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The 2009 Yamaha Phazer MTX is pretty much the same as the 07 model. You can still carve with it, hillclimb, and jump just about anywere only this time Yamaha took notice of some of the customer complains and made some modifications to improve it. They improved the suspension and now the ride is even more comfortable. They added windshield, something that was lacking on the previous Phazer. They didn’t work that much on the power and that stays as a downside 100%, but the sled is definitely more reliable than the previous model. see the specifications:

MODEL    Phazer MTX
M.S.R.P. *    $7,499.00
ENGINE    4-stroke, 2-cylinder, 3-valves, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT    499 cc
BORE X STROKE    77 x 53.6 mm
CARBURETION    43 mm Keihin®, fuel injection
HORSEPOWER    80 hp
IGNITION    Digital T.C.I. w/ throttle position sensor
CLUTCH    YXRC
TRANSMISSION    Variable ratio
SUSPENSION    Front: Independent, double wishbone; HPG shocks; 8.7 in. travel
Rear: ProMountain™ 144; C36 KYB HPG shocks; 14.3 in. travel
BRAKES    2-piston hydraulic w/ lightweight ventilated disc
LUBRICATION    Dry sump
EXHAUST    Rear
SKIS    Wide saddleless plastic mountain ski
LENGTH    125.7 in.
WIDTH    46.8 in.
HEIGHT    45.8 in.
TRACK LXWXH    144 x 14 x 2 in., Camoplast® Maverick™
SKI STANCE    37.6 - 39.6, adjustable
DRY WEIGHT    515 lbs.
OIL CAPACITY    3 qt.
FUEL CAPACITY    7 gal.

No overheating this time, but the sled is still not powerful enough (and this time even heavier) to call it the best mountain sled out there. It’s a good one for its price range, but if you can spend some more money you can get yourself something that’s really worthy. Between the two models – the older one and its modified copy I say spend that $300 and get the 2009 model. But if you really want a good sled get yourself something else.

The only thing Yamaha bothered to change in the 2008 Apex LTX is the track (and the price of course). With the 2008 model it’s a little bit longer. Other than that what you’re looking at are two identical sleds. Not that I’m saying the sled is not worthy – it is. The Apex is an amazing on/off trail sled and you’re absolutely gonna like it, but I don’t see the point of spending that extra $600 only because it’s a 2008 model and not a 2006 one. $600 for a longer track is a little bit too expensive don’t you think. Anyway here are the specifications for the new Apex:

MODEL    Apex LTX
M.S.R.P. *    $10,799.00
ENGINE    4-stroke, 4-cylinder, 3-valves, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT    998 cc
BORE X STROKE    74 x 58 mm
CARBURETION    39 mm Mikuni®, fuel injection
HORSEPOWER    150 hp
IGNITION    Digital T.C.I. w/ throttle position sensor
CLUTCH    YVXC
TRANSMISSION    Variable ratio, reverse
SUSPENSION    Front: Independent, double wishbone; 40 mm SOQI aluminum HPG shocks; 9 in. travel
Rear: Mono Shock® RA 136; 46 mm KYB® w/ remote adjustable shocks; 11.6 in. travel
BRAKES    4-piston hydraulic w/ lightweight rotor
EXHAUST    Rear
SKIS    Lightweight plastic, saddleless design
LENGTH    118.1 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
HEIGHT    45.7 in.
TRACK LXWXH    136 x 15 x 1.25 in. Camoplast® Rip Saw™
SKI STANCE    42.7 in.
DRY WEIGHT    577 lbs.
OIL CAPACITY    3 qt., dry sump
FUEL CAPACITY    10 gal.

If you’re gonna chose between the 08 and 06 Apex go for the 06 one without any hesitation. The sled was perfect back then and this hasn’t changed, but the extra spending is just not worthy. We’ll wait and see if Yamaha does something to really improve the 06 Apex next year, although I really don’t see what’s there to improve. If you still decide to spend that extra $600 for the 2008 Apex don’t think you’re getting a bad sled. On the contrary, you’re getting a snowmobile that’s gonna be with you for a long, long time. The choice is all yours.

