March 9, 2011
10th anniversary video blog
I was helping my daughter with a home work assignment the other night where she had to write a paragraph on spring and what it means if March comes in like a lion or a lamb. I advised her that it came in as a lamb based on the 1st however, depending where you live, there now appears to be a lion right on its butt! Another 40cm of snow in the east and more on its way. Anybody want to buy a Waverunner?
No sooner did I write the above, I received a media release from the OFSC addressing spring conditions here is the header:
OPP & OFSC SAY MARCH SNOWMOBILE FATALITIES ARE PREVENTABLE
Don’t Make Your Last Ride of the Season the Last Ride of Your Life (ORILLIA, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) are concerned about an increase in fatal snowmobile incidents this March. While the number of deaths investigated by the OPP has seen an overall decline to date this season, five tragedies in the past two weeks indicate that sledders are not adjusting their riding habits to the late season conditions.
I have been elected to travel to Japan in a few days to attend some meetings at our test center in Shibetsu. I will spend some time with our snowmobile development team and think it may present a good opportunity to address what I consider to be a hole in our line up. As I had mentioned in an earlier post, I created a short survey to get your opinion on entry level and mid-performance snowmobiles. I would really appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to complete the survey, I’ll post a link here and let you know the results and how it is received. Click here to take survey
We did our first ever on-line dealer meeting / new product launch last week to release the 2012 snowmobiles. To date it appears to have been a success. The additional snow falling is allowing our regional reps to now get out and ride with our dealers, giving many a chance to feel the EPS Vector and Venture.
I have had a few contacts today regarding Matt’s 24 hour record (the most miles traveled by a sled in 24 hours) which has unofficially fallen as of last night. The challenge came from Northland Recreation’s Nick Musters riding a Skidoo. I understand they used the same basic course on Lake of Bays and hats of to their team, they beat Matt’s record by just over a hundred miles. From what I have been told there were a couple of key differences the most significant being they needed two sleds to Doo it after mechanicals required the use of a back-up machine. I also heard they had a groomer maintaining the course… Hey Matt you up for another little trail ride next season? Maybe we should use the same sled! ;-)
I was asked to do a small video blog on the 10th anniversary of our 4-stroke snowmobile development. Interestingly enough it is this, the 10th model year, where EPA has forced the complete elimination of our old 2-strokes in North America (bye-bye Bravo and VK540). Here’s the clip:
Hi Chris
I really enjoy trying the new iron out on the power tours. However what annoys me is when they come to Manitoba there is like 4 to 5 sleds only to try, and usually no proto’s like the vector eps. The tour I was at had two apex’s both 144 no 128′s. Why is it in the states and in Ontario there is no shortage of models and proto’s to try?
Thanks
Blue Rider
Bit of a mis-perception there Mark, there is definitely a ‘shortage’ of pre-pro / protos. I have tried for many years to convince YMC to do a ‘pilot build’ of salable snowmobiles at the same time as pre-production (Polaris has done this a number of times to help market new models) but we can’t seem to do it. Pre-pros and protos are costly and must be cut-up and discarded when we are done. We don’t order them beyond onesy / twoseys. We have to keep a very short leash on them and often run them out of head office here in Toronto… now if we were to move to Winterpeg… cheers cr
March 9th, 2011 at 8:33 pmi knew they couldnt doo it without some mechanical problem,but good for nick for his personnal record,you know,i’m sad to see the bravo and vk go,i have some good memories on those sleds,still remember when we sank a brand new 1 day old vk 540 thru the ice in mid february back in the eighties,spent 4 hours fishing it out,but the best part is we drove it out of the bush on its own power after we drained everything,seat was kinda hard though,well,this can only lead to a new 4s beginner sled,took the survey,my 09 vector turned 9500 miles last weekend,great machine,chow
pat
LOL, the seat was kinda hard! nice one, reminded me of the picture I saw in Sudbury of the boys water skipping a VK… with 4 people on it! cheers cr
March 9th, 2011 at 9:48 pmLooks like Cat and Polaris still have old school 2-strokes available for 2012, thought EPA rules would force these engines out this year?
Yeah… so did we!
March 9th, 2011 at 11:53 pmYEAH! Glad to see the survey. I hope you can convince them to come out with a small, LIGHT WEIGHT, 3/4 size sled that is easy to work on, maintain and still be fun to ride. One sled can be a beginner sled, trapper sled, work sled, bush/exploring sled. Just widen and lengthen it with bolt are parts for each application.
Also, the sled needs to be able to float and get around in the deep snow. 16″ wide track and a belly pan are a good start.
Thanks Scott.. don’t forget ‘affordable’, I think the price of the newer sleds (especially ours) scares any potential new riders back to the ski-hill or TV…
March 9th, 2011 at 11:56 pmHi Chris,
What’s the story on the $1,500 optional boost kit for the Nytro this year? Will it work at Sea Level? Is it really only $1,500, how about making it an option for us Flatlanders? Or should we just have patience for roughly 12 months or so?
