Hebi
New member
Growing up around Polaris sleds, I think I am more than qualified to cover this topic.
Did the XTRA-12 ride better the the XTRA-10, yes. It was a much more plush ride. It also did have more travel than the XTRA-10, it was around 11.5".
2 weeks ago I rode through 30 miles of a mixture of washboard bumps and 3 foot deep holes in the trail. I pounded my '01 Polaris 600 XC EDGE X over those bumps and through those holes as hard as it would go. I honestly think the sled spent more time in the air than it did on the ground. I checked it over when I got home and I did not break one single part. I read about people breaking W arms on their RX-1s and bending trailing arms on their Vipers trying to keep up through the ditches with REVs, Firecats and EDGEs. As I see it, Yamaha simply hasnt caught up in terms of suspension. Yamaha rules in terms of engine technology, and fit 'n finish (the others are slowly but surely catching up in that regard though) but still they put suspensions under their sleds that cant match the performance that the engine is capable of.
Im not saying Yamaha makes a bad sled, in fact they make great sleds. I cant take anything away from them in terms of engine durability. However, as Ive said, they need to do a little more work in the suspension department.
I plan on riding an '05 RS Vector this weekend, and I hope that it will proove me wrong. However, I have a feeling that I will walk away with the impression that the overall package is great but it needs more suspension work.
My family has owned Polaris since 1978 and we've always had good luck with Polaris. I like my 600 XC. It does everything I want it to and seldom catches me off guard. However, I like Yamaha too. I feel in love with these sleds when the first blue SXs came out and still love the looks of a Yamaha. I loved my '90 Phazer II.
However, where I ride the trails often get very, very bumpy. I need something with a great suspension and I dont feel that Yamaha's suspension are up to the task. Im also not sure that I want a sled that is 530-550 pounds.
Again, I dont expect anyone to support me on this opinion, and Im not asking anyone too.
I wish that Yamaha would have not given up on 2-strokes so quickly. They have left a lot of people like myself, who want a lightweight sled (under 500 pounds) with very little choice but to look to the other brands. I am truly sorry but thats the way it is. Its good that Yamaha still makes the SX Venom but for what the sled costs you could get a 500cc ditchbanger and get more sled for less money. For about $500 more than a Venom you could get a very nice 600 XC SP and have something that is much, much better than a Venom.
Once again, I hope this doesnt start trouble, because that is not my intent. However, if Yamaha truly is reading this I hope they will realize that they are driving away some people by focusing on 4-strokes.
This is fact: I love Yamaha. I think they are a great company who always strives their best to put out a product that is of the highest possible quality. However, when I can get a product that fits my needs better from another manufacturer, I have to take that opportunity. Why should I buy a Yamaha and have to put $500-$1000 into it to make it do what I want, when I can buy a REV 600 H.O., an F6 or a 600 XC SP and have something that will do everything I want after about 5 minutes of suspension setup time?
I like coming on TY. You guys have always been a really cool bunch and have never judged anyone no matter what sled they ride. Even when I first came on here you all treated me like family and that meant a lot to me. This is one of the better snowmobile forums there is in terms of the quality of people who frequent it. It seems like you all just want to make your own sleds better and help out others if you can. I think thats very cool and something that is rare to find.
Hebi
Did the XTRA-12 ride better the the XTRA-10, yes. It was a much more plush ride. It also did have more travel than the XTRA-10, it was around 11.5".
2 weeks ago I rode through 30 miles of a mixture of washboard bumps and 3 foot deep holes in the trail. I pounded my '01 Polaris 600 XC EDGE X over those bumps and through those holes as hard as it would go. I honestly think the sled spent more time in the air than it did on the ground. I checked it over when I got home and I did not break one single part. I read about people breaking W arms on their RX-1s and bending trailing arms on their Vipers trying to keep up through the ditches with REVs, Firecats and EDGEs. As I see it, Yamaha simply hasnt caught up in terms of suspension. Yamaha rules in terms of engine technology, and fit 'n finish (the others are slowly but surely catching up in that regard though) but still they put suspensions under their sleds that cant match the performance that the engine is capable of.
Im not saying Yamaha makes a bad sled, in fact they make great sleds. I cant take anything away from them in terms of engine durability. However, as Ive said, they need to do a little more work in the suspension department.
I plan on riding an '05 RS Vector this weekend, and I hope that it will proove me wrong. However, I have a feeling that I will walk away with the impression that the overall package is great but it needs more suspension work.
My family has owned Polaris since 1978 and we've always had good luck with Polaris. I like my 600 XC. It does everything I want it to and seldom catches me off guard. However, I like Yamaha too. I feel in love with these sleds when the first blue SXs came out and still love the looks of a Yamaha. I loved my '90 Phazer II.
However, where I ride the trails often get very, very bumpy. I need something with a great suspension and I dont feel that Yamaha's suspension are up to the task. Im also not sure that I want a sled that is 530-550 pounds.
Again, I dont expect anyone to support me on this opinion, and Im not asking anyone too.
I wish that Yamaha would have not given up on 2-strokes so quickly. They have left a lot of people like myself, who want a lightweight sled (under 500 pounds) with very little choice but to look to the other brands. I am truly sorry but thats the way it is. Its good that Yamaha still makes the SX Venom but for what the sled costs you could get a 500cc ditchbanger and get more sled for less money. For about $500 more than a Venom you could get a very nice 600 XC SP and have something that is much, much better than a Venom.
Once again, I hope this doesnt start trouble, because that is not my intent. However, if Yamaha truly is reading this I hope they will realize that they are driving away some people by focusing on 4-strokes.
This is fact: I love Yamaha. I think they are a great company who always strives their best to put out a product that is of the highest possible quality. However, when I can get a product that fits my needs better from another manufacturer, I have to take that opportunity. Why should I buy a Yamaha and have to put $500-$1000 into it to make it do what I want, when I can buy a REV 600 H.O., an F6 or a 600 XC SP and have something that will do everything I want after about 5 minutes of suspension setup time?
I like coming on TY. You guys have always been a really cool bunch and have never judged anyone no matter what sled they ride. Even when I first came on here you all treated me like family and that meant a lot to me. This is one of the better snowmobile forums there is in terms of the quality of people who frequent it. It seems like you all just want to make your own sleds better and help out others if you can. I think thats very cool and something that is rare to find.
Hebi
