Newbie Advice

GD23RTF2

GD23RTF2

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2013
Messages
229
Age
54
Location
Wisconsin
Hi guys,

I have been lurking for years, and finally registered today.
Hopefully I posted in the correct spot.
I'm looking for some advice and expertise from fellow Yamaha snowmobile enthusiasts.....

A little history and introduction:
I've had a few sleds throughout my life. Nothing too modern though. 1974 Raider, 1988 Exciter, Super-hella modded 1991 Exciter II that never ran well, but when it did, boy did it go.....until I hooked a ski on some stump roots going 50, but that's another story.
Dirt bikes etc, since I was 6.
Worked at a full line OEM dealer for a few years, selling parts, and got out of it just as the 4 stroke craze was beginning.
Been out of it since, but almost every year, when the snow flies I get the bug.....It's even worse now that my buddy bought a sled. A 2000 SX700R.
May just have to do it this year, or next if I can score a good deal on something in the spring, and endure the torture of staring at it all summer.

What I have on my list if I can find it is 2001 SX700R, or any variation of a Viper.
So.....I guess my question is.....Is the Viper THAT much better of an all-around trail machine than the 2001 incarnation of the SXR to justify the added $$$, because of course that's always an issue.....
Spirited trail riding and the occasional lake rip is all I'm likely to be doing.
ALL I want to do is climb on and pull the trigger.
I'm a bit older now, but still think I'm 25, but I have NO desire to EVER have a modded sled again.....Wrenching is for the Polaris, and Cat crowd.
Don't want a 4 stroke either.
Clutching probably, pipes and porting never again.
LOVED the mid-range punch of the (stock) Exciters, but my EX-II was a nightmare with drive-ability and reliability issues, and I don't want to go down that road again. I'm not mechanically inept at all, and maintenance is no sweat, I just want to ride the thing. Never, ever get stranded, never have to jet for conditions, just get on and go. Likely for several years until something else comes along that I just HAVE to have.

The only other option I would probably seriously consider is possibly an SRX, but I won't really be lake racing much, if at all, and would prefer the extra travel and lighter weight of the aforementioned.....however, it IS an option if one just kind of falls in my lap.
If so, then we're looking at 2001-2002 right?

It may have been beat to death, somewhere, but honestly I've looked around and haven't seen all that much except for SXV vs SRX. Speed guys say the SRX. Not much, if anything on SXR vs SXV, and certainly nothing on SXR vs SXV vs SRX.
Wish I could ride all 3 for an hour and then decide, but I don't have that luxury.
So.....what do you guys think?
Lay it on me. Power, handling, suspension, reliability, mileage, range, maintenance, etc. I'd love to hear it.
I'm looking for the sled that if you could only have one for the rest of your life out of these few.....
What would you choose, and why?

Thanks guys,
~G.D.
 
Well my friend welcome to the site. Lots and lots of info on here as you already probably know. Just from what your saying you should go with the sxr. Id get the 700 just cause they so sweet. Smooth running,decent power, decent gas mileage. pretty much bullet proof.( Except the one i have now but think im getting all the bugs worked out of her, think she had a hard life lol ). Anyhow those sxr's i think are pretty damn nice. If your looking at the 01 they have the better stator and the nice dual headlight and like you said suspension wise the same as viper. Not that vipers and srx's are not cool cause they are. But if your looking for good deal and the whole performance thing isnt that big a issue I would go with a tried and true red head. The srx and vipers have that whole powervalve thing going on that seem like a true pain in the a** sometimes. And have also heard of cooling issues with those two sleds. The redheads just run. You can also do some redneck mods to the redhead that dont cost you nothing and make nice differences to performance. That and I have learned in my early 40's wisdom (if thats what you call it) that always go by your first pick of something and not your second pick or just settling for that second pic. Get what you want and make it yours. Wish i would have followed that advice on a few woman lol. Anyway this advice is free and good luck with your search.
 
Thanks for the reply.
So you're saying that the SXV isn't THAT much better, if at all than the SXR?
If that's the case then that's fine, but honest'y I was almost expecting people to bash the SXR, and sing the praises of the SXV.

I'm not really saying the SXR was my first choice, but I guess it kinda was in a way. I was almost hoping it would be a unanimous thing pushing me one way or another.

I know about the ignition in the 2001. The old single light kinda sucks even though I know I used to sell 100W bulbs for them that seemed to help with that some.
From what I've read, the red heads are known for being damn near bullet-proof, and not too thirsty. I like the idea of smooth, but love the hard pull like I said, and was wondering if the Viper may have that?
I'm all for performance, and valves, and not afraid to mess with them. They can't be that bad, but if there are head, or cooling problems, I'd just as soon shy away from that in either the SXV, or the SRX. I want good reliability on a sled that I will never have to wrestle with.
I would have thought a one piece head would be more of a problem though than 3 individuals.

