Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

  • Don't miss out on all the fun! Register on our forums to post and have added features! Membership levels include a FREE membership tier.

Should I, Or Should I Not

Hello Gentlemen, I have found a cheap Yamaha phazer MTX was wondering if it was worth it to try out a 4 stroke or not, might mod might not, anyway i was wondering if you liked it, hated it or if it was ok, curious on the power and deep powder ability. Opinons and ratings would be nice, Oh and for all yall 2 stroke people dont worry I am still going to keep my 2 800 dragons. Thanks for your input
 
it would be a good choice for starting into a 4stroke, its light and easy to throw around. However, remember it is only a 500cc so it has good bottom end, but not much for top end speed
 
Coming off 800 2 strokes you will most likely be very dissapointed. I never owned one, but have ridden with them. Very underpowered and the skinny track doesn't help it out alot in the deep either. I'd step up to the nytro if you are serious about giving a 4 stroke a real chance. Not bashing, just what I truly think you will find.
 
Its like dating a fat chick (Yamahog), if its cheap and your having fun, who cares what your friends think. I would say go for it.
 
Mtx

It's not as light as you think. It's a good handling sled. It's got good power for 500cc.My daughter loves hers but she is outgrowing it's limited power and deep snow abilities. Very easy to throw around. Under powered for deep snow. It's only about 54hp @ 8,000'!!! It cost about the same to mod that sled as it does a Nytro or Apex. I.E. Turbo,track,suspension. My turbo builder did not recommend doing the Phazer. It's a good sled for younger kids or adults that don't care so much about performance but want a good ride and it won't be stuck every time you pull over into 3' of loose snow. I chose the MTX over the trail version because of it'a ability to run in a bit of snow without worrying about being stuck all the time. It's reliable, very cheap to run(fuel) and will have good re-sale when your done with it.
I agree that you will not be impressed with the power after riding your Dragon, but it will be running at the end of the day. Oooops....just a little dig at my Polaris bud's who had issues last year.
 
All depends on what you expect of it.

If you think that it will be there with your 800's and that it will climb the highest hills and plow through the deepest powder, you will be very disappointed. If you think that it is a 500cc starter sled that will be fun to chuck around and climbs like a little goat on set up snow, you will be pleasantly surprised. I wouldn't expect it to take a win in a drag race, but they are a fun little sled, if you can get it cheap enough they are a great back up sled. They are not that light (i.e. heavy to lift on and off the truck) but they are fairly nimble.

I ride with a girl that has one and in set up snow (anything less than 2' of powder) it just rips, it is a fun little sled to ride. Deep powder is doable if you are following someone, don't think you will be breaking trail in 3' plus, it will struggle too much. They don't fly up the hills at mach chicken, but it will surprise you how well it climbs like the Energizer bunny - just keeps going and going. They are easy to throw around, I haven't spent too much time on her's (1 hr total probably) and I can ride it just like my other sleds, spins on a dime and carves nice, you just need to learn the style and be happy with the fun flipper.

If your riding buddies are going to be that concerned about it, get new riding buddies. Anyone of them will be glad to ride it when their sled breaks down and its sitting in the trailer as a backup. A day on a Phazer is better than a day sitting in the truck.

As for modding it - don't bother. Keep it stock, it will probably outlive you. Every turbo'd one I have seen has grenaded, they are not meant for modding up. If your intention is to turbo, like others said, get the Nytro and don't look back.

NSC
 
Last edited:
Tried an Apex Mountain this last season and loved the 4-stroke torque and the way it rode, on the trail. Wasn't to bad in the powder but the weight just did me in. I went back to 2-stroke but found a nice deal on a MTX Phazer for my wife. Rode it twice this spring and was impressed for only a 500. It definately needs stiffer rear springs and the track and track angle modified. It trenched pretty bad in the soft snow. Set up snow was fun and it manuevers easily. I think my wife will like it. I have no intention of turboing it but am definately going for a different track and suspension mods. Weight didn't seem to bad. I will definately have to put a windshield on it for her.
Just my 2 cents worth.
 
