viper2

Nice pics, 182ray good luck to you and mikerider on your saddlebag trip...........wish I was there right now.

I have a feeling the 17,000 is sticker price, if so no one pays sticker. But yea prices turning this into a rich man's sport.

X2 vt_bluyamaha54 I agree with alot of what is posted by the others, but they are grasping at straws when they try to cite reliability issues with Yamaha. Grumpy, I agree 100% that the prices are getting out of control but we the riders are partly to blame for demanding better performance in all area's with lighter weight to boot and now all this for the same money? Just can't add up. I for one am most concerned with durability/reliability. This is #1 for me it doesn't have to be the fastest or most rear travel and I don't have to lay over the handlebars or want to ride standing up all day. I am aggravated myself that manufacturers feel pressured to keep making everything lighter (junkier) They either save weight by using inferior materals (plastic) making existing materials too thin or using strong but lightweight (expensive) components. I also feel this is why trade in and resell prices are poor. There is a glut on the market because everyone wants a new and improved sled every year. As far as the slides go I have not experienced any of this. I have noticed that a new set will drag and wear quick for the first 1/3 of wear but my experience is it really doesn't even matter if you are in good lubrication or not this occurs. After that the wear was very slow. I was up at St. Zenon the week before the rain and I was on hyfax from last year yet. Gizz, I saw you were making snow last weekend in Haneyville that was pretty cool! Hey I know you don't really like Yammy's and hey normally I try to buy American, but when I only get to ride something maybe 20 days a year I want the best LOL. As far as the sleds go I have said this before a good dealer is the first step. You need an aggressive dealer that keeps their mechanics educated and keeps up with the tech bulletins. A problem has to be fixed before you go out. As far as the relays go I haven't heard of that maybe my dealer took care of it I don't know but I have ove 3500 miles on my Apex with no problems so far. My first day of my first trip last year it was -35F in the morning and 4 Apex's and a vector all with no miles and none would start without a jump. But there were about 50 sleds in the corral that morning all brands were covered and none started. It was so cold you couldn't even pull the ropes on the sleds that had them without taking the plugs out. Nothing is 100% troublefree, but there are few people that would argue that Yamaha is the best in this category. My last sled was a 2002 Viper. I still have it and it has 14,000 miles on it. I have never even had the head off. Back in the early 90's we had the Vmax 4's when we sold them they both had ove 16,000 on them without tearing into the engine. I always make sure and have my sled serviced by my dealer and they know that I am going on a big trip not just a 200mi. weekend to Tug Hill. I am not going to sit here and pick apart other brands because everyone has to ride what they like and to tell you the truth I think it's good for us in a way when the man. have to compete for our business. I have ridden for a long time though and with friend riding all brands and can honestly say I have seen some crazy s@$t fail over the years. Ride safe ..........P.S. Gizz when you heading up to Quebec and where are you guys going?

Sorry for your loss. A friend of mine also lost his life due to an accident on the trail. Alcohol did not play a part but we still must all be safe on the trail. One area I think is a problem is over aggressive riders. I like to ride fast where I feel safe like a nice wide and straight trail or even on a smooth lake, I like to open it up and see what it will do. But the last few years I seem to see more and more guys on my side in the twistys, passing at unsafe places sometimes while they are STANDING UP! Get real. I call these guys the "Rippers" they can turn a perfectly good trail into mogels in no time flat and seem to have no respect for life or limb.

Thanks naruss,I looked online on Dennis Kirk but it either wasn't there or I couldn't find it. Maybe it's just me but their site is not the easiest to navigate unless you the exactly who makes it and what it is called.

Thanks groomer!! You are a wealth of knowledge.

Does anyone know where to get the harness I have seen families in Quebec use. It straps to the kid and I think also the adult and the one I saw had handles for the kid to hold onto.

Sounds like your back in business Mikerider. 600 IQHO I am in the same boat as you if someone had told me you will have to sit in the hotel 3 days then it will be good again I would have come home anyway. I can pretty much get off in the winter whenever I want but I do have a business to attend to so I really don't like to be away more than a week at a time.

Thanks Bill, seems like the prognosis is much better than just a couple days ago.

Thanks for the report Alain. Sounds like the trails may recover faster than expected and we both know the excellent work the groomers do up there. Hopefully it will be good for anyone coming upthis week. I am planning on coming up near the end of feb. keep the reports coming.

X2 600IQHO that is unacceptable to me. :wacko: Maybe we are the minority or maybe you only get what you are willing to accept. Cornbinder, maybe if you had a set of those ice scratchers it would help? I have never used them but they sound like they really work.

Did you have to cut your trip short? By how many days? Man that sucks hopefully your next trip will be alot better. Check out the link on the ice scratchers I was considering it myself.

