'16 Viper LTX LE tuner skis

[IAVECTORGT]

Hey guys! Traded my '12 Apex and ordered a '16 Viper LTX LE with the MPI turbo. Excited to say the least!! Couple questions, been searching this forum but found mixed answers to the tuner skis. Are the '16 tuners different from the '15s??? And what carbides are you all using??? I'm thinking about running 2 6" shaper bars on both skis. Going to be installing 144 1.450 studs down the middle. Thoughts on my possible ski set-up???? Don't really wanna replace the skis if I don't have to.

 

[Joe ltx-le]

Hey guys! Traded my '12 Apex and ordered a '16 Viper LTX LE with the MPI turbo. Excited to say the least!! Couple questions, been searching this forum but found mixed answers to the tuner skis. Are the '16 tuners different from the '15s??? And what carbides are you all using??? I'm thinking about running 2 6" shaper bars on both skis. Going to be installing 144 1.450 studs down the middle. Thoughts on my possible ski set-up???? Don't really wanna replace the skis if I don't have to.

Nice. I also traded my apex in for the 2016 viper-ltx-le with the mpi turbo. its gonna be sweet.

cant wait to try her out.

 

[SnoNinja]

Hey guys! Traded my '12 Apex and ordered a '16 Viper LTX LE with the MPI turbo. Excited to say the least!! Couple questions, been searching this forum but found mixed answers to the tuner skis. Are the '16 tuners different from the '15s??? And what carbides are you all using??? I'm thinking about running 2 6" shaper bars on both skis. Going to be installing 144 1.450 studs down the middle. Thoughts on my possible ski set-up???? Don't really wanna replace the skis if I don't have to.

Not sure if the 2016's get the deeper keel tuners, but the 15 tuners are okay for hardpack and tightly groomed trails with 6" shapers in and 6" wood'ys out. As long as there is something for the carbides to bite, the ski's are okay so I'd say it turns great as long as it doesn't get soft. Steering effort is a little much with the pair of agressive carbides on the hard stuff. I even find myself smoking the belt in reverse becasue fo the excess bite of teh shapers. I myself will be moving away from tuners next year because I don't like the unpredicability of the bite/push when conditions aren't perfect. The push and grab really gets old when you're trying to rail the twisties. During the Muni TY ride I fought the carbides grabbing and then blowing the snow out with the push, only to then grab and lift the inside ski. I for one want to be confident that when I enter a corner, the sled will either turn all the way through the corner, or have a managabel push in softer conditions. Either way, it needs to be predicatble from corner to corner and act the same every time. Tuners don't seem to be the ski of choice for the Viper's handling characteristics.

Everyone has been having good luck with Curves, and I know some also swear by Slydogs.

Just my thoughts.

 

[yamadoo]

I have tuners with 7.5 shapers inside and stock 4 outside on my Viper. I agree it pushes on loose but I would say not as unpredictable as some are ar saying. I felt I could see when loosewould not bight and expected the push. I have a Vector with curves and 6 inch carbides less push when loose BUT ALSO more hunt and dart on set up trails.

Skis come down to how you ride - if your a trail rider who wants a straight quiet tracking front end the tuners are great, if you are balls to the walls "I hope it's sticks" in all corners and don't mind some hunting and darting then deep center keel with big carbides is your ski. I have had both and the way I used to ride I wanted deep keel big carbide, now I want the Tuners.
Pick your style can't have both. I know they say you can have both but one style always is better at what it is designed for -dual keel tuners for trail & deep center keel for loose.

My 2 cents

 

[cannondale27]

I think most of the trouble with skis is actually the rear skid shocks. I would not waste a dime on skis till you get that right first.

 

[SnoNinja]

I think most of the trouble with skis is actually the rear skid shocks. I would not waste a dime on skis till you get that right first.

X2

The rear on the 15s needed help. But even with that, tuners aren't good unless you stick to groomed trails. They are manageable in most conditions, but not so good in loose. Best bet is to ride some with good carbides and then see if they suit you. Your riding style might just compliment the tuners. For me though, they are great as long as the trail is hard. As soon as the carbides can't find bottom, that's where they show their weakness in the form of push and unpredictability. Like Yamadoo says, it's a compromise.

 

[IAVECTORGT]

I don't ride balls to the walls. I really think this new Tuner 2 ski is going to be good for the Viper. Just trying to determine which carbide set-up would be the best for trail riding.

 

[yamadoo]

I have yet to look at the carbides but my plan if warn significantly is to place the old shapers on the outside and new ones on inside. If minimal wear the leave well enough alone.

 

[IAVECTORGT]

I have yet to look at the carbides but my plan if warn significantly is to place the old shapers on the outside and new ones on inside. If minimal wear the leave well enough alone.

I wonder how a 6" inside and a 4" outside would work out??

 

[SnoNinja]

I wonder how a 6" inside and a 4" outside would work out??

Based on having 6" shapers in a 6" round out on my sled, I'm not sure you need 6 both places. I considered shapers in an out, but thought I'd save a few dollars by putting Woodys out. Glad I did. Shapers are so aggressive on hardback that I don't think that you need them both places. For good trail turning 6" shapers in and 4 round out would probably be good. The shapers will do the bulk of the turning work while the outsides cut the other groove to prevent dart. Since your sled is new, You can start with the shapers on the inside and move the stock 4" to the outside before you ride it. That way you'll know if more is needed outside to suit your riding style. That was my plan, but the stockers on the 15s didn't last 150 miles and bars were half gone. 16s have a little better stock carbide on them.

 

[TD Max]

I bent a stocker running both stockers. I put 7.5" shapers on inside and moved the stockers out thinking that they were "good enough" to fill the slot. I bent another one. Shapers were just fine. I would put something real in the outer position. The OE bars are just there to get you across the parking lot to load and that is about it. Total garbage. I'd be embarrassed if they were my product.

 

[SnoNinja]

I bent a stocker running both stockers. I put 7.5" shapers on inside and moved the stockers out thinking that they were "good enough" to fill the slot. I bent another one. Shapers were just fine. I would put something real in the outer position. The OE bars are just there to get you across the parking lot to load and that is about it. Total garbage. I'd be embarrassed if they were my product.

I agree with Td's comments on the 15's, but Yamaha updated them for 16. A dealer showed me what they are putting on the 16's and the look to be much better quality. Hopefully they won't have carbides falling out in the showroom and that will last longer than those that we started with.

 

[yamadoo]

I must have gotten lucky as my 7.5 shapers in and stocker out worked out well, felt good last night did not remove and inspect but could feel all carbides in place and straight to touch.

I think I am going to leave them another year. So now I am thinking..........what to up grade...........Oh I feel a new post starting...How a bout the HY GEAR coupling. Oops will start a new thread. LOL