Will Yamaha change its ways?

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Waters88

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Strathroy, Ontario
OK, maybe this is not the exact place to vent about Yamaha, but I have been thinking about this lately, and it bothers me alot.

I am a HUGE Yamaha fan, and have been working my way up in sleds. I had a few late 90s machines, and then had a 2005 Polaris(which SUCKED), so I went back to a '98 Vmax 600. I then grabbed a Viper 700. LOVE it, but am thinking about after this season of getting another sled. Problem is, what do I get? I DO NOT, and WILL NOT get/be able to afford a 1000CC Yamaha. I also do not want a 500CC sled

First is the value that used sleds command in Canada. I can get over that, the second ptroblem is I have already made the calls around about insurance. Ya, right, at just turning 22, most companies will not insure me(I had a tough time getting insurance for the Viper), and the companies that will cover me want somewhere around $1300-$1500 a year.

So I suppose my only choice is to stick with my Viper, but honestly, I see myself getting bored with it in a few years and wanting to move along to another machine. If Yamaha does not make a 600, 700 or 800 within the next couple years, the Rev XP will probably get my pick.

I know alot of guys love the 1000cc powerhouses, but in all honesty with the way the economy is going, and how the sport is growing (more families, younger people) I do not see how they are gaining in that market when you have the choice of 1000cc sleds, and a couple lowly(and IMO) ugly 500cc machines.

Just my thoughts. I know alot of people see it very differently, I know alot of guys who think companies should make sleds with MINIMUM 1000cc motors, but thats just not my style.
 

Now why wouldn't they insure your sled if you bought it??And why would it cost a fortune?Here in Manitoba motorcycles cost outrageous $$$$.But I just insured both my sleds last week for $80 a piece.Just a standard fee to get them on the snow.Comes with 1 million $$$ liability.No fire,theft or damage.The sleds are old now and I won't put that kind of $ out,otherwise it would be the same as the motorcycle..sitting in the shed and never being used.
That is why I won't buy a new sled either,I would be forced to pay high insurance on them and I just can't do that.So I will stick to the old iron for a few more years and then I will get myself a power wheelchair for when I get real old..not yet but soon..lol ;)!
 
Just like guys who still ride 78 to 81 SRX..some 22 years old,I will be riding my 2002 SRX into the year 2024..... ;)! I will be collecting my Pension when that happens..but would of saved a lot of $ over the years keeping the same sleds going.Now if the Government bans the use of 2 stroke machines in a few years..guess I'll take up cross country skiing..lol
Hey I still drive my 1996 Ford 1/2 ton and ionsurance is atad over $500 for the year,can't go wrong there either.Its just me,I like old stuff,not into all this computerized vehicles..don't need it,it doesn't do anything for me.
 
Make sure you understand that with 4-stroke engines you generally need more cc's to get the same horsepower. You also need a little more horsepower and/or efficiency to offset the added weight of the 4-stroke drivetrain. Yamaha does exceptionally well in this arena. The Nytro 3 cylinder, although in the 1000 cc range is comparable to a 600 - 700 cc 2-stroke. In fact it feels and handles very similar to the comparable 600 models from the other manufacturers. One strong attribute of a 4-stroke is low-end torque and this really shows up in the Nytro engine.

The power of the Phazer 500 cc is in between the 500 fan and 500 liquid offerings from the others. However it's riding format and feel is somewhat one of a kind.

Quite honestly, don't take our word for it, see for yourself and go ride the different models.

There are many things to like with the Yamaha machines, just like there are things to like with the other's machines.

Pick an insurance company that rates on horsepower, not displacement.
 
Ding said:
Make sure you understand that with 4-stroke engines you generally need more cc's to get the same horsepower. You also need a little more horsepower and/or efficiency to offset the added weight of the 4-stroke drivetrain. Yamaha does exceptionally well in this arena. The Nytro 3 cylinder, although in the 1000 cc range is comparable to a 600 - 700 cc 2-stroke. In fact it feels and handles very similar to the comparable 600 models from the other manufacturers. One strong attribute of a 4-stroke is low-end torque and this really shows up in the Nytro engine.

The power of the Phazer 500 cc is in between the 500 fan and 500 liquid offerings from the others. However it's riding format and feel is somewhat one of a kind.

Quite honestly, don't take our word for it, see for yourself and go ride the different models.

There are many things to like with the Yamaha machines, just like there are things to like with the other's machines.

Pick an insurance company that rates on horsepower, not displacement.
Click to expand...



Great post Ding. Couldn't have said it better.

I have an 03 RX1 as my daily trail sled. It's a great machine that just needed an 05 seat to be perfect. On average you can buy them around here for $3,000 to $4,000 in good used condition. A lot of sled for the money. They will putt along with a 250 all day without a hicup or run away and hide from Vipers with ease and do it using less fuel than either. Yes they are heavy but I bought mine to ride not carry and the weight isn't noticable in normal riding so it isn't an issue for me and the engine doesn't seem to care.

