zookiracer
03-10-09, 09:33 PM
Well I don't normally do things this impulsive but here's my latest story: The G/F and I went up to the mountains a week ago just to take it easy and didn't even really have a focus on riding- it just kinda seemed like second nature on the weekends we go to the snow so up we went. We didn't have a big group going and most of our riding partners didn't have it together by this weekend so we were going to have a mellow, no plan weekend. We got up there late and went right to Crescent lake Lodge to have their nearly famous Artichoke dip and Quesadilla's. Ran into one of our fellow forum members Bats and had a great meal, then it all went downhill! Ran over to Manleys on the way to the cabin and meat a great group of fellow riders that over heard we didn't have a riding plan for the next day so they insisted that we ride with them and would not take no for an answer even making us show up for breakfast they had prepared for us the next day (they know how to make a chubby guy happy). We showed up at the snowpark and met up with the group the next day and were VERY excited to see they had a new Yamaha Nytro, The same Nytro I had nearly bought 6month before but chose to save a little and went with the Phazer knowing I could hand it down the the GF later and upgrade. I told them how I had wondered if I made the wrong choice and before I could say another word they said I'd be riding it today as soon as we got moving. I was almost giddy with the sound of a large group of sleds (mostly 4 strokes) heading out for a great day of riding!!! About a mile into the ride one of the guys stops and says have you ever rode one of these? While he was sitting on a newer Yamaha Apex. I jumped on and he took my phazer........Big mistake made by me here! After the first looking around and checking out the controls I really liked it, then the torque got my attention, the the smooth ride and laser like response and don't forget the torque! After a few miles of playing off trail and on I felt bad he was on my Phazer so I traded back but told him that throttle on the Apex could get addicting! That day with a new group of riding buddy's I was fortunate enough to try out the Nytro, two Yamaha Apex's, a new Dragon as well as a near classic Yamaha triple 700. The next day I was so beat into the ground I could barely get my boots on let alone go riding! All I could think about was the Apex! I reminded me of everything I love about sledding, It reminded me of being a little kid on my parents sled for my first solo ride on our old sled at the Crescent airport, I think I was around 5. I was hooked and HAD TO HAVE ONE!!! I looked around at everything I have and thought what can I sell to buy an Apex before next weekend, My 800 RMK was up for sale as of 10min after getting off the apex as well as anything else i could liquidate. Then the hard part. There were no used apex's for sale on craigslist within a days drive! not even one I couldn't afford- there was none I could get to and back before work the next day but I couldn't settle for that. I called up the guy who showed me the light and let me ride his apex- he clearly said there was no amount of arm twisting that would get him to sell his but told me of his buddy that had one Identical and even told me where he lived. I jumped in my truck and made a cold call to buy this sled I had only heard about. It took me 6 min to get to the sleds location from my place, which is odd considering I live on the outskirts of nowhere desirable (Elmira). He was reluctant but when I showed him my research on Craigslist and my printouts from Colorado, Montana and Idaho I think he could hear the desperation in my voice. He through out a number which in hindsight was probably less than me driving to Montana, blowing my tranny out, getting a rental truck, missing work and still having to buy a sled AND get it home from Montana. I said it sounded great and I would do it but I had to come up with the money. He didn't seem to want my 800RMK as he had a new turbo'd Dragon to ride already. I forgot to mention I looked all week for an Apex and this was my last chance to get one I figured. It was 6pm the saturday after my first Apex ride and I was now the proud new owner of an 06 Yamaha Apex MTX. I reached my goal and now want to ride every minute I can till the last inch of snow is gone.......then go for one more ride before I summerize the sled! My first ride out was great! I can't get over how much pull this thing has, We rode from 10pm Sat night then again Sunday until getting back home at 10pm Sunday night! put 135miles on it as a good test drive and that was mostly boondocking up and around timpinogus, Summit and then over to Waldo by way of Cascade lakes highway. I've got some plans for it but I'm going to sit back and enjoy the rest of winter and ride it before I start messing with it. I hate to say it but I'll be relieved when summer gets here So I can start saving up money again.
Sorry I didn't get more pic's
Sorry I didn't get more pic's