I have been thinking about getting a phazer or a tnt. I have a ski doo and it is a good sled but bad on gas. I like the 4 stroke motor in the phazer it seems like a good motor. But I am prety sure the tnt would be faster. The phazer seems like a good boondocking sled and a great sled for the powder and in ditches. Tell me some of your problems with it. And what you like about it and what you hate about it. I enjoy riding in powder, carving, and riding in ditches is this the right sled for me?

Well, I'll chime in. I just picked up a 08' RTX. Since the purchase last Monday I have logged just a touch under 300 miles. The phazer takes a minute to get used to , I would say a good hard 100 miles. The more I ride it, the more I love it. I was really nervous with the 80 h.p. . The power/torque is totally different from a two stroke. It almost feels like a 700 and then just tops out at 75-80. You really have to do a reality check and ask yourself how often you ride faster than 70. For me, my average trail speed is between 40-50. Don't get me wrong....I like the lake as much as the next guy, I just don't make it a habbit. Tight woods trails are a blast (I'm talking the shit not on the trail map). Groomed trails are good with any sled, the phazer is no exception. The nasty trails are where the Phazer will excell when ridden hard. If your not afraid to do a little work and throw the sled around a bit I would bet you could stay out in front of the pack. Realistically, I would compare the Phazer RTX to a Polaris 440 IQ or Artic 440 Sno Pro with the Torque of a 700 and the added bonus of great Fuel Economy, Electric start, and Push Button Reverse. Some guys have had nothing but problems.....I'm not in that boat yet. Oh ya, IMO the more set-up time you dedicate to the sled, the better it will be. For what you can pick one up for $$ I would say give it a try. Thats the only way you will be able to answer your question.
N-T-S

P.s. Currently I've been getting about 17.5 mpg. Thats a bonus.

I got about 750 miles on my sled and nothin to complain about and I'm a big ditch ridin fan so thats where this sled really shines.

I love mine, great sled to ride on and off trail.

Co-worker and I bought 08 MTXs at the same time and have over 1200 kms each on them so far this year. (We work in forestry and use them pretty much daily to get to work and back). Not a single issue with either of them so far. They've been absolutely perfect for what we use them for.

Test ride both. It will make the choice a lot easier. TNT weighs 80# less and has 30 hp more. The TNT also handles entirely different. Corners a lot flatter, smoother in the chop.

This is why you got one right!

Ask me next tuesday.

I assume that "Hemi" you will be riding a different sled next Tuesday. For all the Phazer Brothers out there....CAN I HAVE AN AAAAAMMEN!!!!

So "hemi" when you get you new TNT will you be opening up a complainer thread on "DOOtalk" next.
I've seen your work on "totally yamaha" and here although with a lot of rerun material.


seriously I hope you doo have more success with you new victim er doo!

The re-posting was because Yamaha never fixed the problems right the first, second or third tries.... I had 3 relatively trouble free sleds before this one, (18 000 miles) FWIW. Your all welcome for all the R&D that I did for Yamaha, before you bought your '08's!
PS. Good luck with your "sleds" BWA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAA

First of all I would not use any of your so called R&D advise. Your a young guy that has no real experience on working on sleds or anything else. I have read your post since you bought your sled on both sites. Anybody that stiffens the front shock, then adds holes too the front limter strap (hence that is why its call a limiter strap) and then wonders why his supsension has issues. You brought nothing to this forum but complaints not "answers"! Any info that you gave that was some what right, came from what you learned from YAMAHA. Not from your wish me wrenching.

I use to be a real R&D test rider for the motocross division for Yamaha when I was younger. They have a position up right now for test riders & Yamaha snowmobile engineer. I suggest that you apply for one of those positions seems how you are so damn knowledgable.

One more thing, your previous sleds were ten years old according to your profile. Old style sleds dont even compare to todays current sleds so you cant really compare the two. Testing and change is what takes things to the next level. Something you will understand once you get a little older and wiser.

I am a trained small engine (McGraw Hill) mechanic who apprenticed at Birchwood motorsport in Winnipeg. I have lifted trucks, done full transmission shift kits, (servo and valve body), tuned vehicles for drag racing, and done 90% of my wrenching for the past 14 years. I own over 3000$ in shop tools and am currently a Red Seal certified tradesman (Top mark honors for 2007). My sleds problems speak for themselves, so does (currently) over $8000 in warranty work.
And my front shock adjustment was a snocross racing solution, to a handling problem.....and if my limiter strap mod was the cause of my suspension problems, why did everyone else with an '07 FX snap their links, in fact it's still happening to some updated sleds! Pretty much everything you said is untrue.

