2011 Yamaha Apex SE

[indyxcr]

Have you seen the picture of this new sled, it looks nice, world's first sled with electronic power steering.
The only thing I don't understand is the shocks, the new FOX 2 floater shocks, these look like ****. These shocks will suck, You need a coil spring over the shock, FOX air shocks and floater shocks will not last or hold up. I never want FOX shocks ever, they always need to be rebuilt, will not make through a season. I had 2 sleds since 2000 with FOX shocks, I had to rebuild every year then by the 3rd year buy new FOX shocks.
Walker Evans shocks are the only way to go. These are the best shocks I have ever had on any sled they don't fail driving hard over rough trails.

 

[edmarino]

The fox shocks are air bag no liquid inside only air, same type as used on trucks to soften load and provide smooth ride. I don't see them as a high maintance item,Yamaha is using the same thing in their suspension system on Apex SE. I have a Team Fast Air wave system which uses the same principle different manufacturer for the air bag, set the pressure for the ride you want and away you go. It takes awhile to find the right pressure for how you ride because a pound or 2 in PSI makes a difference. I think Skidoo also has a similar system on one of their sleds.

 

[chad66]

actually the Fox Float does still have oil in it. It works the same as a regular coil over shock as far as oil,nitrogen and valving but simply uses an air chamber rather than a steel spring. In the past FOX shocks were fairly hi maintnance but the newer seem to be much better. I can not say the same for your Walker Evans shocks. IMHO Walker Evans may be the worst shock on the market, they have nice internals so I'm not sure if something changes in production or what but I'm not a fan at all. By the sounds we will probably agree to disagree on this. Another thing to keep in mind is that Yamaha offers a free 4 year warranty if you fill out a spring voucher and buy a sled before Nov. 30th and shocks are covered under warranty so if they didn't feel these were reliable shocks they would not be using them.

Chad@M&M

 

[pippy_b]

FOX Air on my Crossfire 8 Sno Pro LE

I have 1500 miles this year on my Fox Air Shocks. They are excellent shocks. I run the front at 90 PSI and the rear at 150 PSI which is the max PSI. I check the pressure after every trip and they have stayed consistent to where I filled them to. It is so much easier to adjust these than a spring! Just my 2 cents!

 

[whitedust]

I like Ohlins & GYTR shocks best shocks I ever had on a sled. Not sure about these Fox air shocks or any air shock yet. I had problems with Fox in 90s & wish Yamaha used Team FAST if they had to go air shocks. I'll test ride new Apex SE see what I think if silky smooth & can take rough trail pounding as good or better than Ohlins & GYTR then ok. I sure do like Ohlins & GYTR clicker adjustments for both rebound & compression. I think a lot of Yamaha riders are questioning the Fox air shocks. These Fox shocks were made to Yamaha specs & I hope Yamaha got it right. I am concerned about Fox but EPS should be a good thing.

 

[indyxcr]

I have never heard of any brand ever warranty there shocks. Fox never backed up there shocks when I bought the new PS3 shocks in 2004 when they failed 2 months after use. They were $180 each for the back. I had a 2002 Polaris 700 XC it had fox ps1 in the back which sucked had to rebuild ever year. Unless FOX has a new warranty for 2010 there shocks this year they have never backed them up!

 

[maddog24]

I have 6000 miles on my Fox Floats (Apex RTX) and I haven't touched them , other than to adjust air pressure for certain conditions. There are quite a few with well over 10,000 miles.

 

[whitedust]

I have 6000 miles on my Fox Floats (Apex RTX) and I haven't touched them , other than to adjust air pressure for certain conditions. There are quite a few with well over 10,000 miles.

Good to hear. TY guys were saying 3000 miles & rebuilding Fox so I was thinking not good compared to GYTRs & Ohlins. Clickers are so easy to use compression & rebound getting out the air pump seems less attractive. Do you have separate air valves to set rebound & compression of Fox air shock on Apex SE then pump or bleed with air gauge on pump?

 

[dopp]

i have 6000 miles on my fox air shocks and they still work great
they sell for 790.00 ,unbelivable

 

[chad66]

I have never heard of any brand ever warranty there shocks. Fox never backed up there shocks when I bought the new PS3 shocks in 2004 when they failed 2 months after use. They were $180 each for the back. I had a 2002 Polaris 700 XC it had fox ps1 in the back which sucked had to rebuild ever year. Unless FOX has a new warranty for 2010 there shocks this year they have never backed them up!

Yamaha warranties there shocks if you have the Yamaha Extended Warranty.

 

[indyxcr]

My friend hated his fox air shocks on his 2005 F6 and F7 Artic Cat. Maybe they came along way since then, I never liked them, but if Yamaha will warranty them that's good, they are the only one that will, maybe that's why you pay $3,000 more for your sled than the other 3 brands. I had a racing bike also with fox air shocks never liked the ride either to each there own.

 

[G]

There are many of us who have been waiting patiently for Yami to put an airshock on the rear monoshock of the Apex. It will be a good thing. The old coil over base model shock combination was junk both front and back. In the past a person had to either get the Ohlins or try to find an RTX. Yami discontinued the RTX in 2010. Fox has been at this for quite a while with good results. There have been numerous cases of Walker Evans shocks leaking and requiring more maintenance than Fox Floats. I have had Floats on two of my Yamis and like the infinite adjustability. Have never had issues with them leaking. Floats are not cheap. I think a big part of the price increase for 2011 can be traced to the new airshocks all around. Just the monoshock Float 2 is probably $1200 all by itself.