horkn
New member
Amato, if that were true, it might be funny, but it isn't.
All the issues cat has had recently, they have not had engine issues.
All the issues cat has had recently, they have not had engine issues.
low slung
Active member
horkn said:Low slung, I don't see how you can say Polaris motors don't last more than 5000 miles. I've got 12k on a 488 fan, 6k on a Indy 500, and seen several more with a lot of miles. The only fusion that really had issues was the 900, and even that after the updates was a totally reliable sled. At least Polaris fix their issues. Heck even Yamaha has not been immune to zero problems on new sleds. O8 nytros, 97 600 twins, and probably a few others. Bottom line is they fixed them, well, mostly at least on the next year's model.
Well my 98 indy 500 went past 5400miles with lots of compression on both cylinders before i traded on my warrior and that 488 was bulletproof along with the us built 500,600.700 of the late 1990s so you can say there motors were very reliable at one time.Now with the EPA regs they have to lean them out to meet the fleet average.Was going to buy a 2013 indy600(nice,lightweight sled)but hearing the stories of the motors only lasting to 5000miles at best had me concerned.I was offered a five year warranty but at a price of $2200CDN.They don,t make the smokers like they use to.
amatosrx said:
X2...the way things are going we may all be scrambling to own 2014 or older Nytro +/or Apexs the last of the true 100% Yamaha sleds...just like we are hanging on to the last of the two stroke Yamaha sleds...SRXs and Vipers!!!
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
well said there bob..that may just be the case here.Did Yamaha screw up joining with Cat..I think they did,now their sleds won't be a TRUE Yamaha anymore,using another Brand chassis that is weak..WHY would YAMAHA want to hurt their reputation over this..what were they thinking here...
low slung
Active member
Last week i put down $500bucks and spring ordered a 2014 phazer RTX.With my 04 warrior on its ninth winter(7000+miles)i should not need another sled for a longtime(still give the warrior a few good runs ever winter to remind me what the quad is likesideshowBob said:
).Got a feeling there will be a few folks that will start collecting many pure yamaha sleds before its too late.Then in ten years time the forums will have sledders wondering why yamaha gave up making excellent,long lasting sleds(when its gone then you really miss it).
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
yep..another good reason for keeping the SRX's alive,to remind Yamaha of the good old days when they built the best sleds ever and still nothing comes close to it..
roudyroy1
Active member
wow, my buds 600 delux made it 220 km befor we noticed the ribbed part under the belt had come off. the only other company i could switch to would be doo, those new e-tecs are amazing.
sleddineinar
VIP Member
I just found out that my niece's husband bought a new 1100 turbo a week or two ago, and I feel sorry for him. He's blown 2 belts already!! The first one at about 70 miles. And the chaincase leaks. I guess the dealer gave him 2 new belts.
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
he is screwed now,it will get worse and he won't be able to give it away.Hurts to lose a lot of money like that.Can't spend $250 every time you ride on belts..that is crazy stuff.I would say that all Cat owners who are having this issue should get a Lawyer and get a class action suit going..demand there monies back and tell Cat to shove the sleds up their pie holes..
I honestly dont know if I will ever buy a new sled of any brand. I currently am running a 97 xt 600 twin and an 86' phazer, both have around 10,000kms on them now with original engines and clutches (both never rebuilt) Both make good compression and both run great, the xt has had the same belt for the past 2 seasons.
On the few trips Ive done in the past few years Ive seen more guys with new sleds breaking down when the old sleds just keep going. Most of us drive yami's or polaris, but a friend of mine has an 11' renegade 600 (electrics fried) its basically junk sitting in his garage, one m1000 (rebuilt twice already). Even a couple early Nytro's with their fair share of problems.
All the pre 2003 sleds run perfectly, we even had to tow the renegade back with my buddies 68 moto ski!! I honestly think quality and reliability has gone down the toilet. I think Ill find myself a nice 01' SRX to and just do my maintenance as needed.
And save myself 10 grand for a new sled at the same time.
On the few trips Ive done in the past few years Ive seen more guys with new sleds breaking down when the old sleds just keep going. Most of us drive yami's or polaris, but a friend of mine has an 11' renegade 600 (electrics fried) its basically junk sitting in his garage, one m1000 (rebuilt twice already). Even a couple early Nytro's with their fair share of problems.
All the pre 2003 sleds run perfectly, we even had to tow the renegade back with my buddies 68 moto ski!! I honestly think quality and reliability has gone down the toilet. I think Ill find myself a nice 01' SRX to and just do my maintenance as needed.