As far as I'm concerned you can buy more sled for less money now than you ever could before.

opsled
 
How much do pay a year for insurance on the Viper? I Just bought an '03 700. Also who are you with? I have my 98 Vmax XT 500 insured with TD and is only 220ish a year.I'm also 22 years old, my brother is 24 and his '00 SRX 700 is about the same.

Matt
 
Nope, they will never change their ways.
The best lineup they ever had was the 1999 lineup. Haven't really paid much attention to the new yamahas after the model year of 2002.

Waters88 said:
OK, maybe this is not the exact place to vent about Yamaha, but I have been thinking about this lately, and it bothers me alot.

I am a HUGE Yamaha fan, and have been working my way up in sleds. I had a few late 90s machines, and then had a 2005 Polaris(which SUCKED), so I went back to a '98 Vmax 600. I then grabbed a Viper 700. LOVE it, but am thinking about after this season of getting another sled. Problem is, what do I get? I DO NOT, and WILL NOT get/be able to afford a 1000CC Yamaha. I also do not want a 500CC sled

First is the value that used sleds command in Canada. I can get over that, the second ptroblem is I have already made the calls around about insurance. Ya, right, at just turning 22, most companies will not insure me(I had a tough time getting insurance for the Viper), and the companies that will cover me want somewhere around $1300-$1500 a year.

So I suppose my only choice is to stick with my Viper, but honestly, I see myself getting bored with it in a few years and wanting to move along to another machine. If Yamaha does not make a 600, 700 or 800 within the next couple years, the Rev XP will probably get my pick.

I know alot of guys love the 1000cc powerhouses, but in all honesty with the way the economy is going, and how the sport is growing (more families, younger people) I do not see how they are gaining in that market when you have the choice of 1000cc sleds, and a couple lowly(and IMO) ugly 500cc machines.

Just my thoughts. I know alot of people see it very differently, I know alot of guys who think companies should make sleds with MINIMUM 1000cc motors, but thats just not my style.
Click to expand...
 
I pay about 340 a year for my 700. Insurance companies in Canada do not even ask about HP, they ONLY care about the amount of CC's a sled has. I mentioned to my insurance agent I was looking at a 1000, and he said they would not insure me until I was 25. I believe my parent insurance company is Aviva.

Either way, its not even the fact IF I want a huge motor, its just plain and simple, overkill. I do not want to, nor do I drive 180KM/H all over the place..... 700 is more motor than I need in fact. When I got my viper, I got it for the look. Truely I wanted to find a 600cc Venom, but those things are RARE in my area.
 
Waters88 said:
I pay about 340 a year for my 700. Insurance companies in Canada do not even ask about HP, they ONLY care about the amount of CC's a sled has. I mentioned to my insurance agent I was looking at a 1000, and he said they would not insure me until I was 25. I believe my parent insurance company is Aviva.

Either way, its not even the fact IF I want a huge motor, its just plain and simple, overkill. I do not want to, nor do I drive 180KM/H all over the place..... 700 is more motor than I need in fact. When I got my viper, I got it for the look. Truely I wanted to find a 600cc Venom, but those things are RARE in my area.
Click to expand...

What type of insurance do you have on it, we just have basic on ours.You can get a free online quote from TD,It might be worth checking out.

The venoms are rare, I wanted a red viper but settled for blue since I didn't want to pay 5gs for a red one I looked at.I live in Niagara and I went past Cambridge to get my viper.

Matt
 
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but IMO you are in the minority. 4 strokes are the way of the future. At 138hp a 1049cc nytro has about the same hp as a viper. The only difference in a Nytro gets 17mpg, only needs oil once per season, and the first real scheduled maintenance isn't due until 20,000 miles. I don't even want to tell you about the ride quality. It would only frustrate you. Instead of coming home beat after a 500 mile weekend, you want more.

Someone like me who runs 2-3k miles per season can wear out a 2 stroke in no time. I know people who run 4-5k miles. You'd be buying a new xp every 2-3 years. I put 12,739 miles on my srx, it still ran pretty strong, but it was time to put her to rest.
 
Ding said:
Pick an insurance company that rates on horsepower, not displacement.
Click to expand...



Yep.


For instance, Allstate rates on cost of replacement of the sled here in MN when rating snowmobiles. Most, on the other hand, rate by displacement, which screws over Yamaha owners.


My 1000cc Apex shouldn't be 2x-3x as much as my 700cc Mt Viper because Foremost Ins. Co. wants to call it a 1000cc race sled.........


If you shop around, you can find decent deals on insurance.



Now in terms of smaller displacement motors, it has to do with the fact Yamaha went to only 4 strokes. They need 1000++ cc displacement motors to keep up with the 800 cc 2 strokes.


But you will not ever see Yamaha reverse course back to 2 strokes, it will be the reverse -- the rest of the manu's will also be going to 4 strokes, compliments of the EPA.

Even Yamaha will have to make cleaner burning 4 strokes in the future if the greenies keep dictating emissions policy...






Mike
 
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i pay 140.00 a year for my sled and my wifes no collision but everything else but they also have my cars and house insurance all 4 of our daughterts.They must make enough of us to give us cheap insurance
 
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