I hear ya on the women......I picked my first choice, and that didn't pan out too well for me, but shit happens as they say. Trying not to make the same mistake on a machine.....

Ugh.....who knows. Maybe I should just go with an SXR. I swiped the Yamaha Factory Performance Manual from the dealership. It's the 1998 version, but there's bound to be some good info in there for the red head. I know they talk about the XTC suspension in there for snowcross, and that out to serve me well too I would imagine as that's basically the same thing as the SXR skid.

Any other opinions? Would have thought 3:16 would have been screaming SRX at the top of his lungs by now.....
:-p
 
From what you said you are looking for, especially as little wrenching as possible, I would go with an SXR. 3 pipes(srx), and 3 PV's make for a little more work. You cant go wrong with any of the three options though. Good luck and welcome to TY.

Justin
 
SXR (or redhead) bullet proof, lowest on power stock, no powervalves, low maintenance, responds well to mods

Viper (black head) a decent step up in power stock, down right sexy looking, hot ignition timing in the midrange, really needs a srx rear cooler, raised needles, and opticool head gasket. most of them you find nowadays have these things done. powervalves require a little maintenance but not a big deal really. triple pipes turn it into a beast.

SRX (blue heads) the hotrod of the bunch stock, triple pipes, sips gas, no cooling problems. 2000-02 are the years to look for imo. short travel suspension, also has the powervalves to deal with, less room for easy HP improvement over the others.

I dont think you can go wrong with either one, but my first inclination based on your post is a redhead.
 
well to get that pull you desire all you need to do is clutch it, Different helix some heavier weights in primary and wola. You want to update the ride quality put a suspension out of a 4stroke or a skidoo or a poo. Totaly changes the ride and weight transfer is unbelievable. Put a vector skid in mine and its fantastic ride that will pull the front end for days if you want it to. Just more food for thought.
 
Thanks everybody.
General consensus seems to point at the SXR....

Now....just need to find one that's mint, un-modded, and not over studded, for next to nothing in Central Wisconsin, and I'll be good to go.....
Good luck with that right? :-p

I've been looking at the respective sections on the forum, going back quite a ways, and it would seem that the Viper should almost be the last on the list.
In the Valved section it would seem that there is maybe a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio of "problem" threads on Vipers over SRXs.
Just wish they would have made a long travel SRX.....now THAT would be awesome.
Saw one with a Viper skid on CL in Chicago recently. Think it was a 99 with? Had Ohlins, but the guy didn't jack up the front though.....

Someone said earlier that the SRX sips fuel. Is the mileage really that good? Or is the Viper just that poor? I would still think that the SRX would be more thirsty than the SXR. Should move more air and hence require more fuel right?

Also.....don't see much on the Venom. Either in posts, or for sale anywhere. I know I've NEVER seen one for sale. They seem even more rare than the 600 SRX. People must be keeping them, or Yamaha must not have sold any?

One more question.....
Did jacking the SXs up, as in the R version make them less of a slot car?
I definitely want a slot car. Don't miss the Tippy-neSS of the TSS when I'm on the throttle. Only cure I ever found to keep the front end planted was to keep the rear end loose. You know. Body english. Flick the rear end over going in, and punch it on your way out in kind of a powerslide-ish drifting fashion.
 
GD23RTF2 said:
Thanks everybody.
General consensus seems to point at the SXR....

snip
Just wish they would have made a long travel SRX.....now THAT would be awesome.
Saw one with a Viper skid on CL in Chicago recently. Think it was a 99 with? Had Ohlins, but the guy didn't jack up the front though.....

snip

I'd guess he didn't want to lose the Ohlins to increase the front travel.

I can say my widened/raised '01 SRX is nearly the same as when it was new, but with more travel.

...and yes, it is that good on fuel compared to the others you're looking at but IMHO you'd be most happy with the SXR.
Click to expand...
 
FIRST AND FOREMOST,, WELCOME TO TOTALLYAMAHA>>>>>>>I had a PAIR of 2004 Viper ER ( electric and reverse) that I sold for FIVE GRAND sitting in a R&R enclosed trailer!!!! The trailer was about 2008 and it had a few scars,, but,, it's a trailer.. I sold it a few months ago and was going to upgrade,, but haven't as of yet.... It was a GREAT DEAL and they were maintained IMMACULENTLY !!!! You could EAT off of them!!! Needless to say,, a FRIEND got a good deal !!! He gave them to his brother and he loves them!!!! Having said that,,, there are aLOT OF GOOD sleds out there and you can really get a good sled in Illinois,, because there isn't much snow around here,, and if you DO GET A GUY who wants to upgrade,, AMKE SURE he trailered his sleds in an ENCLOSED TRAILER...... Once salt gets on a snowmobile,, it'''s BAD NEWS !!!! Even if it's on for a few hours,, it STARTS the process and theirs NOT MUCH you can do to save it!!!!!
 
