First time Yamaha owners
- Thread starter fusionfool
- Start date
cobalt_502
Active member
I love your spirit Indy 500 but don't be so brand loyal at such a young age that your not willing to see the light!
The difference between the two can be measured in light years!
The difference between the two can be measured in light years!
cobalt_502
Active member
I had a 07 RTX that I sold to a friend with 8,750 miles, it was flawless and he still had a year left under warranty remaining! I now have a Apex LTX GT that the warranty expires in like 2014, I suspect I will not need that warranty either?
indy_500
Well-known member
i'm not extremely brand loyal but i just dislike yamaha
if poo stopped making sleds i'd get a doo definatly. I would consider a cat just depending on which one, but i just couldn't stoop so low to buy a yami...
indy_500
Well-known member
never!!!!!!
Indy I didn't think I would buy a 4s sled now I won't buy a 2s sled. Wiping Yamaha off your consideration list at such a young age in an already narrow market doesn't leave you much to choose from. Doo does have an exciting line up but Yam 4s are the best of the best. You need to ride a few Yams from Phasers on up to Apex SE then tell me Yam does not light your fire. Nytros are very cool sleds & at your age you would luv 1. At my age I know what sled tech has been & what is now & Yam is better than most fit & finish wise & engines are bullet poof + ride quality & handling is also good. I would have to say why not Yam?
yamahauler
Active member
Indy...didn't you post over on the 'know everything thread', lol.
You have spoken like a true young buck on this thread!
You have spoken like a true young buck on this thread!
I must admit I'm on the fence. My 2000 Polaris 600 triple went 8800 miles with only routine maintenance and one set of idler bearings - I'm pretty fanatical about maintenance and was pretty happy with the results. On my 2007 Yamaha Rage I just spent $450 to replace all the drive bearings (chaincase, axles....under $200) due to some noise as well as REPLACE all the suspension idlers (abour $250) because the bearings were shot and NOT replaceable. I did the work myself, if done by a dealer I would have another $200+ in it. After 4 years and 4500 miles I was not expecting to spend this much cash on 'repairs'.
Of course the next time I can just replace the idler bearings - and the new sleds are setup this way - so less of a problem than on my 07. Still, worrying about the chaincase and drive axle bearings is no fun. Never had to worry about this on my Pol sleds (I still have a 2000 600 XC SP, running strong at 5K miles......all original.)
The $325 I saved getting 16-18MPG versus 12, I just spent in repairs, and then some. No savings there (yet).
I do love the 4S power though - torque! And not worrying about fouled plugs, no 2S oil, etc. There are lots of plusses. But I think Yamaha needs to keep fixing the weak points. They took a long time to address these chassis issues. And don't get me started on the crappy handwarmers on my son's 2008 Vector (DBII chassis). I think the 2010/2011 models fixed all of the common maladies. Maybe it's time to trade up?
Of course the next time I can just replace the idler bearings - and the new sleds are setup this way - so less of a problem than on my 07. Still, worrying about the chaincase and drive axle bearings is no fun. Never had to worry about this on my Pol sleds (I still have a 2000 600 XC SP, running strong at 5K miles......all original.)
The $325 I saved getting 16-18MPG versus 12, I just spent in repairs, and then some. No savings there (yet).
I do love the 4S power though - torque! And not worrying about fouled plugs, no 2S oil, etc. There are lots of plusses. But I think Yamaha needs to keep fixing the weak points. They took a long time to address these chassis issues. And don't get me started on the crappy handwarmers on my son's 2008 Vector (DBII chassis). I think the 2010/2011 models fixed all of the common maladies. Maybe it's time to trade up?
L
lenny
Guest
i'm not extremely brand loyal but i just dislike yamaha
interesting
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dfattack
Well-known member
I must admit I'm on the fence. My 2000 Polaris 600 triple went 8800 miles with only routine maintenance and one set of idler bearings - I'm pretty fanatical about maintenance and was pretty happy with the results. On my 2007 Yamaha Rage I just spent $450 to replace all the drive bearings (chaincase, axles....under $200) due to some noise as well as REPLACE all the suspension idlers (abour $250) because the bearings were shot and NOT replaceable. I did the work myself, if done by a dealer I would have another $200+ in it. After 4 years and 4500 miles I was not expecting to spend this much cash on 'repairs'.
Of course the next time I can just replace the idler bearings - and the new sleds are setup this way - so less of a problem than on my 07. Still, worrying about the chaincase and drive axle bearings is no fun. Never had to worry about this on my Pol sleds (I still have a 2000 600 XC SP, running strong at 5K miles......all original.)
The $325 I saved getting 16-18MPG versus 12, I just spent in repairs, and then some. No savings there (yet).
I do love the 4S power though - torque! And not worrying about fouled plugs, no 2S oil, etc. There are lots of plusses. But I think Yamaha needs to keep fixing the weak points. They took a long time to address these chassis issues. And don't get me started on the crappy handwarmers on my son's 2008 Vector (DBII chassis). I think the 2010/2011 models fixed all of the common maladies. Maybe it's time to trade up?
I have owned 10 Yamaha's since 2002 and have never had any Chaincase or drive axle bearing issues. Not to say they don't happen, just that I haven't experienced them. I will admit, I'm a fanatic when it comes to regular maintenance.
