Let’s talk Yamaha. What are they up to? Yamaha is committed to building four-stroke snowmobiles and has been leveraging their 4-stroke engine expertise. Being all four-strokes kind of disqualifies them from serious mountain sled duty, until they get the weight down more or the power up (a $4,000 blower on top of the initial cost is really a lot to ask). Sure they will sell a few turbos to spring riders, but right now they are building Gold Wing cruisers for packed trails. With your hips below your knees (on the Apex and Vector models) they sit pretty low for stand-up riders. The seating is far better suited for this riding style on the Phazer and Nytro, and they finally have the Nytro working fairly well, for what it is – arguably the best 4-stroke engine in the business, but so very cold to ride with goofy steering and a high center of gravity. The Nytro name could now be a liability.
Our guess is 2014 will bring us a replacement for the Nytro, more of a flat-cornering rider-forward trail sled that will weigh under 500 pounds. We know they can do it. But could there be more than one new model for 2014? We’ve heard about a new mountain sled that is 100 pounds lighter, is that even possible? Maybe a new crossover version as well? Or, some sort of smaller, lower powered trail sled? If they’re coming with a new chassis for trails and bumps, might we see a couple of different engine sizes? Maybe they will abandon the rear-exiting exhaust to get the weight down, and run the exhaust out of the belly pan like Ski-Doo and Arctic Cat do with their four-strokes? Remember, we’re speculating, so why not consider the potential? And what about the race sled influence from Arctic Cat, if there is in fact an engine technology deal between the two companies? Maybe Arctic Cat would even want some four-stroke technology from Yamaha as well? Would Yamaha even put that out on the table? Are we completely nuts to even suggest such a deal?
Les mer...