2022 Yamaha Mountain Max SL - New Lightweight Mountain Trim
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March 9th, 2021
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2022 Yamaha Mountain Max SL – New Lightweight Mountain Trim

Here are the details on the 2022 Yamaha snowmobile mountain lineup!

It continues to be an amazing winter for us here in the mountains of British Columbia, and that makes it hard to believe that the time has already come for Yamaha to announce its 2022 snowmobile models.

After a couple of quiet years in which Yamaha moved away from its focus on providing 4-stroke turbo power in the mountains, Yamaha came back to the mountains full steam ahead in model year 2021 with a 800 class displacement 2-stroke-powered model called Mountain Max.

Sales were great for Yamaha this year (as they were for much of the powersports industry), and the tuning fork brand is looking to stock up dealer inventories and increase production to meet the high demand for their products moving forward into 2022.

Along with another important change across the mountain lineup, for model year 2022, Yamaha 2-stroke power is back in the mountains with an exciting new high-performance trim package for Mountain Max, called SL.

Let’s have a look!

2022 Yamaha Mountain Max SL


2022 Yamaha Snowmobile Mountain

Before we go into any model specific information including the SL trim, let’s take a look at what’s new across the board for the Yamaha mountain lineup. But first, a little refresher on the highlights of the models.

The Mountain Max lineup will continue to be powered by a 794cc SDI 2-stroke engine. Its excellent handling of sidehill terrain and tough snow conditions is complements of the single-rail rear suspension. And all Mountain Max units feature the premium FOX QS3 coil-over shocks, including lockable QS3-L in the rear.

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The 2022 Mountain Max LE 165, stretching arms.

Okay, so what’s new?

The biggest change for 2022 is completely new primary and secondary clutches. The primary clutch is more than 1 lb. lighter and 1” narrower than the previous TEAM primary clutch used on the 2021 Mountain Max.

Together, the new CVT system will continue to provide the benefit of automatically and continuously adjusting belt tension, so that the belt will never require adjustment throughout its lifetime to account for wear.

Yamaha new primary and secondary clutches

Other changes for 2022 are cosmetic. The body panels of all Yamaha mountain sleds will feature a Premium Painted Frost Silver hood and bodywork to match a custom stitched seat.

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2022 Yamaha Mountain Max LE 154 SL

New for 2022 is an exciting ‘Super Lite’ trim package: Mountain Max 154 SL.

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While no specific numbers have been released, Yamaha tells us that the Mountain Max LE 154 SL is upwards of 20 lb. lighter than the Mountain Max LE. That’s a lot of weight!

The Mountain Max SL comes as manual start only, which helps explain quite a bit of that weight loss by the elimination of a battery and starter.

Meanwhile, excess bulk is also eliminated with a new, shorter gas tank and smaller seat. Not only do these shave weight, they also provide the benefit of enhanced mobility and control of the sled for the rider by offering more room to move around and use body weight to guide the sled. That also means that a smaller tunnel bag is necessary, but we’re okay with that compromise.

2022 Yamaha Mountain Max SL

Note the seat size diference between the Mountain Max LE 165 in the foreground and the MM LE 154 SL in the background.

Another factor that makes this particular model exciting is the addition of a 154” x 15” track with a wheelie-friendly 3” lug instead of the 2.6” PowerClaw track offered on the ‘regular’ Mountain Max LE 154. While the taller lug adds a bit of weight back to the scale, we’re guessing the added playfulness and ski-lifting traction will make the SL model feel lighter yet.

For deep snow starts and hillclimbing, the 154 SL will also feature the FOX QS3-L rear track shock that can be locked out to provide more ski pressure in those situations.

Here are the highlights of the 2022 Mountain Max LE 154 SL:

  • NEW Shorter Seat and Gas Tank
  • NEW Manual Start Only
  • NEW Short Style Heat Exchanger
  • NEW Primary and Secondary Clutches
  • NEW 154” x 15” x 3” Camso PowerClaw Track
  • NEW Small Tunnel Bag
  • Single Rail Rear Suspension
  • 794cc SDI 2-Stroke Engine
  • Reinforced Race Double-Row Running Board Edges
  • 1.5” QS3 Front Shocks
  • QS3 Center and QS3-L Rear Shock
  • 36” Ski Stance
  • Yamaha MTN Skis
  • Goggle Bag
  • Lightweight Brake Disc
  • NEW Premium Painted Frost Silver Hood
  • NEW Custom Stitch Seat
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2022 Yamaha Mountain Max LE 154

The 2022 Mountain Max LE 154 and 165 will also feature the same Premium Painted Frost Silver hood used on the 2022 Yamaha Mountain Max SL.

In fact, when you look at the Mountain Max LE 154 and Mountain Max LE 154 SL side by side, the only immediately apparent differences are the track and the smaller seat.