Man.....Tuesday can't come fast enough. Hemi, its been fun arguing with you, but I can honestly say I wont miss you one bit. Hope youre next sled works flawlessly for you cause I pitty the poor guys in that brands forum if it doesnt. Anyway, thank you for all your invaluable input and Yamaha Phazers RULE!!!!!!

I'm pretty sure I seen you on the mopar forums cryin up a storm about your ram rear suspension.


Bwaaa ha ha ha ha ha hahahahahahaha

Wow, congratulations Hemi you know everything there is to know about mechanics! You must be a master at "bolt on" solutions. As I have said before, I am a mechanical engineer and my father is a journeyman mechanic for more years than you or I have been alive. You know what the difference between you and my father or any veteran mechanic for that matter is, it's called DIAGNOSTICS! I can't, nor can most other engineers or tradesman, even come close to the diagnostic capabilities of these veteran guys. All I here from you is bitching and whining and no solutions. If you are going to credit yourself with doing R&D for Yamaha, then step up to the plate and apply the R&D posting for Yamaha! Let me know, cause I'll like have to change brands after that!

I don't and never have owned a Ram. And it's only a joke if it's funny.......My old dodge seldom gives me trouble....
I guess there is no defending the Phazer, so you might as well keep up the personal attacks.... no one has mentioned my mama yet!

Click to view attachment
Back on topic

No offense to anyone here, but I have owned a lemon before, it just plain suck. "Hemi" I understand your frustration, but.....

Well you see Hemi is you make youself a target by complaining alot with zero solution, and act like you know how to do it but want Yami to bow down to you which is unrealistic, When the same shock mount broke on my Ski-doo I didn't cry and whine on a forum, I took it off and built thicker peices, machined them to mimic the exact piece and then added gussets and welded in more support than the factory ever did, so at the end of the day thats REAL research and development. It still works today and still takes a pounding from my bud ridin it!

You have an '08 with the new link (and 7 other updates) that Yamaha developed after all the guys with 2007's broke down. Some of us a few times. Nobody else had any solution to any of the problems either.
Welding would not have fixed anything. My dealer welded the second link and the shaft broke....Although on my past machines, and on body lift kits, I have gusseted areas that broke from extreme use, but my stuff was happening on groomed trail. I will say the rear suspension on the 2008's is pretty damn tough. Once they updated me I was good, (except the adjuster bolt through the track...)

WEAPONX - What solution do you suggest for the Lower Control Arms?

Well how about a stiffener between the two front lower control arm mounts. The existing plate connecting each side of the bulkhead is pretty flimsy as mine has a sizeable bend in it. Materials such as Chro-Mo wouldn't hurt either. Wait a minute that came out completely wrong. What I meant to say is Yamaha shit the bed on designing the front....man, they should at least have to listen to me whine and complain to the bitter end. I thought you were selling your sled, why are you so interested in finding solutions for the front end of your Phazer, it shouldn't matter since your are apparently selling it. If you do plan on keeping your sled, Hemi, please take the front end of your sled apart and find the problem. This is not rocket science. Carefully inspect it and post useful comments like where the bend exists. My front end for example has yielded, like I said, between the two front lower control arm anchor points, as well I have noticed yielding (elongation) all control arm bolt holes on the subframe. Both supporting the insufficient material thickness/strength/geometry used for the Phazer front end. For me to determine this, I disassembled, DIAGNOSED, and reassembled in one afternoon. This included complete disassembly of the front suspension, air box, and plastic covers. It was not hard....please do this and like I said, post your findings....NOW THAT WOULD BE USEFUL.

The video shows is a shot front end. Bulkhead is fine, bolts are fine. The video shows only the balljoint. The ball joints dis-integrated. $400 a piece taxes in. Watch your balljoints and be ready for a big bill. And I disagree on the bulkhead weakness. Mine is as tough as nails, never bent or deflected in 4600 miles.

