Author Topic: 1980 Intruder 440 V's 1980 Yami SS440  (Read 3284 times)

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Gilson435

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1980 Intruder 440 V's 1980 Yami SS440
« on: March 30, 2016, 01:56:39 PM »
 Hey guys! Love to hear all thoughts and opinions on how these two sleds compare! I have been real happy with my Intruder after I dialed in my rear suspension. I just picked up two 1980 Yamaha SS440's but now there is no snow to try them out :'( Waiting til next year seems too long so want to hear your stories and experiences with these two sled as to how they will compare. 8) They seem like they would be direct competition to each other. Both 440 fans, oil injection, similar rear suspension designs....
69 Panther 372 JLO
73 Gilson 435
80 Kawasaki Intruder 440
81 Pantera,93 Jag,(2)94 Cougars, (2)Prowlers, (2)Z440's
2002 Polaris XCSP 800

Gilson435

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Re: 1980 Intruder 440 V's 1980 Yami SS440
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2016, 10:31:09 AM »
Anyone.....? Anyone....? Anyone....?  ???
69 Panther 372 JLO
73 Gilson 435
80 Kawasaki Intruder 440
81 Pantera,93 Jag,(2)94 Cougars, (2)Prowlers, (2)Z440's
2002 Polaris XCSP 800

rminier

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Re: 1980 Intruder 440 V's 1980 Yami SS440
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2016, 12:41:34 PM »
 Ha, Ha...may not be any of us that have ever ridden an SS 440. It dawned on me reading your post that the only Yamaha I have ever ridden in my life is my own 83 Vmax.
 Those red Yammis are sure cool looking. 8)

Since the snow is gone (what little we had this year) I will take the time to throw out some wild guesses.
I suspect the Kawi rear suspension will offer a bit better ride. All the press agreed back in the day that they were the best rear skid available in their "Rode Reports"
 This was before the newer LTD Vari Ride style skid was introduced on the 80 LTD.
 I forget which year Polaris 1st offered the 340 TXL Indy to the consumers.....1980? But the "Rode Reports" in 1 of the magazines said that the Kawi LTD was the only leafer that hung real close to the Indy through a rough section.
 Yamaha didn't seem to have a very remarkable suspension during those years, until they introduced the Pro Action rear skid in 1983 on the Vmax and SRV. Now, it's a pretty darned good riding skid.
 Owning my Vmax for 25 years, I know Yamaha gave up on their own clutch and had Comet provide the clutches for the new 83 Vmax and SRV.
 They continued to develop their own clutch and eventually got it working well.....but on your 440 fan cooled SS's, I'm sure the Yamaha clutch works fine.
 I'm kinda a fan of the Kawasaki drive clutch. There is definitely WAY more tuning components available for Comets, Polaris, etc...but if the Kawi clutch has good bushings and is maintained ....and aligned properly, it sure seems to be kind to drive belts.
 My Vmax is the biggest pain to work on of any sled I have ever tinkered with....they are kinda known for that. Every component is very high quality, but they used a million nuts and bolts to put the simplest things together. Like any thing, once you do something a couple times, it becomes much easier.
 But, those SS 440's are probably a lot easier to work on.
I'm sure the Yamaha's have some very positive points in their favor. Yamaha definitely knows how to build 2 stroke motors!
 It's curious that both the Intruder and the SS 440's were marketed initially as really hot sleds.....the 79 Kawi brochure had a picture of an Intruder with it's nose high in the air, with the bold heading "out to launch"
In later years the LTD and Interceptor were added and the Intruder became more of a "family" sled.
 Your SS 440's started out the 1st year a bright ,racy red, then became toned down to a milder silver and blue. I suppose the manufactures realized with everyone making some hot liquid cooled models it didn't make a lot of sense to market fanners as really "hot" sleds.
 I'm sure you will enjoy those 2 red beauties....
I'm just throwing things out there for the heck of it since we can't talk about riding for several more months. :'(
« Last Edit: April 04, 2016, 01:23:52 PM by rminier »
75 SnoJet Astro SS, 79 Kawasaki Invader 440 (two of them), 81 Scorpion Sidewinder, 82 Blizzard 9500, 83 Yamaha Vmax 540, 97 MXZ 670....and holding...for now.

Gilson435

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Re: 1980 Intruder 440 V's 1980 Yami SS440
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2016, 03:50:17 PM »
Excellent feedback! Thanks rminier8) The Yamaha in my opinion is definitely the better looking sled ;D  I have never ridden a Yamaha sled....ever! :o  Oooops....I take that back... I did take a quick spin on a buddies 73 EW433 back as a kid... and there was also a quick around the yard on a buddies 92 VMAX 4.... but neither were enough to really get a feel for the sled....

 Yamaha did recall the track, drivers, & suspension  in 1980 from the SRX style to the Exciter style components. One of mine has the updates and one is still original...so that will be fun to compare. The drive clutches were also supposedly updated to Comet 102C's that year but mine still both have the Yamaha clutch. Now I heard the clutch recall was for longevity and not for performance reasons. 

 I agree with you the Kawasaki has a more advanced looking clutch system and rear suspension... It will be interesting to drive all three one after the next and see how they all compare.  8)
69 Panther 372 JLO
73 Gilson 435
80 Kawasaki Intruder 440
81 Pantera,93 Jag,(2)94 Cougars, (2)Prowlers, (2)Z440's
2002 Polaris XCSP 800

750-h2

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Re: 1980 Intruder 440 V's 1980 Yami SS440
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2016, 07:22:09 PM »
Not sure how fast the Yamaha 440 SS is, but I suspect the Intruder will be faster. Reason being that in 1978 myself and my cousin each bought new left over 1977 Kawasaki/Sno*Jets 440 SST's which were Yamaha powered while our buddy bought a new 1978 440 Intruder.

There was little snow that year and we spent most of the winter lake racing. The Intruder was much faster than our SST's. You would have thought we had 340's compared to his Intruder. The SST's were very light sleds and I suspect the SS440 would be heavier. Unless Yamaha found a whole bunch of power for the SS440 I think on top end the Intruder will be faster.
 

Gilson435

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Re: 1980 Intruder 440 V's 1980 Yami SS440
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2016, 09:56:24 PM »
I know the Yamaha is rated at 50hp and I think the Intruder is like 52 or 53ish... Single carb on the Yami and duals on the Kawi...so your probably right!! Thanks for the input!
69 Panther 372 JLO
73 Gilson 435
80 Kawasaki Intruder 440
81 Pantera,93 Jag,(2)94 Cougars, (2)Prowlers, (2)Z440's
2002 Polaris XCSP 800