Need advice from former 2 stroke owners

[Jamie Matheson]

After another disappointing 5000km melt down of a new 2 stroke I am seriously considering a Sidewinder.

I rode a Viper last week and liked most things about it other then the fact I couldn't get the skis to lift when trying to get across some rougher trails and heavy steering.

So my questions.
1. Can these sleds be set up to be able to transfer weight or are they just a flat ride?
2. Also wondering if the RTX SE is the way to go for trail riding over a 137"?
3. And lastly, Do any of you old 2 stroke owners miss the fun/light weight ride of the 2 strokes? (would you go back)?



Any input appreciated.

Thx

 

[XP123]

2 strokes are great in chainsaws and no I don't miss seizing my 2 stroke sleds. I will never buy another 2 stroke anything except a chainsaw.

 

[KnappAttack]

After another disappointing 5000km melt down of a new 2 stroke I am seriously considering a Sidewinder.

I rode a Viper last week and liked most things about it other then the fact I couldn't get the skis to lift when trying to get across some rougher trails and heavy steering.

So my questions.
1. Can these sleds be set up to be able to transfer weight or are they just a flat ride?
2. Also wondering if the RTX SE is the way to go for trail riding over a 137"?
3. And lastly, Do any of you old 2 stroke owners miss the fun/light weight ride of the 2 strokes? (would you go back)?



Any input appreciated.

Thx

Well you don't have much for power on a viper, and the Cat chassis tends to keep the skis down anyway, unlike a Polaris or a Doo.

1. With traction in my Hurricane tuned winder (on the big tunes) I can't keep the skis down as well as I'd like and ended up going to a Racewerx transfer block in back to make an effort to limit transfer a bit more.

2. Some guys like the shorter 129", myself I prefer the better ride of the longer track and was actually thinking about going even longer to the 141" perhaps.

3. I don't miss a two-stroke one bit and will never go back. I know you're never supposed to say never, but I miss nothing about a two-stroke, I've rode the 850 Doo and don't see what any of the hype is about. They are playful & wheelie happy and love to lift a ski in every corner, some guys like that, but I prefer to keep the skis down and not climb all over the machine to make it corner or steer. I like a planted machine myself and want no part of a two-stroke for trail use.

 

[Motorhead]

After another disappointing 5000km melt down of a new 2 stroke I am seriously considering a Sidewinder.

I rode a Viper last week and liked most things about it other then the fact I couldn't get the skis to lift when trying to get across some rougher trails and heavy steering.

So my questions.
1. Can these sleds be set up to be able to transfer weight or are they just a flat ride?
2. Also wondering if the RTX SE is the way to go for trail riding over a 137"?
3. And lastly, Do any of you old 2 stroke owners miss the fun/light weight ride of the 2 strokes? (would you go back)?



Any input appreciated.

Thx

Yeah my LTX-LE transfers well but stays planted.

Do a search on here for what some guys can do with the xtx non coupled suspension models.

Pretty neat, they do much more than ski lift, they ride wheelies and have to feather throttle to keep from going over.

That may be more to your liking but they are longer track then the 137s.

Oh and about that 2 stroke question. No, I like cheap power adds, reliability and 10s of thousands on my motors before I rebuild them.

 

[Doc Harley]

If you like how a lite weight 2 stroke rides, consider a model with unlinked suspension. Shortest is a 141" if I'm not mistaken.
I just hate comparing the two. Or trying to make one do what the other does.

 

[cannondale27]

I have both. No way I would switch to the 2st for 99% of trail riding. 4st Is just so easy on pocketbook,engine and comfort. The 1% off trail and SX stuff there is no way I would want a 4st. I think size of rider matters in those situations also. I am only 145lbs so just cannot throw a 4st around like I can the 2 st. So pick what makes most sense for you or get both. 2st is a nice spare sled being a spare helps keep the miles down.

 

[Pstn head]

These chassis are great if not amazing handling chassis and those traits are amplified due to them being flat or shall I say composed through turns and knolls. They can be setup to transfer weight and lift skis but not a hell of a lot, which could be a good thing if your looking for speed and agility. Both Ski's in the air through turns when on the gas do not propel you forward, fun yes, fast no.

