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vt_bluyamaha54

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Posts posted by vt_bluyamaha54

  1. Chaudiere Trail Conditions Fri Feb 22 to Fri Mar 1st

    in Chaudiere Appalaches

    Posted

    A little late but I got to post.

    Sandi and I rode Saturday, Feb 23rd. We met Mike after he had "breakfast" at the relais or should I say ballet? Hmm, those rhyme.

    We stayed at Motel Bernieres in St Nicholas. We rode 75, 5 east and 55 south to Tourville's Relais Jasmin. This is a "relais" and very nice I will add. No ballet here. The place was packed. We got there at 12 noon. Service was great for the number of people there and the food was great. The menu du jour was $11.95, good deal.

    Jack & Sandi

    'Le Jasmin' is always a zoo on weekends. The new place is very upscale but I liked the old place; it had character. It was a bit east of there on TQ55 right beside the trail. I want to say it moved to the present location about 5 yrs ago(?)

  2. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I really admire your ability to be so calm and write about this in such an entertaining way. Like everyone else, I really hope this is not a broadening trend. Unfortunately, the reports show otherwise. Based on MCCAFFREY's account from Feb 7 and yours, it doesn't seem like it would be too hard to track these guys down - if QPP want to!

  3. 2014 yams or yamacat

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Waiting for the pics of the BRP 1200 with 30,000 miles show me that. Then we can talk about being bulletproof.

    With no major repairs that is.

    X2 iceman!!

    Just read where Nick Keller's record setting Vector is about to roll over 60,000 trouble free miles - so raise the bar a bit.

    The Doo GSX 1200 SE is the best handling sled i've ever ridden. My riding partner came off a a 2006 APEX and now rides a GSX SE 1200 and says it's the best sled he's ever owned. I wouldn't knock it until you try it yourself....plus the handlebar warmers actually work without the need for big handlebar muffs.

    Glad you like it. If you have it for 12-15,000 miles please share your service experiences with us because we haven't heard them from anyone.

    Wow, you are really comparing a 2013 SkiDoo to a 7 year old Yamaha?

    P. S. Isn't the "best sled you've ever owned" almost always the one you just bought?? LOL . . . . AND if your riding buddy had been 'tuned in' - via any of the Yamaha owner forums - or had a good dealer - there was a fix for the low heat warmers.

    Hey relax, I'm not bashing just responding to the other posts.

    In the end the market will dictate who is and who is not in business. None of them could care less what any of us think or feel.

    At 12K to 14K+ I personally expect eveything on the sled to work regardless of how unimportant someone thinks it is.

    We all expect things to work; but maintenance and a good dealer are sometimes the missing pieces in these stories about "problems".

    Nowadays I think all snowmobilers fall into 2 categories:

    1). Gearheads who do most/all of the work on their sleds themselves.

    2). Folks who depend on their dealer for 100% of the maintenance and upkeep.

    There is nothing "right" or "wrong" about either approach except that the folks in group #2 can be at a great disatvantage when things go wrong far from home. Not many of us can afford to pay dealer shop rates to do a ski to flap inspection. That is needed periodically to prevent problems - large and small on these sleds. Besides, you may hear or feel something that a dealer never would. This goes doubly for dealers who have no way to test on snow.

    Folks in group #1 tend to gather information from the forums, their dealer, and anywhere else they can. If something does go wrong far from home it is usually catastrophic and unpreventable since these folks go over their sleds with magnifiers.

    I disagree with your statement "none of them could care less what any of us think or feel". I know for a fact that Yamaha monitors message traffic on the forums to make some of their decisions and 'listen in on' what users are experiencing.

    I agree with all the comments fully. I had and still have a Polaris FST switchback and really like that sled (go ahead and laugh!). But Polaris dropped their 4 stroke last year so i went looking and landed on a 1200 SE. Point is, I'm not sticking with Polaris just because it's Polaris. If you put the blinders on and don't try anything else you'll never no how great your current ride is or just how bad it might be. I found out by being in the market for a new sled and i'm glad i did. The GSX SE 1200 is without a doubt the best handling sled that i've owned. Yes it could use another 15 HP or so but can't they all? When i'm in the market for a new sled in a few years i'll be sure to see what's being offered at the time and do my best to ride them before i buy them, i'm not sticking with any brand anymore just because of the name. But that's just my opinion now that i've experienced the switch first hand. I really don't care if anyone likes my ride, I do and that's all that matters.

    BTW, not bashing or anything(honestly) but we spent the first day of our ride 2 weeks ago in Quebec working on an Apex alongside the trail. Was it major? How to you quantify it? We lost a days ride because of it, you decide. The year before it was my Polaris that dropped an alternator thankfully at a gas stop close to a dealer. A couple years before that the other Apex would not start in Canada due to a frozen relay or something like that. Again, Major? not really but a pain in the ass nonetheless.

    I'm just trying to keep it honest boys. They all freaking break and nobody keeps statistics on which one's break more than others so any guess at that statistic is only a guess. What i've found in the past is that the cocky one is the next to break. With that said I love all brands!

