Why Should I buy a Yamaha?

[cudase]

After looking at sleds for several months deciding to pull the trigger I find my self looking at brands other than Yamaha. I started riding Yamaha's in 1998 when I bought a Vmax XT 700 which I still have. IMO this was the last good sled Yamaha built.

In 2003 I bought a new RX-1. It spent more time in the shop than on the trail. When it did run it was fast, but it left me on the trail more times than my Vmax(which has been never). I sold this sled in 2004 and swore off carburated Yamaha 4 strokes for good.

Then in 2007 the Phazer caught my eye. Looked like a perfect ditch banging sled. However, during the first week of January in 2008, The starter went bad and the sled was out of service for the rest of they year as I waited for a warranty starter. Vmax to the rescue again.

Fast forward to March 2009, the starter went out again in the Phazer. I replaced it myself with a cheap aftermarket starter and then traded it in for a left over 2008 Nytro. Rode the sled close to 2000 miles during the end of March and early April problem free. My only complaints were the small fuel tank, track ratcheting and hyfax wear, and the tendency to run hot. Over the summer I addressed these issues and on the first trip to the UP in January 2010, a car ran a stop sign and totaled my trailer and nytro. The Vmax was on the impact side of the trailer and only needed a new trailing arm and ski. Vmax to the rescue again for the 2010 winter and 2011.


Once again I am going to try and buy a new sled. My criteria is 4 stroke 136 inch track and at least 130HP. Arctic Cat and Polaris both offer turbo sleds that have better suspensions, more power when compared to a similar yamaha, and a better price tag. Why should I even consider buying another Yamaha? I am currently torn between a new 2011 Vector LTX and a new 2010 Polaris IQ Turbo.

Thanks

 

[AKrider]

The 4-stroke Polaris is a turd. People will say they've come along way, it has been refined, updated, bla bla bla. I'm not even sure why Polaris offers a 4-stroke? Go on HCS and check out their FS forum. Lots of horror stories and negative posts. I wouldn't own one.

The Vector is a nice sled, it will feel heavier in the front than your Nytro but it will also handle better. Doesn't Ski-doo offer a 1200 Renegade? I'd also consider an 1100 Cat crossover model. It has the most promise of being an agile chassis. Powerwise it should be similar to the Vector.

 

[IAVECTORGT]

I work at a Yamaha/Polaris dealership in the service dept. We sell both lines of sleds. Buy the Vector. Nuff said! The Polaris' keep my shop busy and the paychecks coming. I have owned nothing but Yammi's in my day personally. I own a Vector and absolutely love it!! My opinion is that this sled is Yamaha's best! I purchased my wife a 2011 IQ 550 Shift last year brand new. The first non-yamaha I have EVER purchased. 225 miles later on the 2nd day of my trip to the UP, blew up!! I bought this sled to save money because I bought my Vector at the same time. And Yamaha didn't have anything that appealed to her. So needless to say, the reason for the Ski-doo down below is what Polaris rented her the rest of my trip. Believe me, I was not very nice to my Polaris rep and renting her that sled was the least he could do!! And she loved the doo! That's why I bought her that one. As far as the factory customer service side of it, Yamaha is head and shoulders above Polaris. Buy the Yamaha, you won't be disappointed!

 

[Mighty]

1200 Doo Renegade

 

[cudase]

The skidoo is another option I have looked at.

The reasons I am considering the Vector is because of the motor. That IMO was the best part of the Nytro.

I will check into HCS and the FS forum.

Thanks for the input so far

 

[smalltownpower]

cheap maitenence, great engine reliability, rides nice, and built like a brick.. and when you walk into the house you dont have the smell of 2-smoke haha. although when stuff does break, parts tend to be quite expensive, but its life.

 

[driftbuster]

If the comments from IAVECTORGT arn't enough, they should be. That's the best endorcement for a Vector I've ever heard.

 

[Mighty]

If the comments from IAVECTORGT arn't enough, they should be. That's the best endorcement for a Vector I've ever heard.

You talking about his wifes opinion on her doo

 

[grader]

its yamaha or that sickening feeling that you setteled for second best.

 

[Ruckus]

There's tradeoffs. Yamaha is reliable but handling is not up to snuff without major improvements. Heavier than most and there's no real fuel savings anymore with engines like Etec out there. If you are an easy groomed-trail rider than Yamaha is a fantastic machine. For extreme backcountry use, I'd go with a lighter, simpler, more powerful sled.

