I posted this question in the SXR section but didn't get any responses.
Other than the Powervalves and hood design, what are the differences between a 2002 viper and 01 SX700R? Aren't the rear skids and front suspensions identical? I thought the handling would be very similar, but when putting some miles on my recently purchased sxr, I was quite surprised at how different it was.
Other than the Powervalves and hood design, what are the differences between a 2002 viper and 01 SX700R? Aren't the rear skids and front suspensions identical? I thought the handling would be very similar, but when putting some miles on my recently purchased sxr, I was quite surprised at how different it was.
extreme4max4rules
New member
the viper has the power valves and the sxr do not the viper is the same engine as the srx except they went with single pipe same as sxr the viper will be a little quicker bacause of the power valves .
redsnake3
New member
viper engine is very different from sxr, nothing crosses over. viper and srx shae a few similarities. i think the tunnels are different and the bulkhead design.
journeyman
Active member
I've owned both. The SXR is a great trail sled, has excellent midrange response, has that nice triple note too. Personally, I feel my 2001 SXR rode a hair better than my Viper. It most defintely did at first because the 2002 Vipers were valved terrible. I fixed that with the shock upgrade and buying a 2004 pleated seat. I thought the original Viper seat was less comfortable than the SXR seat. As far as performance......I already tried that one. A relative owns the former sled and I thought it would be close up to midrange, but boy was I wrong. My Viper absolutley runs away from the SXR I used to own and that thing was setup well. Yes.... the rear and front suspension are very close, but I think the Viper has a little more weight out front than the SXR does which changes how they handle.
yes the suspension is the same. The Vipers have taller spindles, that is the only mechanical difference in the suspensions. Viper's faster??? I have lined up quite a few Vipers and SXr's and never seen either absolutely pull away. with the cheap mods the SXR is very close in HP to the Viper. just my worthless opinion
interesting... I picked up a mint 01 SXR700 this past fall(as a 2nd sled) and finally got some seat time on it this past weekend in the UP. What I discovered is that the SXR had a much rougher ride and didn't handle nearly as good as my viper. I'm wondering if it's the way it's setup or something. I too thought that if anything the sxr would be a nicer ride compared to my viper, but I was wrong. I'll need to take a look at the shock and skid settings on it. Unlike like most on here, i reall dislike the plush seat of the SXR. IMO, It's a bit too soft and makes you feel like youre sinking to the ground.
Also, I noticed very little difference in peformance between the two. My viper pulled away from it, but it was much closer than what I thought it was going to be.
Also, I noticed very little difference in peformance between the two. My viper pulled away from it, but it was much closer than what I thought it was going to be.
journeyman
Active member
If your Viper runs close to a SXR 700, then you don't have a very good running one. My old SXR has the thin head gasket, same 1.25" track,clutched and reed spacers...it ran real well. I beat a few identicle stockers easy with it. My Viper walks on that sled well and top end is where it really spreads the gap.
PS: next year I am going to tear my Viper down completely. I will check all bearings, have all shafts and wheels trued on a lathe by our machinist, put in new rings and clean up the ports....put on a new track....it will be interesting to see how much performance I gain.
PS: next year I am going to tear my Viper down completely. I will check all bearings, have all shafts and wheels trued on a lathe by our machinist, put in new rings and clean up the ports....put on a new track....it will be interesting to see how much performance I gain.
Last edited:
journeyman said:
Well, we never lined them up... I'm basing it truely on how it felt. There's no doubt my viper had more power.
I'm just baffled by how awful the SXR handled compared to the viper (it has the updated shocks). The SXR shocks were revalved by the previous owner and I'm starting to wonder if they were revalved way too stiff.
BigMac
New member
I had an SXR 700, my son had the 600. They ran pretty close to identical. He then got a Viper, it absolutely killed my SXR 700 - not even a contest. I got a Viper after that. The 2002 Vipers had bad suspension setups. Once the shocks were revalved, they were close to being as good as the SXRs.