If you want a 4-stroke trail cruising sled than get the 2010 or newer Vector LTX. Its a SWEET trail machine. Fuel injection made a huge difference.
Also as for the weight its a non issue. My wife, a self admitted wimp, is 5' and 103 lbs. Of all the new sleds she tried last year she liked the new Vector the best. She had no issues handling the sled.
You might want to read the heading of the title on this thread. The question was about the 4 stroke
cats.
It's about time the Yamaha meat got with fuel injection which Cats had from the get go. And you might want to jump on a CAT before you buy your next Yamaha and see just how nice the Cats are, compared.
Only complaint I have about the CAT and which is true about the YAMAHA'S is that you have to take your hands off the handle bars to go thru the multifunction display. Polaris beats them all by putting the button on the handlebar where it really belongs. You use it far more this way.
It's nice to flick thru engine temp, outside temp, altitude, switch up the analog to digital tach, fuel level, clock, fastest speed, highest rpm, etc...and you can do it without stopping or bouncing around trying to hit the button, when it is on the handlebar.
Otherwise the Cat is a fine sled, very solid engine and of course one of if not the finest suspension going.
All 4 stroke sleds are heavier than their 2 stroke counter machines. But not enough to take away the nice smooth delivery of power without the need to wind the motor out to high rpms.
The reliability it seems of the Cats is very good, with but a few early bugs.
It is American Made, too...I like that.
To do justice to the 4 stroke sleds, you should try and ride every one of the makers models, which will take a bit of time because they all make them now. And it even sounds like Skiiiidoodle has a winner on their assembly line.
If you take the time to compare, you will find that they are great trail sleds and unlike the 2 smokers, they aren't nearly as prone to engine problems.
There will always be those guys who jump on their first 4 stroke and say it is the best four stroke out there withOUT trying the other makers sleds. This isn't a good way to judge things now is it? To do a proper job you need to ride them all and don't take a buddy along who is pushing for one makers sleds over another....try and take an unbiased look at them and decide for yourself.
I own a turbo cat, and non-turbo cats, and the fit and finish on that sled is extremely good, and the fun factor is on the top. My older cats have never been touched mechanically and they are by far the most reliable machines I have owned and I have purchased every makers brand out there.
Take the plunge....those that did, haven't looked back. And the sled will be the one everyone in the family wants to ride when the time comes to pick one out.
My daughter loves the turbo Cat and says it steers the easiest of all the sleds. (She has never had it over 50 mph) Oh, and be sure to order the highest windshield you can get unless you like being cold...the skimpy windshields do little to protect when the temps get down to the bottom of the thermometer....and who wants to shy away from riding because your sled didn't come with proper protection??
Some of the makers put looks over function in the wind protection category...
but there is NO substitute for good wind protection.