The first half of this past season I tried out a 2007 Phazer MTX. I went from a 1999 700 Mountain Max and I gave the Phazer 8 honest days of riding in an effort to get used to it and hope it would grow on me..........it didn't. It wasn't all bad though. The good points: 1) Very nimble, agile easy to toss around in 12" to 20" of meadow powder. 2) Amazing gas mileage. 3) Quiet 4) Tons of torque for only 80 HP. 5) Good headlight. (I'm struggling to find positives)
Low lights: 1) Under powered for mountain riding. The area I ride is very tame and it was under powered for most intermediate climbs. Turboed apparently they are way better for power. 2) "Fricken Tippy". That thing was brutal on the trails for cornering. It always wanted to go up on one ski. I played with the suspension adjustments in an effort to gain better handling...no way! Probably due to the 14' wide track. 3) Basically just not enough power and not enough track speed to get you out of trouble. 4) Heavy. This is not a light sled for a 500cc. 5) Crappy shocks. The rear shock gave in after 1000 kms (600 Miles).
In January I sold the Phazer and bought a 2004 Summit 800 159. I love it. Over this Summer bought the wife a 2007 Summit 600 HO SDI to replace her 2000 Mountain Max 700. So would I reccomend the Phazer MTX? Definitely not. Not even for kids or the wife. For Flatlanders maybe...not for the hills or mountains. Just my 2 cents :beer;
 
Last edited:
rode a day with a buddy that has one and i was on an apex se and it was totally different. he had problems on hills climbing hills w/ deep pow on them and id just be pulling away at about half throttle. but he was also over 200lbs and hasnt rode for a few years so that could be to.
depending on your size and wat mods you would do it could be a good sled for you or it couldnt. coming off an d8 you will be disapointed in power but handling the phazer to me seems more tippy and easier in pow to handle and kinda seems like a dirtbike.
my self id save my money and go with a used apex or nytro since you can find quite a few for cheap on here if you want to go with a 4stroke
 
Bought one when they first came out... worthless in the powder due strictly to the lack of power. The weight is not as light as you would think either. Took it back to the dealer 2 weeks later and made them take it back.
 
Since this thread is in the Mountain/deep powder, I would say NO don't buy it.

They are like most people say, heavy, underpowered, and a chainsaw in the powder.
I have a friend who bought one, not sure why... but when he says he is gonna take the phazer, I threaten him that I won't get him unstuck....or take him along.. LOL he then loads up his XP..
 
I have riden a couple, one stock and one turboed, and I think it isn't worth it either way. the turbo was fun but a well tuned 800 will outdo it. in my opinion it is a kids sled.:beer;
 
Bought one when they first came out... worthless in the powder due strictly to the lack of power. The weight is not as light as you would think either. Took it back to the dealer 2 weeks later and made them take it back.

Why would the dealer take back some thing that you already bought, it's not their fault you bought a under powered turd.
 
my buddy has a short track one. I use to live in MI so that is all we road. That sled is fun to dink around on if you are on a trail. off trail that sled was worthless. Our zrs, revs, rx1s, apexs, xc were night and day different. The design of the front end just loved to snow plow. it would not float at all. just what i noticed on the shorty.
 
my buddy has a short track one. I use to live in MI so that is all we road. That sled is fun to dink around on if you are on a trail. off trail that sled was worthless. Our zrs, revs, rx1s, apexs, xc were night and day different. The design of the front end just loved to snow plow. it would not float at all. just what i noticed on the shorty.

i heard if you put the gen 2 skis on them it helps it alot for not plowing
 
i heard if you put the gen 2 skis on them it helps it alot for not plowing

I also heard that better skis could make a difference but that only address's one of the sled's many short comings as a mountain sled. After riding one for the first half of this past season, I"m not sure why anyone would want one of these things. Actually, if fuel goes up to around $7.00 a gallon then maybe I"ll look at one again.................aaahhh no I won't. :rolleyes:
 
I also heard that better skis could make a difference but that only address's one of the sled's many short comings as a mountain sled. After riding one for the first half of this past season, I"m not sure why anyone would want one of these things. Actually, if fuel goes up to around $7.00 a gallon then maybe I"ll look at one again.................aaahhh no I won't. :rolleyes:

never said it'd be worth buying i just said it helped.
if i had that money id save more and go with an apex which makes the same hp as a turbo phazer on race gas.
just my .02
 
might make a difference.. his was the first year of it so I am sure they have improved it since. It is a really good sled for its intended market IMO.

for its market yes.
for a mountain rider no unless you turbo/sc it
if you go the boost route you might as well buy a nytro or apex
 
Premium Features



Back
Top