And save myself 10 grand for a new sled at the same time.
bluemonster1
LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
its just they did build better quality back in the old days,volumes weren't as high ,but now they mass produce them and a lot of parts are out sourced and things come in a little off,but they still install it hoping for no call backs.Its the world we live in.To much computer stuff in the new sleds as well,when something fails,the whole sled fails..The old sleds are so very easy to work on by your average rider,not today's sleds..just like the old cars from the past..built like tanks and simple to work on.I kick myself for not buying a nice restored 1957 Chevy in my youth.The older yami's have proved themselves by how many miles that can be put on them without even opening them up.The rest is simple maintenance every year,check bushings,bearings,alignments,look for loose bolts..etc.These new sleds are so expensive and they are breaking down ..that is a joke.
low slung
Active member
From the comments on SLEDTALK it seems all the different chassis(Nytro,Phazer,RX series)really hit yamahas sled division hard on profit.This little profit in turn hurt them to develop new models(along with the market crash of 200
.So this yamicat seems to be an easyway to make profit(or a pathway to go from a sled builder to just an engine supplier?)Its not the yamahas we have known and loved,just the competition with yamahas name stuck on it .
.So this yamicat seems to be an easyway to make profit(or a pathway to go from a sled builder to just an engine supplier?)Its not the yamahas we have known and loved,just the competition with yamahas name stuck on it .
taylzee
New member
I am Yamaha at heart but not in my riding style. I agree that Yamaha has built some great sleds, but when they went to 4S, they lost me. I went to a 2010 cat M8 153, along with my riding group. We collectively have over 25000Kms and no issues other than the bearing in the diamond drive. We changed them all as a maintenance item for $30.00/pop. In 500Kms on the Nytros, we had twisted tunnels, A-arms, Sub frames etc. Motor wise, the Nytro was solid, but that's it. It will be the same thing with the new Yama-Cat. Solid motor with a crappy chasis. The only difference is that, I think cat will use the R&D $$$ that they bank from this bed and put it into furhtering their chasis.
Let's face it, Yamaha has always put out a solid (and I mean solid) motor, but their chasis blows!
I agree that there is nothing out on any showroom floor right now worth buying. You would just be asking for a major headache. But I don't see this Yamaha Cat thing as all bad. If Cat puts $$$ into the chasis and Yamaha Put $$$ into More ponies out of the motor, It's a win win for not only Yamaha guys but Cat riders too! And I am Both!!!
Let's face it, Yamaha has always put out a solid (and I mean solid) motor, but their chasis blows!
I agree that there is nothing out on any showroom floor right now worth buying. You would just be asking for a major headache. But I don't see this Yamaha Cat thing as all bad. If Cat puts $$$ into the chasis and Yamaha Put $$$ into More ponies out of the motor, It's a win win for not only Yamaha guys but Cat riders too! And I am Both!!!
Yeaaaah, there was a demo near here, and I was looking forward to trying the new sled, guess what? Riding probihition, due to yeep you guessed it, chaincase, and set up (clutch/suspension). Rode 2 apexes, and I can tell you this, if your SRX is running like it is supposed to, it will smoke them..
low slung
Active member
Stopped by my local dealer Friday to take a gander at the new viper(I was in the area due to business).The body panels were not painted but molded blue on the prototype.Tall sitting position,even taller than the current phazer/nytro.Lifting the sled it seems a tad lighter on the front than the current nytro but much heavier on the back.Yamaha rep express concern over the one piece rear idler set-up(very small bearings ).A few wiring looms wrapped in heat tape were routed on/around the exhaust(melted wires anyone 
).Rear motor mounts are bolted to rear heat exchanger.Seems the motor could sink a few more inches lower.This is the problem Yamaha will face,cat has no incentive to make this better than the own sleds(in fact it will benefit them to make it worse).Yamaha had no hand in this until the last minute when Yamaha said"Give us a blue version of that yami powered cat"Would of saved a lot of grief down the road if Yamaha just removed ever Yamaha decal on the new viper and replaced it with SNO-JET(they were once made by cat with Yamaha engines in there final year).
).A few wiring looms wrapped in heat tape were routed on/around the exhaust(melted wires anyone ).Rear motor mounts are bolted to rear heat exchanger.Seems the motor could sink a few more inches lower.This is the problem Yamaha will face,cat has no incentive to make this better than the own sleds(in fact it will benefit them to make it worse).Yamaha had no hand in this until the last minute when Yamaha said"Give us a blue version of that yami powered cat"Would of saved a lot of grief down the road if Yamaha just removed ever Yamaha decal on the new viper and replaced it with SNO-JET(they were once made by cat with Yamaha engines in there final year).