2010 Yamaha FX Nytro Review

Story by Jerry Bassett Photos by Jerry Bassett & Yamaha Oct. 13, 2009

Yamaha's base mogul runner gives you plenty of bang for your buck

We have yet to see a “cheap” Yamaha. Less expensive? Certainly. A comparison between the “base model” 2010 FX Nytro and its pricier siblings — the 2010 Nytro RTX and Nytro RTX SE — drives home the point that Yamaha does not make cheap sleds, but simply less expensive versions. All three share key components like Yamaha’s latest lightweight tunnel design, a very potent 130-hp Yamaha triple cylinder 4-stroke motor, over-the-engine steering, the latest Yamaha front end design, revised handlebar heating and narrow race-styled seat.

Engine Type:Horizontal In-line

Cylinders:3

Engine Stroke:4-Stroke

Valve Configuration:DOHC

Displacement:1049 / 64

Starter:Electric

Turbocharged:No

View Full Spec

If your ego doesn’t rule your wallet, you can have a very well designed Yamaha big bump runner for more than a grand less than the top-of-the-line RTX SE model. Granted, you will give up the more premium adjustable shocks on the suspensions, but the “base” FX Nytro still provides the same 8.5 inches of front-end travel and 14.5 inches of rear suspension as the costlier models. If you are a dead-nuts snocross caliber rider going wide open throttle 90 percent of the time, then you’ll want the RTX SE. Heck, you’ll need it!

Yamaha’s FX Nytro was designed for aggressive mogul-hunters.

But, at US$10,699 Yamaha’s basic FX Nytro makes sense for most of us. Keep in mind; what Yamaha considers “basic” in the Nytro would be premium in some other sled lines.

One-Liter Sophistication

The FX Nytro Genesis 130FI powers all versions of the Nytro in 2010.

Tucked out of the way under that sloping Nytro façade and rearward of the double A-arm suspension arms lies a very polished motor. The FX Nytro’s “base” Yamaha Genesis 130FI 4-stroke triple powers all of the Nytro models, including the bad boy, racer-like RTX SE. This is the exact same powerplant for all three models, which means that the thousand bucks you save by going with the base Nytro is not devalued dollars!

This is Yamaha’s power triple. There is a denatured version with subtle internal differences used in the new Vector and Venture GT. The Nytro engine is anything but subtle. When you grab a handful of throttle with this motor, you know it — right now! At 130-horsepower, the Genesis triple kicks in as quick as computer synapses can fire a digitally controlled ignition and force feed three 41mm Mikuni fuel injectors. Response rates in the “right now” category, so hang on. You’ll feel a torque rush and a hard hit in the all-Yamaha clutch department. There’s nothing subtle happening from your fanny to the snow.

For you “bang the throttle and hold on” types, this will be rush enough to justify the purchase. If you like your sled to hit hard and give you ski lift, you get it. If you like to have the skis on the ground to help steer, you might want to check the suspension set up and closely read the manual.

We like maximum steerage but understand the Nytro concept. Designed as a big bump sled, Yamaha engineers have been convinced that riders like to hit a bump’s edge, precisely slam power to the track, raise the skis and fly over the moguls. It’s a great concept, but not all riders are snocrossers.

Snocross Derived Steering

Yamaha uses over-engine steering to tuck the engine low and back as well as provide more positive control.

You’ll note that the Nytro models feature what Yamaha calls over-the-engine steering, which is a snocross-derived feature allowing the engine to be tucked back in the chassis and the rider to work bumps standing up. The entire Nytro design centers on snocross concepts, which want to have the rider upright and forward to work the runningboards for side-to-side action when airborne and the throttle for in-air nose to tail attitude correction. It works. But you better be suited to wanting such a ride-style. This is not a subtle sled. It is meant to be ridden hard.