    My riding partner bought a GSX with the 1200 motor the first year it came out - '09. He bought it because he was/is a SkiDoo guy who has never owned anything else. He bought the 4-stroke after witnessing the mileage, reliability, and freedom from the smell and nuisance of adding oil he saw riding with a Yamaha. BTW, he added handlebar muffs b/c he says the warmers aren't warm enough on cold days. LOL He also had to have his drive clutch rebuilt (<6K miles) because it was worn out and he wasn't willing to pay them $500 to swap for the newly redesigned one they came up with to better handle the 'unique torque and vibration issues' associated with 4-strokes.

    You say you lost a days riding two weeks ago because of a failure with an Apex on day #1 of a ride but you don't give details. Usually problems on day 1 of a ride are lack-of-maintenance issues. Those details might back your claim that you aren't bashing(?) but leaving them out makes it look like you are beating up the Yamahas again(??)

    The frozen relay issue your're referencing was a known issue that most owners avoided by either carrying a spare, replacing it, or removing the relay and warming it a bit. I'd bet that if it was cold enough for the relay to fail, the Yamaha wasn't the only sled that started hard - or not at all - without 'help'.

    Yes, "they all freaking break" because they are mechanical marvels operated in a harsh and unforgiving environment. Each brand has its own requirements for periodic maintenance but I think if you visit some dealership service departments where multiple brands are sold along side Yamaha, you will learn something quickly by the sights in the shop.

  5. 2014 yams or yamacat

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Yup all done and looks nice : cat chassis , yampowertrain ,cat el. reverse , new nice gauge , 3 TRACK SIZES INCL. XTX.. made at T.R.F.. usa . but THE price remains JAPANESE ...

    Not sure it will be made in TRF. Yamaha has extensive facilities in Wisconsin.

    Good Luck with that. Its an abortion if you ask me. Gotta be crazy to buy that thing especially first year.

    I see many Yamaha techs making alot more money next year.

    Hope I am wrong.

    You can put lipstick on a pig(or Cat) and its still a pig.

    Artic Cat and Quality and Reliability just do not go together.

    x2

    Really funny how Yamaha is trying to talk this up, Like they really did something.

    Well, given the state of the US (and World) economy and the mostly flat sled sales, not sure what was 'expected'. If Yamaha can raise the bar on the quality via their engineering and attention to detail, this sled may be a winner. The Nitro never had a large market and they have taken its motor (very good) and put it in a chasis that everyone says is very good. It seems to be primarily a Yamaha so Cat is somewhat of a silent partner. The Yamaha name is on that sled and except for the somewhat distinctive Cat front end, there isn't much Cat there. The extent of their relationship could change when Cat's announcement date comes since they are reportedly cutting ties with Suzuki and doing all engines domestically. Maybe that is where the rest of the Yamaha partnership comes in?

    Not sure about everyone else but do we really need new sleds with motors pumping out more HP than there is now? Let's face it, for the riding style of most QRs, reliability, comfort, handling, cargo room, and mileage (maybe not in that order?) are what is important.

    Just my 2 cents worth.

  6. Politics in St. Zenon

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    If Dennis is personally managing day-to-day operation of a fleet of 8 groomers, I can say (from some personal experience) it is a huge task and I salute him. Personnel, equipment, fuel, scheduling, maintenance, breakdowns, and most importantly the weather can make (or break) a grooming operation quickly.

  10. matane quebec

    in Gaspe Peninsula

    Posted

    What's the forecast for this area? Planned to be there the week of Feb 17-23 but considering moving the trip to western quebec.

    O

    Don't think this storm is going to help much but that could change if there is a backlash after it passes Gulf of Maine - which isn't unusual. Check the link below for Matane. I have had good luck with their forecasts for QC trips over the years. Check the '14 Day Trend' tile.

    http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/caqc0342

    P.S. The week you planned is 'high season' in Gaspe; many on Feb vacation. Be advised hotels may be tight if there is snow.

  11. Looking for an additional riding partner

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Probably gonna get alot of backlash for this but here goes. I wouldn't worry too much about getting your oil changed mid trip. I have been on Yamahas since 1980 with the same dealer. When I got my '09 Apex new the first trip was to Quebec and I questioned them about that. They said not to worry just to check the chain tension in the chaincase at about 500 miles. I put 1300 miles on that week and currently have around 8000 miles and have never had any issues oil consumption or otherwise. It is more important in my opinion to take it easy on the throttle the first day or two than anything. Oh and don't be surprised if your reverse needs to be adj. after the first couple days. Hope they change their reverse setup soon.

    OK, I'll step up and be first to disagree. I have a long history with Yamaha as well and can tell you that the "500 mile oil change" - done by a good dealer - is more than an oil and filter change. Track adj + alignment, chaincase oil check (some change it), chaincase chain tension check, overall check of the sled for loose or missing fasteners . . . I could go on. Again, allot is done by the good + great dealers where others may 'just do the oil + filter change'. I personally know of things like plugged filter screens in the oil tank, incorrect antifreeze mixtures, and incorrectly filled chaincases have been 'discovered' at the 500mi service. Plus, good luck with warranty claims when you don't follow Yamaha's specific recommendations.

