Been searching the web and this forum for weeks with no real great answers. Considering snowchecking a pair of Sidewinder GT's for both my wife and myself. Neither of us have been on one. We have a 16 Apex and an 06 Vector. She predominantly rides the Vector but we trade up once in a while. She enjoys the power and steering of the Apex over the Vector but maybe doesn't use the power to it's fullest potential. My question is how much too much unmanageable would the power delivery of the Sidewinder be for her? Viper might be better fit but power steering makes for way less fatigue at the end of the day. I do have the suspensions & ski packages of both sleds set up pretty well...PS is a pretty big deal to us. Any advise/experience would be appreciated.
Pstn head
TY 4 Stroke Master
The power delivery on the Sidewinder is very predictable and super smooth and linear. You can put put at low speeds or you can go as fast as your comfortable with. It really is an easy sled to ride at any speed.
actionjack
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x2.
Sledroll
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Go with the winders with power steering as there is no other option, ty.
The power delivery is smoother on the SW than your Apex, and probably also the Vector .
The SW is a great cruising sled at 40-60 mph ,if that is her cruising range , as it is effortlessly spinning at 5,000 + rpms , with a little help from the turbo.
It also cruises effortlessly at 80 -100 , but that's another story !
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Easy to ride. My wife handles 260 hp, it very progressive, linear and not scary.
No different then any of the new powerful SUVs or pickups. There is lots of power there but that doesn't mean you have to use it.
It's really not even close between the Winder and the Apex. I couldn't believe how jerky the Apex felt going back to it for a week. Your not giving up any comfort either no matter which Winder platform you choose. It's a win win, just do it and don't look back. You can thank me later!
All of the above, but for me the best part is, the clutch starts to pull right off idle. Very smooth. Unlike all my Apex's, where it had to be revved to 3800-4000 rpm then it would grab and spin the track. Get the SW and don't look back.
Thanks folks. Everyone so far has verified my gut feelings on making the move.
bleedyamaha
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If you get studs you can lift the front skis off the ground at 70 mph and feel like and airplane. Glad they don’t have wings !
Kuzzy
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I am buying my wife a STX GT with EPS this year. this coming November will be my wife's 2nd season snowmobiling. She started on a venture with power steering, but moved up to a viper 137 halfway through the season. She said the seating and steering was much better on the viper than the venture and she was not worn out at the end. If you are worried about lifting skiis, maybe look at the STX GT EPS, having some options in sleds is usually a good thing
Sevey
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I ride with my daughter on her Indy Evo. At trail speeds of 50 and 60kph the sidewinder is happy to 'bob along' at those speeds. Its not twitchy or jumpy at all. Very mannerly.
You can play with ski and carbide combo's to lighten the steering effort. Mine turns so easy, dont know why they would bother with power steering.
I would caution about ride height. The seat on these sleds are way taller than vector and apex. If she's 5'5" or shorter, you may want to test one first. I am 5'11" and love the seating positions. Most comfortable sled i have owned.
MS
You can play with ski and carbide combo's to lighten the steering effort. Mine turns so easy, dont know why they would bother with power steering.
I would caution about ride height. The seat on these sleds are way taller than vector and apex. If she's 5'5" or shorter, you may want to test one first. I am 5'11" and love the seating positions. Most comfortable sled i have owned.
MS
meatman
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Sidewinder all the way. My wife came of a 2011 Apex XTX with eps. There is no way I’m getting her back on it. Without power steering. Story goes, three years ago I picked up a 17 winder new rode it for a week hard and set it up. On the weekend we were out riding me on the winder XTX and she was on the apex. We were at a trail stop and she mentioned her clutch might be sticking. Jerky starting off. I said let’s switch so I can see what you are talking about. Did about 5 kms and tried to get my sled back. She said no f n way. Go buy another one. So the next week we purchased a second one. 1 km on it and we go out. 5 kms in she grabs her helmet cord and marches off the new sled and says you can have this piece of crap. It smells like it is burning up and rides like a red wagon. She walks over to mine and gets on it and says this ones mine you deal with that crap. I tried to tell her the smell was from the paint burning off the muffler and being so new everything has to be broken in and adjusted, but she didn’t care. 2000 kms later she still loves her winder and now I just handed down the other to my daughter as I picked up another 2017 XTX that has the hurricane jukebox tunes. Have had no issues with any sleds yet.
context my wife is a trail rider 100%. Does not go into any powder. But the throttle pull is lighter than the apex, her thumb doesn’t get sore, and the engagement is very smooth and linear power delivery. Her comfort cruising speed used to be 35-50 kms per hour on the apex, now her cruising speed is closer to 60-80 based on trail conditions.
Just my experiences to offer insight into the female ride quality.
HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE, THE MORE SHE WANTS TO GO THE MORE I GET TO GO.
context my wife is a trail rider 100%. Does not go into any powder. But the throttle pull is lighter than the apex, her thumb doesn’t get sore, and the engagement is very smooth and linear power delivery. Her comfort cruising speed used to be 35-50 kms per hour on the apex, now her cruising speed is closer to 60-80 based on trail conditions.
Just my experiences to offer insight into the female ride quality.
HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE, THE MORE SHE WANTS TO GO THE MORE I GET TO GO.
Much appreciated. All things she's needed to hear.
Phatboyc
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I was in the exact same dilemma this year. Apex/Vector both due for a change. Mind you it wasn't the sleds that needing changing as they're bullet proof. It was our bodies that are getting older and more difficult after a long days fast ride on the bumpy ride back late Sundays. Considered hard on the EPS for the wife. I agree with what everyone said here. I see lots of his and hers matching Sidewinders on the trail in our neck of the woods. But I went another way.
I read way to much here about all the upgrades the Sidewinder can get to possibly make it better. Which of course, for right or wrong, I have to do the second I get it.
So I snowcheck one for myself so more time wrenching.
I didn't want two sleds to wrench on, again for right or wrong, so I snowcheck my wife a Doo 900T 130hp. Since I can't bother reading on the doo forum in my mind this one will be gas and go. Ignorance is bliss. lol
I read way to much here about all the upgrades the Sidewinder can get to possibly make it better. Which of course, for right or wrong, I have to do the second I get it.
So I snowcheck one for myself so more time wrenching.I didn't want two sleds to wrench on, again for right or wrong, so I snowcheck my wife a Doo 900T 130hp. Since I can't bother reading on the doo forum in my mind this one will be gas and go. Ignorance is bliss. lol
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