Setting up a new Apex

snowdust · Aug 4, 2008

My dad has bought an 06 Apex in the off season to ride next year. He is coming off of a 01 SRX. I also ride an SRX and plan to go 4 stroke the following year. From reading the site here are the mods I plan for his sled. Let me know if there are any other recommendations I may have missed.
1. Adding 12mm swaybar from Pioneer. Decided on 12 based on the fact he isn't a real aggressive rider.
2. Front shocks will are the GYT clickers, and they will be set with 0 pre-load. I could use a starting point for the clickers.
3. Rear shock will be re-valved by pioneer and spring changed if needed. Set-up will be what pioneer recommends.
4. Weight transfer will be set at two lines up from the lowest to start.
5. The sled had a bad track so he is putting on the new Cobra track with Woody's studs.
6. Clutching will stay stock - Doesn't seem to be enough gain for money and we'll need to see how it performs first.
7. Adding Sylvania bulbs - Cheap upgrade.
8. Stock ski's shimmed and probably Bergstrom Triple Points.
9. Front limiter strap will be set up one hole from stock

The goal is a great handling trail sled...hopefully to make the transition from the SRX a good one!! Anything I am missing? I realize more can be done, but this seems to be the best bang for the buck.

Teamblue4 · Aug 4, 2008

I wish I had my SRX back, that's all I can say.

snowdust · Aug 4, 2008

What didn't you like about he Apex? I don't want to start a bashing thread, but I would be interested to know what it is you didn't like. I am lucky that my dad bought one a year ahead of when I plan to buy one so I'll be able to ride his and see what I think.

vmaxcrazy · Aug 4, 2008

While I don't have an Apex (I have an Attak and a sxr 700) I can understand why someone may think the srx might be better. The 4 strokes are leap years ahead in the motor department. However, the chassis is not up to par with the old sxr/srx chassis. The new sleds will handle very well with a lot of work. In stock form the handling leaves a lot to be desired. I have found that comming off the sxr it does take time to get used to the "new" sled. I do love to get on the old sxr and "rail" aroud corners, then cringe when the trail gets rough. If I had to pick just one sled to ride I'd have to go with the Attak. Smooth ride in all trail conditions, motor to die for, you just have to relearn handling.

ahicks · Aug 4, 2008

<<<motor to die for, you just have to relearn handling.>>>

I would add relearn handling and setup, then agree totally. You absolutely have to set it up for you and the way you ride. No shortcuts. It's worth it if you stick it out. I've had a lot of sleds over the years, but nothing even comes close to this sled.

onlyblue · Aug 4, 2008

Teamblue5 said:
I wish I had my SRX back, that's all I can say.

no way, once you get used to the 4stroke it is hands down better ride/power/feel/etc.... i jumped onto an srx last winter to give a guy a try on my attak, and wow, all i could say was....

"this USED to be one of the best handling sleds", now however, the playing field is changed. the low slung, turn huggin, kicked backed days of riding are over..... the srx/sxr were great sleds in their day, but that day is gone!!! once you get your 4stroke, or for that matter, any new style sled, set up the way you like it, you will never go back....

Teamblue4 · Aug 5, 2008

snowdust2 No bashing at all, If and when we get snow I'll ride my Apex over to your Dad's house (only a mile away) and you can ride it all you want to and change whatever you want and then get back on your SRX and then you can make the discussion about what one you like. I went back to riding my wrecked Viper and let my 15 year old daughter ride the Apex. I wish your Dad the best and I hope he enjoy's his new ride.

Dano · Aug 5, 2008

I still have my SRX which is usually covered with dust in the garage. Itâ€™s a great sled for its time, but no where near as good as a properly set up Apex. The only downfall of the Apex is the larger heavier engine that sits taller in the chassis. Having that said, I lowered my front end considerably which really increased the handling. My SRX corners great, but by no means because of a revolutionary chassis compared to the Apex. SRX motor weighs half of the Apexâ€™s and the short suspension travel ends up being a trade off for handling versus ride. A good SRX is a speed demon, but donâ€™t hit the ruff stuff with the lack of suspension as most people already know. Throw in long travel suspension and a 1.25 track in an SRX and there goes the speed/handleing advantage over the Apex. It all boils down to trade off I guess.

snowdust2,
You seemed to have done your homework. I wouldnâ€™t be spending to much money on shocks/springs since there is allot of calibration that could be done with what you have. While throwing in a new track I would probably change the 24 top gear to a 23 which seems to work more efficient with a studded track.
I would only tighten the front limiter strap if you do lower the front end a bit. This would help keep the handling flat. Otherwise you might get to much ski pressure.

good luck

Dan

snowdust · Aug 5, 2008

It's interesting on how most seem to like the transition to the Apex coming from an SRX, but there are definitely some that don't. I have noticed this in other posts. We'll give it a try this year and see.

