2015 MTX build, from mild to mildless?

[Clyder6R]

Well since Snowbound98 is doing it, I guess i should too! haha

So a little history, I am professional superbike racer in Canada. So naturally I can't leave anything alone, and this is something I do in my spare time.

My sled addiction all started on a 04 RX1 mtn, bought it completely stock and proceeded to mod the heck out of it to make it better for off trail...well as good as the old tank could be.

I was stubborn, I spent a lot of time on it but I loved the old sled! The sound, the speed etc It wasn't until my buddy Carson bought the left over 16 viper mtx...they had 2 left overs side by side and we almost left with both. Well I made the big mistake of riding it later that day...then I was hooked on a newer sled.

So we are driving home from that trip and I make the joke, about how good 2 vipers would look on the sled deck.

Well I ended up finding a 2015 MTX 153 with the McXress 190 kit already installed. So i jumped on it and bought it right away in Sept 2 years ago.

So I guess that is where it all ended for the RX1 and began for the Viper, who got named turbo betty.

Here's how it looked when I brought it home.

So to start it all off, i spent 2 months tearing it down and replacing worn out parts the previous owner had decided not to bother with. I had read all the stickys, the how to's, all of the threads on the do's/don'ts and what the weak links were. So i addressed them all before the 18/19 season.

So the 18/19 season came and went, I learned a whole lot. It definitely was no RX1. I rode Carson's 16 and my 15 back to back on many occasions. And I knew what had to be done for this season.

So in talking to a few of the guys on this forum, the Sr viper group on FB and Bill. I complied a list of things to work on.

16+ Front end
wider skis
160lb front skid spring
fox float rear skid shock
Clutch buttons
Turbo helix
XTX gearing 21/40
McXpewaa out of hood intake
header wrap turbo and header to reduce under hood temps
Skid bushings
Steering reinforcement kit
Re-route rollover over flow
Hygear chambers for the fox float 2's on the sled
moved the lower front skid shock mount 1" forward
Built my self a set of reinforcement plates for the front skid mounting holes as well.


I chose to do the mods to make the sled better, and improve the off trail manners. I know it is no alpha or summit or axys. But for what I do, where I go it works fine...and turbo!

So for the front end and skis. I have installed the cat 38" upgrade kit, with upper a arms, and spindles. When i finally pulled the trigger the 36" kit was out of stock. But i had been leaning to the 38 anyways, so my mind was made up for me.

(after testing on Carson's 16 we run his in the 38" ski position)

For a ski, I was on the fence big time. I have decided to go with the newest MTX ski from Yamaha.

I installed one of my 160lb elka springs off of my mini bike on the front skid shock. I know it's not bills but it should do the trick.

I found a used fox float 2 off of a FB Member for the rear skid.

I moved the front skid lower mounting point 1" further ahead to what is the cat newest position on their dual rail set up.

Put new secondary buttons in.

Installed a new Dalton 40/46 reverse helix

Going to service the chaincase and install the new gearing and chain

Got a hold of Don at McXpress and installed one of their out of hood intakes with a new pre filter

Still need to wrap the header and turbo when it is off the sled for the gearing swap

Replaced all the skid bushings and shock bushings.

Time for the upgraded steering kit i thought?

I re-routed the oil overflow out the bottom of the sled

Just waiting for the new year to pull the trigger on the hygear chambers. Our exchange suckkkkkkksss

Made the snow flap removable using some 1/4 turn fasteners i had left over from race body work.

The snow can't come soon enough! Can't wait to try all the changes out. IT may have been a bad idea to do it all at once but....screw it. I had time to do it now.

Any questions, comments, advice I am all ears...or eyes.

I'll add more photos as i complete tasks.

 

[zx4ever]

I like the removable snow flap idea. I wonder how the dzus fasteners will hold up ? You may want to have a 3” piece of tail flap to put on when you take it off so the holes do not get iced up. Good job so far.

 

[Deeppow16]

The front end alone will be a huge improvement.

 

[Clyder6R]

I'm worried i changed too much stuff at once, it should be a completely different sled. The Dzus fasteners held up great, but to be honest i usually do 85% of riding with the flap off. But i haven't ran into any issues with them freezing up yet, so far so good?

 

[Snowbound98]

Clyder6R- nice work. I’m tossing around the idea of moving my front spring lower mount as well. Glad you decided to make this build thread. Can’t wait to hear how you like the improvements.

 

[Norse]

Clyder6R- nice work. I’m tossing around the idea of moving my front spring lower mount as well. Glad you decided to make this build thread. Can’t wait to hear how you like the improvements.

Totally agree, I've been told it drastically improves weight transfer and I'm considering it myself.

 

[Clyder6R]

Well we had a crap season last year with super low snow, managed to get out a few times but never in any proper snow. only put on 500kms total last season, so hoping this season we can get more snow or i guess i will be driving to the good stuff.

 

[Norse]

Your pictures aren't showing anymore.
Season is looking good over here, 3ft of snow at sea level so far. For some reason my boost gauge shows +2psi from what I used to have. I did an oil change recently, everything done same way as every year. Discovered a lot of ice buildup on the primary sheave and brushed it off with scotch brite pad, also spontaneously grabbed my angle grinder and cut a hole in my side cover to let out exhaust heat (my vent kit had melted at one spot).

My Fox 3s are adjusted for what I like, but I feel the weight distribution is perfect when it comes to steering and weight shifting. I will not myself consider moving center shock 1" forward. Could be that I weigh 150-160lbs, or that my mcx270 kit is awesome. I also relocated the oil overflow to the bottom, but I noticed ice would build up at the end of the hose. Now my 2stroke buddies wonder why I kick the bottom right of my sled everytime before I start up. Totally worth it though!

Tips/questions:
I installed a skinz short snow flap and it works wonders! Doesn't get in the way, but still cools the sled really good.
Why would you need to change clutch buttons? Were they worn out? Any benefits?
I swapped to an Antigravity lithium battery, weighing ~2.8lbs but it has a hard time starting at -4°F. I recommend another brand if you're looking for lightweight mods!

Don't worry about doing all these mods at once, I know the result will be way better than stock!

 

[Clyder6R]

I usually run no snow flap anymore unless i am 2up with the kid on the trail. I have had to replace the clutch buttons twice now, once when i bought and again last year. I think it is the reverse helix maybe?

I have considered going to the 270 kit but i have also considered going to the dark side. My buddy bought a 21 freeride 146 last year and i rode it a few times....that was a bad idea haha

We got about 16 to 24" of snow yesterday but there was no base. So we need at least another dump before i dig her out.

 

[Clyder6R]

got out made it 5km before i wore through the brake line (my bad for not pushing it far enough out of the way) and these little pesky grounds coming loose and frigging up my day. They are now soldered and taped, not coming loose agin. Little guy was pissed haha