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You guys are thinking it, so we'll say it out loud: we were disappointed with the limited improvements Yamaha offered for 2001. Not that most of their sleds are subpar by any stretch, but we were just hoping for a few things that didn't arrive onshore. But Yamaha will do what Yamaha will do, and we can accept that.
The SRX seems to be back to what it was in its earlier years. Last year we felt it delivered too much weight transfer and ski lift on acceleration, resulting in poor cornering in the woods. Yamaha's spokesfolks explained that the sled was set in the softest rear suspension setting this year, and that kept the sled very close to the coupling point. The stiffer settings enhance the transfer characteristic. So make a note, if you want flat cornering, keep the rear soft. If you want to lift the skis under full transfer, keep it stiff.
All of the 700 single-pipe sleds got a new electronic setup for 2001. It's the same as the SRX got last year. Does it make a lick of noticeable difference in daytime running? Nope. But in the dark, the sleds will light up the trail like the sun.
With our familiarity of the Yamaha lineup, we took the opportunity to test some theories about the differences between the ditch bangers and the cruisers. We spent some time this spring thinking about whether there would be any significant difference between the two sleds. Sure, they're going to be clutched a little differently, and there's going to be a slight weight disparity, but what would that translate into when the sleds run head to head on a fresh snow-covered lake? We'll tell you- not a whole lot. Note the photo to the left. That's the difference. One of the Yama-dudes we rode with even guessed that the Vmax 700 Deluxe would outrun the SX 700R in those conditions because of its lighter ski pressure. Hmmm… maybe we'll think about changing our order for next year.
To summarize, if you liked you Yamaha last year, you'll like them again this year. There's not a lot of performance gain in the lineup, but there are small changes like the new 700 electronics, a new separate thumb warmer rheostat and recalibrated suspensions. It's a mostly solid lineup for 2001. There are a few holes in the competitive lineup. But the segments Yamaha feels are most crucial will find its closest attention, namely the 600 and 700s. These are also the segments consumers will want to put spring buy dollars down on to ensure they will have a sled next winter. We expect that Yamahas will be in short supply again this winter, so stop in early.
Tune in tomorrow for our impressions of the 2001 Cats! You won't want to miss this one…