Picking a Yamahaclassic. Your thoughts?

Which classis would you prefer?

  • Phazer 2 ST (long track)

    Votes: 11 57.9%

  • Exciter 2 ST (long track)

    Votes: 3 15.8%

  • 1996 Vmax XT

    Votes: 2 10.5%

  • SRV

    Votes: 3 15.8%
  • Total voters
    19
E

Excitabletom

Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2006
Messages
137
Age
58
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Picking a Yamaha classic. Your throughts?

I would like to add a sled to my fleet; a "classic" from when I was growing up in the 80's or 90's. I am looking for reliability, easy to work on and I would probably be about half trail riding and half two tracks in Michigan (not too deep of snow...)
My budget for this would be less than $1000.

Sleds I might consider:


Phazer 2 ST (long track)

Exciter 2 ST (long track)

96 Vmax XT

Maybe even an SRV.


Think back to when these were new sleds. What do you remember liking or disliking about these models?
 
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Easy to work on eliminates the Phazer and Exciter. Not terrible, but most other sleds are easier to work on.
 
I like the phazer for it's simplicity and light weight, but I'm almost 100 lbs lighter at 155. I think the Exciter or Vmax would be a great sled for you and they can be had in nice condition for under $1000, I'm going to give the nod and my vote for the Exciter II. There's a few for sale up here for around $600 that are pretty nice.
 
my dad had a 96 xt 500, pretty great little sled. needed more power and less sterring effort, but was a nice sled. he rode it bone stock for I think 12k miles. still had steel skis and all. I like the long track phazer because they seem like fun, light and should float fantastic
 
Those are classics? I must be stuck in classic mode as the newest sled I've ever owned is my 98 srx.
How about early SRX's like 79 or 80?
This is my classic.
 

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The Exciter and Phazer you feel like your ride on top of the sled, dirt bike feel.
The SRV is more like your low into it, go cart feel.
Vmax is between both.

I like a SRV, it will get you out of trouble if you go in over your head. The other can get you in trouble even when you don't go in over your head. Small gas tank. Cold ride stock.

The Vmax and Exciter are liquid cooled so you do have more to check and work on with them.

The XT will ride better then any in rough stuff
 
Phazer or Exciter for me. First phazer I rode was an '85 with a PSI pipe, my uncles, that was one very fun sled. The first Exciter I rode was also my uncles, an '88 with a PSI pipe, flat-slides, a pyrometer, and a Poo primary...the only sleds that could even come close to running with it for the next couple of years was the Mach 1's and they had to have some mods.
 
PZ 1 said:
Easy to work on eliminates the Phazer and Exciter. Not terrible, but most other sleds are easier to work on.
Click to expand...

The reliability of the Phazer offsets any hard to work on aspect. The hardest is when you need to clean the carbs or change jetting and with a carb boot tool I could remove the carbs in 5 mins (with lots of practice :) ) !
 
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