Mountain Viper Trail Friendly?

antlerking

New member
Joined
Jan 8, 2011
Messages
56
Age
64
Location
Da Nort Woods
Im looking at a 2003 Mt.Viper wondering about making it more trail worthy. It has 2in track that needs to be replaced,thinking about a studded 1in Hack or Rip? Will i need new tunnel protectors? How about clutch differences between the two? Ski stabilizer? Any other input would be appreciated. How much tighter is the ski stance? Thanks!
 
Last edited:

Half of my riding is trails, I have a 1.25 track and all my idlers removed with no problems as long as I dip off the trail ounce in a while to cool the slides (ice scratchers would help). As far as clutching I never changed much. I think my secondary is wound to 80 and I added 3 shims behind the primary spring. My gearing is at 22/39 right now but might be changing it back to 21/38.
 
Because I smoked a tree and that was the only pair I could find at the time. It does bring the front end up alot and seem to absorb the bumps alot better.
 
If you truly want a trail sled, then my recommendation is to hold off and keep looking for a short track.
A Mnt Viper has a 38.5" ski stance for side-hilling ease, makes it a lot more "tippy" in the corners. It also doesn't have a sway bar. The longer track will make it want to push through corners: when you nail the gas with that much track, it simply wants to launch the skis and go in a straight line. You also will have 40-21 gearing, which results in about 85 mph top speed. You'll have to play with gearing and clutching to find a happy medium for top speed vs still having the torque to turn that much track.
I'm not saying it can't be competitive out on the trails, but you'll have to make several changes and even then work twice as hard to go through twisties as fast as people riding short tracks.

Just my .02 cents. Don't want you to be disappointed out on the trail trying to run with buddies that have short tracks.
 
Ok i pulled the trigger on the Mtn Viper, what i need to know is if some one makes a stabilizer that will fit or if some one has modified the short track one? Thanks! How about this Yamaha part # 8CS-2386E-00-00 ? $115?
 
Last edited:


Back
Top