New and improved the 2008 Yamaha FX Nytro RTX is definitely better than the 06 model. It’s even more powerful and a little bit lighter which in a combination give you one perfect all around sled capable of competing even with the racing sleds out there. The comfort level is still the same, but it wasn’t a bad one before. Yamaha redesign the thing and in my opinion the Nytro looks better now than it did before. It’s still very reliable and easy to handle. See the specifications:

MODEL    FX Nytro RTX
M.S.R.P. *    $10,399.00
ENGINE    4-stroke, 3-cylinder, 2-valves, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT    1,049 cc
BORE X STROKE    82 x 66.2 mm
CARBURETION    41 mm Mikuni®, fuel injection
HORSEPOWER    130 hp
IGNITION    Digital T.C.I. w/ throttle position sensor
CLUTCH    YVXC
TRANSMISSION    Variable ratio
SUSPENSION    Front: Independent, double wishbone; Fox™ FLOAT™, air shock, aluminum shocks
Rear: Dual Shock™ Pro; 40 mm HPG / 40 mm HPG w/ reservoir, dual-clicker adjustable shocks; 14.5 in. travel
BRAKES    4-piston hydraulic w/ lightweight disc
EXHAUST    Rear
SKIS    Lightweight plastic, saddleless design
LENGTH    108.5 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
HEIGHT    42.9 in.
TRACK LXWXH    121 x 15 x 1.25 in. Camoplast® Rip Saw™
SKI STANCE    41.3 in.
DRY WEIGHT    513 lbs.
520 lbs. w/ reverse
OIL CAPACITY    3 qt., dry sump
FUEL CAPACITY    7.4 gal.

The one thing Yamaha did not take under consideration is the low windshield. Instead of making it higher they decided to get rid of it whatsoever…not the smartest move in my opinion. Anyway the sled is really something even with that small windshield flaw. Don’t worry about the gas tank being smaller than the one the 05 model had. You still get excellent gas mileage with it. The price is a little high, but that’s the deal with all of the race sleds. The new Nytro is worth every penny and I’m sure you’ll be very happy with it.

Not too much has changed for the RS Vector since the 05 model, still what has changed really makes a difference. The Vector is still one perfect ride for the on/off trail rider. Only this time it is even more comfortable and easy to handle. You won’t be happy with it if you are a racer, because it’s heavy and you probably won’t get ahead of the others, but for the trail riders it is a blast. The sled gets great mileage and you won’t even feel the miles you put on it. It’s powerful enough to take wherever you want it to and is less likely to cause you any trouble. Here are the specifications:

MODEL    RS Vector LTX GT
M.S.R.P. *    $9,799.00
ENGINE    4-stroke, 3-cylinder, 3-valves, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT    973 cc
BORE X STROKE    79 x 66.2 mm
CARBURETION    40 mm Keihin®
HORSEPOWER    120 hp
IGNITION    Digital T.C.I. w/ throttle position sensor
CLUTCH    YVXC
TRANSMISSION    Variable ratio, reverse
SUSPENSION    Front: Independent, double wishbone; 40 mm GYTR™ dual-clicker HPG shocks; 9 in. travel
Rear: Mono Shock® RA 136; 46 mm KYB® w/ remote adjustable shocks; 11.7 in. travel
BRAKES    4-piston hydraulic w/ lightweight rotor
EXHAUST    Rear
SKIS    Lightweight plastic, saddleless design
LENGTH    118.7 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
HEIGHT    47.8 in.
TRACK LXWXH    136 x 15 x 1.25 in. Camoplast® Rip Saw™
SKI STANCE    42.7 in.
DRY WEIGHT    577 lbs.
OIL CAPACITY    3 qt., dry sump
FUEL CAPACITY    10 gal.

The 05 model had a little bit of a tipping problem and no storage space at all. This has been taken care of and you can be sure what you’re getting is one new and improved sled - very stable and very reliable. You may want to be careful with the deep powder since the thing isn’t one of the lightest, but even if it happens to get stuck somewhere you can count on its power to help get it free. I think the price is pretty reasonable, especially for a 2008 model and the RS Vector LTX GT should definitely be on your list if you’re looking for a great trail sled.

