freelance
Expert
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Messages
- 294
- Reaction score
- 32
- Points
- 318
- Location
- Manitoba, Canada
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2014 Yamaha SR Viper XTX SE
First of all let me state that my last 4000 miles were on a 2011 AC Z1 LXR. I know it's like comparing apples to grapefruits but please allow me to have this moment of outright excitement and exhilaration !! Backed the XTX SE off the trailer with 0 miles and 73 miles later here is my first review.
Temperature was -31C with a -38C windchill today. Conditions varied from groomed trail, rough ungroomed trail, ungroomed river trail, and 3 ft deep off-trail riding.
This sled was awesome !! I'm still touching myself !! The first 25 miles were on groomed trails to break the belt in. After that it was game on within the restrictions of by-the-book break-in. In general the sled seemed to go where I pointed it but it seemed like it took more effort than the Z1. On the groomed trail I did feel a small amount of darting but maybe that was due to brand new carbides. Off-trail it performed exactly as I hoped it would. Had no trouble running through 3ft of powder and I felt like there was little or no strain on the belt. I never felt buried with all that track underneath me. On the rough ungroomed trail the sled just ate up the bumps. I haven't made any adjustments whatsoever from the factory and weigh about 196 lbs. Front shocks are at 85lbs. I can't believe how much time I spent in the air. Jump after jump after jump !! Not once did I bottom out. I'm 52 yrs old and my Z1 never really ever left the ground no matter how hard you hit a jump but today I was riding like an 18 yr old. Doing wheelies from a dead stop !! Lifting the skis at 40 MPH at the crack of the throttle !! Amazing !! I did hit 86MPH on the speedometer at roughly 8400RPM at about 3/4 throttle and then let off ( proper break in ya know..LOL). Holy crap am I excited. My riding partner on a 800 Pro R said nobody will be tailgating me as I'm throwing up big chunks of snow on the hard pack.
Hand and thumb warmers were absolutely awesome.......had to turn the grips down to low even at -31C. Maybe the handguards helped.....I don't know. The windshield I think is all show. At 60 to 65MPH I felt my body being straightened up by the wind. My gear held up but I had lots of it on today. Standing and cracking the throttle I almost fell off !!
After spring checking this sled, reading threads for months, bringing it home on Dec 23rd and having it sit in the garage while I was sick, reading more threads about issues that have risen, and being so nervous about riding it and having it break down on me, all that crap is finally behind me. No jumping out of gear, no reverse issues, no engine codes, no oil pressure lights, no problem starting hot or cold, no steaming up, no loose bolts that I could see, no stripped torx heads, nothing !! Not even any ice build up on the tunnel or skid. Granted.....I'm only 73 miles in. The unknown is still the chain tension but I'll be looking into that as soon as my copper gasket arrives. Can't wait to get to 300 miles to see what this sled can really do. Based on the first ride when it really wakes up at about 1400 miles this sled will be outstanding. Hope I don't break it before then...LOL !! Love my Z1.....still have it.......but there is absolutely no comparing it to the Viper XTX SE. They are clearly designed to do 2 different things.
What a freakin' awesome day !! Another short ride tomorrow and then a 200+ mile ride planned for Saturday. Not worried anymore !!! I'll keep you updated !!!
Temperature was -31C with a -38C windchill today. Conditions varied from groomed trail, rough ungroomed trail, ungroomed river trail, and 3 ft deep off-trail riding.
This sled was awesome !! I'm still touching myself !! The first 25 miles were on groomed trails to break the belt in. After that it was game on within the restrictions of by-the-book break-in. In general the sled seemed to go where I pointed it but it seemed like it took more effort than the Z1. On the groomed trail I did feel a small amount of darting but maybe that was due to brand new carbides. Off-trail it performed exactly as I hoped it would. Had no trouble running through 3ft of powder and I felt like there was little or no strain on the belt. I never felt buried with all that track underneath me. On the rough ungroomed trail the sled just ate up the bumps. I haven't made any adjustments whatsoever from the factory and weigh about 196 lbs. Front shocks are at 85lbs. I can't believe how much time I spent in the air. Jump after jump after jump !! Not once did I bottom out. I'm 52 yrs old and my Z1 never really ever left the ground no matter how hard you hit a jump but today I was riding like an 18 yr old. Doing wheelies from a dead stop !! Lifting the skis at 40 MPH at the crack of the throttle !! Amazing !! I did hit 86MPH on the speedometer at roughly 8400RPM at about 3/4 throttle and then let off ( proper break in ya know..LOL). Holy crap am I excited. My riding partner on a 800 Pro R said nobody will be tailgating me as I'm throwing up big chunks of snow on the hard pack.
Hand and thumb warmers were absolutely awesome.......had to turn the grips down to low even at -31C. Maybe the handguards helped.....I don't know. The windshield I think is all show. At 60 to 65MPH I felt my body being straightened up by the wind. My gear held up but I had lots of it on today. Standing and cracking the throttle I almost fell off !!
After spring checking this sled, reading threads for months, bringing it home on Dec 23rd and having it sit in the garage while I was sick, reading more threads about issues that have risen, and being so nervous about riding it and having it break down on me, all that crap is finally behind me. No jumping out of gear, no reverse issues, no engine codes, no oil pressure lights, no problem starting hot or cold, no steaming up, no loose bolts that I could see, no stripped torx heads, nothing !! Not even any ice build up on the tunnel or skid. Granted.....I'm only 73 miles in. The unknown is still the chain tension but I'll be looking into that as soon as my copper gasket arrives. Can't wait to get to 300 miles to see what this sled can really do. Based on the first ride when it really wakes up at about 1400 miles this sled will be outstanding. Hope I don't break it before then...LOL !! Love my Z1.....still have it.......but there is absolutely no comparing it to the Viper XTX SE. They are clearly designed to do 2 different things.
What a freakin' awesome day !! Another short ride tomorrow and then a 200+ mile ride planned for Saturday. Not worried anymore !!! I'll keep you updated !!!
Attachments
bleedyamaha
TY 4 Stroke Master
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2013
- Messages
- 1,494
- Reaction score
- 742
- Points
- 1,308
- Location
- Northern Iowa
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2017 Yamaha Sidewinder Rtx Le 2012 Yamaha Vector Ltx
ltx se
Great post. Thats how I felt all these worries left in the snow dust. Wish I could pull the front up like your pic.
Great post. Thats how I felt all these worries left in the snow dust. Wish I could pull the front up like your pic.
Revalve the skid shocks or put some decent shocks in the rear skid and you will enjoy it a whole lot more 
Now you know how I feel! Congratulations
MEAT
Expert
DEAD SEXY
