Comments on: Business Update

By: scott

scott — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:26:36 +0000

I’m glad to hear that Canada is getting a louder voice in the company since my state of Alaska shares more in common with Cananda that it does the US.

I recently spent some time living in the interior of AK and had my Vector with me and to be brutally honest, it was not my first choice of sleds to have for the conditions. First off, a 1000cc, 4-stroke, e-start only motor is not the best thing to have when the temps drop to 40 below. A nice, simple fan cooled 2-stroke makes a lot of since. However, that type of Yamaha sled is not offered in the USA, except for the Bravo. Due to the emissions concerns, I’m thinking a 400cc, air, oil cooled 4-stroke sled based off a 400 Grizzly would make for an excellent “Bush sled” both in AK and Canada. Please include an oversized, mechanically advantaged rope starter as wells as the Ultramatic tranny ( that will make for the 3rd or 4th time I’ve requested it) out of the 4-wheelers.

A modern, light weight, easy to start when cold 4-stroke work sled would sell very well in both Canada and in Alaska.

Couldn’t agree with you more Scott, I’d love to build a project sled with a Grizzly 600 engine (or maybe a 700 l/c) shoe horned into something like an ET410 chassis with modern skid and track just to see how it would work… cheers cr

By: Flatlander SE

Flatlander SE — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:21:55 +0000

It would be frightning if Yamaha did leave the snowmobile business. There would litteraly be NO reliable/durable sleds on the market. This winter, anyone in my riding group not riding a Yamaha was towed home at least once. I guess the bonus of “light weight” is that they tow home easier.

That’s a very strong statement… mind if I quote you? I have been giving a lot of thought to ‘lightweight’ as a ‘feature’, which is referred to so often in our industry. Nobody (including the main messenger) has spent much time describing the actual cost and benefit. Think I’ll have to post my thoughts on this one real soon! cheers cr

By: snoguzzler

snoguzzler — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:02:39 +0000

We’re doing our part. The wife just bought a new 2009 Phazer RTX. The “Snobitch is back!!” It’ll soon be time to update my ’06 Attak, but I haven’t found anything I would rather have yet. However the colours on the anniversary edition almost made me deal her in.

By: low slung

low slung — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:16:49 +0000

Best news i heard so far this year,it would be really sad to see yamaha leave the sled game and take away the best sleds on the planet.By the way are the shocks in the back of the 09 phazer GT rebuildable?Or are they just gas cell?

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:59:10 +0000

Chris,
Good Post!
I was up to the snowcross races in Barrie and a GREAT showing for BIG BLUE.
How many other manufacturers can state they have won both the snowcross races and the motorcycle Supercross races in the same year. This is Great!
Mark

By: Daranello

Daranello — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:16:48 +0000

Chris,

Now I can’t venture to guess what’s the “real” sales numbers are… would I be too offside to say that Canadian Sales would have surpased USA sales if it was not for cross boarder sales??

hard to say really, one of our competitors was moving tractor trailer loads of non current models out of US dealers and into Canadian dealerships for a huge net discount but these numbers count against US and add to Canada… I believe this is a short term anomaly and in the future we will see the US market come back up closer to where it should be… cr

By: pat the rat

pat the rat — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:04:56 +0000

great post again,we had fun over at ”ty”with the,”are yamaha’s ok”topic,everybody was talking about what we would drive if yammi were to quit the sled industry,it was hard just to think about losing yamaha as a sled company,so glad to see the company committed to sleds cuz they do make the best product end of discussion,my focus is shifting towards my grizzly that hauls my small boat with a 15 hp yammi 4stroke,another fine product from yamaha
ptr

thanks ptr, loading up my Kodiak this weekend cottage bound with the first order on the agenda… wresting my F20 Yammie onto the transom… I didn’t cast a vote on TY on what I would ride if Yamaha wasn’t around… knowing me I would build my own project sled based on an Apex (and a very trick bush sled based on the old school parts bin) cheers cr