Yamaha R&D PLEASE READ and DELIVER for 2013.

Im from central South Dakota. In 2000 when anybody bought a new sled it was a 121. Today the same guys have no less than 153. Trailer after trailer going down interstate 90 comming from the east are mountain sleds. There is a HUGE segment being left out by Yamaha. If you think weight isnt a factor your in the 1%.


Your missing my point of course it matters to mountain sleds I am saying it is not that big a deal to a trail rider and there is way more trail riders in the East than in the West riding mountains. The trail riders demand quality, reliability and comfort and that most times means added weight even in the bigger tanks the mountain guys want.
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Time to chime in and I'll confuse Yamaha even more. I am an eastern rider who moved from a 121 (XP) to 144(xtx) to a 153 (mtx) in the span of 3 years and in the spirit of full disclosure, I toyed with a 136 renegade back in 2002, but it was a dinosaur compared to today's long track technological marvels.

Why? The advance of technology, including Xover sleds is giving everyone a chance to try Backcountry, and you realize pretty quickly how fun it is and how it is almost a totally different sport than trail riding.....like the first time you skied in bottomless powder....its learning the sport all over again. Slaloming thru powder, side hilling, and particularily counter steering change the game.

And I am not alone. Each year I see more and more people leaving the groomed trails in favor of finding powder.....Freeriding. 5 years ago, no one ever touched a powerline corridor, and now they are peppered with tracks 12 hours after a storm. And big suprise, track lengths are streatching.

Mountian is a small but growing segment, and the manufacturers better pay close attention to it because in my view, the mountian rider segment is growing...and they are everywhere. The only real difference now is altitude. @ 1000 - 3000 feet, I don't need a turbo/super as much as a guy in Colorado operating at 9000 feet+. . I guess we are more similar to alaska in this regard....close to sea level.

Does weight matter to me...absolutely....its why my MTX is still in parts 3 months after receiving it. Because I don't highmark it, yes I can still run a bit more weight, but it matters where it is vertically (low CG) and horizontally (balanced front/back).

My 2 cents
 
Ruckus said:
I wonder what is going to happen when Yamaha delivers the new 2T direct injection engine in a 450 lb sled? There's going to be a lot of disappointed Yamaha owners who currently enjoy the weight that quality adds.
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Ruckus you just dont get it doo you? I made a funny there. If and I hope Yamaha does but I doubt they will offer the 2S mountain sled you can bet your bottom dollar the engine will be a class leader. You can also bet the sled will be close but heavier than the other manufacturers. Yamaha insists on quality parts and that translate to a slightly heavier but more reliable sled. That is what Yamaha has been doing since they first started building sleds and they wont change company beliefs and policy for you or I. That is also why the price will be higher and the resale of that sled will be higher as well.
 
I wouldn't doubt the Apex will be replaced eventually. Yamaha has wanted to dump the 4 cylinder motor for a long time. But I hope you are wrong as its the best sled motor built IMHO.
 
I was told by my long time Yamaha dealer who worked closely with factory R&D people that they will never again produce a 2-stroke sled. They view the 2-stroke as a dead end road. When the emission regs were purposed Yamaha made the long term decision to go the 4-stroke route and in the end, I believe they will be proven correct. The new injected 2-strokes are having to be run so lean that the longevity and reliability has been compromised.

Someone mentioned weight and quality as long time Yamaha traits and this is not correct. Back in the 80's Yamahas were light weight, flimsy actually. The '84 Phazer was under 400 lbs and it floated on top of the snow. The Vmax trailing arm chassis were light sleds but the current 4-strokes are not. To be fair they are similar in weight to the other OEM 4-strokes but they are not the lightest. Because Yamaha is only producing 4-strokes they need to make a conscious effort to reduce the weight.
 
rd

lund said:
Here is a suggestion to Yamaha.
Why not setup an R&D division in BC or Colorado, some where that the terrian runs more vertical and changes more then 500ft.
Setup in a place where the best backcountry/mountian rider's live and ride. They are your best choice for R&D to building a REAL mountian sled.

Anyhow it's a thought.
BTW, i pulled the fuel tank and seat off my Nytro today to inspect the turbo and hoses and do some maintinance.
That multi piece tunnel you guy's made for that Nytro......its a gem ;)!
I might know someone that could help you guy's out on that one.
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They do have R$D out west it is in Laramie Wyoming.
 
I'm with lund, seems like this should be a mountain riding discussion. As how can ditch bangin have anything to do with mountain riding? Other than a sled shaped for mountain riding would be better for flatlanders.

Seems to me like some folks here are really speaking the truth. Yamaha should listen up.
 
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