Agree on the 2-3 years of crappy hand warmers. That wasn't good (wanted to say something else but wasn't sure if it would get edited). But...now it's finally fixed. 2010 Vector LTX GT has excellent warmers.
indy_500
Well-known member
you just edited it, i clicked quote and it wasn't quoting what you said
what i hate is their made overseas, i couldn't stand the fact driving something designed by the japanese. Another thing, i like to work on my sleds. When looking under the hood of a yamaha, it's just so confusing. I want to clutch it, gear it, etc. etc. Do I wanna go 120 mph? No, i want it nice and snappy. Could i do that to a yamaha? yes... would i? no. I'm not saying yamaha sucks and it's terrible, not bashing it at all, i just won't buy one.
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D
Deleted member 10829
Guest
I think they have the best engine and fit and finish too, but it's the ride and darting that worry me. I've heard and read for years that you go through hy-fax fast, the ride is not up to par with the competition and the sleds need to have the darting corrected. Why hasn't that been taken care of yet? I just wish you could put that engine and fit and finish in a Polaris chassis!
yamahauler
Active member
Go with the GT model and the ride is wayyyyyyyyyyyy better than a Poo. Just adjust on the fly as needed.
Darting...I agree they could do better on that out of the box. A lot of times it is because it is not setup for the rider riding it.
Indy: Have you ever ridden a 4s? Snappy..I don't know what else you would call a Yammy 4s, they are very snappy.
Darting...I agree they could do better on that out of the box. A lot of times it is because it is not setup for the rider riding it.
Indy: Have you ever ridden a 4s? Snappy..I don't know what else you would call a Yammy 4s, they are very snappy.
F
fusion
Guest
Ride is easily adjusted with suspension tweaks. If you get the GT, its all clickers and one center shock adjustment. I'm not a mechanic and hate wrenching, and I haven't tounched either the APEX or the Vector ('09's) since the initial setups.
As for darting - all you need is Stud Boy deuce bars, or Bergstrom Triples, at least 6, preferably 8 inches, and problem is immediately solved.
Hy-fax wear - add the extra wheel kit. I've had no problems.
Handwarmers - a total and complete JOKE for the money you spend on these F'n sleds. Totaly unacceptable, and if I was Yamaha I'd be big time embarrassed for putting that lousy engineering on the market. But again, I fixed it with an electronic aftermarket product that puts full power to the warmers utilizing the std. hand warmer switch. Again, I'm not a mechanic, but this probably took me an hour to install.
One thing you can't fix on Yamaha's - the weight. And I don't like it, but it isn't noticeable as long as your aren't trying to get the sleds on dolly's to move in and out of garage. If I ever go to Doo, which I just might for at least ONE of my next sleds, it will be for the weight difference on the 1200 4-TEK vs. any Yamaha.
As for darting - all you need is Stud Boy deuce bars, or Bergstrom Triples, at least 6, preferably 8 inches, and problem is immediately solved.
Hy-fax wear - add the extra wheel kit. I've had no problems.
Handwarmers - a total and complete JOKE for the money you spend on these F'n sleds. Totaly unacceptable, and if I was Yamaha I'd be big time embarrassed for putting that lousy engineering on the market. But again, I fixed it with an electronic aftermarket product that puts full power to the warmers utilizing the std. hand warmer switch. Again, I'm not a mechanic, but this probably took me an hour to install.
One thing you can't fix on Yamaha's - the weight. And I don't like it, but it isn't noticeable as long as your aren't trying to get the sleds on dolly's to move in and out of garage. If I ever go to Doo, which I just might for at least ONE of my next sleds, it will be for the weight difference on the 1200 4-TEK vs. any Yamaha.
dfattack
Well-known member
Left as stock, the darting has been traditionally an issue. Going to Bergstrom triple points and adjusting the limiter strap fixes this...Completely. Hy-fax is "sometimes" an issue based on the model. Some have been fine and some have worn after 1,000 miles or so. I think it has a little to do with snow conditions. I think they wear quicker in low snow conditions. Pioneer Performance has a wheel kit (which I have added to an 2006 Apex GT and a 2007 Attak GT. This kit fixed the problem. Other than carbides and wheel kits my machines are stock.
How many of us actually leave 100% of the sleds stock? My guess is not many based on comments I've read throughout this site and others. Every manufacturer has issues to work on. It's my opinion that the issues Yamaha has to work on are minor compared to the competing brands, which to be honest is even more annoying to me. Three years of hand warmers that didn't work well was unacceptable. They fixed that finally. Their other issues could easily be corrected, but why did we, the end user have to?
After seeing for myself all of the procedures (service bulletins from the factory) the dealerships had to go through with the competing brands before even delivering the sleds to customers was mind boggling and a little scary. A good friend was the service manager at the dealership where I buy my machines. They sell all four major brands.
I''ll finish by saying that I don't have a problem with other people liking other brands. it's good for the industry to have options and it keeps the manufacturers always striving for market share. That's good for us. Fit and finish is important to me, that's why I make the decisions I do not only with sleds, but boats and cars as well.
you just edited it, i clicked quote and it wasn't quoting what you said
Hope none of your Polaris' have FUJI engines. Definitely made by the Japanese. And I'm guessing those Liberty engines still have some Japanese influence as well (quite a few FUJI-sourced parts). Just giving you a hard time...I'd prefer American also whenever possible.
Also, I KNOW my Polaris engine is American made - twice! 2nd time, it was rebuilt by a mechanic in Three Lakes Wisconsin!
indy_500
Well-known member
100% US built Liberty 700 non-ves says made in usa right on the head