First ride

[poor farmer/logger]

Well I went for my first ride on my new to me 2015 XTX Viper. I'm not in love with it yet but hopefully with some tuning I can work out a few of the bugs and like it a whole lot more. It handles the bigger bumps better then my nytro for sure. Things I don't like so far is the heavy steering still Looking at options for that now and trying to decide if I want to spend 125 US for the 160 lb spring. Or at least I assume that's what they would ship me from zbroz. They just ask for a weight now and don't give a option for the spring. I'm around 275 or a bit less so not a light boy by any means lol. I'm not in love with the seating position yet either. It may just take some time to get used to though. With my nytro I ride with my feet somewhat behind me. Doing the same on the Viper puts my knees right into the dash panel. One plus was the heat coming off those panels though lol. I have the tuner skis on it yet and debating about putting some aftermarket skis on so it will turn better in the loose snow. If I can get the steering lightened up a bit that may improve some though too. I do miss being able to slide around on the sled like I can on the skinny nytro too. Hopefully I'll just get used to that in time too and learn where to put my body in the corners. Skis currently have the steel wear rods on them that are a little less then 50% so that doesn't help with the turning either. Scared it will be a whole lot worse to steer if I put proper carbides on it though and not looking forward to spending close to 200 dollars just for carbides.

On a side note I have the front shocks set at 75 psi and the rear is 130 psi. Center spring is turned up quite a bit already. I didn't count how many threads though. Was thinking about turning the front shocks down just a bit to allow it to roll in the corners just a little and drop the rear a few pounds to gain a little extra transfer.

Took a few pics today so I thought I'd share them and maybe a bounce a few ideas off everyone here or pick up a few more pointers. No surplus of snow yet but there was more then enough to get it out and try it at least.

 

[YukonMP]

Looks like you live near the only hill in Saskatchewan. Just kidding, I know it ain't so, I've lived there.
There is an amazing amount of help to be had in the Viper section so I'm sure you'll have it sorted out in no time. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[poor farmer/logger]

Looks like you live near the only hill in Saskatchewan. Just kidding, I know it ain't so, I've lived there.
There is an amazing amount of help to be had in the Viper section so I'm sure you'll have it sorted out in no time. Thanks for the pictures.

Lol this sled came from one of the ugly parts of Saskatchewan so I'm sure it's much happier here where there's trees and hills lol I sure get bored driving through certain parts of the province. I spend most of my time in the northern part thankfully though. Draw a line from Hudson bay to Meadow Lake and I spend most of my time north of that line.

 

[Kkurz]

You can get the Cat skis very cheap. I have them and love them! I'll add Snotrackers this year. I think they cost more than the skis but everyone I know that has them, swears by them. Mine isn't the XTX but I'd try losing a little pressure on the rear shock and see if that'll take some weight from the front. The center shock spring seems to be the Achilles heel of this machine, I just ordered an aftermarket one myself today. I came from a Nytro myself, and never regretted it once.

Good luck!

 

[yamaha4sea_fan24]

Go talk to Bill Mohr for the center shock spring. He will treat ya good and help you get your sled dialed in!

 

[poor farmer/logger]

Thanks I'll check him out. I had a similar problem on my nytro but I never addressed it. Going to try and get the viper dialled in a bit better from the get go though. Brother just bought a apex xtx with power steering so I don't want to be struggling to keep up.

Kkurz thanks I'll keep my eyes out for a good used set. Would that be the same ski that came on the 14 viper? I ride off trail as well a lot so trying to find some happy ground in the middle

 

[Wannaviper]

You can get the Cat skis very cheap. I have them and love them! I'll add Snotrackers this year. I think they cost more than the skis but everyone I know that has them, swears by them. Mine isn't the XTX but I'd try losing a little pressure on the rear shock and see if that'll take some weight from the front. The center shock spring seems to be the Achilles heel of this machine, I just ordered an aftermarket one myself today. I came from a Nytro myself, and never regretted it once.

Good luck!

