50 Years of Yamaha Snowmobiles

Motorhead Mark looks back at Yamaha’s impact in the snowmobile industry as the company celebrates their 50th anniversary in 2018.

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[pauljohnsonmedia]

Mark did a decent job with this video. One big miss, the TSS (Telescopic Strut Suspension) was not introduced on the 1984 Phazer as claimed. It was introduced in 1980 SR-V race sleds and then appeared on the 1981 SRX and SR-V, so that was three years before the Phazer was introduced.

[kenkrauklis]

Great video, love the history behind vintage sleds up to modern day. Love the old Yamaha's. Nice job.

[jrodwinmag]

Thank ROLL O FLEX machines for having Yamaha engines, my dad was a dealer until they went out in 75.

[quentin]

It's amazing how early Yamaha put Oil Injection in their sleds with the Yamalube. I had an 81 Ski Doo that i still had to mix the gas and oil in a Jerry can.

[marquetteregionalhistorycenter]

Great video! At our museum in Marquette, Michigan we've got one of the first snow mobiles - a snow machine. This contraption was built in someone's garage in the 1940s. Father and son duo built the several snow machines, the first to have two seats, a steering "wheel" and motorized by a motorcycle engine. They made the vehicle out at their camp where they hunted, fished, and rode through the trees on their homemade machines

[Hockeyfan]

I had a 1997 V-Max 4 800, weighed a ton and drank gas faster than an F-18 fighter jet. It was however a fun $$ Snow mobill .

[captviper]

No mention of v-max 4's? Nor the SRX 700 triple's?

[tjdup]

yamaha is tops in my book with reliability, fit n finish, and mechanic friendly to work on

[Yamahauler]

I grew up on Cats but when I was old enough to buy my own I bought a Yamaha and have had nothing else since. Infact, all of my power sports toys are Yamaha's. Their reliability is unrivaled.
As far as the current sleds go though, they really need to bring out something new and fresh. I'm waiting!

[haz]

I have a 1990 yamaha phazer 2! I love it!!!!

[lorenreece]

I purchased a new 84 Phazer. I used it for pleasure riding as well as drag racing. At the drags it drew a lot of attention because of it's looks. I immediatly started winning with many people saying my machine was not stock. I was doing quite well in the next class above the Phazer's class. Some thought i had modified the engine. Others came to me to look at my track, thinking i had it nailed. I always said riding the Phazer was like riding a bucking bronc. You had to really hang onto it when you hammered it. It was a fun snowmobile to ride. I purchased a new 87 Exciter. The Phazer ran circles around it.

[arnoldelliott]

My first sled was a Yamaha Ovation 340. Great sled.

[Chris_at_Home]

My first sled was a 1972 Arctic Cat Lynx. Then I had a couple 1975 440 Cheetah. The 440 engine was made by Kawasaki. I had a couple more Arctic Cats and I’ve had Polaris snowmobile since the 1990s. Our side by side is that brand also. The first time I rode a snowmobile was in 1969 when I was 16. A co-worker had a Rupp.

[johnjg]

I loved and still do, the 2002 years of SX-R 700 triples.

[michellatour]

No mention of the Bravo's long production run. I do watch SnowTrax on occasion but it's content seems limited to the performance segment of the sport. Would be nice to see features like Tundra, VK and other utility sleds taken off-trail and pushed to their limits of their boondocking capabilities. Also comparative tests between track profiles and lug height.

[thatsmrharleyu]

Completely skipped over the early years...The GP series were some badass sleds back in the early to mid 70s. I had a GP292 that was the fastest one lunger on the lake!

[Outdoors-and-Sports]

I came back here today to look at all they have done...
They are done. Cya Yamaha.
Love all those sleds.

[lkurowic]

Maybe I misunderstood, but top tunnel cooling has been around a long time. I first saw it on a Cat from the early 90's.

[mudderofgod]

My first machine was a 1978 ET250. Super reliable little sled. Then a 1980 srx440. With 72 HP  that one was a rocket for the times. Hard on pistons and cylinders though. Last Yamaha I bought was a 1982 Excell 3. Basically a 340 cc with electric start and a spedo and tack. Also a super reliable sled.  Then in 1986 a friend asked if I  had seen the new sled at the polaris dealer at our local mall. He convinced me to check it out and the next day I bought the 1986 indy 600 triple after seeing it. Polaris after that, sorry Yamafans

[fzxrlyzkx]

my nytro has heavy handling and steering wanted to stay with yamaha motor and chassis for reliable sled but they need a 2 stroke. Also they need a light, basic, cheep, affordable, 440 trail sled to pick through the woods and when needed you can pick it up and move it