Excellent report Rick! I am almost ashamed at my reports after checking out your link. Welcome to Quebec saddlebagging. I think by now you have found you are hooked. I have been saddlebagging since the early 90's although back then we called it "cross country trips" Also after a few trips you will get your gear down to the essentials, I travel on my Apex GT with just the deluxe saddlebags and a tank bag.

Nice pics, looks like you had an excellent trip. I am sure glad I didn't wait till this week to go.

The forcast for up there was for a very light snowfall after the rain ? couple inches. I would call up there and ask. I am not sure where you are staying but I always stay at LeCabanon and I trust them very much with thei report, they have told me in the past not to come so enough said there. If you call there ask for one of these people. Denis,Diane,Isabelle or Lynn. Hope this helps

You are right on Alain I knew you would know this spot. Yes you will have to check it out the bridge is gone. I always wondered what happened to that bridge, that would be great if they would replace it I always liked that ride on that side.

Great report Alain, I sure hope the trails hold up well monday. I am planning on coming up near the end of feb. for a saddlebag trip. I don't know where we will go yet it depends on the snow cover. Unless we do the Gaspe we will probably leave from St. Zenon. Did you recognize the picture in my post with the small building on it? Here is a hint, if you were familiar with the trail to River Mattawin say 15-16 years ago from St. Zenon you will know it.

Yes Alain, we had a good time and thanks for your reports, they have helped us decide to make the trip. The groomers were out every night and I think that is what sets the Lanaudiere region apart from the rest, they groom before it really needs it to stay on top of the trails. I have ridden all over Quebec and I really don't think any other region could keep up with the traffic especially given all the miles of trails they maintain.

Day 5 leave at 8:30 me, mom and dad take 360/345 down over barrage very good shape...............by the way still using only one trail back and forth to barrage, I myself prefer it this way much nicer trail. Took 360 (first left after barrage) to 33 then went north to Repos trail was excellent. Gas up sleds and fill up belly at Repos New owners 2 weeks ago but still leave my marker there we returned by same trail to barrage and still good One of the most photographed landmarks in Quebec every winter, but today I figured I would give you the view from the north side. Going to be back early so we took a little side trip looking for wildlife, took a left on zec road 31 approx 8 miles to intersection with zec rd. 311 which is groomed as 318 this pic is the 31/311 intersection. No wildlife but many track and beautiful scenery. we ended the week with approx 940 miles and alot of time with family good trip good conditions hopefully the weather on monday does not hurt too much. :D

Day 4 went to bank in St. Zenon trail down there was very good a big improvment the last 2 years, clean snow and no rocks. After the bank we crossed 131 at LuLu's and came down to La Glaciere and crossed 131 again onto 350. Took all the way to Lac Blanc and had a nice lunch then continued on 350 east till St. Paulin then realized we better head back as we did not want to return by Grand Mere, as we try to be back for dinner every night with the little guy. Took 349 north at Lac Blanc and then 318 west all the way to Le Cabanon all trails very nice although a little twisty down by Lac Blanc but plenty of snow. My buddy wants a ride So a ride he gets He didn't want to get off oh well we leave at 9:30 again one more day to go

Day 3 left about 9:30 again headed down to St. Michel DS and over through Zec Collin to Parc Tremblant, as reported before trails smooth but snirty and then first 20 miles in parc very good to groomer turn around then BAD for 8 miles then a little bumpy but ok to Macaza. Much more snow in the center of the parc I think that is why there was the 8 mile bad section. The whole 2nd half hadn't been groomed for awile but the deeper snow got much rougher. Frosty morning makes for nice sights Hard to get going in the morning,but I have my little buddy helping me Gassed up on railbed-----Petite train du Nord at A'nnunction ?spelling then back to Le Cabanon basically the same route 192 miles.

Not sure what Monday will bring but definitly not sketchy just don't go too far south, did almost 1000mi. easily last week and plan to use same hyfax next trip.

Ok, I think I got the picture thing figured out, let's try again. Day 2 left about 9:30 headed down across barrage and again up 345 about 10-11 miles this time making the right on local mauricie 33 down through burn. Intersection of 345/33 (local) toward River Mattawin on way back up from Mattawin took 360 all the way, anyone know this next landmark? 360 nice all the way about 185 for this day all smooth nice lunch at Mattawin, more to come

First day went to Repos, like a said a family trip me, my wife and 14 month old son and my mom and dad so every day only 3 of us riding and usually late start, mon. we left at 10:00 am. Went down across barriage and up 345 was all good until intersection of 345/33 (local)then 20 miles of stutter bumps until past dam Gilardo then very good to Repos and down 33 very good got on Lac Toro at Canadventure to other end at campground into St. Michel then back to Le Cabanon about 213mi. for the day. can only take this picture in morning as they are all out at night Repos Corral at dusk basically the scene all week, we had the trails to ourselves and we loved it! This is my first time with pics so lets see how it goes?

yea, if they get much rain it will def. hurt some of the trails, last night they said one forcast is rain and another says 6-8 in. of snow. Lets hope it is snow.