430 mile power was noticeable

[FAMILYMAN]

This might be a duplicate, but I was somewhere between 420-440 mile when I came out of a corner and it set be back on the seat when I pinned it. It was not that it hooked up differently, but more power.

Very impressed. Those that have not made that mileage, be patient. It is starting to compare to the apex I have know for many years.

 

[STENOD]

I noticed the difference around 500 miles. went from low 80s to mid 90's.

 

[larrypolaris]

Just turned 600 miles on mine. Finally feels like the power is coming around.

Ten more HP could really bring this sled around.

That Excell header system looks sweet. Can't wait to see the dyno numbers.

Could be the ticket if it pulls around 10 more HP.

 

[snomadTT]

I have 1000 miles on my LTX SE. I hopped off of it and rode my 2006 Apex RTX (with 13,000 miles on it) yesterday. If I had to give one of the sleds up I am not sure which would go.

My Viper is very snappy at moderate trail speeds. I find it to be a pooch from 60 up and in loose snow conditions. I have seen triple digits on the speedo one time and that was on an ice road with nearly no snow. When in any loose snow the top end is GONE. I am surprised and disappointed by the lack of upper end power in this machine. I love the Viper rider position and have pretty well dialed in the suspension to my liking. It is, however, much stiffer riding than the Apex and I have the rear skid set full soft on the Viper.

 

[Studroes144]

I noticed the sled gained a decent amount of power in the 50-100 mile range and then again around the 500 mile range like stated above. Once fully broke in these sleds are going to be close to the same hp as the first generation apex..that is actual apex hp..not the 150 manufacturer claimed hp. The thing to remember when comparing this sled to the apex is that even tho engine displacement is more that doesn't mean it will be faster. The apex has the longer legs because of the 4 cylinder engine. The viper has more low end grunt even with less hp than the apex because of the bigger displacement and 1 less cylinder.

 

[TestMaster]

I have 1000 miles on my LTX SE. I hopped off of it and rode my 2006 Apex RTX (with 13,000 miles on it) yesterday. If I had to give one of the sleds up I am not sure which would go.

My Viper is very snappy at moderate trail speeds. I find it to be a pooch from 60 up and in loose snow conditions. I have seen triple digits on the speedo one time and that was on an ice road with nearly no snow. When in any loose snow the top end is GONE. I am surprised and disappointed by the lack of upper end power in this machine. I love the Viper rider position and have pretty well dialed in the suspension to my liking. It is, however, much stiffer riding than the Apex and I have the rear skid set full soft on the Viper.

Many SE owners are improving rear suspension compliance by loosening the front spring to about the middle of the adjustment range, I believe their coming set about 3/4 of the way up the threaded adjustment area.

I have the base model Viper and road a friends 2014 AC Sno Pro 1100 Turbo yesterday. I'm not sure he wanted to give me mine back because of the difference in ride quality. I made the same recommendation to him and also told him to try 5 fewer pounds in his front suspension 70 vs 75 after his initial adjustment of the front rear suspension spring. He also has his rear spring at the softest setting.

He was headed home after our ride so I'll have to wait for next week to find out the results when he comes back up.

 

[Murse]

I would love to see more people doing 110 MPH with their stock Vipers to be honest. I can't have interest In a sled that won't do that on a every ride basis. Clearly this is not the sled nor the time for me to buy new but I will keep watching closely.

 

[Studroes144]

I would love to see more people doing 110 MPH with their stock Vipers to be honest. I can't have interest In a sled that won't do that on a every ride basis. Clearly this is not the sled nor the time for me to buy new but I will keep watching closely.

My 06 apex had 192 studs with a clutch kit so would have been every bit comparable to yours and my viper with 160 studs and a clutch kit is every bit of a machine as my apex was. I can ride the viper much faster on a trail then I ever could the apex and the viper will out launch the apex in a drag race every time. I loved the apex and the long legs it had but the only time I feel the apex would have any advantage over the viper is flat wide open trails and cursing at 70mph then nailing it. If that's all you do then apex by all means is the best. Those trails do not exist where I ride. It's most always woods riding with some field and is super rough 90% of the time so the viper was a no brainer for me. And when I pull up the a line to drag race someone I'd much rather be on my viper as it launches perfect every time and general I am never running more than 1000 feet and my viper I know is faster than my apex was in 1000 feet. Needless to say I love everything about the viper.

 

[Murse]

There is a demo ride here in March I am going to try one. The trail around here get pretty beat up too but tend to ride 50% twisted trails and 50% long open trails where legs count for fun factor. Plus we ride Quebec trails a lot and same there some spots I can already imagine missing the top end power. But like I said I will try it in March and see. I have 17500 Km's on my Apex now....she is getting up there.

 

[Studroes144]

There is a demo ride here in March I am going to try one. The trail around here get pretty beat up too but tend to ride 50% twisted trails and 50% long open trails where legs count for fun factor. Plus we ride Quebec trails a lot and same there some spots I can already imagine missing the top end power. But like I said I will try it in March and see. I have 17500 Km's on my Apex now....she is getting up there.