Well I couldnt figure out how to forward add but there is a sweet sxr in rochester,ny on craigslist 2500.00 with lots of extras. Go check it out
 
Thanks again guys.

I hear you on the enclosed trailer deal.
Same goes with bikes in the spring. Always laugh when these jokers are out early before the salt, and calcium chloride are still on the roads before a couple good rains. That salt dust finds it's way into EVERYTHING. Especially with all that chrome crap. Especially on the HarDleys.
My policy(when I had a street bike) was to always wait until the roads were swept PLUS had a couple good, soaking rains to get the crap off the roads before I would drive it.
Back in the day we used those molded plastic deflectors on the trailer, or tarps on the front of our machines on the way up to the U.P. to keep the salt at bay.

I'm not wanting to travel too far to pick anything up. Just adds to the overall cost. Plus if it's a pile, then I've wasted all that time, effort, and money to look at something that isn't coming home with me.
I would have loved to go at least go check out that one around Chicago, but that's at least 5 hours from me, and I'm pretty set on the dual headlight thing.

Love, love LOVE the one in the classified section with the black belly pan and the 2000 graphics. Hate the blurry "R" on the 2001.
Not thrilled about the speedo(odometer-you just never know) or the neon. It's also quite a hike from me. Maybe in about a month or so when I have enough cash if it's still there, I may go for it. I'm sure the speedo can be fixed. Hope the neon isn't a pain.....OR a drain on the electrical system. Probably looks cool at night in the snow.
Wonder how that paint on the bellypan will hold up? Gotta look stupid if the blue shows through when it scratches, or flexes and flakes or whatever.
Always thought there was TOO MUCH blue on the machines the last several years they were made, and was bummed when the SRX went TOO blue. Same with the SXRs. I like a black pan.
Any advantage to the Viper shocks?
 
my thoughts on the sxr vs the viper, is I liked the viper for one big reason over the redhead we have. gas and oil mileage. I know the vipers CAN have crank issues (hell, mine is in the garage with a dead crank at the moment) but without having to set anything, the gas and oil mileage was better. it runs smoother. the powervalves make for a nicer power curve, even if they are more maint. the gauge is easier to read, the headlights are better, the trunk is actually lighted ( a neat feature, I think) and they are a bit quieter. which is nice if you have a 200 mile day planned. overall, they are both great sleds, but I really liked the updates on the viper, and I found the motor to be a lot smoother overall. not that the redhead is bad, ride your buddies and you will see. either way, welcome aboard and have fun! oh, and think snow!
 
My boss just told me he is selling his 00 SxR 600(maybe 01?) $1500 but if you showed cash im sure low teens would take it. Originally My buddy bought it new. At 2000 miles we installed the bender trip pipe/clutch kit, reed spacers, 144 studs, bender transfer rods. The sled always ran good. My buddy sold it to my boss 2 or 3 years ago. Im guessing it has around 4500 miles now. It has bar risers, blue cobra windshield and snowflap. I also did up a 600 sxr last year with Hauck trips. Man did it have top end! It also out cornered all the other sleds I rode with. My Sxr with 6500 miles ran like a top! My favorite was outrunning my buds 800 doo on the long straits!
 
J_hubbs said:
My boss just told me he is selling his 00 SxR 600(maybe 01?) $1500 but if you showed cash im sure low teens would take it. Originally My buddy bought it new. At 2000 miles we installed the bender trip pipe/clutch kit, reed spacers, 144 studs, bender transfer rods. The sled always ran good. My buddy sold it to my boss 2 or 3 years ago. Im guessing it has around 4500 miles now. It has bar risers, blue cobra windshield and snowflap. I also did up a 600 sxr last year with Hauck trips. Man did it have top end! It also out cornered all the other sleds I rode with. My Sxr with 6500 miles ran like a top! My favorite was outrunning my buds 800 doo on the long straits!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the lead, but I'm kinda hung up on the twin headlight setup, and as few mods as possible.
Sounds like that little 600 may just get up and go.
I don't know how the 600 triples were but the 600 twins didn't have anywhere near enough guts for me.
You know.....I REALLY wish they would have made a lightweight, long travel SRX. I suspect that would have enough motor for me. They only go as fast as you tell them to, and nobody says that you have to use everything they've got, right? :-p
 
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