Things have changed for the Viking Professional through the years. Not that it was a bad sled before, but it had its downsides, downsides that Yamaha successfully got rid of before they introduce the new Viking on the market. This thing handles like a charm now and even if it wasn’t the perfect trail sled back then, you’ll be surprised how much it has changed and comfortable it’s got. The problems with the handling have also been resolved, even though the sled is still very heavy. You can trust it through every kind of snow conditions and you can be sure that it will start no matter how extreme they are. As to the gas mileage, you can get about 20 mpg, which is amazing considering the weight. It is a very powerful sled that’s definitely gonna make you happy. Here are the specifications for it:

MODEL    RS Viking Professional
M.S.R.P. *    $10,399.00
ENGINE    4-stroke, 3-cylinder, 2-valves, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT    973 cc
BORE X STROKE    79 x 66.2 mm
CARBURETION    40 mm Keihin®
HORSEPOWER    120 hp
IGNITION    Digital T.C.I. w/ throttle position sensor
CLUTCH    YVXC
TRANSMISSION    Variable ratio, reverse
SUSPENSION    Front: Independent, double wishbone; KYB® gas cell shocks; 6.7 in. travel
Rear: ProAction® Plus; KYB® high pressure gas shocks; 12 in. travel
BRAKES    4-piston hydraulic w/ lightweight, ventilated rotor
EXHAUST    Rear
SKIS    All plastic SUV wide ski
LENGTH    128.7 in.
WIDTH    47 in.
HEIGHT    54.3 in.
TRACK LXWXH    156 x 20 x 1.25 in. Camoplast® Rip Saw™
SKI STANCE    40.2 in.
DRY WEIGHT    765 lbs.
OIL CAPACITY    3 qt., dry sump
FUEL CAPACITY    11 gal.

Just like its predecessors this sled is the perfect work sled. It can pull near anything you hook up to it. The difference is that now if you don’t wanna use it just for work, it will absolutely satisfy your desires. It’s comfortable, it’s stable and it’s easy to handle. It’s heavy yes, but it still has plenty of power to get itself out of every tough situation. The price is pretty reasonable too. It’s absolutely fair for a 2008 model. Especially for one that causes no problems and performs on a level that high. Trust the thing without any hesitation. You’ll only win if you do.

I think you’ll like the new Venture look. Yamaha did a good job this time and the sled looks better than ever. It also performs really well…even better than its predecessors believe it or not. It’s called Venture Lite for a reason – Yamaha managed to strip off a fair amount of weight. Unfortunately they decided to go for less power as well. But the motor has good performance anyway. You’re still able to speed this thingy quite a bit. As to the steering – it is very responsive and I don’t think you’ll have any trouble with it. The sled is fantastic on fuel, even though the fuel tank is smaller. I’m sure you’ll like it, but see the specifications first:

MODEL    Venture Lite
M.S.R.P. *    $7,999.00
ENGINE    4-stroke, 2-cylinder, 3-valves, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT    499 cc
BORE X STROKE    77 x 53.6 mm
CARBURETION    43 mm Keihin®, fuel injection
IGNITION    Digital T.C.I. w/ throttle position sensor
CLUTCH    YPZ
TRANSMISSION    Variable ratio, electronic shift
SUSPENSION    Front: Independent, double wishbone; KYB® gas cell shocks; 7.1 in. travel
Rear: ProComfort™ 144; KYB® gas cell shocks; 11.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Disc; 2-piston hydraulic w/ lightweight rotor
EXHAUST    Rear
SKIS    Lightweight plastic, saddless design
LENGTH    124 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
HEIGHT    53.9 in.
TRACK LXWXH    144 x 15 x 1.25 in. Camoplast® Rip Saw™
SKI STANCE    42.7 in.
DRY WEIGHT    593 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    8.7 gal.

The only problem worth mentioning is the ice build up – it is a pain and unfortunately the muffler under the seat doesn’t help with it. Other than that the Venture Lite is just better than ever. It’s one very stable sled to have, comfortable and reliable. Not to mention that the price is great as well. The sled is worth every penny and you won’t make a mistake if you decide to trust it and give it a try.