Sounds like I have the major items covered. I was considering the 23t gear, but I want to make sure fuel mileage doesn't suffer at all. If it were mine I would change to the 23t gear for sure, but my dad is big on the fuel mileage. I'm sure it wouldn't change much, but that mod will probably have to wait until after he rides it and checks fuel mileage. I'd don't want to introduce the lower gearing in case the fuel mileage isn't quite what he expected...

Sending the rear shock to pioneer seems to be a good bang for the buck. We have used them in the past with good results. It's a cheap upgrade compared to a clutch kit or something similar.

SRX - I know you guys on here aren't going to pull your SRX back out to dump money into it, but I put some into mine last year by adding Viper front shocks and widening it 2 inches. I also added the ZX2 skid in the rear with a Hacksaw track. Performance is still very good and it is now doing everything I could ask out of it. The ZX2 skid was a great upgrade. This may make it harder to move to an Apex, but we'll see.

Dano · Aug 5, 2008

Gearing down to a 23 top gear doesnâ€™t affect fuel mileage from my experience. In theory one would think itâ€™s revving faster at equivalent speed, but there is no way a stock Apex has the power to full shift the clutches with a 24 top gear. A 24 top gear is good for 130mph +- where the 23 top gear is good for 124ish at stock RPM. The 23 top gear just makes better clutching efficiency from my experience.
Sounds like your SRX is a sweet ride. IMO the SRX is a collectors sled and Iâ€™ll be keeping mine many years to come. Dumping money into it is a good idea if you plan on keeping it. I did the ZX2 136 in my RTX and maybe I should do the same for my SRX? Do you have any pics? Nonetheless Iâ€™m sure your SRX is a keeper and would definitely make for a good second sled in the future.

Dan

Teamblue4 · Aug 5, 2008

His SRX is SWEET looking.

snowdust · Aug 5, 2008

Here are a couple of pics. No real changes this year outside of adding Electric start and some different springs on the front shocks. I'd like to go to the Cobra track, but it just isn't worth the money imo for one year along with the cost of Studs.

Blue Dave · Aug 6, 2008

Snowdust,

I owned two SRX's & a triple piped Viper (along with many other Exciters & V-Max's). I absolutely loved my '02 Viper and held off as long as I could before taking a chance on a 4-stroke.

When I took my first ride on my new '07 Apex GT last year I had huge regrets and seriously considered asking the dealer to trade me back my Viper. I absolutely hated the Apex and thought that I would never be able to ride it like I was able to ride my Viper.

However after taking the time to change practically every suspension setting based on other TY members suggestions, I am very happy now with the Apex. There is also definately a learning curve before you can ride an Apex fast when coming from an "older" Yamaha.

Get the Silverstar Ultra's (they are even better than the standard Silverstar's) literally a "night & day" difference from stock! I also can not say enough good things about the Bergstrom 8" triple points with shims & ski savers.

Once your dad gets the Apex "dialed in" and gets used to the sled, I think that he will be very happy!

snowdust · Aug 6, 2008

That's good to hear. He doesn't know it yet, but I ordered the 23t top gear, Sliverstar Ultra's, and the dual electrode plugs for him this week.

I agree on the triple point Bergstroms. He is local and a family friend so we always use his stuff. The triple points were an excellent new bar from him.

I'd be interested to hear more about your tuning. Anything you can share that would save us some time testing?

aja636 · Aug 7, 2008

A clutch kit from Ulmer or proline is well worth the money. It puts on about 3-5 sled lengths over stock but the mid range pull is way harder.
Put that in with your mods.

And really take the time to set the sled up for you and the way you ride and you will love it.

I had a 2003 RX-1 and hated it, Then got a 2007 attak and set it up and won't get off of it.

Just my 2 cents

Setting up a new Apex

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