End of Season Review 2018 Yamaha Sidewinder S-TX DX 146

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End of Season Review 2018 Yamaha Sidewinder S-TX DX 146

Comfort, High Performance and Versatility

We present to you today the 2018 Yamaha Sidewinder S-TX DX 146. This snowmobile has been involved in a long-term test throughout the last season as part of the partnership between Yamaha Canada and the Web Magazine SledMagazine.com. We traveled more than 4000 km with this snowmobile, in all conditions, in order to provide an in-depth analysis of the characteristics of this new Yamaha model. Here is our end of season review.

The Yamaha Sidewinder S-TX DX 146 is a new model at Yamaha for 2018. It is, in fact, the Sidewinder version of the 2016 SRViper S-TX 146 DX which we had also performed a long-term test on. Due to its 146’’ track, it is classified in the multi-segment category at Yamaha, or hybrid if you prefer.
Even if it has the longest track of all hybrid snowmobiles, it is still a lot more comfortable on-trail than off-trail. Despite this, on a day of powdery snow where snowdrifts are numerous on the trail, you will appreciate the 146 “x15” x1.25” Ripsaw. Yamaha has designed the Sidewinder S-TX DX 146 to swallow up the kilometres without compromising on comfort or power. On this point, I can say that it is mission accomplished. Having tested several of them during the past few seasons, I would say that it is “the” ideal snowmobile for long trail rides.

Comfort

For long rides (by that I mean 300, 400 or even more than 500 kilometres a day), you need a comfortable and well-equipped snowmobile. The Yamaha Sidewinder S-TX DX 146 is supplied as standard with all the amenities long ride enthusiasts desire. For my part, I particularly appreciated the 15.1 litre gas tank located in the rear luggage compartment connected to the main tank which gives an impressive total capacity of 53 litres. It provides excellent autonomy and eliminates the need to carry a can of gas that you never know where to place.

The Yamaha Sidewinder S-TX DX 146 comes standard with a mid-height windshield that protects you from the wind very efficiently, without hindering visibility. The mirrors are, however, not included, which is disappointing for a snowmobile of this price. The heated seat, which includes a control switch with three levels of intensity (HI-LO-OFF), is very powerful in cold weather. Other equipment that comes as standard is the two 12-volt plugs, one at the front and one behind the seat, as well as an RCA plug at the front which allows you to connect or charge all your electronic equipment and heated visor. A complete set of digital dials provides all desired data.

The LED headlights with accent lighting are very effective. Being of a very white colour, this lighting is very effective during night rides as well as making you more visible by day.
The SRV chassis has proven its worth over the past few years, and it is well adapted for long rides. It is a very comfortable trail snowmobile. You don’t feel fatigued driving it, even after long days. The driving position is most comfortable, and the seat height is ideal. In fact, you may choose a variety of positions according to your driving style. From a very forward seating position for aggressive driving to a more backward position on the seat for moderate driving. The handlebar height also allows for a very efficient standing driving when needed, and the transition is done very naturally. For such a long snowmobile, it is surprisingly easy to drive even in tight turns.

High Performance

With more than 200 HP under the hood, you can actually talk about high performance. It is good to have the power, but it must be transmitted to the ground. This is where the Sidewinder S-TX DX 146 distinguishes itself from shorter Sidewinders. The 146” track’s traction helps us feel all the power of this Yamaha engine.

This Genesis 998cc turbocharged three-cylinder injection engine was introduced in 2017 by Yamaha for its Sidewinder range. It is still the most powerful engine on the market by far. All this power is consistent at all speeds without any delay. It is really impressive and especially enjoyable when you press on the accelerator. The sound is pleasant, and you quickly feel the torque and strong acceleration in your arms. You are all smiles and grins in your helmet!

Versatility

With the 2018 YAMAHA Sidewinder S-TX DX 146, you definitely get one of the best long ride snowmobiles on the market. This black, elegant and classical snowmobile stands out from the others in its category by a single characteristic. You, as a matter of fact, have the possibility to transform it into a real two seats touring snowmobile within just a few minutes, if need be. By purchasing the heated passenger seat, footrests, preloaded blades and even the rigid suitcases, which are all offered as options, you get a high-performance two seats touring snowmobile. In fact, you get nothing less than the most powerful two passengers touring snowmobile ever made. Goodbye compromise when purchasing a snowmobile that, a few times per season, must be designed for two passengers.

In summary, this snowmobile is really designed for long ride enthusiasts. It is comfortable, very efficient, versatile and particularly well adapted for the Quebec market. We were impressed with this snowmobile throughout the last season. We can recommend to you, without any hesitation, the 2018 Yamaha Sidewinder S-TX DX 146.

The test was performed without any problem or breakage. We carried out the first maintenance service at the 5 Platinum star Yamaha dealer associated with this test, P. Labonté et Fils in Mont-Joli.