 

[Mikedom]

I work at a Yamaha/Polaris dealership in the service dept. We sell both lines of sleds. Buy the Vector. Nuff said! The Polaris' keep my shop busy and the paychecks coming. I have owned nothing but Yammi's in my day personally. I own a Vector and absolutely love it!! My opinion is that this sled is Yamaha's best! I purchased my wife a 2011 IQ 550 Shift last year brand new. The first non-yamaha I have EVER purchased. 225 miles later on the 2nd day of my trip to the UP, blew up!! I bought this sled to save money because I bought my Vector at the same time. And Yamaha didn't have anything that appealed to her. So needless to say, the reason for the Ski-doo down below is what Polaris rented her the rest of my trip. Believe me, I was not very nice to my Polaris rep and renting her that sled was the least he could do!! And she loved the doo! That's why I bought her that one. As far as the factory customer service side of it, Yamaha is head and shoulders above Polaris. Buy the Yamaha, you won't be disappointed!

Boy, this sure isn't the first time I have heard this comment. I have a friend that used to work in service at the Polaris/Yamaha dealer in Wausau, WI. He said the same thing years ago. We ride with 3 other couples that all ride Yamaha. The guys all have new or newer sleds, but the wives all stick with there older SX & Viper chassis sleds. They like the seating position (lower), handling, lightness, and the looks. None of them like the looks or feel of the Phazer, Vector, or Apex. Maybe Yamahas missing something here?

 

[IAVECTORGT]

I work at a Yamaha/Polaris dealership in the service dept. We sell both lines of sleds. Buy the Vector. Nuff said! The Polaris' keep my shop busy and the paychecks coming. I have owned nothing but Yammi's in my day personally. I own a Vector and absolutely love it!! My opinion is that this sled is Yamaha's best! I purchased my wife a 2011 IQ 550 Shift last year brand new. The first non-yamaha I have EVER purchased. 225 miles later on the 2nd day of my trip to the UP, blew up!! I bought this sled to save money because I bought my Vector at the same time. And Yamaha didn't have anything that appealed to her. So needless to say, the reason for the Ski-doo down below is what Polaris rented her the rest of my trip. Believe me, I was not very nice to my Polaris rep and renting her that sled was the least he could do!! And she loved the doo! That's why I bought her that one. As far as the factory customer service side of it, Yamaha is head and shoulders above Polaris. Buy the Yamaha, you won't be disappointed!

Boy, this sure isn't the first time I have heard this comment. I have a friend that used to work in service at the Polaris/Yamaha dealer in Wausau, WI. He said the same thing years ago. We ride with 3 other couples that all ride Yamaha. The guys all have new or newer sleds, but the wives all stick with there older SX & Viper chassis sleds. They like the seating position (lower), handling, lightness, and the looks. None of them like the looks or feel of the Phazer, Vector, or Apex. Maybe Yamahas missing something here?

I have to agree with you that Yamaha is missing something in their line-up, especially for the female side of it. I had my wife ride my vector and she just didn't like it, especially the weight aspect. If it had EPS might be a different story. Who knows, never had the chance to try! It makes a huge difference if a person can ride the sleds first before purchasing. But it's tough! The phazer she never rode because I KNOW she wouldn't like it. Same with the nytro. I've ridden all models and settled on the vector. I'm one for high horsepower but my decision was based on comfort. The vector has more than enough power for me. It's just so smooth! Not griping against the apex, but who really needs 160+ hp? I don't. But there are people out there that do. And I don't blame them one bit! Yamaha just builds great sleds, and it shows in my shop. We just do maintenance on them. Only mechanical we do is when customers bang them up. And around here, it's very easy to do!

 

[fastdave]

I had the exact opposite reaction from my wife and daughter (and for that matter my sons too) when I bought my vector. We have a couple of older 2 stroke cats and when we go riding together everybody, including the girls want to drive the vector. They like the way it sounds and handles (they take it easy no matter what sled they ride). All of us are real comfortable riding it. I have to take sharp turns slower than I can on the cats but you can't beat the ride and power of the vector. A newer cat or skidoo 4 stroke might be different. I haven't tried either.

 

[newfie09xtx]

If I was going to get anything but a yamaha four stroke, I would buy a doo 1200. After owning a fourstroke I will never go back to two stroke.

 

[swmichvector]

i love my carbed vector ltx. i do agree that Yamaha needs like a 600 4 stroke for the ladies and the kids. the phazer is a joke, big waste of money. if i could afford it i would have a CAT Z1 turbo AND my vector ltxgt. the Z1 is awesome but 90% of the ones my buddy sells get wrecked the first year. that tells me only 10% of those buying them have the ability to handle such a machine. FYI the 1200 DOO aint bad either and i dont like DOO's.