The key is not just weight its packaging. The Phazer had width right ten years ago. It's so much fun because it's so easy to hang off and ride it like a Dirtbike. Just look at Polaris and Doo. Phazer did it first. Viper feels huge when compared. Phazer is also very light. Sure wish they would develop off the Phazer platform and they surely should keep gear reduction. Who cares if others in racing call it cheating. Get the rules changed ,skip the racing or really floor them with a six speed and a clutch! Can you imagine the fun that would add!
blueironranger
TY 4 Stroke God
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- Feb 3, 2009
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- 2,002
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- 45
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- Iron Range MN
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- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2014 Viper XTX
2009 Phazer MTX
I agree on the dumb rules BUT it would allow anyone to rev to the Moon and back and gear it down to make even more torque, 2 strokes included. There is something sweet about seeing that skinny Phazer engine squeezed between the side plates and the chassis pretty much running a straight line front to back. I like the Viper, and it feels a lot closer to a Phazer than the Nytro did to me. I'm on the edge about running the Phazer another year or two to see what comes next or grabbing a leftover STX-DX/XTX or spring ordering a Viper BTX LE
The balance of the Viper is about perfect as is the Phazer front to back. But Viper is way too wide compared to a Phazer. I have grown used to it as long as I dont ride anything else. My Daughter refuses to ride the Viper because of the percieved size. She is way faster on the Phazer. Probably alot has to do with riders size. We are both small.
ATV PRO #11
Lifetime Member
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- Jan 22, 2011
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- Garson, MB, CANADA
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- Snowmobile
- 2014 Yamaha Phazer XTX
I'd have to agree with viper being very close to the phazer. I don't own one but been fortunate enough to put some miles on a MTX and ltx. If I was to compair the two vipers to the phazer, the 16 MTX once I got my mojo on it was extremely similar to the phazer. It needed just as much rider input. It entered corners really well with stock carbides but tended to push once using happy stick to power through and exit strong. With more aggressive bite, say 6" carbides, IMHO it would be able to corner as strong as our lil phazers. Perhaps the xtx viper would have been a perfect fit I dunno.
They only thing that really took getting used to is the knee area of the cowling. My knee I use to plant against the tank on the phazer and my body to set the tone for my aggressive cornering. With the viper my knee would continually slip to the outside edge of the fairing. Blitzing a corner with heavy whoops on the exit is or can be a huge problem waiting to happen. If I was taller or longer legs I'd be able to utilize toe hooks abit better. Usually my feet are 2-4" back from the hook. Gives me the ability to pull forward to compensate for a quick trail adjustment. Being a smaller guy I have to have the ability to use my legs to squeeze the machine. Interestingly enough riding styles of my race quad and my phazer are nearly identical. I've done measurements from bar to foot, front spindle to bar ect ect and it's super close ergonomically to my YFZ450. That may be the other reason my feet just naturally stay back from hooks.
If I was to say it out loud, the 16 MTX viper is super super close to being a phazer with the extra power we all crave.
They only thing that really took getting used to is the knee area of the cowling. My knee I use to plant against the tank on the phazer and my body to set the tone for my aggressive cornering. With the viper my knee would continually slip to the outside edge of the fairing. Blitzing a corner with heavy whoops on the exit is or can be a huge problem waiting to happen. If I was taller or longer legs I'd be able to utilize toe hooks abit better. Usually my feet are 2-4" back from the hook. Gives me the ability to pull forward to compensate for a quick trail adjustment. Being a smaller guy I have to have the ability to use my legs to squeeze the machine. Interestingly enough riding styles of my race quad and my phazer are nearly identical. I've done measurements from bar to foot, front spindle to bar ect ect and it's super close ergonomically to my YFZ450. That may be the other reason my feet just naturally stay back from hooks.
If I was to say it out loud, the 16 MTX viper is super super close to being a phazer with the extra power we all crave.
