2020 viper ltx gt reviews

[Bostonwhaler]

Interested in any perspectives you may have on this sled as we approach the end of the season. In addition to our 2 Yamahas, we have 2 doos that i want to sell and consolidate the fleet , thinking about a Viper LTX GT or a 600R Etec Renegade. We all prefer Yamahas in the family but pricing on Renegade is hard to ignore......help steer me to the Viper....thanks.

 

[pdiddy]

The 2020's were available last March and I posted a similar question on a similar thread at the time which never received any owner reports. I can't imagine anyone who reads this forum daily for the last 10 years had the kahunas to risk a purchase of one. From what I can tell there's only two regular posters who have one and one was out of commission for most of the season due to health issues and the other recently mentioned a hot start issue. 'Nough said. Yeah, there's '14-'19 owners out there that love their Vipers but I was really hoping the 2020's were going to be the first year all issues were left behind out of the crate. So far, can't get any convincing evidence of it.

 

[Bostonwhaler]

Thanks, appreciate your response. Its hard to find info/reviews on this sled., I think it would be a perfect sled for my wife and youngest son. We love the sweet sounds of the powerplant (basically same one as our nytro) . Would prefer a Yamaha, great dealer (Mountain Trout House) in my neighborhood and just always have so much luck with Yamahas.....hopefully someone will give one or two reason to believe ( or convincing evidence )

 

[Carbide]

I saw one at a bar in Manistique MI. A woman was riding it. I didn't get to speak to her though.
I know the group she rides with and that group rides a lot. They belong to this forum. They were part of the giveaway weekend ride.

 

[cannondale27]

I believe this should be enough to sway you.

 

[WillowAce]

The 2020's were available last March and I posted a similar question on a similar thread at the time which never received any owner reports. I can't imagine anyone who reads this forum daily for the last 10 years had the kahunas to risk a purchase of one. From what I can tell there's only two regular posters who have one and one was out of commission for most of the season due to health issues and the other recently mentioned a hot start issue. 'Nough said. Yeah, there's '14-'19 owners out there that love their Vipers but I was really hoping the 2020's were going to be the first year all issues were left behind out of the crate. So far, can't get any convincing evidence of it.

I'm not sure that this helps answer the original question in anyway.

 

[WillowAce]

Not a GT, but a 2020 SE. Just under 2000 miles on it and not a problem to speak of. It starts when cold and hot and anywhere in between. The front end is marginally better and marginally worse. It does stay flatter in the corners, but when pushed too far the inside ski comes up fast, scary fast. Not sure of the difference in the rear end between the GT and SE, but the SE rear stinks. Elka Stage 4 all around and it rides as good as anything out there. Top speed on ice so far was 97 GPS bone stock. At trail speeds it is still the best 600 class sled on the market. The power band is exactly where a trail performance sled is supposed to be, engine braking is perfect, while "faster" sleds are constantly on the brakes in the twisty stuff I'm constantly rolling on throttle and pulling away.

I was riding with a friend who has a 2020 Renegade 600 a few weeks ago and swapped rides a few times. Renegade is a nice sled. If I was spending my days playing in ditches I would choose the gade over the viper. For trail riding and putting miles on the gade can't touch the Viper.

 

[blueironranger]

Not a GT, but a 2020 SE. Just under 2000 miles on it and not a problem to speak of. It starts when cold and hot and anywhere in between. The front end is marginally better and marginally worse. It does stay flatter in the corners, but when pushed too far the inside ski comes up fast, scary fast. Not sure of the difference in the rear end between the GT and SE, but the SE rear stinks. Elka Stage 4 all around and it rides as good as anything out there. Top speed on ice so far was 97 GPS bone stock. At trail speeds it is still the best 600 class sled on the market. The power band is exactly where a trail performance sled is supposed to be, engine braking is perfect, while "faster" sleds are constantly on the brakes in the twisty stuff I'm constantly rolling on throttle and pulling away.

I was riding with a friend who has a 2020 Renegade 600 a few weeks ago and swapped rides a few times. Renegade is a nice sled. If I was spending my days playing in ditches I would choose the gade over the viper. For trail riding and putting miles on the gade can't touch the Viper.

I think that about sums it it, Doo G4 really improve Doo handling but I still find my Viper a better trail sled (once I rid myself of the horrible float shocks). In the ditches/powder you notice the Vipers weight, though I'd choose a Poo Assault 600 over the Renegade.

 

[craiger68]

Interested in any perspectives you may have on this sled as we approach the end of the season. In addition to our 2 Yamahas, we have 2 doos that i want to sell and consolidate the fleet , thinking about a Viper LTX GT or a 600R Etec Renegade. We all prefer Yamahas in the family but pricing on Renegade is hard to ignore......help steer me to the Viper....thanks.

