I took Wednesday off, and went riding in Grand Rapids Minnesota for the maiden voyage on the Vector. All I can say, IT'S ELECTRIC! I rode the new Yamahas last spring, and I forgot how cool they are. To describe todays sleds, I would use this analogy, 2-strokes=Nascar stock cars, 4 strokes=Formula 1 cars. No one should be disappointed with the performance of these sleds.
A few notes.
The anti-bottom stopper on the stiffest setting is NOT the answer! Unless, of course, all your going to do is jump. The stiffest setting produced alot of kick on 2 footers. When the torsion spring hits the stopper on the hard setting, it virtually stops the spring stroke and kicks. It does not let the suspension fully stroke. I am going to set it on the softest setting, which, if I remember correctly, is where the Yamaha demo sleds were set last spring, and they were great.
The front bottomed out on big rollers if you goosed it and wheelied over a steep, bigger hill. I turned the spring tighter about 2 full turns on the spring, but still need to stiffen further. I only have about 10-12 threads left. I hope that is enough!
If you are not going to stud the track, 4" carbide should be plenty on the Vector. It was good with the wimpy stock carbides. The weight transfer is great, and the track hooks hard! We were running on about 6-10 inches of groomed trail, and you could wheelie on demand! It was a blast! The sled feels incredibly light, and is probably the easiest to trail sled I have ever ridden. The power is right there, and you only need half throttle coming out of a corner and it pulls like a bigger cc 2 stroke at full throttle!
Fuel mileage was great! I was within the first 100 mile break in, keeping it around 6000rpm, going over in just spirts, which is around 55-60mph. This was perfect for the trials. I rode with an SXR700 and an MXZ800. We filled up together and rode 75 miles. We all topped of. The MXZ800 took 7.2 gallons, the SXR took 5.4 gallons, and the Vector took 4 gallons. The MXZ needed oil and took 2 quarts at $8.95 a quart!(He was likely low, and may have taken less, but it still adds up!) So he spent $12.50 on gas and $19.00 on oil totaling $31.50. The SXR spent $9.40 on gas and topped off his oil 1/2 quart totaling $11.90. I spent $7.00 on gas, and $.50 for a candy bar totaling $7.50
A few things to keep in mind. When you come up behind another rider on a 2-stroke, they can't hear you. Unless they see you, be carefull and let them know your there. The only way to do that is if you let them see you. They will NOT hear you!
Also, with the enging braking your buddies behind you may blow a corner! You can let off the throttle when you come into a corner and the engine slows you down. You do not have to brake! Your friends need to know this, or you could damage some trees in the woods, not to mention your friend and their sled! Because on a Vector, that is where they will be on the trails...behind you!!
Overall, this sled ROCKS. I keep singing this song in my head over and over and over....It's elecrtic...do ta do...
A few notes.
The anti-bottom stopper on the stiffest setting is NOT the answer! Unless, of course, all your going to do is jump. The stiffest setting produced alot of kick on 2 footers. When the torsion spring hits the stopper on the hard setting, it virtually stops the spring stroke and kicks. It does not let the suspension fully stroke. I am going to set it on the softest setting, which, if I remember correctly, is where the Yamaha demo sleds were set last spring, and they were great.
The front bottomed out on big rollers if you goosed it and wheelied over a steep, bigger hill. I turned the spring tighter about 2 full turns on the spring, but still need to stiffen further. I only have about 10-12 threads left. I hope that is enough!
If you are not going to stud the track, 4" carbide should be plenty on the Vector. It was good with the wimpy stock carbides. The weight transfer is great, and the track hooks hard! We were running on about 6-10 inches of groomed trail, and you could wheelie on demand! It was a blast! The sled feels incredibly light, and is probably the easiest to trail sled I have ever ridden. The power is right there, and you only need half throttle coming out of a corner and it pulls like a bigger cc 2 stroke at full throttle!
Fuel mileage was great! I was within the first 100 mile break in, keeping it around 6000rpm, going over in just spirts, which is around 55-60mph. This was perfect for the trials. I rode with an SXR700 and an MXZ800. We filled up together and rode 75 miles. We all topped of. The MXZ800 took 7.2 gallons, the SXR took 5.4 gallons, and the Vector took 4 gallons. The MXZ needed oil and took 2 quarts at $8.95 a quart!(He was likely low, and may have taken less, but it still adds up!) So he spent $12.50 on gas and $19.00 on oil totaling $31.50. The SXR spent $9.40 on gas and topped off his oil 1/2 quart totaling $11.90. I spent $7.00 on gas, and $.50 for a candy bar totaling $7.50
A few things to keep in mind. When you come up behind another rider on a 2-stroke, they can't hear you. Unless they see you, be carefull and let them know your there. The only way to do that is if you let them see you. They will NOT hear you!
Also, with the enging braking your buddies behind you may blow a corner! You can let off the throttle when you come into a corner and the engine slows you down. You do not have to brake! Your friends need to know this, or you could damage some trees in the woods, not to mention your friend and their sled! Because on a Vector, that is where they will be on the trails...behind you!!
Overall, this sled ROCKS. I keep singing this song in my head over and over and over....It's elecrtic...do ta do...
Vector1
Expert
The anti-bottom stopper on the softer setting isnt good because it will bottom to much. I ment to set it to the stiffest setting yesterday and I went the wrong way, so I am going out to the garage right now and fix my mistake.
MadMax
TY 4 Stroke Master
OK guys I'm getting mixed up... I set the stopper to the hard position... I think this gives you "MORE" travel before it bottoms?????????????Am I thinking backwards??? MM. :ORC
Maybe this will help
As you can see in the photo, in position (1), the stopper contacts the spring early, leaving a longer portion of the spring, resulting in more of the spring left to flex which would be soft, and some bottoming. As you move the stopper back, position (2), it contacts later, leaving a shorter portion of the spring to flex which would be somewhat stiff, and less bottoming. In position (3), the stopper contacts the spring late allowing a very short portion of the spring left to flex which would be stiff, for very little bottoming
As you can see in the photo, in position (1), the stopper contacts the spring early, leaving a longer portion of the spring, resulting in more of the spring left to flex which would be soft, and some bottoming. As you move the stopper back, position (2), it contacts later, leaving a shorter portion of the spring to flex which would be somewhat stiff, and less bottoming. In position (3), the stopper contacts the spring late allowing a very short portion of the spring left to flex which would be stiff, for very little bottoming
Attachments
MadMax
TY 4 Stroke Master
Thank "U" Now that's how I figured... I wanted less bottoming...MM.
Now that's how I figured... I wanted less bottoming...MM.
SledderSteve
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I've noticed that riders who have ridden 4-strokes for a couple seasons will flash their brake lights coming into corners or other braking situations to help people riding behind them. Good habit to acquire.drifter said:
timebomb
TY 4 Stroke Guru
i've started to tap the brake for my buddies when i ride moms' 05 rx1, at 1st my friends said it was tough to know what i was gonna do on turns cuz they never see brake lights unlike when i'm on my viper. so i started to get into a habit of tappin the brake.
Vector1
Expert
I dont notice the engine braking, my Vector seems to free wheel after getting off the gas. When I had my F7 and would let off the gas it was like hitting the brake and that was with a loose track.
