Kibbels
Active VIP Member
2018 Yamahas are here.. Have peek see
- Thread starter Kibbels
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #2
Kibbels
Active VIP Member
No 174 .... FFS Yamaha get your head out of your azz!!!
- Thread starter
- #3
Kibbels
Active VIP Member
The New 200cc Youth...
- Thread starter
- #4
Kibbels
Active VIP Member
zal
Active VIP Member
Not on their site yet. Where did you find them and any info?
- Thread starter
- #6
Kibbels
Active VIP Member
2018 marks the 50th Anniversary for Yamaha snowmobiles. To celebrate this great accomplishment, Yamaha is coming out with some very cool stuff. First off, the Sidewinder lineup gets a huge expansion. From 153” track options, to a revised chassis similar to it’s Arctic Cat sibling. Second, is the return of the Yamaha SnoScoot. Although, we won’t focus too much on the trail side of Yamaha’s lineup, we will note that this 50th Anniversary also marks the end of the iconic Apex which will remain an iconic sled for both trail and mountain riders. And last but not least, some models will be available with special 50th Anniversary graphics.
Updates for the Sidewinder include:
Yamaha splurged on the handling department for 2018. The LE models come standard with FOX QS3 shocks up front and a QSL shock out back. The QS3 shocks are some of the nicest shocks available on the market today. A simple lever changes the stiffness of the shock from 1 (soft) , 2 (medium), or 3 (hard). This makes for a very user friendly method of shock tuning. It’s almost like having three shocks in one. The QSL has a “lockout” feature to improve climbing capabilities. This technology derived from the high end mountain bike industry.
The Sidewinder’s running boards have been narrowed up to allow the sled to navigate steep terrain with more control. They will be receiving a drop and rolled chain case with 8 tooth drivers for extra clearance and a much improved approach angle to aid the sled in climbing on top of the snow. We noticed a huge improvement with these little changes in our test rides. Each model in the lineup will share all these updates, even the base model MT-X.
Updates for the Sidewinder include:
- FOX QS3/QSL shocks
- Narrowed running boards
- Drop and roll chain case
- New intake venting with pre filter
- 8 tooth drive sprockets
Yamaha splurged on the handling department for 2018. The LE models come standard with FOX QS3 shocks up front and a QSL shock out back. The QS3 shocks are some of the nicest shocks available on the market today. A simple lever changes the stiffness of the shock from 1 (soft) , 2 (medium), or 3 (hard). This makes for a very user friendly method of shock tuning. It’s almost like having three shocks in one. The QSL has a “lockout” feature to improve climbing capabilities. This technology derived from the high end mountain bike industry.
The Sidewinder’s running boards have been narrowed up to allow the sled to navigate steep terrain with more control. They will be receiving a drop and rolled chain case with 8 tooth drivers for extra clearance and a much improved approach angle to aid the sled in climbing on top of the snow. We noticed a huge improvement with these little changes in our test rides. Each model in the lineup will share all these updates, even the base model MT-X.
- Thread starter
- #7
Kibbels
Active VIP Member
Zal... With any luck maybe there is something else coming...
LBZ
Active VIP Member
Might be other reasons for the drop and roll and driver changes.......
Turblue
Active VIP Member
Guessing cat/yammy doesn't feel 174 is worth it. Sure getting pushed in the other 2 manufacturers . So the 17 sidewinder would have 7t drivers then? Funny that the 17 king cat has the lower 8t drivers but not the 17 yammy.
Last edited:
Lund
Active VIP Member
Wonder what these 18 prices are going to be like, the 17 MTX was over $19 so i wonder if Yamaha is keeping them under $20 for 2018.
Mountainman52
Active VIP Member
I think the pricing is for the 2018 SW 163 is $19,600 cdn. rom what I have seen so far.
pano-dude
Active VIP Member
Doo Dealers have 174 sleds left over, blowing them out. Buddy picked up new 2016 for 10,500 all in
Well, finally someone is building a bigger kids sled 200c. Yamaha is starting with the youth for a nature progression, and why would they build a 17? something when there's inventory laying around everywhere. Plus the mountain market only accounts for 10-15% of the total North American market.
Turblue
Active VIP Member
I currently have one of those...looking for something different than the masses....no fun if everyone rides the same sled.
The new driver change and drop and roll will help it get up on the snow and hook, which is almost as important as track length IMO. They might have just been "demoing" it on the King Cat last year, which was why Yammy didn't get it? Yammy maybe didn't feel the value in it yet? they may have built the Yammy's first and Cat came out with later on in R&D testing after the Yammy's were spec'd for production? Maybe Cat just kept it up their sleeve to give them a little edge on the chassis side.
Regardless - These new chassis's are getting better every year. The Cat and Yammy 9000s are also the only sleds that are making the same HP and torque at elevation as at the parking lot, and will compensate for the lack of track and weight. I think a lot of time the 174 is overrated in an 800 class sled once you drag it up to 6000 ft and put it in 2 ft of snow. I'd love to see an unbiased review of a side by side comparison to the new Sidewinder 162" with the chaincase improvements and any of the other 174" sleds (an honest review!!!) because I don't think things will be that far off with these new sleds. Snowests review of the King Cat last year was pretty comparable (with the 8T drivers).
If we start looking at the power to weight ratios, they are actually in favour of the boosted 4S at elevation. Its still an extra 60 lbs you have to throw around though, so can still feel the weight. Slow rolling in the thick lumber might have to give the edge to the 174, because you're not using boost to any kind of its potential, but once the track speeds increase a bit..... likely be closer than most think. This is based on my experience riding with boosted 4 stroke 162" sleds and 2 stroke 174" tracks. Also, the Sidewinder and the King Cat are already pushing $20K without a 174", so they might have been trying to keep the price point lower and comparable to the competition for marketing, but that would only be my personal speculation for a possible reason to not offer it.
Turblue
Active VIP Member
Irregardless of the 174 glad I got to try one and excited to be riding one next year.
Fair enough. We have plenty of Doo apologists here, no harm in having one representing Cat.
climbmax
Team Thunderstruck
pistoncontracting
Active VIP Member
Quite a video. From around 2:20, and all that dangling, I almost thought it was a 2stroke add...
Well done!
Longhairfreak
Active VIP Member
Drop and roll? Say it isn't so!
Similar threads
