Yamaha Cutting Production for 2019

[ClutchMaster]

Personally i find this a joke, only offer 2 engines in 1 chassis ( that you don't even build) and then severely limit the numbers to order only. Offer nothing that is under $15K ( except the kiddy machine which begs the question where does the kid go from the snow scoot things to? the one LTX viper offered -In one colour-one trim ?) Not everyone wants a $20K lake racer, or a "trail sled" that really does not show its sled till over the c note. Add on top of that you only offer that "trail/lake racer sled" in like 4 "models"-aka colour and track changes. Top it all off the company that actually builds your sleds offers all the same stuff CHEAPER! and has way more engines and options for you to choose!.
Now that my rant is over, how about this. Since they seem to think everyone that wants a yami is going to pony up and drop down good money to pre order a sled ( that they have not ridden) why not actually give the buyers one real options? Like- this chassis, these shocks, this track, these skis, this colour package ( from say 4 pre set up colour schemes), Offer a few engines, 2 strokes (600, 800 wish) 4 stroke turbo/na. Let the customer actually dictate what they want. If they had the engines already in place there is not really a reason they couldn't. Just my 2 cents.

But as it sits right now, Yamaha offers nothing for me to even trade to ( I'm a slower tight trail rider, i don't want 200hp ill never use) so disappointed in a company I've supported for 20 years.

Making options available like that would require the assembly line idiots to read a build sheet. It might be possible if they color coded all the options tho?

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

Making options available like that would require the assembly line idiots to read a build sheet. It might be possible if they color coded all the options tho?

You think the sleds are expensive now, add a build a bear option to your spring order and it will be 20K US.

 

[jjmoneysauce]

You think the sleds are expensive now, add a build a bear option to your spring order and it will be 20K US.

2 cents being 2 cents, I find it frustrating when there are too many variants, options, and add-ons. I kind of like the balance being tipped a little more to the side of simplicity.

 

[jaydaniels]

I hear everyone talking about the bearings all being cheap Chinese bearings. I didn’t check them all but did take a look at my jackshaft bearing clutch side and it was an NSK. I was happy to see that.

 

[Farmer 73]

They obviously don’t care, just looking to make quick dollars using the brand name for the last few years. They know a lot of people will buy just because of the legendary name and reliability.
Lots of companies sell the brand name and it’s manufactured by a new company. Same game here they still own the brand but it might as well be an Arctic Cat.

Textron don't care about the snowmobile market either! Cat will follow Yamaha to extinction in the sled department! I hate big corporate!

 

[Farmer 73]

Yes it is good. And again I'm not talking about big price hikes on the same sled with BNG. They can't keep cramming product down the necks of these dealers who still have 2016 models.

Yeah but you have to get all the OEM's to do it! Yamaha folded its cards first! I'm not a poker player but aren't those the ones that are out of the game first?

 

[Farmer 73]

That’s the way it should be, quality over quantity...

Do you all believe Yamaha is in it for the long haul? I'm the doughting Thomas here! Please Mr. Tew tell me that Yamaha will be one of the last companies to go out of the market

 

[Farmer 73]

Hey Farmer..sorry bud it’s over yamacat spring order or nothing of that I have no doubt! There is nothing to speculate about except the official closing date of the Yamaha snowmobile division. There is no way Yamaha will retool a snowmobile line in Japan so the only hope for Yamaha would be to purchase the AC snow division that currently is too old in the tooth to be of value to anyone. Yamaha will try and pick up a few dollars in the wind down until it’s officially over. Sad for TY and all the Yamaha faithful but time to accept it is over and done.

That is what pisses me off! They say its just a thing they have to do for the future of the snowmobile division! Do they really think we are that stupid and can't see the writing on the wall? I understand if they got caught with their pants down with the Textron buy out of cat and didn't have something in place yet. If its going to take 2 years from now, tell us. Your Yamaha loyal customers will be there! Stop giving us the corporate political answers and insulting our intelligence!

 

[whitedust1]

That is what pisses me off! They say its just a thing they have to do for the future of the snowmobile division! Do they really think we are that stupid and can't see the writing on the wall? I understand if they got caught with their pants down with the Textron buy out of cat and didn't have something in place yet. If its going to take 2 years from now, tell us. Your Yamaha loyal customers will be there! Stop giving us the corporate political answers and insulting our intelligence!

