2011 Yamaha Apex SE Snowmobiles - It's Worth Every Penny

I am not a professional rider. I'm an average guy, looking to get off the 2-stroke treadmill, who just bought his first new 4-stroke snowmobile - the 2011 Yamaha Apex SE. This model has the new EPS steering and an improved Genesis 4 cylinder 4-stroke engine. The color is black/silver. The electric start and reverse are standard. Although this machine weighs over 600 pounds, it certainly doesn't feel like it. It's trail handling and performance remind me of my old Yamaha SX Viper. I won't go into all of the technical jargon describing this machine because I don't understand all of it yet myself. The fit and finish of the machine is impeccable. The seat is plush, soft and very comfortable. The EPS (Electronic Power Steering) works. It takes very little effort to turn the skis at low speeds and there's virtually no feedback to the rider from the handlebars and the excellent adjustable front and rear air shock suspension when transiting over rough and bumpy terrain. I didn't feel fatigued after riding the trails at speeds from 18 mph. to 65 mph. The faster I went, the smoother the machine felt. The Apex came with a hand-operated air pump to adjust the new Fox suspension air shocks to fit specific riding conditions - up to a maximum of 225 psi. The adjustable grip and thumb warmers work very well. The redesigned warmers warmed the grips exactly where my hands were placed on the ergonomically curved handlebars for a more concentrated warming area. The controls are easy to access and manipulate with gloved hands. The easy to read deluxe gauge shows fuel level, analog engine speed, digital sled speed, odometer with trip A/B mileage, oil change tripmeter and clock. It displays barometric pressure, has a fuel mileage countdown when the low fuel warning light comes on, high/low coolant temperature warning and low oil pressure warning. It also has a high beam indicator, grip and thumb warmer heat level displays, backlight brightness adjustment, T.O.R.S. (throttle override system) warning and self-diagnostic warning displays. This machine came standard with an auxiliary 12VDC outlet and an outlet for a helmet face shield warmer. An interesting and unsettling trait of my Viper was the gyroscopic effect of the engine twisting the sled's frame during hard acceleration. The Apex is no different, but Yamaha engineers offset the skis on the Apex 15mm to reduce this effect. Now when I bring the Apex out of a sharp turn, line up the nose and lay on some heavy throttle, the sled doesn't slew sideways like my Viper did. The Apex has a muscular, sinewy feel to it. This is a very aggressive and very fast performance/trail machine. The sled's dual exhaust direct engine noise and emissions to the rear of the driver. The engine noise is still louder than the other 4 strokes I had ridden. The sled's profile is low and the redesigned windshield deflects wind from my upper body and hands at higher speeds but I still get considerable wind on top of my helmet. The Apex has a resonant track howl emanating from the tunnel reminiscent of my '93 Yamaha Venture. Oh, by the way, this Apex takes premium-grade unleaded fuel. With all of the nit-picking aside, this is the best all-around snowmobile I have ever had. Yamaha keeps getting better and better. This is the most expensive model currently in the industry; but the quality, performance, longevity, comfort and resale value is worth every penny for Yamaha's most technologically advanced flagship snowmobile.

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