Mixed emotions

[SledTL]

So I'm wondering what are people's thoughts on this new Yamaha sled. Not the the sled but like the partner ship of the two companies. I have this sense that all the sleds like identical now. Just no longer any like difference between a sled. Just buy a name now. Pick do you want it in blue orange yellow or red. All of the sleds are now split headlights, rider forward position, and a turbo four stroke. Maybe I'm totally wrong on this, it just feels like there is no more competition like there was during the eighties and nineties. What do some of you guys think

 

[yamahauler]

I like the idea, instead of just saying to heck with it, they team up in hopes of making some awesome sleds, we'll see.

 

[eagle1]

I'm not brand loyal so it doesn't bother me probably as much as say die hard Cat or Yamaha guy. If they can build a better sled together, I say go for it!

 

[jr37]

It does not matter to me what the 2 companies do. My only concern would be with the possible future of only 3 manufacturers. I don't think that is what snowmobiling needs. A few more choices would be good, not fewer.

 

[Banjo Man]

With an AC chassis and a Yami motor, be hard to go wrong. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[gogebic_sledder]

If i was a yamaha guy I would be disappointed that they have given up trying to innovate for themselves. If I was a cat guy I be pissed because the Yamaha looks better than the cat. The four-stroke market as a whole will benefit due to the merger, cat guys will be introduced to a far better engine than their 1100. But myself and most Doo&Poo guys we'll keep our 2 strokes and ride the the deep stuff, oh ya almost forgot about the 800 cat guys too. But then again the cat guys might all be driving XF's with apex motors in them real soon.Pray for DI, I guess will see soon.

 

[tgun]

I am a Poo guy but I like the look. Both the red and blue are sharp.

 

[mjkaliszak]

Wouldn't mind test riding.

 

[skidoodoug]

Less competition=higher prices

 

[lenny]

With an AC chassis and a Yami motor, be hard to go wrong. We'll have to wait and see.

that's what I say!

 

[yamahauler]

Wouldn't mind test riding.

I thought the same thing, then said wait, they are already crazy high so having 4 mfg didn't really matter.

How high can they go...hard to say because I think they are out of most people price point. That's why most by year old or more stuff when the discounts kick in.

 

[SledTL]

I thought the same thing, then said wait, they are already crazy high so having 4 mfg didn't really matter.

How high can they go...hard to say because I think they are out of most people price point. That's why most by year old or more stuff when the discounts kick in.

I wonder if they will follow in the car companies foot tracks and then come out with some economical snowmobiles. Not to put down my dads sled, he has a 2006 GSX, but it is a pretty basic sled I think. It has a 550 fan in it and the fanciest thing is probably electric start and reverse. Definitely not a cheap toy by any means and I think that it is a quality sled, but by no means is it a Yamaha or anything. I think that this hurts the business the most. It's harder to buy newer sleds, and they get to a point where it is more expensive to repair than the sled is worth once people hold onto them longer. With me and my brother going to college in a few years there won't be any changes to the garage soon.

 

[yamahauler]

SledTL...it's hard to say what will happen. They do market research and that and the gov't regs are what drives a lot of the stuff. Just with that I don't see anything getting cheaper. You look at the cost to do business nowadays and unfortunately it is not coming down. Therefore, the cost is pushed onto the consumer. With wages not nearly rising like the cost of goods, it's hard to stay in the sport.

 

[SnowScreamer]

It sounds like this threat was started for someone to give an opinion on design of the newer machines. The facts are that the manufacturers use similar technology in design of body components, hence the dual lights. But there are sleds out there like the Polaris Rush that uses a non-conventional rear suspension. All manufacturers use double a-arm from suspension because its been proven to work since the 50's in formula 1 race cars. Arctic Cat was the first to utilize that design on a snowmobile and it was amazing it took the other three manufacturers so long to upgrade to a-arm suspension. If you compare the design of snowmobiles to automobiles generally, you will see that the newer cars start to look like each other. The Chevy Malibu looks similar to an Honda Accord, which can be said for countless car designs. The real revolution design change came with the Ski-Doo rev, and like the wishbone front suspension every one jumped on that design concept because it worked and was extremely easy to market. Now the snowmobiles are so good, you just kinda pick your favorite flavor and go have fun.

 

[whitedust]

Cut the crap deal with the facts there are 4 OEMS that offer sleds with whatever flavor engine you want 1 OEM combo sled the Viper & whatever Cat releases in 2014 with a yamaha 3 cyl.4s engine. All your brand favs are still for sale no one eliminated any model just the opposite Yam added the Viper. Geez guys ease up & check the websites for the facts!

