Thanks to EZ smoke (Eric) we got to spend a full day on the sidewinder. And what a day we had. Have to say I was totally impressed. Was the perfect day to ride the new Yamaha. Was overcast and snowing most of the day, conditions I've always thought I would hate a heavier 4 stroke. Well was I ever wrong. These new Sidewinders handle amazing. But if your like me, the only way you will believe it is ride one all day. 15 minutes is not enough time to try appreciate how good this machine really is. Any ways thank you Yamaha for promoting your new sled and we had a blast.
Wicked day on a Sidewinder!
- Thread starter niner
- Start date
skegpro
Active VIP Member
Wow, two sidewinder threads. More action than the Yamaha section has seen in years. Maybe this is the TSN turning point for four strokes?
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skegpro
Active VIP Member
Now if they could put a smaller plant in the chassis to get the weight in the same ballpark as a two stroke I would sign on the line tomorrow.
Might have to push a little more boost to do it with a smaller mill.
I'd be happy with a full 150-160 hp at elevation.
And I love the reliability of these Yamaha 4 strokes.
Who knows maybe CAT/Yamaha will put out the first factory turbo two stroke.......
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Might have to push a little more boost to do it with a smaller mill.
I'd be happy with a full 150-160 hp at elevation.
And I love the reliability of these Yamaha 4 strokes.
Who knows maybe CAT/Yamaha will put out the first factory turbo two stroke.......
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Lund
Active VIP Member
They did, it was called a PHAZER and it fell right in your numbers you quoted. AND it was a WASTE of money.
If your happy with the going 150-160hp stick with the 2strokes, they might not be a reliable but atleast they're lighter for 150ponies
Non stock, modified and boosted to clarify
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Four strokes will always be heavier due to the complexity of the engine and the extra components required to build them. Chassis weight can only be dropped so much before strength is an issue, especially on a high torque turbo. Anybody who has spent any time on a turbo 4 stroke can attest to how addicting the power is and the lack of fear of an engine failure.
- Thread starter
- #8
It was all our first rides of the year other than Eric, so we were rusty, and we all wanted to push the sleds their limits, and we had a few big stucks for the day. I had no problem getting unstuck a few times by myself. Rolled them over like a 2 stroke and they fired right up. A few other stucks required a ski pull from a buddy. By the end of the day I was whipping donuts like my pro, would hold a side hill for a mile if I wanted. This Sled doesn't dive when you let of the throttle, their is virtually no engine braking. I think that contributes how light the sled feels when your riding it.
06yamahaapex
Active VIP Member
would you buy one?
- Thread starter
- #10
I would buy one. I would have to put a 174 on it just because I have for the last 10 years. I would not reflash the engine, stock power was plenty yesterday. I would put a exit shock in the rear skid to help keep the front end down a bit more while doing steep climbs. And some kind of straight pipe to drop 15-20 lbs and a skinny seat.
climbmax
Team Thunderstruck
Thank you so much for participating in the demo ride. Our intention is to get bums in seats for a full on VIP experience with a full day effort. One Yamaha staff member and one dealer member along with 4 engaged participants. That way you have a full day to experience Yamaha's latest 4 stroke mountain offering in the Sidewinder MTX. Not just a 30 minute "ride". We appreciate your commitment to come in with open mind and share your feelings. That is important to us. So thank you again.
For all others seriously interested in this all new sled with Yamaha's very own factory turbo system, please check with your local Yamaha dealer for your own opportunity. We plan to be on snow at key areas throughout western Canada mountain riding areas throughout the season.
RS
For all others seriously interested in this all new sled with Yamaha's very own factory turbo system, please check with your local Yamaha dealer for your own opportunity. We plan to be on snow at key areas throughout western Canada mountain riding areas throughout the season.
RS
Lund
Active VIP Member
Its just to show that most spending real time in what the 4stroke was meant to ride in can make you a believer. They are a true steep and deep sled.
Plus reliability at its best in this industry, Yamaha's are not boomerang sled's. You get quality for your money and a permanent grin while riding.
Yes that comes at a certain price...weight, you want lightweight, those other guy's build them, just watch out for the boomerang effect though. I heard they like you coming back alot???? why is that?
Plus reliability at its best in this industry, Yamaha's are not boomerang sled's. You get quality for your money and a permanent grin while riding.
Yes that comes at a certain price...weight, you want lightweight, those other guy's build them, just watch out for the boomerang effect though. I heard they like you coming back alot???? why is that?
Rotax_Kid
Active VIP Member
Irrelevant of the machine I have to give Yamaha credit for getting out there and giving folks the opportunity to take current year models for a spin. Great to see this opporrunity given at corporate level and the other 3 could take note. Glad to hear positive reviews on the sidewinder. As much as I've enjoyed Etec's for the past few years I still miss those holy chit monents when I used to squeeze the throttle on a boosted 4s that is not reproducable on a 2s
Great review! I'm looking forward to more feedback...I think the Sidewinder MTX 162 and BTX 153 are going to surprise a lot of people...reliable hp at any elevation and refined mtn ride. Can't wait to get out for first ride 
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skegpro
Active VIP Member
Was not even close to as good of chassis.
