stroke can't run backwards it is what it is. I agree, it would be nicer to see some sort of electric setup for reverse, but I don't use it all that often anyway. I do like the way the REV rides, adn I wish my Apex had a feel as agressive, but I still wouldn't give up my Apex for a Doo.
There is plenty to like about most any new sled out there, but I think that most true conesueirs will agree that Yamahas win the quality battle hands down. Of all the sleds I have owned, my Apex gives the best feeling that it'll be around for a long time.
Nate
There is plenty to like about most any new sled out there, but I think that most true conesueirs will agree that Yamahas win the quality battle hands down. Of all the sleds I have owned, my Apex gives the best feeling that it'll be around for a long time.
Nate
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