We picked up my wife's 2020 Viper LTX GT from Port Yamaha in September. Mr Sled installed the GSE electric power steering kit soon after, but were not able to put on any miles until the third week of January 2020 due to some health issues.

Since then she put on about 1200 trouble free miles. No hot start issues, no issues of any kind. She enjoys the ride and handling of this Viper over her previous sled, a 2010 Vector.
I did have to train her to keep the starter engaged until the engine is running... early on she would try 3 or 4 times to get it to start before it would go, because she would let off too soon.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any specific questions about the sled.
Craig

 

[Bostonwhaler]

Thanks craiger68, very helpful. Has your wife mentioned anything about the "inside ski lift" WillowAce mentions above?

 

[Harvest1121]

I have had 2 Vipers a 2015 le and a 2017 le they have never left me stranded in 25,000 I have ridden them. Will be riding my 2017 with 11k on it still has almost 3 years of warranty just some maintenance and very dependable

 

[Farmer 73]

We picked up my wife's 2020 Viper LTX GT from Port Yamaha in September. Mr Sled installed the GSE electric power steering kit soon after, but were not able to put on any miles until the third week of January 2020 due to some health issues.

Since then she put on about 1200 trouble free miles. No hot start issues, no issues of any kind. She enjoys the ride and handling of this Viper over her previous sled, a 2010 Vector.
I did have to train her to keep the starter engaged until the engine is running... early on she would try 3 or 4 times to get it to start before it would go, because she would let off too soon.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any specific questions about the sled.
Craig

Craig,
Do you think the power steering is what she is liking even more, or is it the chassie with the power steering? My wife has a 2012 Vector and loves the power steering! Just wondering if we upgraded to a Viper would I have to add the power steering like you did?

Farmer

 

[craiger68]

Thanks craiger68, very helpful. Has your wife mentioned anything about the "inside ski lift" WillowAce mentions above?

I am sure the suspension set up and daily changes in snow conditions can cause lots of different experiences with any sled, but here is our experience:

My Donna's Viper GT and my SRX have essentially the same setup and suspensions (adjusted for her weight of course). Her 3-click Fox QS3's are essentially the same as my IQS shocks without the electronic magic. I always set them up identically for whatever conditions we are encountering at the time.

When following her, I see no excessive inside ski lift and I do not experience it on my SRX either (both are 2020's with the 'new' front end)
Both are equipped with C&A Razors with 6" double down carbides. Hers has a 1.25 Ripsaw 2 with Igrip screw-in studs installed, mine has a 1.25 Ice Attack track. (virtually the same track)

For my identically set up SRX: When riding aggressively with the guys, I have not experienced any inside ski lift, even at warp speed on whooped out corners. I will say it handles slightly better than my 2017 'Winder LTX LE (sold it with 10,878 miles.)

Again, snow conditions and setups vary, but this has been our experience with the 2020's.

Craig

 

[craiger68]

Craig,
Do you think the power steering is what she is liking even more, or is it the chassie with the power steering? My wife has a 2012 Vector and loves the power steering! Just wondering if we upgraded to a Viper would I have to add the power steering like you did?

Farmer

I'm not sure if she likes the power steering, or if she likes the idea that she has power steering. I can only take her word for it that it is the power steering, because she rode my sidewinder several times over the last 3 seasons, and did not like the effort it took her to turn, even though I set it up for light steering effort. I should mention that her 2010 Vector had power steering too, courtesy of Mr. Sled, installed during one of our sled league nights in 2016.

When I ride her sled, I only notice the difference in steering effort slightly, but I am 100 lbs heavier than her, and my upper body strength is much greater. I feel that this chassis steers very easy as compared to my 2007 Attack or any of the Vectors we have owned. Not that those were beasts by any means.

Don't forget the BOP mechanical power steering as an option! I have not tried it, but the reviews are very positive on T.Y.

Craig

 

[Farmer 73]

I'm not sure if she likes the power steering, or if she likes the idea that she has power steering. I can only take her word for it that it is the power steering, because she rode my sidewinder several times over the last 3 seasons, and did not like the effort it took her to turn, even though I set it up for light steering effort. I should mention that her 2010 Vector had power steering too, courtesy of Mr. Sled, installed during one of our sled league nights in 2016.

When I ride her sled, I only notice the difference in steering effort slightly, but I am 100 lbs heavier than her, and my upper body strength is much greater. I feel that this chassis steers very easy as compared to my 2007 Attack or any of the Vectors we have owned. Not that those were beasts by any means.

Don't forget the BOP mechanical power steering as an option! I have not tried it, but the reviews are very positive on T.Y.

Craig

Thanks for the response Craig. I have Travis's MPS on my Nytro and like it a lot!