Twin_SXs
New member
Okay, I have an old set of USI skis that came on my 600SX when I bought it. I don't know what kind or year the skis are but they were broken and weather cracked so they had to go. I'm pretty sure that they are VX301s--but I'm not positive.
Anyway, I bought a used set of stock Yamaha GYT skis--the type that comes on the SX-Rs and SRXs in 00 or 01 to replace the beat up old broken USI ones that I got on the sled.
So now I have both sets of skis side by side, and I'll be darned--they are identical. I had heard somewhere--probably a snowgoer or snowtech article way back in the day--that Yamaha was re-branding USI skis. It was in the late nineties when the steel skis were all going away--remember the transition from all steel, to steel with plastic skins, and finally to all plastic? Well, Yammie worked something out with USI to use their skis, cause they didn't have their own design yet. I think that's how it went down anyway.
So... to get to my point--I can't find any info on this, or what type of USI's the GYT skis are, but after comparing them side by side I KNOW that the GYT's are actually USI's...So does anyone know the whole story behind this?
I've actually seen threads on here where people have gone out and bought VX301's to replace their stock GYTs with, and I can't for the life of me understand why. Ain't these the same ski?
Anyway, I bought a used set of stock Yamaha GYT skis--the type that comes on the SX-Rs and SRXs in 00 or 01 to replace the beat up old broken USI ones that I got on the sled.
So now I have both sets of skis side by side, and I'll be darned--they are identical. I had heard somewhere--probably a snowgoer or snowtech article way back in the day--that Yamaha was re-branding USI skis. It was in the late nineties when the steel skis were all going away--remember the transition from all steel, to steel with plastic skins, and finally to all plastic? Well, Yammie worked something out with USI to use their skis, cause they didn't have their own design yet. I think that's how it went down anyway.
So... to get to my point--I can't find any info on this, or what type of USI's the GYT skis are, but after comparing them side by side I KNOW that the GYT's are actually USI's...So does anyone know the whole story behind this?
I've actually seen threads on here where people have gone out and bought VX301's to replace their stock GYTs with, and I can't for the life of me understand why. Ain't these the same ski?
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
not for me!!!!
I changed the stock ski's from my 2001 SXR600 with brand new VX301's
and they were not even close in the way they looked.Both were totally different ski's.
I changed the stock ski's from my 2001 SXR600 with brand new VX301's
and they were not even close in the way they looked.Both were totally different ski's.
terret725
New member
post some pics might help to find out
If I remember correctly, when I replaced my 98 steel skis with srx skis, the USI ski's were very similar, if not copies. The ski loops were different as they incorperated an adjustment to allow pulling the tip upward or pushing it downward, but the saddle and the lower ski profile were basically the same. USI continued to improve/evolve thier ski, but yes, I would agree with you, the yamaha ski is basically a copy of the "original" USI ski.
USI made the Yamaha plastic ski's for the trailing arm sleds. I have a pair of GYT All Purpose skis on my XTC. Much cheaper than USI when I purchased them. 6" wide with a deeper keel than the regular GYT skis. They are on the sled in my avatar. Never seen the VX ski so I can't answer that question LOL.
Twin_SXs
New member
Let me see if I can get some pictures up here.
The ski profile, shape, and saddle are all identical, but the loops are different. I assume this is mostly so they don't look identical at first glance.
The ski profile, shape, and saddle are all identical, but the loops are different. I assume this is mostly so they don't look identical at first glance.
Twin_SXs
New member
Pictures of the two skis
My first try at pictures...
My first try at pictures...
Twin_SXs
New member
Try #2
Twin_SXs
New member
Hmm... Pics are tricky
Why is this linking it instead of embedding it into the post? I have it between the IMG tags.
Why is this linking it instead of embedding it into the post? I have it between the IMG tags.
Twin_SXs
New member
Twin_SXs
New member
Okay, I finally managed to get the pics on the site. Now, notice that the bottom profile is exactly the same, and the shape, carbide bolt pattern, and mount are the same too? Did USI change these skis over the years? I know this particular set is quite old.
Twin_SXs
New member
When you buy a set of USI TX-301's, do they still say "TIVAR" on them?
horkn
New member
Twin_SXs said:
isn't TIVAR the kind of plastic the skis are made of?
MSASRX
New member
Those red USI ski's are the "tunnelblades" that came out @ 97' -remember the ads USI had for them-"too aggressive?-tell someone who cares!" AND they were almost identical to the ski's that they first used on the 98' SRX's-and then SXR's in 00'-02' - Untll yamaha outsourced thier ski's to someone else-(Guy from USI said they are now being built in china =cheap - that started on the 01' vmax's-02' vipers and on up....on all the new 4strokers).
The VX-301 , and the PX-301 's are WAY different - very wide -and improved bottom/keel designs...
Hope this helps.
-Matt
The VX-301 , and the PX-301 's are WAY different - very wide -and improved bottom/keel designs...
Hope this helps.
-Matt