2022 Mountain Max LE 154 highlights:

  • NEW Primary and Secondary Clutches
  • 154” x 15” 2.6” Camso PowerClaw Track
  • Single Rail Rear Suspension
  • 794cc SDI 2-Stroke Engine
  • Reinforced Race Double-Row Running Board Edges
  • 1.5” QS3 Front Shocks
  • QS3 Center and QS3-L Rear Shock

  • 36” Ski Stance
  • Yamaha MTN Skis
  • 20” Tunnel Bag
  • Goggle Bag
  • Lightweight Brake Disc
  • Push Button Starting (Electric Start)
  • NEW Premium Painted Frost Silver Hood
  • NEW Custom Stitch Seat
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2022 Yamaha Mountain Max LE 165

Mountain Max LE 165 highlights:

  • NEW Primary and Secondary Clutches
  • 165” x 15” x 3” Camso PowerClaw Track
  • Single Rail Rear Suspension
  • 794cc SDI 2-Stroke Engine
  • Reinforced Race Double-Row Running Board Edges

  • 1.5” QS3 Front Shocks
  • QS3 Center and QS3-L Rear Shock
  • 36” Ski Stance
  • Yamaha MTN Skis
  • 20” Tunnel Bag
  • Goggle Bag
  • Lightweight Brake Disc
  • Push Button Starting (Electric Start)
  • NEW Premium Painted Frost Silver Hood
  • NEW Custom Stitch Seat

The Mountain Max SL comes with a 154″ x 15″ x 3″ PowerClaw track that should provide fun and sporty performance.

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Mountain Max LE 154 SL
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Mountain Max LE 154
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Mountain Max LE 165

2022 Yamaha SXVenom MTN

Yamaha sees the SXVenom models as an important stepping stone in the journey of a snowmobiler from young or inexperienced to becoming a lifelong sledder.

These sleds are not just for young folks though; they are a fully-featured, versatile sled, just in a smaller, easier-to-handle package that is equally well-suited for lighter and less experienced riders.

The SXVenom sleds were a huge success for Yamaha this year, and they will continue to play a big role in growing snowmobiling in 2022 and beyond.

For 2022, the SXVenom MTN will look a little more grown up and a lot like its big brother, the Mountain Max. It will feature a very similar Premium Painted Frost Silver hood and Yamaha Racing Blue race windshield.

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The 2022 Yamaha SXVenom MTN at right looks quite at home with the bigger mountain sleds.

Highlights of the 2022 SXVenom MTN:

  • NEW Premium Painted Frost Silver Hood
  • NEW Yamaha Racing Blue Race Windshield
  • 7/8th Size SMB
  • 397cc 2-Stroke Engine
  • EFI with Electric Start
  • Liquid Cooled with U-style Rear Cooler
  • Exhaust Power Valve
  • Shorter, Lower Seat

Yep, you can get rowdy on the SXVenom MTN!

  • Narrow Bodywork
  • CVTech Clutches
  • 121” x 14” x 1” 2.52P Camso Hacksaw Track
  • Basic Front and Rear Shocks
  • 38” Ski Stance
  • Yamaha Stryke Skis with Single Runner Carbide
  • Heated Grips and Hand Warmers
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New Online Deposits For MY2022 Yamaha Spring Orders

With COVID-19 affecting the way we do business face-to-face, Yamaha is making it easier for customers to place orders for 2022 sleds with the availability of online deposits during their Spring Power Surge event this year.

Customers can now make their $500 spring order deposit online, and receive a $500 discount applied to the sale price of the sled when it is ready for delivery in the fall.

The process is simple. Canadian customers can browse to yamaha-motor.ca, while those in the U.S. can go to yamahasnowmobiles.com to start their order. There, they can select their 2022 model of choice and accessories, then choose which dealer they’d like to receive their order—whether than be their nearest by distance or some other preferred dealer. Customers then enter their purchasing information and place the deposit to secure the order.

Yamaha’s Spring Power Surge spring order event runs until April 17, 2021. All Mountain Max models this year are spring order only. SXVenom MTN will be available for spring order and in-season.

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2022 Yamaha Snowmobile Mountain Lineup

So that’s it for model year 2022 Yamaha snowmobiles—in the mountain segment, anyway. They’ve got some cool stuff (power steering) in their trail lineup, but you’ll have to go elsewhere to read about that.

For the mountain segment, new primary and secondary clutching is a key improvement across the board.

And the Super Lite SL Mountain Max 154 has the sort of lightweight and performance improvements we’ve been hoping for! The sporty 154” x 3” PowerClaw track has a lot of potential for fun, and we hope to find out just how much soon.

Stay tuned!

 

– MS