I guess you should have lubed your ball joints more

the phazer doesnt feel like a 700. my buddy has a phazer rtx. a doo600sdi walks it. like pulls 6 sleds within the first 200 feet

Thats weird cuz mine walks all over my buddies sdi and they are both stock.

Mine too!

I own a TNT and I've ridden a 2008 Phazer RTX. 2 weeks ago, I rode all day with another TNT, a '04 MXZX 600, and a '08 Phazer.

Personally, I find the Phazer to be really neat, fun, and torquey ... a meld between a sled and sport ATV. Performance-wise it competes with the SkiDoo REV 550 X. In the categories of weight, handling, acceleration, top speed, and bump performance, it does not compete with the TNT. Sorry.

Phazer Pros:
- Unique
- Acceptable Bump Performance
- Good on the tight and twisty stuff
- Great Fuel Economy
- Torquey

Phazer Cons:
- Poor Wind Protection
- A little tippy
- Lack of Storage Options
- Won't hang with similiarly priced machines
- Easy for tool pouch to get wet and freeze
- A little heavy to start with and then gains a lot of weight through-out the day due to snow and ice build up

Throughout the day, the Phazer owner had it wide open and stated that the Phazer could just not hang with the 600 liquids (and it shouldn't, as cost about $1,000 cheaper than the TNTs), and once conditions got bumpy, the gap got greater. The TNTs were getting about 17 MPG, the 600 HO was getting about 11 MPG, and the Phazer got at least 19 MPG. We did some switching around and when the Phazer owner rode a e-start TNT (mine is pull-start only), he was blown away with the light weight, handling, and acceleration of the TNT.

Thats all good trail but its too bad the tnt handles like crap

So you are saying the Phazer performance compares to a 550 Fan Cooled sled???? Are you serious??

First of all, I'm not bashing the Phazer. I think it is a cool sled and I'm glad that Yamaha came out with this new direction.



Well, I think the Phazer may have initial grunt out of the hole, but my opinion is the lighter REV Fan will catch up especially if on fresh, deeper snow.

Also, I'm NOT comparing the Phazer to all fan-cooled sleds, just REV 550 fan as it is the lightest fan-cooled sled and the stock Rotax fan (in the REV chassis) easily exceeds 68 HP on any dyno run that I've seen.

Lets compare power-to-weight ratios:

TNT, >399 lbs. dry, 110 HP, Ratio = 3.6:1
REV 550X, 435 lbs. dry, 70 HP, Ratio = 6.2:1
Phazer RTX, 489 lbs. dry, 80 HP, Ratio = 6.1:1

So, IMHO, the Phazer is not comparable to the TNT, but rather the 550X.



The TNT handles like crap? Are you serious? Have you ridden one???

All I can say is that I've ridden the Phazer RTX and a TNT, back-to-back on the same trail, minutes apart. I'm sorry but the TNT blows the Phazer away in performance and handling. The Phazer owner that tried the TNT made same statement, but he still like his Phazer and so do I, but performance-wise the Phazer is NOT comparable to the significantly lighter and more powerful TNT.

No I haven't rode one, but I seen some folded in half at the dealer the other day. They are telling me they do not hold up.

If you get a chance, ride one! You will be impressed ... especially if the going gets rough or for off trail work. The float of even the short track XPs is impressive.

Wow, that is the first I've "heard" of any chassis failures. Did they "fold" from normal use? Or were they tossed over a cliff? SkiDoo claims that the XP is 37% stronger than the REV. And based on this thread:

http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forums/inde...howtopic=298386

those who actually own XPs, and have had impacts, are fairly impressed with the durability of the XPs.

Granted the XPs are not without their issues, but the TNTs (similar price point to the Phazer) have been fairly bullet proof. In fact, the Phazer we rode with, lost an idler wheel on it's first ride. The dealer replace it for free. And it failed not due to a design flaw, but a mis-assembled suspension spring which was easily fixed.

I was surprised to be honest to see those but, it is not the first time a dealer has mentioned it. I normally would take it with a gain of salt, but I seen them with my own eyes. I have always been a fan of ski doo, own a couple before, had a 01' MXZx 440 was a great sled. The dealer talked me out of a TNT, said it would hold up to ditch and off trail riding. I took a huge chance buying a phazer, didn't really like the way it looked, but the riding position is great and I am a long time MX rider, and I wanted a good replacement for my prox 440. I do not regret it one bit, I think it is a great stand up and ride hard sled that was built to ride off trail...

most ski-doo owners need to pull their head out of their ass and realise that they arn't king shit because their sled has ski-doo on the side and weighs a few pound leighter.