The Apex is a great sled, no doubts about that, but when it comes to riding in the mountain I don’t think it’s the best choice you can make. It’s not that it doesn’t have the power to climb the hills, it does, but being so heavy makes it struggle at some point. I really can’t think of another 2007 mountain model with a weight like the Apex Mountain. Yes, it’s a 4-stroke and that adds up a lot, but still. It’s comfortable though, and quiet. It makes a good trail sled, but for the mountains there are much better choices out there. Still, see the characteristics:

MODEL    Apex Mountain SE
M.S.R.P. *    $11,299.00
ENGINE    4-stroke, 4-cylinder, 3-valves, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT    998 cc
BORE X STROKE    74 x 58 mm
CARBURETION    39 mm Mikuni, fuel injection
IGNITION    Digital T.C.I. with throttle position sensor
CLUTCH    YVXC
TRANSMISSION    Variable ratio
SUSPENSION    Front: Independent, double wishbone; Fox FLOAT, air shock, aluminum shocks; 7 in. travel
Rear: ProMountain™ 162 in. with dual angle; gas cell hydraulic shocks; 14 in. travel
BRAKES    Disc; 4-piston hydraulic with lightweight rotor
EXHAUST    Rear
SKIS    Wide saddleless plastic mountain ski
LENGTH    131.1 in.
WIDTH    46 in.
HEIGHT    46.7 in.
TRACK LXWXH    162 x 16 x 2.25 in., 3 in. pitch, Camoplast Maverick
SKI STANCE    37.6-39.6 in., adjustable
DRY WEIGHT    593 lbs.
OIL CAPACITY    3 qt., dry sump
FUEL CAPACITY    10 gal.

Actually the only way for the Apex Mountain to outrun anything out there in the big hills is by adding a 7 thousand dollar turbo. Way too big of an upgrade considering the price you’re paying for the stock sled. Weight is also a reason for the machine to be hard to handle. And I don’t even want to mention the struggle you’ll be put through if it happens that you get stuck somewhere. It’s an easy choice – if you’re an exclusive mountain rider you should look for some different sled to get. If you want a good trail sled you may consider getting the Apex Mountain, even though you can save some money and get yourself the 07 Apex ER or the 07 Apex RTX…they’re just as good, if not better.

If you’re determined to get an Yamaha sled and you want one of the best there is you should certainly learn some more about the 2007 Attak GT. This thing is not only powerful and comfortable, but it goes beyond. You won’t believe the smoothness of the motor – it’s incredible. It’s one very easy to maintain sled and its gas mileage is great. The power is what makes it so perfect. It has plenty of it and it’s for sure you won’t have any problems not just keeping up, but getting ahead of most of the sleds on the market right now. Great, great sled is all I can say about it. See the specifications:

MODEL    Attak GT
M.S.R.P. *    $11,499.00
ENGINE    4-stroke, 4-cylinder, 3-valves, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT    998 cc
BORE X STROKE    74 x 58 mm
CARBURETION    39 mm Mikuni, fuel injection
IGNITION    Digital T.C.I. with throttle position sensor
CLUTCH    YVXC
TRANSMISSION    Variable ratio, reverse
SUSPENSION    Front: Independent, double wishbone; 40 mm HPG, piggyback clicker, compression and rebound shocks; 9 in. travel
Rear: Öhlins® Mono Shock™ EC; 46 mm Öhlins® electronic, compression shocks; 11.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Disc; 4-piston hydraulic with lightweight rotor
EXHAUST    Rear
SKIS    Lightweight plastic, saddleless design
LENGTH    118.1 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
HEIGHT    45.7 in.
TRACK LXWXH    136 x 15 x 1.25 in. Camoplast Rip Saw™
SKI STANCE    42 in.
DRY WEIGHT    577 lbs.
OIL CAPACITY    3 qt., dry sump
FUEL CAPACITY    10 gal.

The only thing to complain about is the price. It’s not a cheap sled, but if you really want the best you have to pay the price for it. If you can afford it and are in a search for a great all around sled, this is exactly the one for you. You can trust it all the way and you can be sure it won’t disappoint you. It’s basically everything a rider can expect from a snowmobile and is absolutely worthy.

