AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Yamaha’s racy 130-horse FX Nytro XTX has been around for several years, but for 2013 will feature refinements to improve performance both on and off the trail.
This year Yamaha takes aim directly at the off-trail crossover segment of the rough-trail market with its new Nytro XTX 1.75.
The number signifies its bigger 1.75-inch track lugs on the new 15x144-inch Backcountry track. These big lugs put Nytro in line with other popular crossovers that riders are using off-trail upwards of 70% of the time, the deeper lugs give it better propulsion and flotation for playing in powder than the smaller 1.25-inch lugs on the standard Nytro track.
Plus this means the powerful 3-cylinder 4-stroke sled is ready to pop on a trailer and haul out West to run in the steeps, with no clutching or gearing changes needed, part of what Team Blue calls its Yamaha advantage. 2-strokes usually need some adjusting for good performance in the mountains.
But there’s more new with Nytro than just the track. The 1.75 gets a load of upgrades to help improve handling. That starts with a new Yamaha ski, the Tuner Dual-Keel ski that aims to cut darting and provide more predictable handling, easier steering and minimal ski lift.
The compression molded Tuner features two keels and two runners that are slightly angled to improve snow evacuation, letting the runners do a better job. For the record, they are 20mm wide at the keel’s base and 21 mm deep. For those keeping track they also are about 1 lb. lighter per ski than the previous 8HV single keel skis. On the new skis you can mix and match a variety of runners with shorter or longer carbides and square or rounded edges so you can personally tune the skis and sled to fit your riding style, or the conditions you are going to be riding in.
The standard Nytro also went on a bit of a diet, lightening up by roughly 10 lbs. The new skis and runners are about 2.2 lbs. of that, while new aluminum HPG front shocks cut 2.5 lbs. and thinner torsion springs lop off another 2.1 lbs.
Nytro 1.75 also gets new single-piece extrovert drivers and a side-mount auxiliary heat exchanger to keep the sled cooler in marginal or hard-pack snow conditions.
Appearance counts too and Nytro gets a bit of a facelift with racier looking black spindles, A-arms and bumpers up front. Plus Yamaha goes with dual hand and thumb warmer controls on the bars.
The Nytro 1./75 comes in two new color combos, a stealthy black and charcoal (dark gray). The look includes black hand guards too. There’s also a vibrant navy blue and white, with white hand guards.
Watch for a full 2013 Yamaha lineup report soon, both on the web and in the magazine. Remember too that AmSnow is now available digitally. To buy a digital issue go to
www.AmSnow.com/digitalissues