Both the RTX and LTX are equal handling trail sleds they each have minor differences, the LTX being more stable which in some cases could be better, but in other cases the RTX can be better, both great.

I don't miss the "fun light weight ride" one bit becouse the torque that these 4-strokes have is more enjoyable for me. Plus I find the 2-strokes feel cheap, they vibrate, they sound like a leaf blower, there not stabile, additional cost of oil that gets burned away, there dirty, and there life span bothers me. Not to say these 4-strokes don't break becouse they do but no I don't miss the 2-strokes as of now, who knows...I never say never but I dought I'd go back.

 

[74Nitro]

The have the 141 uncoupled with floats all around. It is a lot of fun, the skis do always come up under power, way more so with the tune in it.
When running open trails at high speed(which is pretty much always), I find myself having to back out of the throttle occasionally to steer, as they tend to stay slightly in the air even when approaching high speeds.
It is like the skid reaches a tipping point, so to speak, depending on how far into the throttle I am.
What I didn't like about this skid, is that it bottomed a few times when I didn't think it should have. Didn't feel so good up may back. I am 160lbs.
The 19 with coil over at the rear should be better. I also think part of the problem is the geometry at the rear shock isn't rising rate enough.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

You need the early spool Hurricane tune/R Maps(270/290) to really have the corner to corner and nose lifting snap for coming off knolls. Its not easy with these sleds stock at all. Not gonna happen. Even some whimpy tunes out there that wont snap the front end, which I complained about first season alot.

My 129" rtx has more transfer(albiet not as much as Rmotion) then the 137ltx, so Its really sad to see Yam pull it from lineup for 19. Maybe it will be back for 20? Who knows.

But As Knapp mentioned, the Hurricane tunes most of us guys who wanted the big power to hit at 5000rpms use will make the heavy nosed relatively docile turbo become a "voilent" bad-#*$&@ right from the get-go. Now just to keep a belt on it with these tunes is the real issue. Maybe why many guys who run other tunes have decent belt life, they just dont come on down low like Daves maps.

Dan

 

[See n blue]

You can’t ride a 4 stroke like a 2 stroke, there not designed for constantly brapping on/off the throttle. You will notice the weight difference but that will get soaked up with giggles once you try a tuned winder. A Hurricane 240R tune is really all you need to make those funny noises in your helmet, you know the ones no one else can hear. Regardless, you won’t go back unless of course you get a belt blower with no means to fix. That’s why this forum is here to help guys like me staying in my 4 stroke. I’ve played with a lot of 2 strokes, but have no intention to ever do it again.

 

[SumpBuster]

I ride a smelly 2 stroke grooming trails....lol, hey, I'll ride anything but far prefer 4 stroke Yammy powered sleds, since I've had great results since 2003 engine wise. Warm, cold, rain, snow....5he 4strokes run the same day after day. I've held my old rx1 to the handle for 6.5 miles on a reservoir...just zero worries about pistons flying out, or crank bearings, like the old days...you just never knew.
The sidewinder engine is the best ever, as it does everything well, yeah, even corner to corner blasting. It just doesn't sound like it, but the snow is blowing out the back anytime you excersise your thumb
And high speed stability, and flying flat saved my a $$ more than once.

 

[74Nitro]

After another disappointing 5000km melt down of a new 2 stroke I am seriously considering a Sidewinder.

I rode a Viper last week and liked most things about it other then the fact I couldn't get the skis to lift when trying to get across some rougher trails and heavy steering.

So my questions.
1. Can these sleds be set up to be able to transfer weight or are they just a flat ride?
2. Also wondering if the RTX SE is the way to go for trail riding over a 137"?
3. And lastly, Do any of you old 2 stroke owners miss the fun/light weight ride of the 2 strokes? (would you go back)?



Any input appreciated.

Thx

Would you care to let us know which sled you owned that died?

 

[Jamie Matheson]

Would you care to let us know which sled you owned that died?

2017 apex SB 800. I thought there motors would hold out....Not so much!!!

 

[74Nitro]

2017 apex SB 800. I thought there motors would hold out....Not so much!!!

Apex 800
10-4

 

[SumpBuster]

??