Viper questions

P

polarisconvert

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Mar 12, 2008
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Corunna Michigan
I am thinking about buying a Viper for a second sled for my family. I want one with elec start and rev. I need your opinion on this sled. I think I heard that they don't ride very well. I am confident the motor will be very reliable and probably pretty good on gas. Any years to stay away from?

Do they have a pro-action rear skid? Is there a long travel version?

Not really interested in a pipe viper. I heard early on, there was a lot of melted pistons and overheating problems. I am sure my son would enjoy the power but after he told me what he did with my RX1 last year I don't really want he on a piped Viper. He is a very conservative kid but he has my blood in his veins.

Any info would be helpful.

Thanks
 
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i have an 02 sx viper with stock everything, and it is an awsome trail/lake sled! the have tons of power and top end!!! i only have single carbides on it and it does dart in the trails with them but is a smooth ride and not a hard effort to turn! it has the pro action and forced air induction, overall i think its a mint sled!
 
also my viper has 12000kms on it and hasnt had the motor touched and still running top notch! stong tripples!
 
I think stags is right, and yes the 02 valving was bad in the front shocks, don't cost much though. Pioneer rebuilds/ revalves them for 47 a piece, makes em ride better
 
Very good choice, Viper is a reliable sled it will beat almost anysled of the line and is really weight balanced, The Viper has alot of power and the ones with reverse are the red ones not the blue ones usually unless the hood was changed. Only one thing is a couple people I know blew the engine on their Viper only because they put cheap oil in it always use Yamalube. Most of all my favorite sled I wouldn't trade my viper for anyother sled great choice also get an 02 viper.

Another questions PM me

:2strokes: :2strokes: :winterrul :winterrul
 
I bought an 02 Viper ER for myself and totally went thru it last summer, skid, shocks (pioneer) new track etc... On our first ride of the year my wife was complaining about her new to her Artic Cat ZL550 I bought her, so I left her ride the Viper for the rest of the afternoon. Now I'm in the market for another Viper Er for myself as I have lost mine, lol!! I or WE love the Viper. In my opinion one of the best sleds out there and definately the best lookin sled you can get.
 
Love my Viper! picked it up last year for a decent price. Most Yamaha owners seem to take really good care of their machines and mine was no exception. Take your time and do your research before you go and look at one. Just like any sled they have their issues, but I've never ridden a sled that was smoother thats for sure!
Do searches on W-arms, they are prone to breakage when ridden hard. Check out Mr.Viper's articles on Viper needles. SRX dogbone on Viper. Plenty of reading available. Just like any used sled, atleast a compression test before buying. Do your homework.
I personally don't have any issues with the Pro-action. I think it rides fine but as stated you can have Pioneer Performance rebuild all shocks for cheap money or do a skid upgrade.
That said, Vipers have enough power to get you in trouble real quick if your not paying attention. 100 mph plus and they handle great! Really easy to ride.
Just my .02
 
Love my viper, mine is modified but as I remember in 2002 when my dad bought his brand new, between his 300+ body riding it, my brother and I piss pounding it, we only had two issues with in 9000 miles.
1) Fuel pump freezing - this is solved with putting washers under the fuel pump, half hour mod to complete
2)The W arm broke at 3000 miles
NO motor issues, chassis issues.

That's it, i've had two sleds since then, a 04 firecat which i blew up once and broke every rear suspension part literally, the 06 apex was high maintenance.
So i picked up another viper like my dad's a 2002 with 2500 miles for relatively cheap, ran mint all last year and has ran mint all 500 miles this year.
BUY ONE!!
 
This last weekend I helped a guy in the parking lot with a mechanical issue on his friends Polaris. Ended up going riding with him. He had an M8 cat with a 153 track. As some point we swapped sleds for a camparison. I was riding my stock 04 Viper with a can and a 144 track. When he came back he said "I think I should change over to this!!" He was sporting a big grin.

Vipers are great, wouldn't trade my sled for any other. There's also a great support network here at TY. I was new to snowmobiles 3 years ago and I've learned so much on this site it's amazing. It's like having a mechanic in your back pocket.

Best of luck in your decision.
 
I've got two Viper ERs, a red one and a blue one. Red ERs are more common than blue but both are out there. My viper has 13,000 miles on it and is still going strong. My wifes red one has 7,000 and still goes like stink. Swap a mono skid in there and get the shocks rebuilt by pioneer. Put a simple clutch setup in one with stock motor and have a blast. Set up the ergos if you're taller folk.
 
SXRider,
What kind of mono-shock skid did you put in your sleds? Just wondering because I may be changing out a skid during the upcoming summer for a longer track setup. My sleds are powder machines and I was thinking about going to a 151 track. I'm not really convinced yet because my mtn vipers with a 144 seem to do really well. I almost don't want to change anything.

So I was just wondering what skid setup you're running.
 
I'm actually running the proaction with rebuilt shocks right now but I am planning to go to a mono in at least one this year. If you got a later model mtn viper id stick with the proactive ck that's in it. That's a good skid...
 
I have around 8400 on mine and I am the original owner. My father and I have owned alot of Yamaha's over the years and all in all this has been one of my favorites. It started out a little shaky with the lousy shock valving. I ended up getting the trade out upgraded shocks through Yamaha the next year which greatly improved the ride. If you are buying one this old you may as well go through the shocks anyways. I have also added the engine torque arm for consistant clutch alignment and had the fuel pump raised right away. I have a rear heat exhcanger only because I ran pipes on it in year two but went back to stock. (long story) Also I have used Heavy Hitters in the clutches since the 2nd year and they have been very consistant. I have very little belt wear and the clutches run real cool. Over the years I have run a 9818 1.25" Camo track, an Ice Ripper and a couple Cobra tracks, one every third window clipped and one fully clipped which I still run. Gotta knock out the front exchanger protectors for this though. Right now with the Cobra I am using SLP Powder Pro skis. They work real well with this track. The 9818 is a solid performer too for a wide variety of conditions. The stock track is useless unless you stud it up. Over the years this sled has been an overachiever as for performance running with and staying ahead of much larger engine sleds on the lakes so I'd have to say I have been very happy performance wise.
 
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I have a 02 Viper er . Have had her for 7yrs and have put on over 12,000 khms. Best sled I have ever owned. Did revalve all the shocks for better riding. She is a great trail sled and does pretty good on the lakes and ditches. Lots of power and handles good. Put dual carbides on it to sovle the darting issue. She is stock and runs with the best of them.. Great looking sled as well.. Like others have said the w arm is the weak point but I have only replaced mine once. Keep everything greased and maintaned well and you will ride for a long long time..
 
Cam/ Viper adict said:
I have a 02 Viper er . Have had her for 7yrs and have put on over 12,000 khms. Best sled I have ever owned. Did revalve all the shocks for better riding. She is a great trail sled and does pretty good on the lakes and ditches. Lots of power and handles good. Put dual carbides on it to sovle the darting issue. She is stock and runs with the best of them.. Great looking sled as well.. Like others have said the w arm is the weak point but I have only replaced mine once. Keep everything greased and maintaned well and you will ride for a long long time..
Click to expand...

Good you brought that up because I forgot to mention that. Mine broke with around 6500 miles on it. The cracks were hard to notice at first and I was blaming that first Cobra track (every third window and not clipped all through out) for causing excessive track ratchet. Well finally after a hard ride with some friends I put it away in our heated shed and when all the snow and ice melted the W arm went kerplunk into several pieces. It was in such bad shape I bought a used one on here from a member, did the welded gussets, repainted it and no problems since.
 
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