Reviews of renegade backcountry from the artic north

[snobuilder]

yea, he learned a good lesson....the marriage with cat screwed up a perfectly good built for snow engine that never had a
history of starting problems in 10 seasons when built and installed in pure Yamaha sleds.

 

[lenny]

Ezra he rides 10k kilometers a year. He burned down 01-05 600 and 800 rotax engines. So he wanted something that wouldnt burn down and decided to go 4 stroke.

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There is a yamaha dealer in the town he lives. And he did mention there support was very good for all the issues he was having. Even with the updates his sled would not start in cold. That was the last straw and why he made the switch over half way thru the seasom this year.

So when you said this: "on the fence and what to expect from a sled"

So by saying this you think this is an accurate description for people here to expect their sled (viper)to not start? Hasn't this problem been resolved? Yes it has and if you buy a Viper without the updates yamaha will deal with it so what really is your point. Dude, I'm just tired of watching you do the same old stuff trying to discredit the other sleds and lift your yellow ones up on a pedestal, it's annoying at best

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yea, he learned a good lesson....the marriage with cat screwed up a perfectly good built for snow engine that never had a
history of starting problems in 10 seasons when built and installed in pure Yamaha sleds.

I agree with ya bud that Yamaha makes some quality products but I believe the same is with AC. My 2009 M* had 8022 miles and never blew up or lost a DD. Top end was replaced as preventative but who know how long it would have run. There is a thread on here with 10,000 miles off trail on a AC. Some people have issue with their sleds and the loyalists with jump right on that just as momoney does all the time and that's just wrong. I've only put 200 miles on the sled but I know the original who lives in rockland and he rides hard. It hasn't had an easy life but has had excellent service

 

[momoney2123]

Did they fix the gaps in the plastics? Letting snow in, causing steam to come in? Or ice to build around the steering boots and wrecking that? Did they fix the reverse motors going out? I kno they fixed the antifreeze leaks. I had the privilege of riding a friends wives viper, and all i thought was this and how true every weakness he mentioned was prevelent. Sometimes in life you need to call a spade a spade. I would appreciate someone bringing a sleds weak points to surface before i spent 12 grand on a toy that would inevitably let me down. Like it or not lenny the WHOLE doo lineup is pretty darn proven to be a good bet. Every 2 stroke has a certain amount of risk and nothing is gaurenteed. but the etecs, 4 tec, ACE are as dialed. And the chassis /rmotion speaks for itself.Thats a fact!

 

[lenny]

well than,,,,doo's for everyone. I'm so glad you throw it out there plain and clear for all to see. You got some major steelies!

 

[ezra]

yea, he learned a good lesson....the marriage with cat screwed up a perfectly good built for snow engine that never had a
history of starting problems in 10 seasons when built and installed in pure Yamaha sleds.

come on man u know that is BS how many motes have u driven by when below zero? every time u see a crew of guys standing around with a extension cord coming from the room they are around a Yamaha well usually a few that wont start with a hair dryer under the hood. I cant even count the number of times I have seen the scene and chuckled

 

[snobuilder]

Don't take me wrong,...all I am saying is that Cat cursed Yamaha.
The Apex and Vector in their current forms are the absolute best trails sleds on snow today, bar none....and thanks to loyalists like MOMO...
they are the best value on snow as well.

 

[ezra]

I know the doo fit and finish is no better no worse than any poo or cat out. the one thing that always stands out when working on a doo is how toyish they are . it is blatantly obvious why they fold up from hits others roll over. u get down in to it U can deff see they have no real racing engineering in them. doo is deff a nice sled for guys who buy them and ride them the way they came from the dealer and trade often.
I have owned a few and own one now never been as impressed as others are with them.
really they are all chit for what we have to shell out for them.
oh 1 more thing a bud got the new iron dog this yr what were they thinking with those sez canisters sticking out so far on those fr shocks . he busted one out 3rd ride in the woods on a cut off stump .

 

[lenny]

come on man u know that is BS how many motes have u driven by when below zero? every time u see a crew of guys standing around with a extension cord coming from the room they are around a Yamaha well usually a few that wont start with a hair dryer under the hood. I cant even count the number of times I have seen the scene and chuckled

it is true, the relays do become effected by the extreme cold, Mine did it a few times but good thing I had a bud with a yam 4s where we just back his pipe right up to the right side of my sled with side panel open and it took about 5 mins to heat it up and it fires up. I believe it was the fuel pump relay. You can pull it out and warm it up in a pocket on your body and that works also but yes,,it is sad this problem exists and it also has done it on my Rhino. It may still exist but cannot say for sure, I'll research this and see if I can find the answer.

 

[snobuilder]

come on man u know that is BS how many motes have u driven by when below zero? every time u see a crew of guys standing around with a extension cord coming from the room they are around a Yamaha well usually a few that wont start with a hair dryer under the hood. I cant even count the number of times I have seen the scene and chuckled

you must be refering to an occasional frozen fuel pump relay which a better version of has been out since '06....LOL...Between me and my closest riding bud, our combined yamaha 4 strokes 60,000+ miles on apex. vectors and nytros...never missed a start....heated up 2 others in our groups in 10 years.

i'll take that over the yamacats who lunch starters due to piss poor timing requiring a complete engine tear down....

