Super Sidewinder season highlights and ride report

Lund

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Well my season is done, ended this weekend and it has been a great memorable and successful season overall.
The Super Sidewinder logged in just over 1600km and 49hrs of run time.
In that time i have had no issues in reliability or performance and even after a season it feels as solid and tight as day one, a real pleasure to ride. The SW is very smooth, ride wise and engine wise, definitely the smoothest mountain sled i have ever rode. No vibration at your feet or going through the seat so at the end of a day's ride when your poop, its nice. Plus the added bonus of no annoying 2 stroke noise....yaya i know..but had to put that in being everywhere i go people comment on how cool 4 stroke sound...LOL

eagles.JPG
Eagles pass with some great friends, KB missing WTH, she took the picture.

Clutches
At a 1000km i replaced my drive belt simply as a precaution, the belt it self look completely fine but sure would hate for it to blow on a climb.
I clean my clutches regularly as a maintenance item so i generally get good life out of my clutches plus i rely on my clutches and belt with my life with some chutes i some time attempt.
I did replace the secondary rollers as they did get a flat spot at about 1200km.
In general Yamaha clutches have been spot on for the Super Sidewinder, running warm only to the touch, never hot.
The Super Sidewinder is constant at 3100rpm engagement and shift out of 8750rpm with track speeds easily exceeding 60mph.

desend.JPG
KB and i tracks on the opposing mountain, she follow's well LOL.
Revelstoke.
 
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Lund

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I originally started the "Super Sidewinder" thread because Yamaha does not offer a 174 version of the Side Winder.
So the intent here is not to repeat alot of other Side Winder owner's ride report but more directed towards the modification done here.

A 174 will completely change the characteristics of a 162 version, extra 12" of track is very noticeable. Overall the 174 SW is a handful to handle and has no advantage over a 162 other then climbing big chutes. At the end of the day most riders will be less tired on a SW with a 162 as you can manipulate it easier as a 174 want's to keep going straight in comparison, now add the weight factor and ya your getting a work out.
I'm just being dead honest here, before putting out the cash and tearing the sled apart really think of what you want first. Ya 174 sounds cool, unbeatable..wrong if your fighting with it.
The SW have more then adequate power to dominate the mountains with a 162 but if your looking for dominance in climbing and the extra deep stuff, 174 is the right step.

zigzag.jpg
KB and i getting ready to drop the zigzag, Eagles pass.
 

Lund

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The Track and rail's

One of the things i have learnt over the years that not any track will work on a turbo 4 stroke. 99% of track's offered today are designed for 2 strokes powered sled's.
The sled is lighter and produces less torque and hp. The problem, lug failure. Either by tearing off or more likely folding over under the power and torque made by a heavier 4 stroke turbo'ed sled.
Your track selection is one of the most important part of doing the 174 stretch.
The right track will keep the SW moving fast under any load condition and will help keep high track speeds consistent unlike a folding lugs. Plus superior hold back on descends.
I use the 9115M, it is 16" wide and will need cutting to fit. It is the only track i'm aware that can handle the loads required by a boosted 4 stroke.
With 1600km this track show's no sign's of wear or damage yet i have rode it on hard pack and gravel several times.
In the deep and in climbs the hookup is unmatched, you can feel the acceleration as you roll the throttle further.

sw curve.JPG
Heavy deep pow won't slow a Side Winder, that just child's play.

Iceage rail's have proven solid and imo better then the original OEM rail's in every way.
I went with the "classic" style and not the "Bomber" style and no regret these are strong compared to the original's and unless your doing huge drop's the Classic are very stylish compared to the Bomber's and have taken the punishment you would expect any mountain sled to take.
I do recommend on the 174 to brace the rear portion of the rail for extra support, the holes are already drilled but you need to get the extra cross brace from Yamaha.

sw2.JPG
The deeper the snow the happier with this setup.
 
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Lund

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The weight
Well i'm not going to try to say its light cause its not. How much heavier then a 2 stroke it is doesn't matter, it just is.
No getting around the weight thing but it can be set up to hide a lot of that weight while riding but not so much once stuck, add the additional length of the 174 and this sled can seriously anchor in.
Hiding the weight and making it more agile is the trick and suspension set up is key here. Using a heavier then oem center spring setup on the center shock and reduced air chamber pressure in the front shock's really allows for easier off camber handling, hiding a lot of the motor weight.

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Setting up the suspension is key on the Side Winder's handling and weight hiding.
Blue Lake trail, Sicamous.
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Last one to the top of the peak there is having to unstick me for the rest of the day..LOL
It's a good thing to have good friends to ride with, especially with a really long Side Winder.
Renshaw, McBride
 

Lund

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Fuel consumption
I carried extra fuel most of the season and found never using it for the Side Winder, that is something i really liked about this sled.
The Side Winder's have a fuel capacity of 33 liter's in comparison to most others at 40 liter's, this does help balance some of the weight differences. In comparison to my 17 Cat 800 driven by KB the Side Winder all season cost less at the pump to refuel and most of the time was rode harder and longer that day. On long rides other's in the group would with their 800 no matter the make would generally refuel, dump their extra fuel in and at times return to the truck on empty while the Side Winder still had at least a 1/3 of a tank. There is no doubt the 4 stroke is more efficient even with the big power and weight added.
At the end of the day i found with the Side Winder, carrying extra fuel is not needed for it. This sled put's on more miles per tank then any of the other's, so when your buddy on his 800 is low, no worries for the Side Winder guy.
For long off the beaten path back country rider that likes to venture deep into the mountain's the Side Winder excel's at this, your buddies will be out of fuel way before you will.
Side Winder's go in with less fuel but at the end of the day come out with more fuel...

melted.JPG
melted 1.JPG
I don't know what to say...seriously, so many thing's wrong with this.
 
