tapeworm49
New member
After riding my 99 vmax 500sx for a season or two i have been pondering with the idea of upgrading. I have a chance to buy a 2002 viper all stock with roughly 4200 miles on it and the price is right. The sled is pretty clean and appears to have been well taken care of. I'm not an aggresive rider by any means nor do i do any lake riding. Just want some opinions as to if i should just keep my current sled which has served me well or buy the viper? Also what are the common problems what should i look for when im looking at the viper for the second time?
Viper_Dave
Super Moderator
Better fuel mileage, better ride once revalved, and WAY more power. No brainer!!
tapeworm49
New member
Ok lol my brother has a 99 srx 600 and that thing is a blast to ride. Just another quick question his 600 has no engine braking thing can roll forever are the vipers the same way?
fourbarrel
VIP Lifetime Member
Any 2 stroke should have this feature,if you can call it that.It has to do with the design of the engine itself.
Sxr700Bandit
Triple Piped 700 Triple
There is maintenance that comes with a VIPER. The power valves need to be cleaned/adjusted every few thousand miles, that's really the only special maintenance that this sled would differ from your current sled. Plus the viper has more suspension travel than your current sled.
I had an SRX but keep aiming to get a VIPER when my finances come around...
I had an SRX but keep aiming to get a VIPER when my finances come around...
tapeworm49
New member
From the research ive been doing these sleds appear to have a common over heating issue is this true? my group rides 40-50mph most of the time due to quite a few young riders. is it something to worry about? anyway to double check on the sled to see if this has occured numerous times already? thanx for all the advice thats y i come to this sight everyone is very helpful here and i appreciate it.
Viper_Dave
Super Moderator
Yes, they do overheat. Mine did it the 1st time 30 miles from the dealership the 1 st time I rode it. Simplest cure is a SRX/Viper rear heat exchanger. I installed one when I stretched mine to 136. I also added 136 running board coolers and it never overheated again. Don't let this issue scare you off though. It's readily fixed and isn't a deal breaker IMHO.
tapeworm49
New member
K going to do some digging around on here to see what all needs to be done for that upgrade because i dont want to risk harming the engine. the owner told me he has only had it overheat on him one time and they r the 2nd owners. Im suppose to be picking the sled up this evening but want to make sure that i have the funds left to do the rear exchanger upgrade. (grrr living on a budget stuff lol). thanx again for all the helpful advice.
staggs65
Moderator
If you do a lot of 40-50 mph cruising you are definitely going to want to raise the needle from stock if it hasn't been done already. Find out anything has been done to it already. A lot of people would still consider things like raising the needles, the rear heat exchanger and an opticool gasket still "stock" because they aren't necessarily performance mods. with any luck some of this may have been done already.
tapeworm49
New member
I will quiz the guy when i go back over today. I highly doubt this guy has personally done anything to it he told me both times that ive looked at it that it goes back to the dealer for everything but hey u dont know unless u ask which is exactly what im going to do.