I'd say your apex is finally broke in lol in the twisty trails if the sled is setup properly the viper will greatly surpass the apex. As for wide open trails, the apex will certainly have more top speed, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it will kill the viper. Corner to corner trail riding with equal riders and the viper will walk away from an apex. And even riding wide open trails I don't really see holding the sleds wide open at 110 mph all day. I think you'll be impressed with the viper. It certainly is no slug and they only keep getting faster with more break in time

 

[Murse]

17500 broke in for sure she just seems to like being ridden hard. Its the track that is making me nervous will cost 1000$ most likely more money than that next season. My sled is in the best hands it is stored at my dads who lives on the snowmobile trail and has lots of room he is a well experienced mechanic and loves to tinker on the Apex seems to know it by heart now. So preventative maintenance and servicing costs me parts only. the big stuff is where I need to take it to a dealer and I am thinking 1000+ maybe I should sell now before I get more mileage or just keep pilling the mileage on and save cash for the next big Yamaha sled. Time will tell. The Viper is of interest but there is a huge ? on my face with a lot of questions rather than answers.

 

[Studroes144]

I hear what your saying about the questions and answers. I'm sure there are a lot of unknown things with the vipers that are causing concern. As for myself I have just shy of 700 miles without 1 issue or 1 complaint..sure there is things that could be improved in the "fit and finish" area but everything I've either seen or heard about in my opinion is not a functional issue. The sled performs top notch and lacks nowhere. It may not be the fit and finish quality inside and out of what the apex is but it's also not a $15000 sled either. Not that that is an excuse for the viper but certainly something to think about. The engine and clutching on the viper is a proven setup and the chassis performs awesome. If lack of speed is a concern just hook up with one of the turbo companies and for what you have invested in a turbo viper you'll only be about $1000 more than a new apex and speed will definitely not be an issue and you'll have the awesome handling of the procross chassis

 

[Yamadog]

I would love to see more people doing 110 MPH with their stock Vipers to be honest. I can't have interest In a sled that won't do that on a every ride basis. Clearly this is not the sled nor the time for me to buy new but I will keep watching closely.

Well if you keep the bikini windshield you won't want it to go any faster!!!! the wind is pushing you off the back and your helmet is streached hard against the chin strap. There is plenty of power to install longer gears with a bit of clutching 110 is not out of the question on the RTX or LTX. I can tell you I have gps'd several stock nytros when the dream meter said 110 they were barely at 100. These speedos are almost dead on it is true speed not dreamometers. My 06 apex xtx said 124 and gps was under 110 so for a 20 hp less sled 105 to 107 is not bad.

My XTX with 190 turbo at 6lbs of boost and overdrive sheaves is 107 top speed, but is ballistic from 0 to 100.

 

[cannondale27]

I have 1000 miles on my LTX SE. I hopped off of it and rode my 2006 Apex RTX (with 13,000 miles on it) yesterday. If I had to give one of the sleds up I am not sure which would go.

My Viper is very snappy at moderate trail speeds. I find it to be a pooch from 60 up and in loose snow conditions. I have seen triple digits on the speedo one time and that was on an ice road with nearly no snow. When in any loose snow the top end is GONE. I am surprised and disappointed by the lack of upper end power in this machine. I love the Viper rider position and have pretty well dialed in the suspension to my liking. It is, however, much stiffer riding than the Apex and I have the rear skid set full soft on the Viper.

This is EXACTLY my finding also. Really surprised me how sensitive this sled is to conditions. To this day I have not been on perfect conditions and have never hit 100mph. Stock clutching is very close and we are going to be splitting hairs like the old 2 st days to gain any mph. Over clutch it and in powder it will be a turd.

 

[larrypolaris]

I have 1000 miles on my LTX SE. I hopped off of it and rode my 2006 Apex RTX (with 13,000 miles on it) yesterday. If I had to give one of the sleds up I am not sure which would go.

My Viper is very snappy at moderate trail speeds. I find it to be a pooch from 60 up and in loose snow conditions. I have seen triple digits on the speedo one time and that was on an ice road with nearly no snow. When in any loose snow the top end is GONE. I am surprised and disappointed by the lack of upper end power in this machine. I love the Viper rider position and have pretty well dialed in the suspension to my liking. It is, however, much stiffer riding than the Apex and I have the rear skid set full soft on the Viper.

This is EXACTLY my finding also. Really surprised me how sensitive this sled is to conditions. To this day I have not been on perfect conditions and have never hit 100mph. Stock clutching is very close and we are going to be splitting hairs like the old 2 st days to gain any mph. Over clutch it and in powder it will be a turd.

Same here. Seems like in loose or soft snow conditions, it effects top end on these Vipers.
I loosend my track some, seeing if it would help. Really no change.

Installed my Hauck clutch kit I had on my Nytro. The kit bolted right in. My Nytro had an excell header and skinz muffler. If I remember correctly I spun the motor in the 9000 rpm range.

The clutch kit in Viper spins 8700-8900 rpms. Works pretty good. Bottom end and mid-range pulls hard. Top end is better but sill not what would like to see though.