Steering - Nytro vs Apex

[Coldfinger]

Just looking at these sleds, one thing that appears vastly different is the angle of the steering post/stem from the handlebars to the cowling.

It looks like the Nytro is very "swept back" in style whereas the Apex is more vertical.

Does that make the Nytro easier to steer while standing, vs the Apex?

Conversely, does that make the Apex easier vs Nytro while seated?

 

[TBird]

I like the vertical style because i almost always drive in pow, while the Nytro style is easier to steer on hardpack.
Therefor almost everyone move the steerstem forward on Nytro MTX, or install a pivot adapter, the steerstem relocation is better (and cheeper) but a little more work.

 

[powdermuncher]

The Nytro works very well in the pow --- much easier to turn than the Apex

The angel of the handlebars is just because they go over the engine instead of around the bottom. It is a rider forward design all the way and the actual position is as far forward as the Apex for sure. If you go with the forward stem relocation it feels more like a regular turning arc on the bars.


If you ad a turbo the Apex is way more stable at triple digit speeds.

 

[TBird]

The Nytro works very well in the pow --- much easier to turn than the Apex

The angel of the handlebars is just because they go over the engine instead of around the bottom. It is a rider forward design all the way and the actual position is as far forward as the Apex for sure. If you go with the forward stem relocation it feels more like a regular turning arc on the bars.


If you ad a turbo the Apex is way more stable at triple digit speeds.

I have a couple of troubles with these statements,
Yes, you can drive in the pow with the Nytro, when you get the hang of if, normally when you want to turn in loose snow you countersteer so the sled lays down, as you do when you drive a roadbike, that's not happening first times out with the Nytro, you steer when you don't want to steer, until you get the hang of it, i know of some that learnt to drive that way, i know of others that don't.
But what do you mean with "The angel of the handlebars is just because they go over the engine instead of around the bottom." if you move the steeringcolumn forward, isn't it still over the engine?
As i understand it Yamaha chose the laydown style on all Nytro because when they tested the upright style on the shorter Nytro they became wicked, very dangerous in some conditions on bumpy trail, where MTX didn't have any problem, but Yamaha is Yamaha, they chose the laydown style on them all, because thats how Yamaha do!

 

[powdermuncher]

The Nytro is just way more responsive and it takes way less input than other sleds to carve--- you still counter-steer just like any other sled.
Just a slight weight shift and counter-steer will do it --You do not need to muscle this sled around at all.

The unstable handling of the Nytro is a direct result of making it as responsive and easy to carve with. It is the front suspension geometry that is responsible for that not the angle of the steering column.

That is why the short track sleds got a new front suspension geometry for this season.

 

[TBird]

You're not hearing what i am saying, i'll try it one more time, it's not matter of more or less responsive, it's what happens when you put force to the handlebars, as i have written all the time, sure you get the hang of it sooner or later, but for me it's like having to learn how to ride a bike again, and i'm not intressted of that, i know how to ride, and have yet to see an Nytro that handles better then the Apex, none have succeeded to outrun me anywhere.
Most of the Nytro guys around here feels the same way and moves the steeringcolumn more vertical.
Don't forget that Nytro is a snowcross/bumpy trail sled, MTX is a longer version of it!
I have from Yamaha sources that they tryed several konfigurations of the handlebars and steering column, and because of the Nytro act's as it does they couldn't have it vertical, it became leathal, and with "it" they mean the short versions, as the MTX is a longer version of "it", MTX got the same steering column design.
Gladly some seems to like to have the steering column that way, but not everyone, if we all where the same, how fun would that be?
Then everyone would drive Yamaha and we wouldn't have anyone to tow home in the end of the day.

 

[Coldfinger]

So it sounds like the stock Nytro position is suited more for trailriding for the average joe rider because of safety?

For an experienced rider, which stock handlebar config works best for boondocking?

I haven't had the opportunity to ride either but it would appear the Nytro may be easier to steer while standing because the handlebar arc is more up/down vs back/forth on the Apex.?

Do most boondockers change the angle of the bars?

 

[TBird]

In my expreience yes, in powdermunchers case most certainly no .
I put myself in the experienced catagory with over 30 years of sledding, and as i written, in the pow you don't steer with the skis as much as with your balance, thereby in my opinion the Nytro steering works best on hardpack and Apex in the pow, to be honest Apex gets a little heavy steering on hardpack, but it's not where i like to be in any case.