The FX Nytro chassis design features the latest lightweight aluminum tunnel design. The runningboards tip at 11-degrees to move through snow and bumps easily without getting hung up. First found on the early limited edition RTX SE models, the new tunnel permeates the Genesis 130FI model matrix, including the stretched XTX model and new elongated tunnels of the mountain line. Despite the overall length, all versions of this tunnel share revised snow evacuation and boot grip punch-outs. These punched out areas also serve to reduce overall weight — no metal, no weight!

Shock Package

The front and rear suspensions come with varying degree of shock absorber control and sophistication, but the fundamental suspension design concepts work for all three models from base to midrange RTX to top line RTX SE. Where the top model RTX SE has the latest Fox FLOAT shocks, the base Nytro comes with 40mm high-pressure GYTR dual clicker shocks. Check them out. These “base” shocks are pretty darn good.

Don’t feel cheated if you opt for the FX Nytro. It has the latest FXG2 front suspension geometry. Yamaha claims the new front end offers improved trail manners from relaxed caster, which is said to improve steering response. Some of that also comes from the bite of the over-engine steering and the positive feedback you get from the saddleless plastic skis.

Fine-Tuning Differences

You’ll find a set of high-pressure gas shocks on the rear shock arms of the Dual Shock CK parallel rail rear suspension. The aluminum-bodied C40 R14 shocks effectively control the sled’s 14.5-inches of travel. Don’t fret, as this suspension can be satisfactorily fine-tuned for your riding style with a little work — and studying the owner’s manual. Yamaha engineering works very hard at making its suspension designs consumer friendly, but you do have to read the manual to maximize the suspension’s capabilities.

Do yourself a favor; take the time to study the manual and experiment with the settings to dial-in your ride preferences. While the FX Nytro may be the base model, it remains a high-performance sled.

Things that you’ll like about the FX Nytro include the racer silhouette seat with narrow design. It completes the rider forward packaging of the Nytro as it positions the rider in a more upright, standing tall posture that lets him grab the new racier steering bar position. Aiding in that attack mode stance is a nicely contoured handlebar setup that is second (by a narrow, narrow margin) to Arctic Cat’s handlebar design.

You’ll be glad that Yamaha’s snocross experience led to brake improvements as the FX Nytro features a 4-piston hydraulic caliper gripping a lightweight rotor. For a thousand bucks more, the RTX SE version of the Nytro adds a ventilated disc. If you really wanted it, we’d bet you could buy one from your Yamaha dealer for less than a grand!

Full Value

For your money, the 2010 FX Nytro provides lots of pop. The engine is a torque-laden charmer with ample snow-spitting performance. It will turn that 121-inch RipSaw track with ease. And that sound, oh my word, that sound you get from a Yamaha performance triple is outstanding. With its unique to Yamaha rear-exiting exhaust, the FX Nytro not only provides an audio rush but also maximizes engine performance in the process. What’s not to like?

Steering, seating and chassis design work to place the Nytro rider in this ready for action stance.

With this base Nytro, you won’t have to settle. It comes with the latest Yamaha engineered grip warmers that deliver more concentrated heat where you need it. There’s a digital gauge with “info at a glance” for the speed, revs, trip distance, and grip warmer settings. In other words, the 2010 FX Nytro may be the least expensive of Yamaha’s Nytro series, but it is far from being cheap!

2010 Yamaha FX Nytro Specs
Engine	Yamaha Genesis 130FI; liquid-cooled, 1049cc 4-stroke triple; Mikuni 41mm fuel injection
Horsepower	130
Drive	Yamaha YVXC variable ratio drive and driven
Front Suspension	Yamaha double wishbone FXG2; 8.5-inches maximum travel; 40mm GYTR dual-clicker shocks
Rear Suspension	Yamaha Dual Shock CK; 14.5-inches maximum travel; C40 gas shocks on front and rear suspension arms
Brake	Yamaha 4-piston hydraulic with lightweight disc
Length	110.4 in
Width	46.4 in
Height	45.6 in
Ski Stance	41.3
Track	15 x 121 x 1.25 Camoplast RipSaw
Weight	NA (522 lbs 2009 FX Nytro)
Fuel Capacity	7.4 US Gal
MSRP	$10,699