Keep old sled or buy new??
- Thread starter snow_monkey
- Start date
booondocker
New member
Wow, just about every opinion possible on this one.
Two points here.
One is that HOW the machine has been treated is vitally important. Along with the basic history of that sled, some machines have a very long life expectancy if you aren't unreasonably hard on a machine and take care of it, with a bit of luck you can put lots of miles on it with just routine maint. and changing out parts which are worn out or waring out. So learn the history of the unit you drive and see what the average is doing and then combine that with how YOU drove it and that should get you the information you are wondering about.
The other thing to remember is, that beginning the day you buy your new sled, you should be chunking $1000 per year in a special savings bank to get ready for the next sled. If you do that, it won't be such a jolt to the system when you buy the next one.
I know it is hard thing to do, just like buying trucks...once the sled is paid for, you simply keep paying yourself by putting the funds in the bank, $50 per week or whatever you can afford then you won't need to whack the wife, lie to her or give up a pool, because the money is there and you are ready with the funds and she won't kill you because you have to kill the monthly budget with your expensive sled.
I do agree that the 4 stroke sled is going to change how we look at the life of a sled...and as others above on here can testify, the rebuild of 2 strokes are all over the boards and you can always get stuck with a machine that has flaky piston rings, or weak crank bearings by design and then the life is seriously shortened.
Take care of a sled that was well built and designed and put together correctly at the factory and you can drive them for 20,000 miles and that includes a few two strokes that were well taken care of. Oil has come a long way to help this out too.
And dats all I got to say on this one....
Two points here.
One is that HOW the machine has been treated is vitally important. Along with the basic history of that sled, some machines have a very long life expectancy if you aren't unreasonably hard on a machine and take care of it, with a bit of luck you can put lots of miles on it with just routine maint. and changing out parts which are worn out or waring out. So learn the history of the unit you drive and see what the average is doing and then combine that with how YOU drove it and that should get you the information you are wondering about.
The other thing to remember is, that beginning the day you buy your new sled, you should be chunking $1000 per year in a special savings bank to get ready for the next sled. If you do that, it won't be such a jolt to the system when you buy the next one.
I know it is hard thing to do, just like buying trucks...once the sled is paid for, you simply keep paying yourself by putting the funds in the bank, $50 per week or whatever you can afford then you won't need to whack the wife, lie to her or give up a pool, because the money is there and you are ready with the funds and she won't kill you because you have to kill the monthly budget with your expensive sled.
I do agree that the 4 stroke sled is going to change how we look at the life of a sled...and as others above on here can testify, the rebuild of 2 strokes are all over the boards and you can always get stuck with a machine that has flaky piston rings, or weak crank bearings by design and then the life is seriously shortened.
Take care of a sled that was well built and designed and put together correctly at the factory and you can drive them for 20,000 miles and that includes a few two strokes that were well taken care of. Oil has come a long way to help this out too.
And dats all I got to say on this one....
Yep but nice to know the 4s engine is still hummming at 10,000 + miles. Also the $10,000 reorder new trail sled cycle is getting longer & longer so choose carefully as you will more than likley have that sled for 5 years or more. Too expensive to keep flipping over every few years.
srt20
Active member
Its not just about the engines.
Our riding group has had four 4s Yamahas in the last 3 years. All four of us will be on 2s again this year. For our style of riding, which is trails only, all four of us disliked the 4s sleds. I am one the ones back on a 2s. The 4s I had was the worst handling sled Ive ever been on. And yes I tried many different set-ups, including, different swaybars, springs, and 4 or 5 different valvings on the shocks.
My 2s engine also seized last year, due to a bad carb boot. I have extended warranty. Was fixed in a week. I would glady give up one week to be happy with the sled I have.
JMO, different strokes for different folks. But I am not touching another 4s, til they shaved another 75 lbs of them.
Our riding group has had four 4s Yamahas in the last 3 years. All four of us will be on 2s again this year. For our style of riding, which is trails only, all four of us disliked the 4s sleds. I am one the ones back on a 2s. The 4s I had was the worst handling sled Ive ever been on. And yes I tried many different set-ups, including, different swaybars, springs, and 4 or 5 different valvings on the shocks.
My 2s engine also seized last year, due to a bad carb boot. I have extended warranty. Was fixed in a week. I would glady give up one week to be happy with the sled I have.
JMO, different strokes for different folks. But I am not touching another 4s, til they shaved another 75 lbs of them.
G
G
Guest
I tried to go back to a two smoker but after having several 4's it didn't work. Everytime I went out I was wondering if this would be the time the two smoker would blow. After a person gets used to the bulletproof nature of a Yami 4 it is tough to go back. I am an old fart now and I value reliability and no wrenching over light weight and razor sharp handling. If I were younger I'm sure I would have to have the lightest most powerful sled built. It's all about what works for you.
