Yamaha Defenders

[SledFreak]

Thats what I have been saying all a long...snowmobiles are a needle in the hay stack when it comes to Yamaha. Go to the yamaha website and look at everything yamaha produces.

So, if it's not so lucrative, then why stay in it?

 

[horkn]

Crewchief47,
You can see why there are forces deep within Yamaha management that want to get out of the snowmobile biz........This is fact, not speculation on my part...........

Really doesn't mean much as I would think there are just as many at other OEM's wanting to get out of one of the segments their in.....

I think most of the other manufacturers have already dropped product lines that were not lucrative. IE PWC.

How honda was able to get in on that market is beyond me, but I have a feeling the honda name brought a lot of buyers, that and some lakes only allow 4 stroke pwc now.

I now atv's and utv's are very popular, and that is why honda finally makes a UTV.

 

[horkn]

Thats what I have been saying all a long...snowmobiles are a needle in the hay stack when it comes to Yamaha. Go to the yamaha website and look at everything yamaha produces.

So, if it's not so lucrative, then why stay in it?

Because Elvis still rides a yamaha sled.

 

[Ported Hornet]

I couldn't even get thru this year and bought a turbo Cat as did a few others. I would have went with a new 180 HP Yamaha next year had they came out, but instead they left it in the trailer. I know it's there and they just didn't release it. Guess I'll have the Cat all dialed in for next year, and my Attak will be ready too if it doesn't sell first. Some people want to try something new every so often like me and I think it was a mistake on Yamaha not to bring something more to the table this year. At least it makes my 07 Attak worth more now. My wife will be much happier too!

Very well put Mike, Yami has most likely been working on a new Apex since its release if 05.

BTW, how do you like that Turbo Cat, I am sure a Hijacker box is coming soon?????

 

[MCApex44]

Thats what I have been saying all a long...snowmobiles are a needle in the hay stack when it comes to Yamaha. Go to the yamaha website and look at everything yamaha produces.

So, if it's not so lucrative, then why stay in it?

Obviously Yamaha is making some money on snowmobiles or they wouldnt stay in it...but being a small piece of the pie, I would assume the head haunchos(sp?) are not handing out (as much) budget dollars to the fellas in charge of their snowmobile division. Yamaha has bigger fish to fry. Therefore, less R&D dollars etc. I am still baffled why Yamaha hasnt done some type of recall for the issues the Apex/Attack have. Probably because they do not have the budget set aside to due so. IMO, Yamaha is content on how they have done in the snowmobile market but the their snowmobile division is not their flagship of items...Yamaha's 'big' money is spent elsewhere.

 

[low slung]

Yamaha may not own the snowmobile market but they do own the UTV market(lots of rhino,s here).By the way,i got a chance last week to try the new honda BIG RED,it was my first ride in a UTV.My thoughts,Its pure work,no sport to speak of.Push the gas,just makes more sound,not speed.The diff lock worked well but there was alot of vibration at low speeds,very un-honda like.Was not very impressed(this coming from a owner of a 06 civic si and many honda atv over the years,TRX 70,300 4x4, and 420 4X4).

 

[CENA]

I have an '05 Vector and Yamaha has not come out with anything since that would make me say "I gotta have that sled" 5,500 miles and still feels like day one! Cheers to the 05' Vector! 08' Vectors seem decent too!

 

[KnappAttack]

Very well put Mike, Yami has most likely been working on a new Apex since its release if 05.

BTW, how do you like that Turbo Cat, I am sure a Hijacker box is coming soon?????[/quote]


The Yamaha is there, they just chose not to release it, business decision I guess. I just had to have something different, I've had so many Attaks, stock and turboed, it was just getting old, and I knew I didn't want an Nytro XTX. Had to try something different and I knew it had to be a four-stroke. That left only the Ski-Doo 1200 or the turbo Cat. I knew boost so the decision was made a little easier on the Cat, not to mention its reputation for it's ride as I do have a bad neck and back.

The Hijacker has been on for quite some time, but the methanol injection is coming yet this week, along with a torsion driven to convert it to the old style cat reverse cam, which I have drawers full of. It's becoming a great trail machine, but its taken a while to learn all the different stuff and acquire all new tools, pullers and special sockets etc. Its ride, handling and ergonomics is awesome right out of the crate. Was worried being a Sno-Pro but it actually rides better than the LXR with the Fox Floats set @ 55 lbs. weighs the same as my Attak 136" but feels way lighter and rips thru the trails. It flys thru the air straight and lands perfect every time you air it out. It feels light and small to me. It sure didn't go stock as my Attak would beat it, but after tweaking it with Hijacker and clutching now the Attak isn't in the same area code. It's where it needs to be now for power, it will run with the same HP boosted Yamaha's. It's getting to be quite fun and now we have lost all our snow, go figure. It's fun to be working on something different again.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

I have no problem with people defending Yamaha over the new Linup. However people have a right to the opposite opinion. From the looks of it many people were clamoring for a new Flagship sled. Not just one or two guys but many. So for anyone to come on this web site and list off all the reasons these guys are wrong is silly to me. I mean really who are you to criticize anyone for begin disappointed???[/quote]

It is the same logic people use to jump all over someone for complaining about design flaws or quality issues. For example, if you don't like it, get it fixed yourself! Or, go and buy something different! Or, we want to have fun here and be happy, so stop spoiling it (sob sob sob)!....... But, we must remember everyone has opinions. I really feel for you guys who didn't get your 180Hp Apex! Where the heck would you drive something like that at full throttle anyway? (I know that is a stupid ?, but I had to ask). Or is it just so we can say, my sled is faster and more powerful than yours. Can Hp really keep increasing and still be realistic? My expectations of getting tunnel exhaust/icing issues fixed is very low now since it is probably way down on Yamaha's to do list; oh I forgot, they haven't heard of that yet!.

This is very interesting, I must say. All the best, and maybe 2011 will be better and they'll finally redesign the Bravo as well (ahaha)

 

[Ported Hornet]

Very well put Mike, Yami has most likely been working on a new Apex since its release if 05.

BTW, how do you like that Turbo Cat, I am sure a Hijacker box is coming soon?????

The Yamaha is there, they just chose not to release it, business decision I guess. I just had to have something different, I've had so many Attaks, stock and turboed, it was just getting old, and I knew I didn't want an Nytro XTX. Had to try something different and I knew it had to be a four-stroke. That left only the Ski-Doo 1200 or the turbo Cat. I knew boost so the decision was made a little easier on the Cat, not to mention its reputation for it's ride as I do have a bad neck and back.

The Hijacker has been on for quite some time, but the methanol injection is coming yet this week, along with a torsion driven to convert it to the old style cat reverse cam, which I have drawers full of. It's becoming a great trail machine, but its taken a while to learn all the different stuff and acquire all new tools, pullers and special sockets etc. Its ride, handling and ergonomics is awesome right out of the crate. Was worried being a Sno-Pro but it actually rides better than the LXR with the Fox Floats set @ 55 lbs. weighs the same as my Attak 136" but feels way lighter and rips thru the trails. It flys thru the air straight and lands perfect every time you air it out. It feels light and small to me. It sure didn't go stock as my Attak would beat it, but after tweaking it with Hijacker and clutching now the Attak isn't in the same area code. It's where it needs to be now for power, it will run with the same HP boosted Yamaha's. It's getting to be quite fun and now we have lost all our snow, go figure. It's fun to be working on something different again.[/quote]

Thanks for the report.