First ride of the year!

[DeerHuntr]

Been a long year for me. Ordered my Viper RTX in March, tore my ACL on November 11th deer hunting. Picked up my Viper the Wednesday before Thanksgiving day and went into surgery the following Monday. So my winter has been spent reading on here and rehabbing my knee while wishing I could ride. Was 20° today, no wind and I went to look at the trails and met the groomer. Today was the day, my knee has been doing really well and I couldn't take it any more.

I put 30 miles on it today on fresh groomed trails. All in all I love it so far, no suspension changes have been made but I feel like it is actually pretty good for the type of riding I am going to be able to do this year. I'm not planning on changing anything until next year when I can be more aggressive. That being said, I am a big guy at about 320# in my birthday suit and with the springs on the lightest setting it maybe sags 2" when I get on it. That's crazy, how the hell do smaller guys even ride it? No wonder some guys are complaining about it being stiff. It actually feels about right, pretty plush to be honest for me. Front shocks were at 65psi when I checked and I am using all but about 2" of stroke looking at the grease line, close enough. I rode 50-60 Mph with a short trip to about 85. Seems very snappy, love the sound of it. The ride and handling is already head and shoulders above my Nytro and I haven't touched anything yet! Love the seating position, didn't even feel my knee while I was on it. I hit a couple approaches on the way back without letting off and almost couldn't tell I even hit anything and I remained seated. I used to stand at every crossing on my Nytro. The gauge is head and shoulders better as well, it's nice to be able to see all the information while riding with ease. Safe to say that I am going to love this thing when the bugs are out of it.

The negative. I had the low idle /dying issue trying to get it on the trailer before my ride. Not good for my confidence in a Sled with zero miles on it. I also felt more vibration in the running boards than I am used to. I am going to check track alignment but I am wondering if it could be the extrovert drivers I am not used to??

It was just really nice to get out finally!

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[APEX 06]

Good rehab is a nice trail ride.

 

[FAMILYMAN]

Great

 

[cannondale27]

Thats awesome! Been waiting for this. Just take it easy. This sled wants you to ride it hard. Going to be very hard to resist. A little everyday and I bet your rehab folks will be amazed but maybe dont tell them! Dont stop doing a bit every day though. If your muscles tighten up from not riding it will be bad so keep it up.

 

[MCApex44]

Glad you were able to get out. I 'think' I am getting close myself (fractured scapula and frontal labrum tear at the beginning of Jan.). I was able to put on 160+ miles before I broke myself and had the same thoughts as you did about the Viper coming off a Fx Nytro. I cant wait to get some more miles in on mine! The trail goes right through my property so as well as not being able to ride I have to see sleds go by all the time. Good luck with your knee!

 

[DigitalFusion]

how the hell do smaller guys even ride it? No wonder some guys are complaining about it being stiff.

Yup, two of me would equal one of you, and it seems really stiff. However, it does loosen up a bit after riding it for a while... still kinda stiff on the studders tho.

I also felt more vibration in the running boards than I am used to. I am going to check track alignment but I am wondering if it could be the extrovert drivers I am not used to??

I felt the same thing for about the first 150 miles or so. I actually got off the sled and checked everything so many time my riding buddies were getting sick of it. It either went away or I got used to it because I dont feel it anymore

 

[Yamacat21]

Congrats DH!!! Glad to hear you finally got to ride that thing. If I ever get out your way riding I'll pm you and we can hook up on the trail!

 

[RXVIPER]

Awesome to hear man get out there and ride ,my sled has over 1500 Kms on it feels so much better than it did when I first bought it,get on it and ride we only have a short time. Best riding sled I've ever ridden.

 

[NOS-PRO]

 

[timebomb]

Glad you get to ride now. Love the looks of your sled. That red looks awesome. Have to have surgery myself in a week and "crossing my fingers" it doesn't end my season. Going on a good ride this weekend in case it's the last of my season.