Few questions on VL

[MNicefisher]

I found a good deal on a 07 VL I went to test drive it a month ago and it didn't run right so i didnt buy it. I just found out it was the tps and after $300 its been fixed. I didn't test drive it much because it wasn't running right at low speed so I didn't get a good feel for it and actually left thinking I would never look at another VL or even a phazer because of the way it handled. I think a lot of it had to do with it not running well and being nervous of getting it stuck because of it.

I have done quite a bit of reading and to me the VL seems to have more problems then any other sled I've researched. I don't know what draws me to this sled other then I like the way it looks, I like to be different and its set up for ice fishing with the longer track and rear rack.

I was told it just had all the updates done free from yamaha at the dealer when it was in getting the gas tank drained and new plugs installed and oil changed for not running right early this winter. But other then that I don't think it's had any mantaince done at all. It has 2500 miles would all the shocks need to be replaced or rebuilt? How about the hand warmer issue?I never did test them can I get aftermarket replacements and just go to the battery? How long does the motor take to warm up after they have been sitting for a few hours? Can I start it take off right pretty much right away if its been run an hour or two before. When we decide to try a different spot fishing I hardly have time to put my gear away before the rest of the group (2 strokes) is taking off down the lake. I could always start it before I start to pack up but that might only leave 2 to 3 min to warm up and it could be as cold as -10 out.

The sled is about 130 miles one way from me so I would like to get a better idea if its going to work for me before going and looking at it again.
Thanks

 

[Mooseman]

What are we talking about as a "good deal"? 2500 miles is still pretty low for these sleds. Mine just turned 8100 Km (5000 miles) and BombaPolaYama's has 14 000Km (8700 miles). Sure they've had issues and they need to be dialed in but what sled doesn't? Motors are bulletproof, fuel consumption is good. They can be upgraded to improve things like skis and such for better floatation and handling.

Just like any used vehicle, it's buyer beware as the seller will say anything to make the sale. Things to check for: sloppy steering, cracked or broken skid suspension arms, Bent or broken front suspension shaft with the wheels, slides worn through especially at the front bend. Most, if not all, of these issues can be addressed using info from here.

The shocks on the VL aren't rebuildable but I have not heard of anything going wrong with them (my MP's shock broke because my straps were stretched and my skid was FUBR). I don't have any issues with the hand warmers except they do take a while to get warm due to the way they work. Foaming the bars helps a bit with that. Warmup is not long at all. Usually just a a minute or two and the low temp light goes out which you can ride it. Ask if it had the cold weather update because at -10f (-23C) it might be hard to start without it. It was one of those things that wasn't done unless you complained about it and you can't get it for free anymore. Easy way to know if it was done is when you start it cold in any temperature, if it starts within 4 revolutions, it has it. 6-8 revolutions, it doesn't. You could also check the ECU for the updated one, which should be say 8GC-10 (original 8GC-00)

 

[MNicefisher]

I can get it for 3250.00 it come with new yamaha windshield bag and 2 tunnel bags and new set of hyfax to be installed.

 

[Mooseman]

Sounds like a good deal dependent on your inspection and that nothing is wrong with it. The biggest thing is the skid suspension. If it's been parked for a while, check for any mouse damage and nests. I found a mouse nest in my airbox when I bought mine.

BTW, is it this one?
http://bemidji.craigslist.org/rvs/3639042829.html

Apart from this one for $3500, others are mostly going for $4000 and a couple for $5000. Cheapest I found up here was $4400CAD for an 8000Km VL.

 

[Mooseman]

And that's about $200 worth of bags so that makes it a nice addition.

 

[MNicefisher]

Yep. Looks a bit nicer condition in the pic then in real life though.

 

[Mooseman]

Another thing to consider is that the rear seat is removable for extra baggage and gear if you don't have a passenger.

 

[MNicefisher]

My last sled was a ac touring and the seat came off too
the best part was it was a 30# weight reduction!

 

[BombaPolaYama]

Yeah that looks like a good deal for sure - I wouldn't get much for mine at 16,000Km. You'll probably have to do some work on the front end to tighten it up a bit but it looks in good shape, If you ride alone you'll love the cargo rack with the rear seat removed. And for off trail, a proper set of skis is essential. BTW, it is a good sled for hauling too if you need to.

 

[MNicefisher]

It's in ok shape, 1" rip in the seat. The A arms, bumper and rear rack have some rust (I thought a lot of that would be aluminum). The plastic buy the gas filler is scratched down to raw plastic in a big area. Decals are starting to peel around the edges. It basically just needs some tlc but I'm an auto body painter so I can make it like new again over the summer.