I second the suggestion for Cat skis. Just find an on-line Yamaha parts dealer and order the skis on the 2014 Viper XTX, and you will get the wider, "cross-over", version of the Cat ski. I don't know the Cat designations to tell you which Cat sled uses that ski; maybe the "High Country"? I set up that ski with semi-aggressive Snow Trackers, and now the steering is light and easy, and the sled does not dart or push in the corners like it did with the Tuner skis. I just set up my stepson's Sidewinder with a new set of Cat skis and a set of Snow Trackers. I bought the skis from an on-line parts dealer, and the Snow Trackers on E-Bay. The whole thing was under $400 U.S.

 

[poor farmer/logger]

I just went and counted threads just to see how far the previous owner had it turned up. 19 threads showing From the bottom of the shock. More then it should be I would assume. He may have been trying to correct for the same issue. It was at a dealer so I'm unable to talk to the previous owner unfortunately.

I'll do some checking tonight and get in contact with Bill Mohr as well.

 

[ishpeming fan]

BOP sells a steering kit that will help if all else fails. I also have a set of SLP straight line trackers for sale that work very good on vipers as well.

 

[yamadoo]

Beautiful country and Sled
I have the StxDx 141 2015 and I have never had a problem with hard steering so I am sure you can adjust it out. I have let many others ride it and no one has ever complained of hard steering.
Does it turn easy with skis in the air?
If so, then like you said less ski spring/shock pressure with less rear skid pressure and more front of skid pressure. I wonder did the previous owner suck up the limiter strap?
Have hope it is Not normal to steer hard.

 

[poor farmer/logger]

I was talking wth the owner at one of my local dealers today. He plays around with the settings quite a bit as well so I was curious as to what he had to say. He actually suggested trying the centre shock relocate first and see if that would help. I did a bit of reading about it now when I got home and not sure if it's a permanent reliable fix though. It sounds as though with the cat version the had the shock moved further forward but at the same time used a shorter shock. I skimmed through the post pretty quickly anyways and that was the general gist I got. Anyone that can confirm or deny that? I don't want to bottom the shock out and bend it.

I appreciate everyone's input though as it makes me better informed one way or another.

local dealer also has a set of take off arctic cat skis that I can have reasonable. No rubbers with them though. Blue loops on them otherwise it might be a good match for me. I have to read up on the snowtrackers tonight as I've never had anything to do with them at all. See what they're all about anyways.

I eyed up the bop mps kit too. I'll try a few things first and keep that in mind. Not a cheap upgrade but if all else fails it may be a good option.

Thanks yamadoo. There's no binding it the steering at all that I can feel. I haven't lifted the front end up at all yet to see but I don't believe there's any issues there at all. Limited straps are all the way out and the front spring is cranked up pretty hard.

 

[InRBigness]

Center spring will make the most difference and then better ski's. I have Curves but my son has a 14 and it has arctic cat ones and it seems to work well.

 

[cannondale27]

Center spring will make the most difference and then better ski's. I have Curves but my son has a 14 and it has arctic cat ones and it seems to work well.

X2. Don’t relocate the center shock. Spring will work. The Hygear Linkage and Evol add on is the best $ you could spend on that skid but many were happy stock with it. Look up NosPros skid settings. His worked well when I rode it and all stock.

 

[poor farmer/logger]

Been reading up in the snowtrackers and the one thing that comes to my mind is how will the arctic cat ski with snowtrackers handle in the powder snow when I travel off trail. Normally I spend half of my time off trail. Last year I did more trail riding but it's not the norm.

Sorry for all the questions and bothering everyone, I'd just like to try and get it right the first time so I don't end up emptying my bank account lol.

 

[Mike P]

Been reading up in the snowtrackers and the one thing that comes to my mind is how will the arctic cat ski with snowtrackers handle in the powder snow when I travel off trail. Normally I spend half of my time off trail. Last year I did more trail riding but it's not the norm.

Sorry for all the questions and bothering everyone, I'd just like to try and get it right the first time so I don't end up emptying my bank account lol.

I have been using Cobra Carbides on the 2014 single keel stock ski from Yamaha (Arctic Cat). I can't say enough great things about them. They are a bit expensive. The Rollerski wheels are awesome, best ski wheels I ever used. I would give Qualipieces a call.
https://www.qualipieces.com/en-US/h...rderBy:null&IsDescOrder:false&Index:0&Count:0