    Not out to scare you more but probably not wise to take a machine with '0' miles from the States to Quebec before break-in. The riding style will test/tempt you to 'stretch' the break-in RPM recommendations. BTW, your warranty won't be honored in Quebec. Yamaha Canada is for all intents and purposes, a separate company than Yamaha Motors-USA. Many of us have found this out before and I am just passing it along so you are aware. You will have to pay out-of-pocket and file (and wait) for reimbursement when you return. (this also includes Y.E.S.)They may ultimately deny coverage because you have technically not followed your warranty terms and returned the unit to a US dealer as stated in the warranty.

    Sorry to lay all this bad news out but may be better than learning the hard way -

  15. Theft near St. Zenon

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I had one more thought on the stolen truck/sled issue and I will le it go. I am 46 years old and have rode in QC since I was 18. I average 4-5 thousand miles a Winter, 7-8 thousand pre 3 daughters. I am in QC on average 3 weeks a Winter. That is close to a year and half spent on snowmobile in QC. I am a proud American from NH that loves Canada. I have never had a problem. I love the Maratimes, I love that curling is on TV, I love the Canadian nationalism, that when you walk in to a bar or motel during the Olympics it is on TV, in some weird sort of way I like that Canadian money is worth more than American, it shows how far the country has come in 10 years, I like that Canada is our Northern border, I like that the second best hockey players in the World come from Canada, I like that it gets to -40 during the Winter, I like that QC is French speaking and proud of it's heritage, I like that I can ride my sled from Gaspe to Val Dor. During the late 90's and early 2000's the theft problem in the ST. Zenon area was out of control. I have a good source that puts the number of stolen trucks and sleds in the thousands. The last few years the theft problem has really dropped off. The economy, I don't know. I hope it is not rearing it's ugly head again. Let us also not forget about the lodge owner and his worker who were killed and burned in this area. As far as I know no one was ever arrested. I know of no one that ever had anything stolen in this area get anything back. This area has a dark side, a very dark side that no one talks about. It is too bad as it is beautiful with a lot of hard working honest people. It is an area laid out perfectly for snowmobiling. Good snow, good trails, nice small villages, and above all good people. I personally have chosen to avoid this area. I would not put a truck, trailer and sleds at risk. With that being said there are a lot of places in the States I would not park a truck and trailer.

    AMEN!!

    I have always been guided by this saying: 'Locks only keep honest people honest'. If a professional thief wants your stuff, they will get it and any precautions you take will only give someone (if there is 'someone' around to notice)a chance to see unusual activity and hopefully take action to stop the theft. That being said, normal precautions are always recommended and I for one won't stay somewhere 'it doesn't feel right' no matter how good the trails are. Too many questions about your itinerary or evasiveness to your questions isn't good. Our community here seems to have a good information exchange that benefits everyone. The corrals exist because something has happened and should always be utilized. The more vicious thieves won't be stopped/deterred and as mentioned, will sometimes commit heinous crimes to 'take care' of those who get in their way.

  20. Relais 535 ???

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by vt_bluyamaha54

    Found Relais 540 today. There is a closed sign on the door, no signs on the trail, no sign on the building, no tracks going in. Appears Andre and Clavette shut down for the winter. I wonder if the detour just down the trail hurt them. It appears the detour goes all the way over to Club Hibioux and Trail 5. Plenty of sleds using the closed section of the RR bed. mike

    That is sad news and I am sure it makes many of us wonder what happened to those 2 good people. Many of us remember Andre had a pinned post that would give TQ35 conditions, passing of the groomer, etc. I believe he was the first person to show SnowTrackers to many of us. You could get a good meal there, get gas, or stay overnight.

    I am afraid it another sign to us snowmobilers that many unfortunate factors are coming together to whittle away at our sport. Economy, fuel prices, sled prices, exchange rate - they all chip away at the businesses we need to support us.

    Sad -

    Godspeed to you Andre and Clavette, where ever you are. We will miss you and hope you are well.

  22. Anyone Live in St. Ephrem, St. Victor, Notre Dam de Pins?

    in Chaudiere Appalaches

    Posted

    Hi Karl -

    Thanks for your reply and thoughts. The C/A site still shows the closure outside Notre Dame-des-Pins so I would like to find out about that. We have been parking at the Beauceville Clubhouse and riding from there the last couple of years but would like to find another place in the area for a long weekend/partial week to be able to stay at.

    You + I must have passed eachother because it sounds like we ride to the same spots. I remember when you got stranded with the broken driveshaft on your Apex a few years ago. (We had just checked in in Cabano and Tony told us you were stuck with a broken sled.)What are you riding these days?

    Lets keep in contact. Maybe we can meet + ride together.

  23. Anyone Live in St. Ephrem, St. Victor, Notre Dam de Pins?

    in Chaudiere Appalaches

    Posted

    For many years we have stayed + ridden from Hotel/Motel Chateau Blanc in St. Ephrem. It has changed ownership a couple times in the last few years and there is also a problem with a trail closure in that area.

    I would love to find someone who lives in that area who I could contact for information/conditions. Even someone who frequents the French forums - where sometimes better information comes from - would be very helpful.

    Many thanks for any responses.

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