 

[ss440]

Cut the crap deal with the facts there are 4 OEMS that offer sleds with whatever flavor engine you want 1 OEM combo sled the Viper & whatever Cat releases in 2014 with a yamaha 3 cyl.4s engine. All your brand favs are still for sale no one eliminated any model just the opposite Yam added the Viper. Geez guys ease up & check the websites for the facts!

Take a deep breath and relax. On a second note I wouldn't be surprised if yamaha did eliminate many sleds from their line up in the future. Why keep the nytro? Procross is a better chassis in every way, it has the same engine. Why keep the vector? put mirrors on a viper and a softer suspension and presto you have a better sled. Now turbo the viper motor or drop in the apex motor, and say bye bye to the apex. Every OEM other than yamaha has stream lined their chassis it make's sense. I wouldn't be surprised if yamaha"s new sleds they speak of to be released are all in the procross. Every year they drop a sled and just put that motor in a procross, probably even the phazer(probably weighs as much as a 130 HP Viper)

 

[buddah2]

It does not matter to me what the 2 companies do. My only concern would be with the possible future of only 3 manufacturers. I don't think that is what snowmobiling needs. A few more choices would be good, not fewer.

Not likely to happen......it's a dwindling market and there could possibly be even more "consolidation" down the road. Want more choices? Get more newbies involved so there will be new $$$ in the sport.

 

[whitedust]

Take a deep breath and relax. On a second note I wouldn't be surprised if yamaha did eliminate many sleds from their line up in the future. Why keep the nytro? Procross is a better chassis in every way, it has the same engine. Why keep the vector? put mirrors on a viper and a softer suspension and presto you have a better sled. Now turbo the viper motor or drop in the apex motor, and say bye bye to the apex. Every OEM other than yamaha has stream lined their chassis it make's sense. I wouldn't be surprised if yamaha"s new sleds they speak of to be released are all in the procross. Every year they drop a sled and just put that motor in a procross, probably even the phazer(probably weighs as much as a 130 HP Viper)

NOT where the 2 companies are now & anyone can dream up whatever they want for future products not based on any known R&D facts & Yamaha has always been very tight lipped in AR&D of new products. This is soooooooo simple if the enduser purchases Vipers it stays in the Yamaha line & might be expanded . If the enduser purchases AC sleds with Yamaha engines then those engines stay in the AC lineup & can be expanded. AC terminated their relationship with Suzki they need a 4s snowmobile engine that they had been outsourcing for years surprise surprise an OEM agreement with Yamaha for engines. AC still holding the line that they are developing their own DI 2s. Does it use Yam DI 2s tech maybe no way to know? It is very difficult in the current financial climate for Yamaha to build snowmobiles in Japan then ship to USA & sell at competitive MSRP. The Viper will be built in TRF to reduce costs again very logical & profitable for both companies. The legit question is will the Viper TRF fit & finish be up to Yamaha faithful standards? The engine & clutch will be AOK already proven. The success of this OEM Agreement will be based on what we the snowmobilng public decide to purchase simple as that. Where we go from here is up to us those are the facts we know today everything else is conjecture.

 

[lenny]

Take a deep breath and relax. On a second note I wouldn't be surprised if yamaha did eliminate many sleds from their line up in the future. Why keep the nytro? Procross is a better chassis in every way, it has the same engine. Why keep the vector? put mirrors on a viper and a softer suspension and presto you have a better sled. Now turbo the viper motor or drop in the apex motor, and say bye bye to the apex. Every OEM other than yamaha has stream lined their chassis it make's sense. I wouldn't be surprised if yamaha"s new sleds they speak of to be released are all in the procross. Every year they drop a sled and just put that motor in a procross, probably even the phazer(probably weighs as much as a 130 HP Viper)

just curious,, are you speaking from riding experience? I live within a stones throw of a Yamaha dealer and I have many many friends that come up to ride here in the UP and I always get to ride each others sleds. Last year I rode a 2012 rush back country, this year I rode a 2012 renegade 600e, last year I rode a 2012 1100 non turbo. Yamaha does indeed have a very smooth riding suspension and I speak from experience. I am not implying you have not, seriously just asking because lots of people here this and that but do not get a chance to ride them all. I just listed a few of the more current sleds but have ridden basically everything out there and can attest Yamaha does offer good riding sleds, not the stereotype of tears ago. With all that said I would have to agree the yammi chassis is not far behind so I do understand your point.

 

[gary_in_neenah]

it just feels like there is no more competition like there was during the eighties and nineties.

Some of us Older Dogs go back to the days when Doo was yellow, Polaris was white, & Cat was black. Lots of competition back then too, like a hundred manufacturers, and now we have just four left. The best machines and the deepest pockets have brought us to where we are today.

This last part might get me flamed but it's just my 2 cents. They're all good! There's not a bad machine built in my opinion. If you take care of them they'll last for years and provide a lot of fun and they should.... considering what they cost.

OK, I'm done.