The Phazer Mountain Lite is a cute looking sled once you get used to it. It is pretty good on handling and comfort. Its track is well suited and the skis and suspension are great. Being light is mainly the thing that makes it a great mountain sled although sometimes it just lacks the power to get you to the top. It has its 80hp, but somehow they’re not enough. It’s a cute machine and at a nice price, but there are others that will perform much better than it. Still, check out its characteristics:

MODEL    Phazer Mountain Lite
M.S.R.P. *    $7,199.00
ENGINE    4-stroke, 2-cylinder, 3-valves, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT    499 cc
BORE X STROKE    77 x 53.6 mm
CARBURETION    43 mm Keihin, fuel injection
IGNITION    Digital T.C.I. with throttle position sensor
CLUTCH    YPZ
TRANSMISSION    Variable ratio, electronic shift
SUSPENSION    Front: Independent, double wishbone; gas cell hydraulic shocks; 8.5 in. travel
Rear: ProMountain™ dual angle; gas cell hydraulic shocks; 15.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Disc; 2-piston hydraulic with lightweight rotor
EXHAUST    Rear
SKIS    Lightweight plastic, saddleless design
LENGTH    125.8 in.
WIDTH    46 in.
HEIGHT    46.9 in.
TRACK LXWXH    144 x 14 x 2 in. Camoplast Maverick
SKI STANCE    37.6-39.6 in.
DRY WEIGHT    489 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    8.1 gal.

What people are mainly complaining about is overheating. If you get it you should be careful not to push it too far. It’s just not the sled that’s gonna last you for a long time. Very soon you’ll be looking for something else to trade it for. It works as a beginners sled and if that’s the case I say go for it, but if not just look for something more reliable. There’s plenty of choice before you. Just try and avoid any Phazer variation possible.

So let’s see how Yamaha did with bettering the RS Venture and is it really worthy if you have a 05 model to upgrade to an 07 one (I think “upgrading” from 05 to 06 model is not even worth mentioning). So the RS Venture hasn’t changed that much judging from the given specifications. But what’s changed is making a whole lot of difference. Remember how the suspension of the 05 Venture was good, but the sled was still tippy – well that’s all in the past now. Yamaha did some tweaking and now the thing is as stable as it should be…especially considering its weight did not change. The comfort level is still the same – perfect. And you still get great amount of power from this machine. Gas mileage stays the same – 15 mpg (amazing if you ask me considering the weight again) and the sled got even more reliable than it used to be. So here are its specifications so you don’t have to take my word on it:

MODEL    RS Venture GT
M.S.R.P. *    $9,599.00
ENGINE    4-stroke, 3-cylinder, 2-valves, liquid-cooled
DISPLACEMENT    973 cc
BORE X STROKE    79 x 66.2 mm
CARBURETION    40 mm Keihin
IGNITION    Digital T.C.I. with throttle position sensor
CLUTCH    YVXC
TRANSMISSION    Variable ratio, reverse
SUSPENSION    Front: Independent, double wishbone; 40 mm HPG, piggyback clicker compression and rebound shocks; 9 in. travel
Rear: ProComfort; 36 HPG, aluminum shocks; 12.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Disc; 2-piston hydraulic with ventilated disc
EXHAUST    Rear
SKIS    Plastic, saddle-type
LENGTH    123.4 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
HEIGHT    52.4 in.
TRACK LXWXH    144 x 15 x 1.25 in. Camoplast Rip Saw™
SKI STANCE    42 in.
DRY WEIGHT    625 lbs.
OIL CAPACITY    3 qt., dry sump
FUEL CAPACITY    10 gal.

The only problems that remain are the lack of storage and the huge weight. But not because the weight slows the sled down, but because if it happens for you to get stuck somewhere you’re still gonna need that extra help to free the Venture. So I guess paying $600 for the 07 model is kinda worthy after all. You get stability and even better comfort level…add the speed and the reliability (that you always had with the RS Venture) and you’re looking at one amazing sled. Riding it will feel awesome and if you don’t trust me guess you have to find that out on your own.