'97 SX 600: Twin or Triple?

Bakemono

Bakemono

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My brother and I had a little disagreement the other day. I was talking to him about trading my Polaris in on a Viper and he commented about a friend of his who had a '97 SX 600 and how fast it was. He said I should try to find one of those because triples just dont handle as well as twins do and that they are noseheavy,(he's basing that on a couple of triple-cylinder Polaris sleds that he owned) to which I replied that Ive heard that the triples are better than the twins (at least in Yamahas). He then said, "that '97 SX 600 was a triple."
I told him that Im pretty sure that the 600 was a twin untill '99 (I know because I went and looked at a '97 SX 600 last summer shortly before I bought the Polaris) but he still swears that it was a triple.
So, lets clear this up. Were the '97 and '98 600s twins? Did Yamaha go to a 600 triple in '99?
Thanks guys, I appreciate it. :rocks:
 
I owned 2 polaris tripples and they were a pig on gas and not very smooth.
Go for the Yamaha tripple and you will love it.
 
daman said:
Yea thos polaris 600 trips were junk, and they were big old boats.
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I bought the '95 600 XCR that my brother owned. I thought it was pretty nice.
Im hopin that a Viper/Venom will have a little more power (even though 90 hp was plenty for me) and corner flatter (Polaris sleds are kind of known for lifting the inside ski in the corners).
I loved the roar of that 600 triple though.
I must admit though, the other triples we've had in our family ('95 Polaris Storm, a couple of XLTs, a couple of 680 Ultras) were tanks. Gotta love that triple-cylinder sound though. ;)!
Thanks guys! :rocks:
 
Captain_Toyota said:
Im hopin that a Viper/Venom will have a little more power
Click to expand...

Are you kidding!!!..........Pull the trigger on a Vipe or Ven......You'll get your answer. ;)!
 
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i woulkd recommend the yami tripple over the twin.The 600 twins are hooribale on gas and the tripples are unreal.To me they handled about the same on the trail yami twin vs tripple.
 
I had a '97 600 SX. It was a twin. I went to a 02' Viper...I would never, ever, ever go back to a twin. and the stock Viper kicks the snot out of a fully tuned 2001 XC800SP (the non power valved 800).
 
I currently still own my 2002 Viper. Before that I had a 2001 SXR700 triple w/ single pipe. The sled before that was my 1997 600SX twin. All three sleds were good. I had the 600SX dialed in very well. At the time it was known to knock off some larger sleds, especially Ultra 680 triples , 600 Polaris triple/triples and MXZ670's. The SXR 700 triple was a bit stronger in the midrange than the '97 600SX I had, but had no more top end. The '99 version of the 600SX was a smaller engine version of the SXR 700 I owned. They are a great running little triple, better on gas and just a better running engine even though a well set up 600SX twin will outrun it. As for the Viper, it is hands down a stonger runner than either of these two sleds. The 2001 SXR I owned rode better out of the crate than the 2002 version of the Viper unless you do the suspension upgrades which I did. I also put on the pleated 2004 Viper seat on my 2002 Viper. The 2002 and 2003 Viper seats were kind of harsh. Overall the Viper once set up right is a good all around sled. I have no problem outrunning the competions 800 twins. I haven't run a REV but have run the MXZ800's , the ZR800's and the XC800 w/ power valves. None have been a threat so far. As for Polaris, other than the current 600HO or possibly the 2002 XC700 , none are worth owning. Maybe their brand new sleds this year will finally be something, but IMO they have been asleep at the wheel for several years now. About all they have been doing is overproducing sleds and forcing their dealers to eat them.
 
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A yammy 600 twin will outrun a SX 700R? If these sleds are both stock, or both well tuned, the 700 will smoke it every time.
 
Maybe only on top end. My 600SX was really dialed in. I had it much longer. I only had the 2001SXR700 one year. It had way more midrange than the twin. They just were not a real top end machine like the SRX or even the Viper, but a better all around motor. Yamaha built that 600SX for snocross racing. I had all the go fast goodies right from Yamaha R&D on mine, it was fast in it's day.
 
My old 600? Well I ran the thinner .6mm headgasket which required 92+ octane fuel. I had a couple different sets of wts. for it, one set that was loaded from the heel area by allen screws for engagement. I ran a RPC red/yel spring in the primary and a multi angle cut nickel helix in the rear from Hauck. If I remember it was around 47/41. A Hi-Tec perf. billet primary clutch cover for minimal binding in bushing area. I also used the GYT silencer. It sounded like a dirt bike with it on, but was good for 1-2 lengths in 800' runs. I had Maxx perf. transfer rods, Camo 1" stagger pattern (3rd window closed) ultra light 32lb. track. Yamaha plastic skis, V-Force reeds and the last year I had the motor cleaned up in the ports. That really made it rock. I remember the last season I ran it a bunch of buddies came over to run. There were 700 triples, piped sleds (Polaris and Doo)....my 600 was hooking so well that day I was pullling everyone by half the field. Now that's fun when your the one in front. As far as the R&D comment. I knew one of Yamaha's R&D folks at the time. He gave me a few of the tips on how to set the sled up from their experiences from testing and racing.

BTW: never run the overdrive primary clutch sheave setup that Hauck and others have pushed. I tried it on the above sled and my Dad's 700 XTC of that time period too. What a joke!! Yes it actually pulled higher MPH speeds if you had a country mile to run, but took twice as long to get there. All your low/midrange was gone(hence ET). I ran a stock 600SX just like what I had and could only barely beat him. I took the overdrive kit off and it was now a no contest. I don't know if anyone like Hauck is still pushing this piece of junk, but please don't waste your $$$ on it.
 
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