 

[ezra]

u should let all the guys I still see even this winter with the hair dryers under the hood at motels on those cold mornings how great there sleds starting reputation is

 

[Hoosier]

why is a guy who rides in extreme northern conditions alone who buys a new sled every yr buying a 4 stroke any way? did not know u could hook your hair dryer up in the bush . shocker a guy who has been on 3/4 tons for yrs buys a new 2st and loves it SHOCKER

And why buy a 1st year model to ride in those kinds of conditions?

 

[snobuilder]

u should let all the guys I still see even this winter with the hair dryers under the hood at motels on those cold mornings how great there sleds starting reputation is

might have to leave that to you because you seem to be the only one seein it.
I know yamahacat guys that would gladly tote a hair dryer with versus having a full engine teardown to clean ring gear chunks outta the crankcase.
....leave it to Cat to eff up a perfectly great motor....real sad to see Yamaha ruining there stellar rep with this unholy marriage.

 

[ezra]

might have to leave that to you because you seem to be the only one seein it.
I know yamahacat guys that would gladly tote a hair dryer with versus having a full engine teardown to clean ring gear chunks outta the crankcase.
....leave it to Cat to eff up a perfectly great motor....real sad to see Yamaha ruining there stellar rep with this unholy marriage.

the only thing worth a chit on that whole sled is the chassis. and the epa credits it gives cat to use to keep using zuk 800. cat really did not need a 4st they already had a fast one and a slow one . they did need the epa credit .
on a side note any one who has been around the block wont buy a first yr anything . that one has to be learned the hard way.
the viper is the only thing Yamaha has going now if not for it they may just as well shut the doors . sad really they historically have been on the leading edge . why they insist on digging in there heals on 4st is beyond me .they have more resources than any of them and just sit back and watch there fleet rust. guess not worth the investment on a dying sport

 

[dickmsp]

Hi guys, IRRregardless which sled is junk ( they all are lol!!) I like watching this guys vids for the extreme conditions he and his buds ride in.. from building a birch tree frame to use a block n tackle to hoist the phaser mtx out of a creek to hauling the " boggin" loaded with supplies and tv behind the Bearcats to a dang tent when it's 40 below!!! Anything that starts and runs at 40 below zero is the best machine ever!!

 

[Deleted member 10829]

on a side note any one who has been around the block wont buy a first yr anything . that one has to be learned the hard way.

I've been around the block ezra! I bought a first year sled this year and just love it! 1900 miles and not a trip back to the dealer. Best sled I've ever owned, and it's not even close.

 

[mezz]

on a side note any one who has been around the block wont buy a first yr anything . that one has to be learned the hard way.

A majority of the time I can agree with you ez, but, this one doesn't always hold true. I bought a first year sled, 2006 Crossfire 600, still have it, no troubles ever. I have made some changes to the sled to make it to my liking, but, no mechanical issues. Solid, dependable, & surprising for a 600. You simply couldn't get a new one remotely like it today for less than 13 grand. For a first year anything, it's been pretty damn good, & taken care of properly, it will be for another 10 years. -Mezz

 

[whitedust]

I'm a 4s guy but would never buy a 4s for yellow knife any brand just the wrong application for a 4s motor.

 

[RVR RNR]

Don't take me wrong,...all I am saying is that Cat cursed Yamaha.
The Apex and Vector in their current forms are the absolute best trails sleds on snow today, bar none....and thanks to loyalists like MOMO...
they are the best value on snow as well.

HA! That's funny! You must be living in a dream if you truly think Apex's and Vectors are the best trail sleds on the snow. C'mon!

 

[snobuilder]

A majority of the time I can agree with you ez, but, this one doesn't always hold true. I bought a first year sled, 2006 Crossfire 600, still have it, no troubles ever. I have made some changes to the sled to make it to my liking, but, no mechanical issues. Solid, dependable, & surprising for a 600. You simply couldn't get a new one remotely like it today for less than 13 grand. For a first year anything, it's been pretty damn good, & taken care of properly, it will be for another 10 years. -Mezz

Got to admit, you crossfire owners do love your sleds...I know of 2 others that say nothing has come along to replace it yet. Hats off to Cat for building dependable 2 stroke power, albeit a Suzuki...the design was at least overseen by Cat and so far the new c-tec is looking good as well.
I hope my Poo 800HO shows itself to have cured the 800 blow-up blues of the past....LOL...just love the fuel mileage...on par with my Yammie 4 strokes.... and the ski hoisting power is a hoot.

It has been reliable for close to 4000 miles, but my dealer actually told me to think about new pistons at this point based on the past track record of the Poo 8's.

 

[snobuilder]

HA! That's funny! You must be living in a dream if you truly think Apex's and Vectors are the best trail sleds on the snow. C'mon!

Gobs of low end torque for the Vector 1050 and smooth arm stretching linear pull to 110mph on the Apex coupled with power steering lets you think your way through the twisties.....REMEMBER...I said TRAIL sled like 95% of us sledders buy our machines for.
If you do nothing but ride on Saturday afternoons....there might be a better rear skid out there but EVERYONE whines in crappy conditions so how good does the rear skid need to be?
I rode the latest, greatest buzzy 2 stroke 800 this year and it was good fun, but running the silky smooth, PS Apex up and down UP trail 15, 18, 111, 107, etc. was my best memory of this season....that sled is a Ferrari my friend....LOL....I hate RR grades for more than 10 minutes at a time but the Apex even makes that boring riding style seem fun.