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Yamaha

Yamaha 8DN-17641-01-00 Apex Snowmobile Drive Belt

★★★★★4.7 (36 reviews)

The only OEM drive belt engineered to handle the Apex's high-output twin engine without stretching, slipping, or leaving you stranded mid-trail.

$94.95*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

Yamaha's Apex series earned its reputation as one of the most powerful production snowmobiles ever built around a four-cylinder engine, and that power puts exceptional demands on the CVT drive belt. The OEM part 8DN-17641-01-00 is manufactured to Yamaha's exact engineering specifications for this drivetrain — not an approximation. Drive belt dimensions, rubber compound hardness, and cog geometry are all tuned to match the Apex's clutch ramp profiles and engagement RPM range. Deviate from those specs with a poorly manufactured aftermarket belt, and you'll notice it in throttle hesitation, clutch noise, and accelerated belt wear.

This part covers the entire Apex model family from 2006 through 2018 — RTX, GT, ER, SE, LTX, and XTX — plus the related 2006–2007 Attak, making it a consistent maintenance part for a broad range of used sleds currently in service. Installation is straightforward for anyone who has replaced a snowmobile belt before: remove the secondary clutch cover, release belt tension, swap the belt, and reinstall. The one discipline required is a proper break-in — aggressive full-throttle runs on a new belt before it has seated against the clutch sheaves is a common cause of premature failure that has nothing to do with belt quality. Follow the break-in protocol and this OEM belt will deliver a full season of reliable service.

Key Features

Fits: '06-'18 Apex inc. RTX/GT/ER/SE/LTX/XTX

Fits: '06-'07 Attak

OEM Part Number: 8DN-17641-01-00

Specifications

Part Number
8DN-17641-01-00
Compatibility
'06-'18 Apex inc. RTX/GT/ER/SE/LTX/XTX, '06-'07 Attak
Product Type
Drive Belt
Brand
Yamaha

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • OEM fitment guarantees the exact width and angle tolerances Yamaha specified for the Apex's high-output CVT system, ensuring proper clutch engagement from the first ride.
  • Covers a broad 13-year production span of Apex variants (2006–2018), making it the correct part for a wide range of used and current Apex sleds in the field.
  • OEM rubber compound is formulated for the Apex's operating temperature and power range, reducing the risk of premature heat-related degradation common in off-spec aftermarket belts.
  • The part number 8DN-17641-01-00 is directly cross-referenceable in Yamaha dealer systems, simplifying warranty and service record documentation.
  • Using a genuine Yamaha replacement maintains compliance with any remaining powertrain warranty terms on applicable model years.

👎 Cons

  • OEM pricing typically runs higher than comparable aftermarket belts, making this a more expensive maintenance item for riders who go through belts frequently.
  • Available for Apex and Attak models only — does not cross to other Yamaha platforms like the Sidewinder or Viper, limiting its utility as a general-purpose spare.
  • No enhanced performance characteristics compared to the stock spec — riders seeking higher clutch engagement performance will need an aftermarket high-performance belt instead.
  • A single belt provides no backup on a long backcountry trip; serious Apex riders typically carry a spare, which doubles this cost.
  • The 2006 cutoff means it does not cover the earliest generation Apex models from the early-to-mid 2000s that predate this part revision.

Frequently Asked Questions

This belt fits 2006–2018 Yamaha Apex models including the RTX, GT, ER, SE, LTX, and XTX variants, as well as the 2006–2007 Attak. If your sled falls outside these year and model ranges, this is not the correct belt — verify your VIN and model designation before ordering.
OEM Yamaha belts are manufactured to the exact dimensional specifications — width, angle, and compound hardness — that Yamaha's engineers specified for the Apex's CVT system. Aftermarket belts vary in compound quality and dimensional tolerances, and the Apex's high-powered drivetrain is less forgiving of dimensional drift than smaller displacement sleds.
Watch for visible cracking along the belt's sidewalls, fraying at the cog edges, unusual clutch noise under acceleration, and sluggish throttle response at low speeds. Yamaha recommends inspecting the drive belt at each service interval — on a high-performance sled like the Apex, a belt in marginal condition can fail suddenly under hard acceleration.
Yes. New drive belts benefit from a graduated break-in period — avoid full-throttle acceleration for the first 50–100 miles. This allows the belt compound to seat properly against the clutch sheaves and reach its optimal operating temperature range, which extends belt life significantly.
Drive belts on CVT-equipped snowmobiles run between the primary (engine-side) and secondary (track-side) clutches as a single continuous belt. This part number is that continuous drive belt — there is no separate belt for each clutch.

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