If you are a beginning powder rider or a veteran boondocker looking for a sled that gives you great value and a high smiles-per-gallon factor.

The engine’s intake comes from an electronic fuel injection system that sucks fuel via twin Keihin 43mm throttle bodies. That’s a hefty intake for a cylinder that measures under 250cc.

As with all Yamaha 4-strokes, the Phazer exhaust points to the rear and runs under the seat, a patented feature that gives Yamaha added clearance under the hood, quickly removes exhaust heat from the engine compartment, creates an efficient cross flow from intake to exhaust, and helps create balance with the overall sled package. The weight of the engine sits behind the skis and the weight of the exhaust system runs down the sled’s spine.

If you are one of those snowmobilers who goes into a dealership and grabs the rear bumper for a ‘clean and jerk’ move, you’ll have noticed that Yamahas in general have more weight toward the rear than many competitive models. It’s not necessarily because Yamahas are heavier, it is because Yamaha tends to distribute sled weight more evenly from front to rear. Of course, with its 146-inch track and extended chassis, the Phazer MTX will be heavier at the rear grab bar anyway.