The First Snowmobile With Air Shocks Goes Farther, Faster

Yamaha's air-shock snowmobile lets adventurers explore more territory

By Mark Anders Posted 10.29.2009 at 9:21 am 2 Comments

Yamaha FX Nytro MTX SE 162 Yamaha FX Nytro MTX SE 162: Engine: 4-stroke, 1049cc Horsepower: 130 Shocks: up to 14 in. travel Price: $12,600 Get it: yamaha-motor.com Digital Imaging: Eric Heintz; Photograph: Courtesy Yamaha

The 2010 snowmobile season, which begins this month, will see daredevils in places they couldn’t reach before: in deeper powder, on remote cliffs, squeezing between trees. That’s because the first full air-suspension sled swaps the usual heavy steel coils for air-filled shock absorbers, creating a smoother, 20-pounds-lighter machine. Riders can easily steer the FX Nytro MTX SE 162 with their weight, glide it nearly drag-free through powder, and unstick it from drifts.

Engineers from Yamaha and Fox Racing Shox developed a rear shock that holds enough air to support a snowmobile’s force yet still fits into the tight quarters near the tracks. They took a skinny air cylinder and tacked on a small external tank, boosting the volume by 30 percent but increasing the shock’s girth at only one end. Users can adjust the pressure inside with a simple bicycle-like pump, injecting more air for heavier riders or a stiffer, faster ride, and releasing air for lighter riders or a cushier ride. The result is more fun for more people, on trails or off.

Previous Article: Test Drive: 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI

Next Article: What a Leaner, Greener General Motors Will Look Like

2 Comments

link to this comment

ID-Eng

10/29/09 at 12:30 pm

The 2010 Yamaha isn't the first snowmobile with air shocks. Many models have been using air shocks in the front suspension for years and the 2008 Arctic Cat mountain models had an air shock in the rear suspension. Yes this is the first model with all 4 shock being air shocks.

Also, the Yamaha mountain models are not nearly as light as the models from the other manufacturers. Ski-doo has a lighter model in the same class that has equal or better emissions and fuel mileage. It also accomplishes this with a 2-stroke engine, rather than the 4-stroke the Yamaha uses.

Sounds more like a copy/paste from the Yamaha website rather than an actual review.

link to this comment

quasi44

10/29/09 at 10:03 pm

If I were in mountain rescue, this might be worth 13 grand, but no one I know has that kind of money to play with right now, maybe you guys in military procurement or banking or stock brokerage got it to spare, but very few honest Americans do.