G
G
Guest
I stand corrected - nothing is bulletproof. Sorry to hear of your misfortune srt. It sucks to have problems like that while on vacation. I guess I don't blame you and your group for trying something else. It is a little disturbing that all the mfg are making some components lighter than they used to be in their efforts to save weight and $. As was stated in an earlier thread - For what we pay for these things they should all last 15000 miles without problems.
srt20 sorry your sleds broke but not the case for me but I bought 07 Yam not early 4s models. 5,000 trouble free miles is the best I ever have had on a sled & like grub said reliability is what I look for now. All my other new 2s motors went bad from 500 miles to 5,000 miles. I'm with grub it would be very tough to go back to 2s after all the 2s engine failures. To me buy what you want but 4s engines will last much longer than 2s. I also think all OEM 4s models are pretty darn mature now & best bang for the buck. I bought new doo 800 2s in 2003 my last 2s & looked at RX1 but 4s tech was just emerging then in my opinion. Yam 4s just got better & better each year. On all 4s got to keep those chains adjusted just takes a minute or 2 on Yams. As far as skid frames never broke one 2s or 4s so I don't perceive that as a problem with any OEM.
srt20
Active member
I agree that for the price we pay, they all should be lasting 15k miles without problems. But I was just pointing out that not even Yamaha, who I agree prolly has the best reputation for reliabilty, can make it 15k.
Theres no doubt a 4s engine will last longer on average than a 2s. Look at the design. But I want to be happy with the ride also. I never worried about my Yamaha engine, but could not get it to ride or handle the way I liked to save my life.
I will gladly keep rebuilding my 2s now, because I love the sled. It rides and handles exactly how I want it to. I rode with a guy once last year that hated his 09 Nytro. And he came off an F7, so you know he wasnt used to good handling.
We ride tight twisty trails most of the time. And I know this is a old cliche, but the 4s are just to damn top heavy for us.
I honestly couldnt care less what people buy or are happy with. None of the manufacturers are giving me a penny to push their products. Our group is happy with 2s. But what works for us might not work for you.
Buy what makes you happy! Think snow!
Theres no doubt a 4s engine will last longer on average than a 2s. Look at the design. But I want to be happy with the ride also. I never worried about my Yamaha engine, but could not get it to ride or handle the way I liked to save my life.
I will gladly keep rebuilding my 2s now, because I love the sled. It rides and handles exactly how I want it to. I rode with a guy once last year that hated his 09 Nytro. And he came off an F7, so you know he wasnt used to good handling.
We ride tight twisty trails most of the time. And I know this is a old cliche, but the 4s are just to damn top heavy for us.
I honestly couldnt care less what people buy or are happy with. None of the manufacturers are giving me a penny to push their products. Our group is happy with 2s. But what works for us might not work for you.
Buy what makes you happy! Think snow!
G
G
Guest
The fours are top heavy. That cannot be argued. If you are in the tight twisties a Nytro would be the best choice Yami wise. Most any Rev will crucify a Nytro in the twistys. Plus Nytros have all they can do to go 100. Getting off an F7 for a Nytro would be one heck of a letdown for what you guys do. I wish I were younger so this type of riding was important to me. Now I like nice wide groomed trails with an occasional lake throw in. 4's work for me. They aren't for everyone. I hope we always have the choice.
snow_monkey
New member
Snow monkey not go to snow show, Snow monkey rake leaves instead. Snow monkey will check compression on sled this weekend and fire it up.
J
just_ride
Guest
srt20
We also snapped drive shaft in 06 Apex. Yamaha didn't cover it. out of warranty
06 Vector cracked oil pan, was covered by Yamaha
What ever you buy, get the extended warranty.
We also snapped drive shaft in 06 Apex. Yamaha didn't cover it. out of warranty
06 Vector cracked oil pan, was covered by Yamaha
What ever you buy, get the extended warranty.
snow_monkey
New member
Thanks for all the posts. Looks like one more two stroke for me then I may join grub on a nytro! Anyone who wants to hook up in Houghton Lake Harrison area and ride off trail look me up!!
coldsmokejr
New member
Thats great Cooksend!! "Stationary items" haha. 2s or 4s, A-arms still bend!! If I were you snow monkey, I'd ride the old one another season, and jump at the chance to do any and all demo rides (most dealers are accomodating)before you buy, any new sled is a good one, but for what we spend nowdays make sure its what ya want. Oh yeah, I like the nytros XTXs too!