Do you miss the power?

[Studroes144]

For every 9 out of 10 people that I talk to about my viper the very first question they ask me is do you miss the power coming off of the apex? It is getting to be almost humorous to how many people ask me that question. They just see that 135hp number and think cuz it's a 4 stroke that it's a heavy turd. My response to everyone is "I like the power even more" I just had a base mode apex that was all stock except for clutching. Awesome sled (for it's time frame) give it a fist full of throttle and it would dig down and go. But personally I am just in love with the instant throttle response of my viper. The apex I felt was a good responsive sled but nothing like the viper. Yes I am comparing to a first generation apex..the only time I drove a new eps apex was a 10 mile demo ride when they first came out but the fact of paying $15k for the apex with power steering I never once even let cross my mind so I never even had the desire to have more seat time on one. From everyone I've talked to (even my dealer) they say that stock vs stock the viper just seems to outperform the apex in every aspect of trail riding. Yes I did say trail riding not drag racing. I know we all would love some footage of a viper vs apex race. Anyone else hearing the same questions I am? For everyone that asks me that question I'd love to hand them the key to my viper to try it out and see what they think but I feel if never see the sled again lol all in all, to anyone considering a viper that is coming from the first or second generation apex, don't let the HP game play tricks on your mind. I still love the apex sled, never gonna be the sound of that big 4 cylinder! But for $3000 less and around 80 pounds lighter, anyone considering a viper..go for it, you won't regret it!

 

[DigitalFusion]

when i talk to people and tell them im selling the apex to get a viper, this is the first thing they ask me.

Edit: I cant type worth a damn on my cracked screen on my phone.

 

[Studroes144]

when i talk go people and tell them im selling the apex to get a viper, this is the first thing they ask me.

That question will keep on coming believe me. I've easily been asked this question 30 times between when I ordered the sled in the spring and now

 

[tator]

YES i came off of a slightly tuned apex 175hp and i really miss the power after 70 mph. hit the throttle and hold on. but with that said i have only 250 miles on the viper 220 of that yesterday. and i must say that i am more and more impressed with the low end torque. it is a great handling sled with great corner to corner power. my only problem is I BOUGHT A YAMAHA TO OWN A YAMAHA. and reading here all of the same problem that cat has gets me pissed. why did i spend 13k to have a non turboed cat. if i didnt care about breakdowns i would have bought a 1100t and had a turbo. but so far no trouble for me. i love yamaha but expected more quality, fit, and finish over the cat version. all in all am i happy? yes.

 

[Studroes144]

Sure would have been sweet to have a factory boosted viper..but at the same time I would have never bought one cuz for that sled to happen, yamaha would be selling them for 15-16,000. That sled would no doubt be fastest production sled to date..but I don't feel they would sell that many of them in comparison to our standard production vipers just because of the high price. Rather than paying $5000+ and get 180-190 hp I'd rather spend a couple thousand in bolt ons and tuning and have the ultimate trail machine that can get out there and compete with most any sled in a drag race too.

 

[Yamadog]

Well I disagree I think that Yamaha is missing out. There were more than 3 boosted Vipers at the TY ride this weekend and if we had a factory option that did not void our warranty I would have gone that way. And one installed at the factory would be a lot cheaper cause of the parts they would not put in and then we take off to fit the kit.

 

[Studroes144]

Oh I agree a factory boosted viper would be awesome..but you would never see one for under $15000. For the people that installed a turbo on their viper it would be a great option. Myself along with many others would never pay that additional cost.

 

[Gman900]

Yamaha should of offered it as a option like the cat 1100na or you could get same motor with a turbo, I think if yamaha did that they couldn't keep them in stock.

 

[tator]

a factory boosted viper with a factory warranty would be great and probably out sell the na one. it would be the same as, would i buy a vector or and apex. basicly the same sled but with more power. as far as i have seen arround here apexes out number vectors 3 to 1. i would only conclude that the a boosted viper would be the same. i myself would have paid 15 for a boosted viper whats 2500 more for what you want when we already spend 13

 

[Studroes144]

Me personally wouldn't spend $15000+ for a boosted viper..but at the same time I didn't pay 13k for mine either so it would be more like $4000 more than what I paid

 

[wacker]

well a turbo viper beats a 800 etec so bad that it's absolutely priceless. the turbo was probably the best money spent

 

[journeyman]

I really have a feeling a boosted Viper could be the future (along with a boosted Cat version). As for the Cat, we know the Suzuki venture is coming to an end after this season so they will want a replacement for that turbo 4 stroke. Plus the Apex (though it's a great machine) is getting dated and the new Viper/Cat chassis rides much better. So a higher HP Viper only makes sense.

I have heard this much. At Pat's open house a week ago in the UP they had the Push Turbo owner there in the back shop with a couple Vipers with his Turbos installed for testing. Also a couple of Japanese Brass from Yamaha were there too seeing how they ran and how the people's enthusiasm for them was. Something is cooking.

 

[Studroes144]

well a turbo viper beats a 800 etec so bad that it's absolutely priceless. the turbo was probably the best money spent

Check out the old forge Shootout numbers. The viper was only .3 seconds slower than the 800 skidoo etec. Sure the mph was slower but basically goes to show the low end power of the viper. A viper with $1000 in aftermarkets will beat a stock 800etec and be a much more reliable and fun machine to ride. In the whole realm of going fast, turbo sleds are and will always be king. I'm sure in the next few years yamaha will have a production turbo sled and many will be sold but it's not a good comparison to use the 1100turbo and non turbo sleds for a comparison because the non turbo 1100 was a complete turd and the stock 1100turbo really wasn't anything impressive. I along with many others that have actual seat time on their vipers would still much rather have the viper than 1100turbo. I personally think that the future of snowmobiling is t going to be boosted sleds. I wouldn't be surprised if in the next few years you see yamaha developing a sled with a totally new drivetrain system other than the clutch and belt systems that are used. At this point in snowmobiling all manufacturers are making top notch chassis and the engines produced are awesome..the clutch and belt systems are now the weakest link on modern day snowmobiles and there are way to many factors to making the sleds perform well just from clutching. Just my opinion but I feel the future of snowmobiling is headed in a totally different direction than what everyone is thinking which is high hp sleds. Get a sled with a direct drive drivetrain and it will dominate and turbo sled out there. I have no idea how it will be done but I'll guarantee that there are people out there working on this and trying to make it work..whoever gets it first will be paving the way for the next 30 years of advancement in snowmobile technology.

 

[FAMILYMAN]

Don't miss it. The low end torque is great. Chassis soaks up big jumps. More it breaks in the better it will be.

 

[new rob]

But the sound of the apex is so sweet !!!