The 4-stroke snowmobile weight myth is revealed

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sx600

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Saw this on the Yamaha site - thought maybe some would enjoy reading it...


Weight a Minute - Let's Put the Pounds in Perspective


Did you know 1 US gallon of gas weighs more than 6 pounds?
This means that a snowmobile with a 12 US gallon fuel tank weighs an additional 70 lbs. when full of gas (up to 10% of a sleds total weight).
Yamaha 4-stroke sleds, with many additional benefits, are within 3% to 6% of similar, competitors' 2-stroke total sled weights.
Can you feel that your sled is 60 to 70 lbs. lighter when you squeak into the gas stop with a near empty tank? Maybe a little.
Can you really feel the weight difference of riding with a half a tank of gas? Unlikely.
A half tank of gas weighs about 30lbs.
Did you know that some of Yamaha's 4-strokes are within 30lb. of a competitive 2-stroke.
Read on...
Simply put, the actual weight difference between a Yamaha performance 4-stroke and a competitor's 2-stroke with similar features, equates to about half a tank of gas. Chassis rigidity, suspension design, calibration and balance will have far more impact on the handling and ride.

Some people are very focused on how much the claimed weight of a snowmobile is. They actually believe that a few pounds will make a decisive difference to the overall performance. More than likely, they have not had a chance to try one of our new 4-stroke sleds.
 
Yep, I don't notice a difference when the tank is almost empty on my sx-r, but I sure do just AFTER I fill it up, it gets nose heavy.
 
I can't notice a huge difference in my sx or viper - I think this is trying to say that the extra 30-50 pounds in the new 4 strokes is not noticeable for the most part -- which I tend to believe, even though I haven't even been on one yet.

I just thought this was interesting to see how yamaha answers the critics of the "weight issue".

I do see myself on a 4 stroke in the future...
 
Put electric start on some of the competition's sleds are the weight difference is even less. Thats something a lot of people tend to forget when they say that the 4-strokes are heavy.
Myself, I think that when the time comes for me to get rid of my EDGE X, Id really like to be able to find a SX 600R or an SX Venom. Thats not to say that I would turn down a nice used RS Vector, however...
Hebi
 
I think yamaha is definitely on the right track with their new 4-strokes and I see the snowmachine industry going the same way as the dirt bike industry with 4 strokes being vastly superior to two strokes. However, this transition in the dirt bike industry took many years and I think it will be the same with sleds so until they can get the weight comparable (within 3%) to two-strokes I will not own one. Yamaha can say that their sleds are within 3-6% but real world sled weigh offs prove differently.

FYI, A few sled weights for you guys (wet weights, full of fuel and oil, ready to ride) from the same race car scale. This is the most comprehensive list of new sleds from the same scale I have seen yet.

05 RMK 900 166 = 642 lbs
05 M7 162 (non-L.E.) = 567 lbs (sled had skid plate so subtract roughly 4 lbs = 563 lbs)
04 King Kat 900 162 = 594 lbs
04 REV 151 = 578* (sled had can and skid plate so add roughly 4 lbs = 582 lbs)
04 Vertical Escape 800 159 = 596
04 RMK 800 159 = 601

Snowest mag wet weights:
2004 RX-1 Mountain= 685
2004 Mtn Viper= 625

From Supertraxx mag
M7 162 (doesn't say if it's a limited) 550 lbs (12 gal fuel)
Poo 900 166 620lbs w/ 10.8 gallons fuel
King Cat 162 581.5 lbs w/12 gal fuel
RT1000 159 620 lbs w/10.6 gal fuel
Rev 800 151 580 lbs w/10.6 gal fuel
RMK 800 159 590.5 lbs w/11.8 gal fuel
 
my 2 cents...

i have a viper, just got a wife an rs...

the rs feels lighter... i know it isnt but it feels that way, the center of gravity is good, the balance with the exhaust weight to the rear... you would be hard pressed to put anyone on at least an rs, and a competitive two stroke and find anyone that says the rs feels heavier...

i was a 4 stroke naysayer, until i tried it for myself, way to go yami... and im sure they will continue to lose weight...

when the industry is forced to all 4 strokes, we can all laugh at the boys in green, yellow, and whatever color polaris is gonna be... trying to make it in an area that we already own...
 
