Why Should I buy a Yamaha?

[whitedust1]

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

Wow! Yoiu picked the best & worst of 4s sleds between 2011 Vector LTX and a new 2010 Polaris IQ Turbo. Read up on FST a total turd in every way down to glow in the dark exhaust & in 2012 they still don't know how to get rid of the heat out of the box so have to go the aftermarket. 2011 Vector LTX good to go out of the box gas & go sled really a good trouble free touring sled. Look under the hood of the FST & you can't get at anything even the chain to tighten. Doo & Cat 4s somewhere in between Poo at very bottom Yam at top but Poo dead last in everyway. Buy any 4s sled other than Poo FST & you can thank me later just saved you from the worst possible sled choice.lol

 

[ahicks]

Poo doesn't have a 4s worth talking about and Yammi has never had ride/handling worth talking about. Cat's 4s sounds like my garden tractor.

I second the earlier vote for the 1200 Doo.

 

[cudase]

Went and looked at a Polaris today at lunch. Where the heck are the back wheels on the skid. The sled just screamed cheap. They had a couple 2011 shorty 1200's and they have a 2011 Renegade at their other store so I will probably try and take a look at that as well. The LTX GT Vector is still not off the table.

 

[whitedust1]

Rode the GSX 1200 137 track & really a fine sled can't say much bad about it except gas milage only 15 mpg Vector LTX far better in the 20s. GSX pricey too for 130HP pump that up to 145HP & you have an outstanding sled but out of box Vector LTX still better but close. Poo FST POS.IMO

 

[BIG BLACK WARRIOR]

I always bought Polaris from early 1980's until 2004. That is when I decided I wanted a 4-stroke and bought a Yamaha Warrior in 2004. I am now on my 6th Yamaha 4-stroke, currently a 2011 Apex SE. I always trade at least every 2 years. In all the years I had Polaris, it was never back to a dealer. However I can't say that about my Yamaha's. My current 2011 Apex Mega shock has been loosing air since I rode it away from the dealers. Looses about 5 lbs. every 2 weeks(lost 100 lbs. over the summer), but Yamaha won't do anything about it. That really pisses me off. If Polaris built a nice 4-stroke, I would own it in a heart beat, but as has been said by others their FST has had problems. I have tried the 1200 Doo, but didn't care for how cheap they looked, and the power of the Apex wasn't there. So I would advise you to buy the Vector, until Polaris makes a good 4-stoke.

 

[cudase]

Looked at more sleds on Saturday. The dealer i went to has a 2011 LTX Gt, 2011 1200 Gade and 2011 1200 TNT, all for the same price of $9200. They were willing to work on the price on the TNT as it was a 120, but were firm on the other 2. After sitting on them and looking them over I am still not sure what I want. I really need to ride each one and if we ever get snow they said that would not be a problem. Either way the search is off for a couple of weeks as I will be on the road for work in some lovely mexico boarder towns.

 

[09nytro]

because they are awesome thats y you should get a yamaha....

 

[APEX 06]

Sounds like you like your nytro before the car eat it. Have you looked at the new nytro's.