white = lean as in your piston/s is/are going to melt down 
tan is good 
and rich will be very dark chocklate to wet. blackish looking in color. when you do a plug test run. it is best to use used plugs as they color better. wot run u run wide open throttle for about 5 to 600 feet then kill the motor while holding the throttle pinned. do not let off till you are stopped then check your plugs. mid range run = same thing but instead hold your throttle halfway open till you come to a stop. if you are in doubt about your plug color being a little to lean richen it up a little remember you wont blow up your motor from being a little rich but you will lose power and foul plugs prematurely. there is a nice writeup in the tech section with lots of pics of the plug colors you will be ideally looking for. hope this helps. 
tan is good and rich will be very dark chocklate to wet. blackish looking in color. when you do a plug test run. it is best to use used plugs as they color better. wot run u run wide open throttle for about 5 to 600 feet then kill the motor while holding the throttle pinned. do not let off till you are stopped then check your plugs. mid range run = same thing but instead hold your throttle halfway open till you come to a stop. if you are in doubt about your plug color being a little to lean richen it up a little remember you wont blow up your motor from being a little rich but you will lose power and foul plugs prematurely. there is a nice writeup in the tech section with lots of pics of the plug colors you will be ideally looking for. hope this helps. 
journeyman
Active member
chris700readhead said:
The redhead motor doesn't lose much with a can if at all. Been there and done it (Bender can) and I could not find a difference performance wise with it installed vs. stock.
journeyman
Active member
JDViper said:
I can't believe they can claim anything. Most makers of exhaust cans have toned down their claims and most will just say NO GAIN just a weight loss.
Macheater
New member
Ya even way back when Bender (under the old ownership) was first making performance goodies for the Vipers they only recommended the can as an option. For sound and less weight. Still have that copy of (I think snowtech) when they did the stage tune. They used their single pipe with the stock muffler for a decent horsepower increase. Big gains didn't come till they put the tripples on it. And even bigger gain with the 835 kit.
journeyman
Active member
Macheater said:
Yes, big gains and big losses. Big gains in HP but big decreases in gas mileage and if not done right big losses in reliability. I think that's why so many have chosen NOT to triple pipe a Viper. So in essence Yamaha did a great job at getting all they could get out of a single pipe triple engine but because of certain characteristics of this machine (one piece head w/ staggered compression, no rear exchanger and a hard advancing ignition) have made it not easy to improve on it without taking these things into account.
davidgboy
New member
good info
hey jorneyman and andrew k. thanx for the info good job.
hey jorneyman and andrew k. thanx for the info good job.
Macheater
New member
journeyman said:
What is it they say? Oh ya, something like "Speed Costs, how fast do you want to go"? And yes often times it costs more than just money.
journeyman
Active member
Macheater said:
Not only is it the money IMO....but the "Always worrying of a burndown, watching your jetting (EGT's) etc. that goes along with it" ....losing the pull the rope and go reliability you get with stock. Now going back just before the Viper with the redhead 700 motor.......you can pipe those and still get the stock reliabilty. Two totally different animals.
Macheater
New member
Journeyman can't argue with anything you've said. However, there are ALWAYS gonna be those who want their machine to run just a little (or a lot) better than the next guy. The temptation to outrun your buddy is very enticing and fun. Whether its just bragging rights or for actual competion.
In the past it was much easier to mod a sled and have it run better reliably. These days with the declining quality of pump gas, especially in some back trail areas where ur lucky to even find premium. Its almost not worth it to take the chance. Been there and done that. Replaced many pistons in my day for one reason or another.
And another thing, the manufacturers are doing a great job these days of combining performance, reliability, and fuel economy, in a package that the average guy tinkering in his garage can only dream of matching. Many of the aftermarket shops are still able to find performance left on the table buy the factories. But they are having to work harder to do it and that certainly cost $$$. And yes, somtimes reliability along with all the other things you mentioned are compromised.
In the past it was much easier to mod a sled and have it run better reliably. These days with the declining quality of pump gas, especially in some back trail areas where ur lucky to even find premium. Its almost not worth it to take the chance. Been there and done that. Replaced many pistons in my day for one reason or another.
And another thing, the manufacturers are doing a great job these days of combining performance, reliability, and fuel economy, in a package that the average guy tinkering in his garage can only dream of matching. Many of the aftermarket shops are still able to find performance left on the table buy the factories. But they are having to work harder to do it and that certainly cost $$$. And yes, somtimes reliability along with all the other things you mentioned are compromised.
THANKS GUYS! This is very good. Helps me a ton. Going to do a plug test this winter to see where I'm at. Looking forward to the "new" sound.
journeyman
Active member
Macheater said:
I noticed you are a fairly new poster here. I have been on here for so long I remember the old web layout. LOL!! Also I have been running Yamaha's since the very early 80's so I have quite a bit of experience with several of their models and believe me I have tinkered over the years. Just not as much lately. That being said I have to say I have gotten some great pride over the years in this now old sled (2002 Viper) at how it just seems to run right there performance wise with the new stuff and it is relatively stock. I won't list all my conquests but it has been a real sleeper over it's time...........it now reads over 8400 miles. The longest I have ever kept a sled. I'm raising kids and my $$ is going elsewhere these days. Oh well, I am still in it.............
Macheater
New member
Journeyman, congrats on your long tenure here on TY. Maybe if you stay on here long enough you'll be eligible for a pension one of these days! Help out with the expense of raising those kids. LOL. Yes I am fairly new on the 2-stroke side because I just purchased a very clean low mileage 02 SRX. Using the braintrust here on TY to help learn about my new to me purchase. Could NOT have learned as much without the great knowledge and experience of the members on this site! My money is going elsewhere these days as well. Like into fixing up the 87 Bravo 250 I bought for my kiddies back in January. It was a fixer upper, but now is looking pretty nice. Of course you have to buy em helmets, gear, you know the routine.
Was on the 4-stroke side since 06 when I purchased my Apex GT. Before that was in the DOO camp for about a decade. And the Cat camp before that. So been around the block myself. Ok enough Hyjacking for one day.
Cheers!
Was on the 4-stroke side since 06 when I purchased my Apex GT. Before that was in the DOO camp for about a decade. And the Cat camp before that. So been around the block myself. Ok enough Hyjacking for one day.
Cheers!
akrievins
New member
JDViper... nice avatar pic! This would be great around Halloween! 