snoden
Active member
I guess I should have said 2108 model year. Yami's 2019 lineup was very slim...no Apex and no Vector. So again there is no MY 2019 Vector, the last Vector made was 2018 MY.
2022 Yamaha models released March 9th
- Thread starter Carbide
- Start date
I guess I should have said 2108 model year. Yami's 2019 lineup was very slim...no Apex and no Vector. So again there is no MY 2019 Vector, the last Vector made was 2018 MY.
xsledder
Active member
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<br>30+ years experience, lite weight!
Obviously Yamacats have their fan base good for them seriously who cares we are all Snowmobilers buy what suits you. Imo no point kicking AC or Yamaha when they’re down as companies they know where they stand. Tech is old in the tooth either update or don’t up to them to invest. If enough consumers don’t care why change still profitable for all involved.
SledTL
Active member
I ride a viper and I get nervous sometimes about all the chit going wrong (reverse actuator, chain case, driveshaft, tri hub) all CAT things. As a marketing guy in a social media world if everyone is commenting things on every post listen to them and act. Isn’t that the point of marketing?? Aftermarket has addressed a lot of the issues but I had to do that with a brand new sled.
xsledder
Active member
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<br>Interesting, I have a '16 XF 7000 High Country (basically a Viper) and I have zero problems with it for 6,000 miles. I have never had the reverse actuator, chain case, driveshaft break on it and I am not riding it easy either. There are a lot of mogul pounding, off trail banging and jumping miles on the sled and I have not found anything yet. (I do check it over every year.) I replaced my trihub after 5,000 miles because I was concerned about the bearings going and the wheels were starting to look a little chewed up. I know the trihub has small 20 mm bearing in it. I am concerned about the wear on 2.25" power claw track after 6,000 miles. But then again, it really is not a trail track either and I would say 2/3s of the miles on it are trail miles. Sorry you are having so many issues with your sled.
SledTL, I understand where you're coming from and yes we've seen those issues, but mostly on earlier models. The chaincase has had upgrades since the 1st year and has gotten better. The actuator has gotten better. It's always good to have knowledge of issues for sure. Yamaha has a fantastic warranty and they do correct issues as they show they're ugly face.
All brands have issues. Not one is fool proof. Ride what you like, and most important is have a dealer that will service you when you need assistance. To me that the most important factor. Most snowmobilers are pretty handy and can take care of the normal issues, but when its needed a dealer like Kip is what keeps you going. I don't understand the brand bashing. If you don't like it, don't ride it? Seems simple?
You'll never hear me bash Yamaha engines...EVER...and I think the joint venture with Cat was a good thing...However...that cat Chassis is now 10 years old...Nothing new for the green or the blue crowd...also...Polaris and Doo are selling alot of 850's ...so why build an 800? Maybe they are close in HP...but I think it's a marketing perception thing...who wants to buy an 800...when u can have an 850. Yamaha badly needed a replacement for the VIPER ...and I think a 998 NA motor in the 100 to 110 HP class would also sell well (going head to head with the 900 ace). Kip (and his brother Chad) have been excellent to work with..AWESOME dealerships...if I was riding Yamaha, make no mistake I would be buying from him...but I live 3 hours away, and the local Yamaha dealer is trash...wouldn't buy a gumball from them...AND...I work for a ski doo dealership now, and LOVE IT. Ride what you like people...Nobody is trying to bash you for it...but it has to be disappointing for Yamaha faithful to watch this year after year...I know it was for me. It's better for EVERYBODY if Yamaha and Cat have strong line ups...a little competition if you will...right now it's like they've given up.. Yamaha and Cat just don't respond to the market well IMO...I know Kip sells alot of Yamaha's up there...but I'm glad he added Polaris...because I think it would be really tough to sell only Yamaha, and I'd like to see them do well up there.
You seem to be an informed young guy but companies have personalities that evolve over time. Sure they can change direction as Polaris has done in the past several years as well as AC. Usually companies break down to either engineering driven companies or market driven companies. What your seeing from Textron and Yamaha are engineering driven companies you get the product that they design or change based on engineering costs and things engineering wants to do. Polaris and Skidoo are market driven companies and they want to hear the voice of the consumer produce products the customers want not products that are easy to engineer and design but new and innovative products. Yamaha has been stuck in the engineering driven company mode for so many years about all they want from marketing is bold new graphics. It’s obvious what type of snowmobile companies Textron and Yamaha are so take it or leave no change in operating style in the near future.
All true, absolutely agree! However, sad it is! Reminds me of a good friend who became scared to death of 2 stoke engines. He bought a Apex/Attack LE as I remember. He then spent I have no idea how much, a great deal of $$$$$$ on aftermarket parts, trying to get it to ride right for him. Exhaust parts, skis, suspension parts, shocks, etc. A nice sled, but poorly set up in its original form? Sadly, he gave up, and left snowmobiling behind.
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When you talk about a chassis being 10 years old and a bad thing, take a look at what has been dominating the cross country racing on a stock chassis, that is the same as all the consumer builds. They have made small changes every year on it, and it is dialed in very well. Its not a purpose built snowmobile like the sno cross sleds, its a consumer built snowmobile, same as buying off the showroom floor. I would say that's pretty darn impressive.
Ski doo has had two chassis since Cat came out with this..Don't you want something new?
Yamaha did the same thing with the Apex...people waited and waited and waited for that "NEW Apex", and it never came...people who want something new will go to other brands ...it happens..It may be a fine chassis...but isn't it time for an upgrade??...BTW cat has nearly double the racers running in Cross Country and two of the very best racers money can buy. (Herfindahl could win on a Rupp)..Cat seems to focus on cross country, which I like...but Polaris, and Doo spend more money on sno cross, and yamaha is NOT involved in either.
Chicago gets a new shiny new quarterback every couple of seasons, while Green Bay has had old wrinkly Rogers for years. Is Green Bay wrong for keeping him? I get it, people want new things, and no doubt Cat is going through some difficult times while trying to figure out their space in this market, but that doesn't mean their product is outdated or junk. Their race team is built out of people who honestly don't care about things like color choices, its because their product is durable, easy to work on, and fast. They have the lowest budget of all the manufactures by far, which means the racers pay more for their snowmobile that any of the rest, but yet they still field a pretty impressive team with great results. Yes I am waiting for them to come out with a motor that will replace the 800, and it will come, but maybe not soon enough for everyone? As some folks don't want to think Cat gives a crap about the customer, name one manufacture that has done more to draw the younger people into snowmobiles? Kitty cat, 120s, 200s, and now the Blast 400. All designed for bringing people in. Even a Blast for the the young mountain people to learn on. These are just my thoughts and I know others feel different, that's OK with me. By the way, have you ever taken a sno cross sled for a trail ride, I have its not much fun.