My boss is a Simmons ski dealer and just sold a guy a set of really wide dual runner skis and the guy came back and told my boss how the skis are the best thing ever for his Apex and almost make it float. I could get them for cost. I do have a set of pilot 5.7 with dual runners sitting out in the garage that I could see of I could get to work or my boss has a set of 6.7 i can get for 100.00. Do these sleds really only have a 42" ski stance? Aren't most sled like 46 or so?

 

[MNicefisher]

Does yamaha make a bag or box that is designed to fit the rear rack?

 

[Mooseman]

There is one but it fills the entire rack area:
http://yamaha-motor.ca/pna/detail.php?s ... ti-Purpose

There used to be another one that was specifically for the Multi Purpose that went in place of the rear seat and served as a seat itself. I have one but it wasn't very comfortable so I went with another setup. It's not listed on Yamaha's site anymore.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

Do these sleds really only have a 42" ski stance? Aren't most sled like 46 or so?

The 42.7" seems standard for Yamaha - my TF is the same. I think where you get the 46 to 48" is with the skis being measured to the outside edge depending on the width of the skis. You can also play around with the bushings (i.e. move them both to the outside of the spindle) that center the skis on the spindles and widen the stance some by moving the skis off center. I have never tried this as I don't like the idea of the weight not being centered on the skis.

 

[MNicefisher]

So I happened to be in the area of where this sled is for sale so I stopped and looked at it again but unfortunately they didn't have enough snow for me to test ride it again. The sled did seem to run right from what I could tell now. I looked the sled over for about 25 min and now I have way more questions.

The motor cranked for 10 to 15 seconds to fire then a few more cranks after if fired to start and run, it was about 32*. It started right up after the motor warmed up. I never had a 2 stroke carb take that long to fire up at that temp and thought an efi would almost fire up like a efi car being it was that warm. Is this normal? I know about the cold start update but this isn't cold being 32* above.

When looking under the tunnel there was a black piece of factory looking curved plastic starting after the muffler and went back to the end of the tunnel. I've never seen this in any of the pics around herer on tunnel icing, is this a factory update for the icing problem? It defiantly a factory piece not homemade. Far as I know there hasn't been a factory fix for the icing so I'm guessing its always been there.

I went to check the front shocks and pushed down and the sled didn't even move are the front shocks adjustable? I never looked at them. Maybe they were cranked all the way. Back moved just fine.

All in all I liked the sled more this time then the first time but after looking at the track I did notice the lugs on the outer right side had about 3/8" torn off on almost every row and a few torn lugs hear and there all over. i think most if not all where just around 3/8" missing. It would probably be just fine but I think I would want a new track in another year and it would be a 16" wide when I do it so now I'm thinking the price after a new track is getting up there and with the revers I don't think I would be confident putting the track on my self so even more money to bring it to the dealer.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

So I happened to be in the area of where this sled is for sale so I stopped and looked at it again but unfortunately they didn't have enough snow for me to test ride it again. The sled did seem to run right from what I could tell now. I looked the sled over for about 25 min and now I have way more questions.

The motor cranked for 10 to 15 seconds to fire then a few more cranks after if fired to start and run, it was about 32*. It started right up after the motor warmed up. I never had a 2 stroke carb take that long to fire up at that temp and thought an efi would almost fire up like a efi car being it was that warm. Is this normal? I know about the cold start update but this isn't cold being 32* above. That does seem a bit long for starting - guys usually count the # of cranks before it starts for comparison. My TF starts a lot stronger than the VL.

When looking under the tunnel there was a black piece of factory looking curved plastic starting after the muffler and went back to the end of the tunnel. I've never seen this in any of the pics around herer on tunnel icing, is this a factory update for the icing problem? It defiantly a factory piece not homemade. Far as I know there hasn't been a factory fix for the icing so I'm guessing its always been there. That is a factory piece but not an update but didn't help me much so I removed it to make room for the pipe extension. Some guys just cut a piece out for the pipe to pass through.

I went to check the front shocks and pushed down and the sled didn't even move are the front shocks adjustable? I never looked at them. Maybe they were cranked all the way. Back moved just fine. The springs are only adjustable on the VL.

All in all I liked the sled more this time then the first time but after looking at the track I did notice the lugs on the outer right side had about 3/8" torn off on almost every row and a few torn lugs hear and there all over. i think most if not all where just around 3/8" missing. It would probably be just fine but I think I would want a new track in another year and it would be a 16" wide when I do it so now I'm thinking the price after a new track is getting up there and with the revers I don't think I would be confident putting the track on my self so even more money to bring it to the dealer. Yep, you'll need a new track; I would also be uncomfortable buying a sled with the track like that - I would wonder how it has been (ab)used. BTW, the reverse does not affect the track installation.[/quote]