Looking to move up from Phazer, what to buy?

Bakemono

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Im planning on moving up in a few years to a newer sled.
Ive got a '90 Phazer II right now.
I was thinking about perhaps trying to find a '95 or '96 Vmax 600. Were these dependable sleds? How would the handling compare to my Phazer? What kind of top speed would these sleds do (stock)?
Im only looking to spend $2000-$3000, would I be better of to look for a '97 or newer 600 or 700 SX?
 

I think for $3000 you should be able to find a 99 or 00 SRX 700. That would be a big change from the Phazer.
 
The step from a 90 Phazer II to a Pogo Vmax is a step sideways, they aren't much faster and get crappy mileage. I went from my 90' phazer to a new 01' SX600R and I've been VERY happy. I've seen 99+ 600 and 700 tripples under 3000$ in the local paper with low mileage. My dad Picked up a 2000 SX700R with electric start/reverse for 3100$ and only 2200miles on the ticker.
 
Listen to the great advice.
Look for a triple. For what you want to spend you should be able to get a 2000.
I have the SX700R and love it. Great ride, lots of power with the clutch kit, reeds spacers and thin head gasket.
 
One more vote for a 97' or newer triple. You can probably purchase 97-99 700sx within those dollars. Like VJ said - skip that mid 90's.

good luck

PS- I loved my phazer, but you will not believe the difference
 
BlueIronRanger said:
The step from a 90 Phazer II to a Pogo Vmax is a step sideways, they aren't much faster and get crappy mileage.

Careful now. :evil: I own mid a 90's "vintage" V-max 4 and a V-max 600. I love them. My Dad liked them so well he bought 3 V-max 600's just like it, and two V-max 4's. I can't complain one bit about these sleds. They're very dependable, handle excellent, and don't cost an arm and a leg. No, we're not on top of the mountain with brand new sleds, but at least 7 sleds get us to the top of the mountain, for the price of one brand new sled without any problems. If you can afford $3000 then you ought to consider a Triple. But if you can't don't let anyone steer you away from these dependable snowmobiles.

By the way, I think the above stamement was a bit exxagerated by saying that the switch from a Phazer to a V-max 600 is a step sideways... We owned 7 Phazers before V-max's, and it was a huge improvement, and we are happy.
 
white stare snowmobile auction

go to their site check out the prices you can get a lot of sled for 3 grand
 
Patience is the key

This past weekend I was up in northern wisconsin snowmobiling. On Saturday it was nearly 40 degrees so we didnt ride that day. So I decided to drive around to some of the local Yamaha dealers and see what they had used.
I stopped at one and they had an '02 SX Viper that they wanted $5200 for, a bit expensive if you ask me. They also had a couple of red 600 SXs (Im guessing they were '97s). I didnt really look at them too well because both of them were pretty beat up. They wanted $2200 for those 2 sleds.
Another dealer had an '00 SX 500 that they wanted $3200 for, also a bit steep for something that is "only" a 500.
I think you folks are right, go for something that has trailing arms and go for a triple.
I used to ride a '95 Polaris 600 XCR (600 triple-single pipe, same engine they used in the XLT but with higher compression) about 5 years ago and I really liked that sled, the only reason I sold it was because you had to run 93 octane in it, and that gets a tad expensive. I did love the smoothness and the sound of that engine though.
 
Well for what its worth, I would steer away from the VMAX 600...I have a 1994 and its a gas and oil hog. If you don't mind getting 6 MPG, and using a quart of oil on every fill up, go for it! I am going to try and lean mine out, but I still think the newer sleds are lighter if nothing else. The other fellow with the multiple VMAX's must be having better luck then me.... :D
 
Triple triple triple is the way to go. I just got rid of a 97 vmax twin. The engine was huge trouble, it sucked gas real bad. Handling was great compared to other 97's. The cylinders were also a problem (nikisil i think) according to my yamaha mechanic. I'm sure what ever you get you will love it.
 
stubby said:
I have a 1994 and its a gas and oil hog. If you don't mind getting 6 MPG, and using a quart of oil on every fill up, go for it!
Ouch! I am having better luck than you. :shock: I can ride over 80-90 miles on a tank of gas, and only have to fill the oil every 130 miles or so. Go figure... :wink: Still though, for the money, you can't beat them. I only paid $1500 a piece for every one of them I own (Only a $1000 for a NICE V-max 4,) and my Dad has not exceeded $1700. I will admit that if I had 3 G's to spend I'd probably get something else for my money. Out here in the west, with all the hillclimbing I do, I'm not so sure it would be a Yamaha, but for $1500, nothing else beats it. Just my two cents.
 
sorry, I didn't mean to rip on the pogo V-max (v-max 4's were awesome)but I was just stating my opinion. My uncle has a 95' Vmax 500 and a 96' Vmax 600 and I spent some time on both of them and then test drove a 00' SX600R before I bought mine. The pogo V-max's rode/handled alot closer to my Phazer II (with my Phazer II being just as fast as the v-max 500) than they do to the pro-action yamaha's. Me and my uncle still go riding together quite often and stock vs. stock his 96' Vmax 600 can't keep up to my 01' SX600R especially when the trails get rough.
 
Blueiron, no offense taken. I really enjoy these sleds, but I haven't had the chance to ride one of the new Trailing Arm style sleds, so I don't know the difference except to say that they ride much better than the Phazers do. I can keep up to anyone of my friends with RMK's on my V-max 4, but the V-max 600 is limited by track lug height, and horsepower. Overall though, they're great starter sleds, and get you from point a to point b reliably. But I will reaffirm that if I had $3000 to spend I wouldn't buy an old V-max either. I just want to make sure noone rules these sleds out if they can't afford the luxury of a triple. :lol:
 


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