Any one know if Yamaha has any plans to bring the VK / Bearcat 540 back for 2023?
What Yamaha should have done was put the old Phazer 500cc 4-stroke motor in the VK frame, keep the gear box, modernize the electronics and they would have a great machine.
The main problem with the VK is cold starting. You need to be so careful with the choke so as not to foul the plugs. I put a primer on there and that helps but in -30 you still need to slap a heater on there before starting. In short daylight during trapping season who has time for that.
But the VK by far is the best sled for haulling wood and breaking trail.

The word I'm hearing is Yamaha may be out of the sno-go business. I was told current Yamaha production is an Arctic Cat snow machine built by Arctic Cat with Yamaha decaling.

They are selling 2023 models now I bought one, in Whitehorse yukon. They promise me the rep tells them they will be avaiable next year again too.
I have a 2020 and 2023 and neither one needs a heater, when really cold I pull it over a few times by hand and then use key but other than that there great machines no issues yet.

When it really cold make sure you put a little oil in the gas. Mine can't even pull over in extreme cold -35 and such as. If you don't over use the choke you won't foul plugs. It was an expensive lesson for me to learn. I carried a case of plugs around with me for a while. If it -30 or colder I put a heater on for 30 minuts or so.

Was that from Yukon Yamaha I called them about a 600 Transport. They said they might get a VK. I suppose it finally came in. They could not get the 600.

Yamaha and Arctic Cat are sharing a production facility in the USA. Nothing from Japan last year. They may have started Japanese production again if they are making 2023 &24 VK540s

I hadnt heard they were going to stop making them. Mine is the Arctic Cat version. Hardest starting machine Ive ever had. Its in the shop now getting a primer. I threw the oil injection away right off and mix my oil.

yes at yukon Yamaha
Great place

I got 4000km on one haven’t changed the spark plugs yet. I always add a little oil in gas in extreme cold and warm plus temperatures.

That is a smart move I should have done that. You have lots of dead battery trouble also?

Good fuel management is really key with VKs. If they were not so hard to start and plug. Problems I probably be a VK for life type guy. They are really excellent for hauling big loads of wood out of the bush and breaking trail

What I heard was they didn't make any 23s, they had enough production run left over for 22s to meet demand for this year's orders. No one knows anything definitively whether they'll make another 540 or Pro. Their mountain sleds are rebadged Arctic Cats.

Cat Catcher Yukon Yamaha is incredible on warranty. If they could have gotten product I would have stuck with them.