here is a way to look at it, what is the gross sales of all Yamaha products compared to BRP or any of the others,,I mean all Yamaha products. Yamaha doesn't need or even try to be number 1 in sleds. If they did compete for 1st place they would be building 2s sleds. I believe they are content with their piece of the pie when you measure all of what they do. Yamaha is japan and them Japanese are prideful people who strive for perfection and longevity and reliability. At my age, if I were to trail ride I would not buy anything other than a Yamaha because I know I will be riding it back home. It doesn't mean the other 3 won't get me home but it does mean I have experienced the Yamaha reliability. Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki have always but rock solid products but only Yamaha builds sleds now. If I am okay with the weight of Yamaha and you are not, we are both right in our decision, it's a matter of preference. I personally prefer the weight of a Yamaha because they are steady and not agile or prone to felling every contour of the trail where as some love that feel. Since I don't ride trail I don't ride Yamaha because it doesn't fit my riding style and it's design is inferior for my style of riding. The older the rider typically becomes less aggressive so comfort, options, fit and finish, dependability, economy become at the front of our minds. Some younger riders who are not real aggressive are just fine with weighty sleds, what's wrong with that. Younger riders look for a sled they can toss around where speed and performance is at there front of their mind. It's the same with cars, who tends to own the Cadillac sts style of vehicle, older people typically, not always but as a general rule. Trying to convince a younger rider who looks for light weight, speed and performance to ride a Yamaha is not gonna happen where as older riders don't want to rebuild motors and be dragged in because of break down. Higher performance machine require more attention, that's normal. Debating weight of a sled is futile because it's subject to personal preference and it's not reasonable to impose your (anyone) preferences on my (anyone) preferences.
It's a good thing we have 4 makers of sleds because they all fit the needs of consumers. So seeing that w,e the masses of people are such a diverse people with riding styles, it's silly to impose a particular sled to fit all riders and that's what we often do on here. It's not wrong to be brand loyal but it's silly to say your brand is the best for all people. I'm not gonna bring up names but this board has it's share of loyalists that get offended and push their brand on everyone and dump on the other brands because it simple doesn't fit their style of riding. I certainly am no angle when it comes to voicing opinions but I often am the opposition when the loyalists get revved up, it's my mission in life!