Not sure which kit you refer to. G-Force has a Yamcharger for the Nytro for around that cost. Yamaha USA is selling both a turbo and a SC as accessory items for Nytro MTX models (marketed as hi-elevation only) but the cost is significantly more. That said I think they have added to the current sales program as one of their spring incentives (discounted price if you buy a sled. We didn’t buy into the turbo kits last year as MCXpress has our market well covered with a similar product at the same price, available through select dealers… Personally I think running boost at sea-level is not an ‘every mans’ option unless it is engineered and installed as OE equipment. The chance of a failure due to fuel, operator error, installation etc. is too risky for us…
March 10th, 2011 at 7:34 amcheers cr
The survey is a great start, and the fact that it is the hands of someone that seems to have a mainline to the “Mother Ship” does not hurt either. Well done! The video is great! I think you have a shot at the” Next Big Pitch Man” reality show. Can you say vegematic.
I could do vegematic but I have already been practicing my ‘Vince’ voice doing a Slapchop pitch… ‘America you’re getting fat’…and my favourite… ‘watch this you’ll love my nutz’
cr
March 10th, 2011 at 8:12 amFilled out the survey, nice job on it. And the video of you, entertaining. It’s funny thinking back to what you are like in person and as i’m sitting there waiting (on northern time) for the video to load thinking, is Chris going to be himself or look fake like the rest of the actors on tv. You were great, pretty natural, although i’m wondering whether the shifty eyes were reading a teleprompter or cue cards. And how many takes? Do we can an outtakes version of it in the summer time to brighten our snowless spirits? There sure was a lot of b-roll in there with voice over work…makes me wonder how many times you had to pick up a snowball and chuck it at the producer/camera op during filming. hahahaha
Cheers,
YK
Jeez YK… you work for the CBC or something?? I’ll have you know I’m a one-take wonder, the shifty eyes were on my ‘fluffer’
March 10th, 2011 at 11:49 amSounds great for the potential for Yamaha to be offering a “beginner” sled. The handling of sled needs to inspire confidence and the ability to control. (no darting). My teenage daughters drive my Vector but in the back of my mind I do have concerns that the machine has the ability to put them in a precarious situation,
March 10th, 2011 at 12:37 pmChris,
March 10th, 2011 at 1:36 pmI know it is not in production yet, but has Cat done it for 2012? Did they make a 4stroke that truely can compete with a 600 twostroke. Read what Supertrax has to say about it. They say that it handles better than the 2012′s red or yellow 600′s! They also say somebody’s finally got it right after 10 years. Boy I wonder where that comment was directed too? In Cat’s dealer release video they are claiming 60 pounds lighter, alot better handling, stronger, and a lower price tag. Heck so far this year thy don’t even plan on making a 600. I know only time will tell but were they able to accomplish the big three performance, duribility,and price? I don’t want to sound negative but I’m worried about the future of Yamaha snowmobile’s.
Mr. T
Like.
March 10th, 2011 at 3:46 pmBut you knew that already.
Very nice, cr, I’m betting ‘They’ll’ never let you retire. Blog on. It’s better every season.
This one is center on the target.
Chris, I hope in you visit it not all about entry and mid performance. That’s not what sells selds very year. Yamaha needs more power in mountaint’s. When i’m sitting on my nytro at the bottom of the hill it hard to say the reliabilty keeps me from going to the top because Yamaha can’t figure out to make a high powered 4 stroke. If cat can build 177hp in a mountain and lake sled and Yamaha can’t. This will be the end of the reliabilty claim. I’m 25 plus year of Yamaha brand loyal its getting very hard to be any more. I know yamaha can do better they have better engineering.
March 10th, 2011 at 4:40 pmHey CR
I’m sure you’ve seen this page but I’d though I’d post the link.
Anyone questioning the future of yamaha snowmobiles should visit this site and, in particular, read the tech talk interview with a lead 4-stroke project engineer.
http://www.yamaha-motor.com.jp/global/consumer/4st-snowmobiles-10th-aniv/
Mr. Nakano gets it. I think the future is in safe hands.
Thanks 7, Tim Nakano is our secret weapon not only is he a brilliant engineer but he is also a genuine all around nice guy (who just happens to own a Yellow Lab) cheers cr
March 10th, 2011 at 4:44 pmHey CR
I hope that you havent been swept away by that tragic tsunami that hit Japan today.
Thanks for the thought, I am still safe and dry in Canada but I have to fly into Narita a week tomorrow. I will be travelling over the area on my way north to Hokaido. I hope none of the guys at work have family or friends in the area, will be a tough day at the office… cheers cr
March 11th, 2011 at 5:19 amGood blog Chris, keep it up ,you are an invaluable resource for Yamaha.I admire your ability to put things in perfect format, using just the right words. Im sure it takes hours of thought to write these, I hope all appreciate your commitment.
March 11th, 2011 at 9:29 amSR
Hope all is well in Japan after the current earthquake and that your trip is still a go.
Thanks Steve, some of our guys here have family and friends in the area of the quake, there is not a lot of communication coming out of there now so it’s tense for everyone. I imagine my trip is still a go but right now the flights I would be on are cancelled…. Most of the Yamaha operations are far to the south and have not been directly affected… cr
March 11th, 2011 at 12:28 pm