When do the others really need to go go 4 stroke?
It looks like the difference is 50-100 lbs and that is a lot - try riding double with a little hundred poun chickie on the back.

More interesting to me is that a rx and other brand 8 or 9 are the same price - HOW The Y motor is way more expensive and detailed. The bad part is the rx's arent holding value like they should considering they will last forever. (rev resale is much higher - just as an example - Just as an example)
 
bleueje17,
Not as many intelligent and informed folks out there to create a demand for used Yamaha 4-strokes. I've ridden the RX1-ton and a Warrior both with nearly empty gas tanks and they still felt very heavy. Until Yamaha puts those pigs on a diet I'll keep riding my Vipers.
 
I believe that two strokes will have a part well past the 2010 regulations. Ski-doos direct injection technology is a prime example. Only problem is that their D.I. technology will have to be part of their doo motors.

Mountain and high performance trail/bumps riding will always be ruled by power/weight (as long as under 500lbs) and it will take yamaha a while to get their 4 strokers down to those weights. Hell, jsut give me a thumper that is within 25 pounds of the other 3's mountain/performance sleds with a REV style chassis and I would stay faithful and have no problem dropping $10K on one.

The reason that RX-1's do not hold their value is simply due to them being 100 pounds heavier than comparable two strokes. Sure the sled will last 10K miles, but the 5 years it takes to put those miles is a long time in terms of snowmachine technological advancement. Try comparing a 1999 summit/zx to a new REV or a 1999 Powder special/ZR to the new F/M series sleds. 5 years is a loooooooooooong time.
 
Yup

I am with the last 2 responses. Regardless of the number of strokes, the trend will always be less weight, not more weight. My 02 Viper is a dinasour now and I think with proper maintenance I can get it to 7-9,000 miles easy.

So, with 4 stroker, you "have" to stay on the trail or you might have to leave it and call a wreaker. I just see it as a nice/heavy sled for the part time cruisers/full time high miles people.

Gotta get these things on a diet or I will shop elsewhere. Power to weight, it will always be on the top of the list for me.

And like my buddy said, gees we just got all tooled up for these newer fancy 2 strokes. How we gonna pull these 4 strokes in the garage and tune/fix them?
 
my dad just got a new vector ER and I have a standard viper, not the ER. I can feel absolutely NO difference on the trail weight wise. power is another thing all-together. he rips me from corner to corner where I may pass him eventually on the lake. both BONE stock engine/clutching. and the vectro rides better, front is smoother in the bumps (no pitching) and I dont have to pull it to start it. LOVE my viper, but if it caught fire tomorrow I would be a vector owner in a heartbeat :) :rockon:
 
weight

Well, Guys this is all fine and good about the weight, But try digging out of a snow bank a few times with an RX or RS and you will notice a bigg difference in weight. For me it's not a performance issue it's what happens when you have to dig the D#$ thing out 4 or 5 times a day. (And yes the clear answer is don't get stuck)
Don't get me wrong I loved the Rx and the power it has BUT When us Old farts start having back problems the last thing we need is a heavier sled.I had an 03 so unsure about the 05's and 6's maybe they have gotten alot lighter. But when I can't pick the front end up on the show room floor comapared to a viper or other 2 strokes. There is a weight factor! I don't care about how heavy fuel is it's the WHOLE sled weight that matters to me.
Is it the future to come with the enviromentalist? You D#$ right They are going make damn sure that we are not poluting the forests! So, I feel that there is more technology to come to lighten them up! Till then I'll wait and come home smelling like oil but at least my back thanks me..
Yes I went back to the older sleds due to weight factor. I can toss my SX around like it's nothing compared to the rx which usally takes two guys to get it out..
I will ALWAYS ride Yamaha and never switch! RX is a great lake sled and groomed trail sled BUT it is NOT a Ditch bangger or deep snow sled for the weight issues. :yam:
 
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