I'm surprised your dealer said that. I would have believed that statement of the original (non-440) REV.



Tell your Mom, I said "Hi."

^^^Dude, why are U in a yamaha forum ?

lol.

Thats kinda what I was thinking.

Sorry frail ryder but I thought the TNT felt gutless and handled terribly, I've owned Doo's before and they don't have the stand up feel that I like. I actually was in the market to buy a new doo then I tried one of the new XP's and then I tried a Phaze and I took the gut feeling I felt and I'm happy with the choice, as these are my opinions as all of your posts are yours.

Is the Rtx almsot the Same as the FX

Because I think the Phazer is neat and wanted to see how they are doing.


The thread originator is trying to decide between a Phazer and a TNT; and since I have actually ridden both, back-to-back, and spent a day riding with a Phazer owner, I thought that could offer an honest unbiased opinion. If one actually reads my posts, you see that I’m am not a “Yamaha sux cuz I rides Doo” type of poster.





Umm, OK; too bad all of the snowmobile reviewers disagree with you.






But no, wait ... the Yamaha Phazer is the best and fastest sled EVER MADE. When following one with my TNT, I just can't keep up with the heavier 80 HP Yamaha. I haven't had my TNT back to the dealer yet after nearly 1,900 trouble free Tug Hill miles, but I'm sure that it will spontaneously disintegrate any day now. Happy?

We should all ride the same brand, so that there will be no competition and then price will drop.

the fazer is a great kids or ladies sled and fun to play on, but it tops out around 80mph in the best conditions and takes a LONG time getting there.. haven't ridden the new xp's hope to this weekend. to compare the TNT to teh phazer is a joke and you dont know sleds if you do. you're comparing a toy to a machine.

I really liked the phazer actually more than the nytro, but it was all based on expectations - I was expecting it to be slow.. the nytro I was expecting to be faster considering everyone has been saying it has more than the 130 rated hp...

just cuz you ride one brand doesn't mean you are loyal to it!!
I rode the yamahas twice because I really just wanted to try them and see what all the hype is about. at the end of the day I'm not a 4 stroke convert.. it takes time to get used to it I can tell, but the feel is just completely different and IMO you have to ride the sled a lot differently too. I like the feel of my 2 stroke and hope they keep making them... as far as reliability I've had 1hr of downtime this year on my 4000 dollar ring eating POS...

I rode a phazer and my initial impression was man this sled would be a blast for fields and Vermont trails. Feels like 500 class power with 550 fan class top end. If I could afford one I would have one parked next to the Apex.

The Phazer handling does not compare with the TNT. But as usual, another thread is screwed up by those who don't want to hear anything but "Yamaha is better"........ My troubles with my sled put aside, I will say that even if the TNT is crap....It's a lighter, faster, better handling piece of crap. Even if I had no issues with the Phazer, I would be left feeling still disapointed by the far better handling from the TNT..... As for reliability, well from what I've seen the TNT doesn't have any real big issues, and their won't be 8 updates and 1 recall for it next year.....

Ding, Ding... Iwould have one parked next to my Apex for sure. This way, best of both worlds, ditch banger by day, lake racer at night. Hey, cause we all know, nobody makes the PERFECT sled. BTW, Trail Ryder, you NEED a haircut.

That's not me dude, that is the Toecutter ... "now keep your sweet mouth shut."

I've owned all brands you tool, I'm usually on a different machine every year summer and winter so what do I care. Like I stated before I didn't like the tnt cuz it handled like sh1t and was bagless thats my opinion and yours are yours on your doo life, same goes to isthatasupergayhemi!

all i have to say is thank god "isthatahemi" is buying a skidoo, dont have to hear him whine anymore. WOOT WOOT!

well here's my two cents,my son and i rode them last year at the last CSRA race.To be perfectly honest the phazer felt like an 80cc dirt bike,we rode it up and down the ski hill,i weigh 210,it climbed ok but i had to have it pinned the wholewat.It definitly felt tippy to me.Now the apex thats a whole different story.
my son's thoughts he was 15 and has been riding since he was 10--the riding position was cool,handled ok,but not enough power.