Catman10
Drinking the Doolaid
I was gonna do my own thread but Niner has done a great job to start this off I will just add my 2 cents. I believe in trying to help everyone out by being as honest and unbiased as possible so you will get all the juicy details from me here without bias and everything I say here has been said to our yamaha boys after the ride. My sled history has involved every sled brand, ski doo from 97-01, Yamaha Rx1 turbo 2004, Cat m 1000 2007-2009, also a 2013 m8 current spare and lastly a 2013 pro with a Mtntk turbo. I am not brand loyal at all nor do I burn a flag for any of them but if I had to honest Cat has a bit of a soft spot for me. I got this invite from Eric and it sounded too good to be true, come on out and ride the new Sidewinder for a full day with no strings attached. I was on that like a fat kid on a smarty. We show up 8 am in the parking lot and there was 4 shiny brand new Sidewinders with 0 kms on them. We then were allowed to make any adjustments to the sled we wanted and we did. We had a safety meeting to insure that we all had proper equipment and it was in working order. I thought we were going to have to go easy on these as they need to be broke in properly, this sled break in ended at the top of the trail for me and man did it perform, but I will get to that later. We rode Frisby ridge and the weather was less than perfect with poor visibility and snowed off and on. I was happy to ride this sled because this was the worse case senario to me for a big heavy 4 stroke right? I quickly realized that all of my thoughts of Yamahas had to change because even though this machine is 90 pounds heavier than the 2 smokes it ABSOUTELY did not feel like a heavy machine. We rode a lot in the trees with 2 plus feet of fresh in many places, I was expecting that this sled was gonna need those wide skis on the front to keep it afloat. Absolutely not! we went everywhere we wanted as slow as we wanted and because it was my first ride of the year I was very rusty which could have been a nightmare if this sled was digging in everywhere. In the meadows it was like riding a dream, very consistent and would hold a line forever if you wanted, also it was over the hood snow all day in which this engine never bogged popped or hiccuped at any time. I did however manage to get it stuck quite often in which I rolled it over to get out more than I want to admit, hopped back on hit the start button and rode away just like a 2 stroke every time. We found some untouched hills and it was time to experience TORQUE. This sled hauls the mail holy crap, there is not a 200 hp 2 stroke that will keep up to this machine period at some points I didn't think I had enough grip strength to hang on. Let me clarify a few things about that statement, I felt that because it had a 162 track it suffered, it needs a 174 for sure and the rear shock needs to hit the garbage can and replaced with a coil over because she liked to wheelie with all the torque, it would go over backwards if you weren't careful right Stacy, ha ha. In the deep untouched track to track this sidewinder will keep up to the turbo 2 strokes depute its weight but if you get traction it will leave them in the dust no question, it will also keep up to the 2 strokes in the trees no question but you may not get the tightest sh$&hooks like the others but you will go anywhere they do no question. We had them stuck lots and we felt they were not much worse to pull out at all, rolling them over was a little notable but very doable. Do you feel the extra weight, absolutely but I feel with 3 rides it won't even be a thought anymore. Engine braking is gone so it is very 2 stroke feeling which I really like and if you engage the clutch on a downhill it will hold back even better than a 2 stroke. What are its faults? It will definitely need a cold air intake as we all had some higher temps throughout the day, rear shock changed, and I personally did not like the steering geometry and would have to try one with an upright post, the factory boards need to be opened up to let more snow through and I would put some polaris skis on the front as well as the biggest track I can get at the time. If you ask if I would buy one the answer is yes, when you have the reliability of a 4 stoke that just keeps on going that is more important to me than anything now in my old age ha ha. I will be riding with EZ smoke again after he makes some changes to his sled that I think are gonna be great to try and by then I hope to have ridden the new doo as well so I can make a final decision. My hat is off to Yamaha for doing this promotion, they made me feel like a king and let us truly ride these sleds hard which I may have pushed my luck a few times ha ha and afterwards there was no sales talk or pressure, extremely professional and I thank you guys again. Hope this was informative and everyone ride safe this year.
sc800
Active VIP Member
Thanks catman10 and Niner! Great reviews. I think we are going to see more and more changes from factory with this sled and will be curious to see the changes for 2018 after good honest feedback from guys like you and guys like Randy who will listen and take things back to head office! Love to through my leg over one of these.
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skegpro
Active VIP Member
I am interested to see what you decide to buy, and why.
Factory turbo and 4 stroke reliability is definitely interesting.
How much easy weight is there to loose on these rigs?
How are you guys rolling these sleds, doesn't the oil come out the vent? Does Yamaha recommend rolling them?
Curious question how big are you guys that are riding these winders?
I think Eric has 10 lbs on me lol.
I think these are going to be an awesome sled. Great chassis and what seems like a solid power plant.
I dont think any manufacturer recommends rolling there sleds. I know from experience the stock cat bars are junk. Dont see these being any different.
I dont think any manufacturer recommends rolling there sleds. I know from experience the stock cat bars are junk. Dont see these being any different.
Catman10
Drinking the Doolaid
Good questions, we asked the rep if we could roll them over and he emphatically said yes as much as you want, no oil came out no issues what so ever. We feel that 40-50 pounds can be shed quite easy, seat, battery, hood with headlight delete, can, and after that only time will tell who will build other stuff. Size of guys was anywhere from 5 foot 10 to 6 foot 3 (me) and we were all around 200 pounds. I rode mine with the wider stance actually because of my height and it would only be better skinny which is how everyone else had theirs. Eric was the lightest in the group, I don't know what he weighs but he is a featherweight that had no issues throwing that sled around. No issue with rolling the sleds in 2 feet of fresh, the bars gave no issues at all.
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