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Lund

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What i don't like
The Side Winder is far from a perfect sled and IMO there are many area's this sled could had been made far better to get it near perfection, if there is such thing in sled's as they evolve.
One of the biggest disappointment with the SW for me is the Arctic Cat gear box and oil tank system. Like really, what a retarded design and not a Yamaha design either but Cat.:crazy:
Certainly would had like to see Yamaha take charge on some of these Cat retarded design and setup some thing better.
One thing i would had like to see is the return of the Diamond drive, a beefier version for the SW. This alone would help eliminate weight by loosing the jack shaft and chain with all it's complicated gears for the reverse....what a joke.
The Diamond drive system was so simple.

That is my biggest beef with this sled, the dumb gear box. WHY??

spirit lake.JPG
Spirit Lake, McBride.

Another area i found a little annoying is the handle bar control's, especially the big red rocker style on/off switch that i hit a few time's in some what awkward places. LOL
Arctic Cat does have a guard that can be installed to protect the switch and yes it does work, i had to get one before i ended up killing the motor in a climb or worst up a chute.
I highly recommend the guard and hope Yamaha changes this design in their future sleds.
The guard kit also comes with a guard to protect the hand and thumb warmer switches, its actually handy cause i found my self either turning them off or on when i did not want too with no guard. So yes the guards work well.

sw climb.JPG
The Super Sidewinder moves through deep snow with virtually no effort.
You control how fast you want to go, power seem's endless with the flipper.

The ski's, hhmm.
I must say i gave them a fair try, 1600km later. I just don't care for them and maybe it is a personal thing, i don't know.
One of the issue i found about the ski's is the keel is twice as wide as any other's i've looked at. Polaris, Cat and Doo.
I find them hard to hold a line on one ski, something i had no issues with my Nytro, it feel's like i have to fight them to hold the line and that is something you should not have to do when setup properly, the sled should hold its own line.
So the question is still in the air, the ski's must go but for what? Thinking maybe try the Cat ski's as i heard the Polaris ski's make very little difference.
 

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I agree with most everything you have said Lund and I am very happy with my sled as well, I have 1300 kms on my sled and can agree with all the good and bad you have brought up with the exception of a few. My 3 inch 15 wide track is now on its 3rd sled, M1000 (180 hp) Polaris pro (200 hp) and now the sidewinder, probably close to 4000 kms between them and this track still looks like new as well so I would also recommend it. I have ran the Pro ski for quite a bit, probably half of my km's and I really have noticed a difference, seems much more predictable than before and turns much better at slow speeds and I may have had my sled up to 175 kms/hr on a race down the trail against a buddy so the high speeds are not an issue either. Is it the perfect sled, no but it is an awesome sled and I will be looking forward to season 3 on it with some more modifications and new excitement that cannot be matched by any 2 smoke!
 

Got boost want snow

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Pretty sure the winder uses the same chaincase, oil tank setup as my viper and I agree what a garbage set up. Skis I am running slydogs on my viper I hated the stock skis. I know yamaha can build a chassis to rival any of the other manufacturers and hopefully we will see it in 2020. Really enjoyed reading all the information posted in these threads about the sidewinders and the builds that have been done. Thanks for all the information passed on Lund.
 

Lund

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So before i end my ride report i will touch on a couple of modification found on the Super Sidewinder after a season of use.

CR-racing extreme running boards, they work flawless, strong and sturdy and i doubt you will find a running board that can compare, i highly recommend them especially if your a bigger guy. Unlike the Cat boards and boards found on all the other brand's, Polaris and Doo, CR Extreme boards are unmatched and IMO best mod that can be done on any sled. If you have a limited budget, that would be my first mod. money well spent that actually improve the sled and inspires your confidence. Seriously, i love them.
The cold air intake, many said it will lean the motor out too far. We tested them at CR and installed them on several SW and found that was not the case for mountain rider's.
The Super Sidewinder is set up with a O2 gauge and sensor and for 1600km i monitored the O2 and never saw an issue. In deep snow the CAI worked flawless even when the entire hood would be submerged in snow for the day.
The only thing i recommend when using a CAI is doubling on the sock.
The resonator pipe from CR-racing, still looks like the day i bought it and sound's SOOO GOOD. It is a comment i hear a lot, how good it sounds, "WOW love the sound of a 4 stroke".
The pipe after the first 500km got a little louder and that is because it requires a breakin time.

yeh.JPG
KB saying "YEH" to another awesome season.
Somewhere near Revy.

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Super Sidewinder and Lund

Well i hope the Super Sidewinder thread's, build and review were informative to those interested. I did enjoy doing them.
If you have any question feel free to post i will try to answer best possible.
I think a lot of the info here and on the build thread applies to the Viper so any one owning or looking into the purchasing a Viper or SW will be able to find answer's to their question on these threads.
Don't forget this is my opinion only so i recommend you check out Turblue review's, XMrider's build thread and Catman10 thread on the Side Winders for their take on it.

See you all on the flip side.
 
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Trukker

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I certainly appreciate all your input into the SideWinder and have followed your build . We ride with some mutual friends and i would love to learn more .
 

Lund

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I certainly appreciate all your input into the SideWinder and have followed your build . We ride with some mutual friends and i would love to learn more .

Thank you i really appreciate your input and all those that participated in making these mod thread's informative.
 
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