2009 Yamaha Phazer RTX Review

Here’s the deal, the 2009 Yamaha Phazer RTX provides quite a bang for its US$7,699 price tag. It has a happy revving 4-stroke twin with state of the art electronic fuel injection. Fox brand Float Shocks are standard to control 9.3-inches of front travel. There’s the digital readout on the electronic multi-function gauge that you’ve come to expect from Yamaha’s 21st century snowmobiles. Key start and pushbutton reverse are standard.

So, why are we disappointed in this nifty little Yammie? Were our expectations for this lightweight 4-stroker just too high? Is it us or is it the product? We think both.

Exciting In 2007

When Yamaha pulled the cover off the very first Phazer in model year 2007 it was exciting. Consider what you got in this 489-pound snowmobile. The powertrain was something that only Yamaha could have delivered.

Test rider Doug Erickson pops the Phazer’s ski as he attempts a turn.

Once again borrowing from its high-performance motorcycle side, Yamaha essentially melded two of its 250cc dirt bike engines together to create the Genesis 80 FI snowmobile engine. The sled motor pushes 12,000 revs! To control that power, Yamaha engineers utilized gear reduction to get the final drive to a relatively moderate 8000-8500 rev range necessary for a variable ratio drive clutch to live. This is the same technique Yamaha uses with its high-revving 150-hp Apex quad cylinder engine.

The twin cylinder, liquid-cooled power plant generates 80 horsepower, that’s about 20 hp more than you’ll see from the competitions’ fan-cooled low-buck entry models like the Polaris Shift 550 IQ or Ski-Doo MXZ 550F. Sharing a bore and stroke with Yamaha’s YZ250F motorcycle motor, the Genesis 80 also shares similar technology with its five-valve heads to ensure free breathing for maximum power. Still, when geared down the Phazer feels down on torque. Yeah, yeah we know. The 499cc twin isn’t blessed with excessive horsepower so what’s the big deal? It’s not a huge deal, but when comparing a fan-cooled powered sled pulling low revs off a turn, we think they have better ‘grunt’ than the high-revving Yamaha Phazer. Get on a long straightaway and the fan-cooled sleds tap out quickly where the Phazer twin builds speed. It’s a trade off.

Light and nimble the Phazer RTX is meant to be tossed around.

Phazer Concept

We really like the concept of the Phazer. The idea of a light, nimble, action-ready snowmobile appeals to us. You can toss this sled around, but sometimes we wonder whether we can collect it back up. It seems to sit high and, those of you who may have read our previous reviews of the Phazer know we think the Phazer lacks predictability in its handling. We readily admit that the 2009 version of the rough trail-oriented Phazer RTX is the best handling version to date. The Fox Float shocks add ample damping help. Plus there seems to be some reworking of the sway bar to get the sled to transition better from side-to-side.

There is little doubt that you will tend to ride the Phazer RTX aggressively. You will ride with the throttle pushed to the bar more often than not. And this sled will take the aggression. The double A-arm front suspension sits naked off the Phazer’s narrow nose, protected only by a U-shaped aluminum bumper. This setup gives you nearly an inch more bump-soaking action than the Phazer GT version, which is designed for smooth, groomed riding. Both models offer a useful 42.7-in. ski stance to give you good cornering grip from the carbide runners.

The Phazer RTX rear suspension provides 16.2 inches of rear travel with dual shocks to control bumps. There’s a KYB aluminum bodied shock acting in concert with a ‘clicker-style’ high-pressure gas shock. This rough trail setup is also a bit more forgiving than the trail-tuned Phazer GT unit.

Change For 2009

Note the long action of the Fox Float shocks.

The key change for the Phazer line is closing off the open space in the rear tunnel under and aft of the seat. This is to reduce snow build-up on the runningboards and to act as both a snow shield and heat shield from cooling extrusions. Barring that, the 2009 version simply enjoys another year of evolution and some color and graphic options different from last season.

The Phazer concept established with the original 2007 introductory models hasn’t really changed as we enter the 2009 snow season. Yamaha designed the Phazer to be the ‘pure sports’ model sled similar to its YZ motorcycles. The sled is narrow with styling that sets it apart from the crowd. It is deliberately designed to encourage stand up riding through the whoops and big jumps. It’s supposed to be minimalist with just a hint of a windscreen and a narrow seat that encourages quick balance shifts. The Phazer RTX is supposed to be the YZ of snowmobiles — light, nimble, and high revving.

It is all of that. It is underscored with all the right pieces like a 14×121 inch Camoplast Rip Saw patterned track. There is a quick-response hydraulic disc brake, as well as hand and thumb warmers with 9-positions of adjustability. Did we mention reverse and electric start?

This U-shaped bumper is all that protects the Phazer’s nose

Our Greed

This Yamaha has all the right pieces and the 2009 version of the Phazer RTX is the best handling of all Phazers to date. But, in our greed for the ultimate lightweight toss-around sled, we just think it could be so much more. We think the central balance point is off just a titch and that makes the sled just a bit too unpredictable for us. The skis don’t bite as well as we think they could, leading to a bit of mistrust when we head into a rutted out corner. And when coming off a turn we want more torque down low to yank us out.

Overall, when looking at the premise of the Phazer design, there is no doubt that the 2009 Phazer RTX meets its design criteria. It’s probably not the sled lacking any qualities as much as it’s us wanting more. Our ideal Phazer would be this concept with greater low end torque, more power on tap for the straights, substantially more positive bite up front, reduced roll and more power. Oh, did we say that?

For what you get in the 2009 Phazer RTX for less than US$8,000, the sled is quite a bargain. That price also includes Yamaha quality, reliability and dealer back up. It is quite a bargain, isn’t it?

Specifications:

Related Reading:

2009 Yamaha preview
2007 Yamaha Phazer