It’s over...Yamaha is not going to invest in tooling for a Yamaha designed sled in USA or Japan. Yamaha’s plan is to sell off inventory then exit the snowmobile biz. Textron doesn’t care either so they package up TRF snow products for Yamaha to purchase for a song or eventually phase out AC too. Poor snow winters and a shrinking market is what it is from a business perspective so not enough market room for 4 OEMs. Eventually it will be poo and doo since they already dominate the market. I’m frustrated too since Yamaha had the engineering power to dominate the market but just did not do it. All those engineers are gone or reassigned so there is no coming back from zero and no money will be spent to retool it’s over as we knew the Yamaha snowmobile division. The only path to resurrection is to purchase AC snow division but I highly doubt Yamaha will spend the money and for Textron they will strip out AC as a cash cow then write it off as they close out AC. It’s over for both imo.

 

[1nc 2000]

My Yamaha sleds are serving me well so I won't be in the market for a new sled in 2019.

I bet a lot of people who are not happy with the 2019 line up will still be riding their reliable Yamaha next winter and having fun on the snow!

 

[CooperT]

I hear everyone talking about the bearings all being cheap Chinese bearings. I didn’t check them all but did take a look at my jackshaft bearing clutch side and it was an NSK. I was happy to see that.

Looking at my jackshaft bearing right now and it says japan, koyo and the number is 6206RD. NSK bearings on the idler wheels...

 

[ClutchMaster]

Driveshaft bearing clutch side had no markings not even a part number, sure sign of a Chinese bearing. Cheap seals and were dry almost devoid of grease. They have issues with outside diameter tolerance and spin in the bearing housing. People who are using quality made bearings report they press fit much tighter with the SKF bearings. Mine didn’t spin so I just repacked with fresh grease and kept my fingers crossed.

Rear axle bearings are the same size as idler wheel bearings, no sled that I know of has ever used such small bearings for a rear axle. Also they are throw away wheels because you can’t relpace the bearings. Rear wheel failures are extremely common with the vipers/procross chassis.
The chaincase side jackshaft bearing is suspect also, they changed to a different bearing in 2017 because of failures.

 

[CooperT]

Driveshaft bearing clutch side had no markings not even a part number, sure sign of a Chinese bearing. Cheap seals and were dry almost devoid of grease. They have issues with outside diameter tolerance and spin in the bearing housing. People who are using quality made bearings report they press fit much tighter with the SKF bearings. Mine didn’t spin so I just repacked with fresh grease and kept my fingers crossed.

Rear axle bearings are the same size as idler wheel bearings, no sled that I know of has ever used such small bearings for a rear axle. Also they are throw away wheels because you can’t relpace the bearings. Rear wheel failures are extremely common with the vipers/procross chassis.
The chaincase side jackshaft bearing is suspect also, they changed to a different bearing in 2017 because of failures.

Ahhh, seems like the 17s & 18s got the good stuff

 

[Farmer 73]

It’s over...Yamaha is not going to invest in tooling for a Yamaha designed sled in USA or Japan. Yamaha’s plan is to sell off inventory then exit the snowmobile biz. Textron doesn’t care either so they package up TRF snow products for Yamaha to purchase for a song or eventually phase out AC too. Poor snow winters and a shrinking market is what it is from a business perspective so not enough market room for 4 OEMs. Eventually it will be poo and doo since they already dominate the market. I’m frustrated too since Yamaha had the engineering power to dominate the market but just did not do it. All those engineers are gone or reassigned so there is no coming back from zero and no money will be spent to retool it’s over as we knew the Yamaha snowmobile division. The only path to resurrection is to purchase AC snow division but I highly doubt Yamaha will spend the money and for Textron they will strip out AC as a cash cow then write it off as they close out AC. It’s over for both imo.

That's exactly how I see it too!

 

[journeyman]

Cost to much to start up! If it isn't in the works already, its not going to happen! You are a 100% right, Yamaha got caught with their pants down when Textron bought CAT!

AC was up for sale for awhile, they should have known something like this would happen.