New Sled Advise...

[WinderFab]

I have been looking for a new sled and would like your opinions,
Coming off a 07 apex gt I'm familiar with the power of the apex and it's reliability,
If I will get another apex it will be the xtx model,
I have demo a viper but only for a short time so I can't really comment on anything but it's awesome seat compared to my apex with the WRP seat,
I would say I ride 70% groom 25% semi beat trails and 5% off trail,
I don't really care about the power diff between the two, I would rather be more comfortable riding and the viper seating postion was awesome...
Any thoughts... XTX or Viper?

 

[smoothride]

A friend of mine just purchased a base model viper an I was impressed with it. I am coming off my 07 attak with a M20 air ride. I snow checked a viper ltx le for next year. His viper was running wise by side with my attak on the Thames River witch is a wide river coming from lake St Clair.

 

[Curtis Chambers]

The viper seating position is awesome can ride all day and not be sore

 

[polarisconvert]

We have two Vipers in our group. They are very happy with them. They will run with an Apex or RX1 to 70-80 mph then fade fast. They ride great and seem lighter.

 

[RTX]

There is a big difference in the power from an apex vs a viper.
You say your not worried about that.
If that is true, than the viper is the right choice. Great handeling, great suspension, perfect ergonomics,
Corner to corner it pulls fantastic. You wont be disappointed

 

[pat the rat]

Just bought an xtx,tried a viper before my purchase,the seating position is excellent,but i couldnt shake the fact that i was buying an arctic cat,love my xtx,power,ride,handling,eps,i dont regret one bit,proven reliability

 

[wavemaster]

I have a 2015 Viper XTX SE and I would not go back to the Apex for anything. One of my riding buddies switched with me last weekend and took the viper for a 50+ mile run.

Getting off the Apex I felt like I was run hard and put away wet.

1. Turning on the Apex (2008 Attak) easily double the force needed compared to the Viper.
2. Double the ski lift in corners on the Apex.
3. Sore back in the bumps on the Apex. To be fair I find it hard to ride the Apex standing and effortless on the Viper and in the bumps on the viper I just lift off the seat and jump those bumps.
4. Sore knees. It has been a few years since I owned an Apex and had a warrior before that - I always had sore knees. I went to the Nytro and the sore knees disappeared. Same on the viper - no sore knees regardless of the ride length. I wasn't on the apex 20 miles before the same old knee pain was back.
5. I miss the motor in the Apex - lol. I do not miss it sinking like a rock.

I would say I ride 60% sweet groomed - 20% off trail and 20% total crap I wish they were groomed trails.

 

[pat the rat]

Well,to be fair,i ride a 2013 with power steering,i'm sitting a little higher than a 08,the new apexes are much better than the 2010 and older,did i mention power steering,so easy to steer,love it,but that's me,i'm 6'3" and i dont have sore knees

 

[Curtis Chambers]

Pat or anyone could you tell me how far new apex can go on a tank of fuel may get one next year (2017) Not sure yet what I'm doin.

 

[pat the rat]

i only had mine for a month so i didnt test it out,it should go over 200 km

 

[Curtis Chambers]

Not bad thank you

 

[SIKEWARD]

I own both I find myself taking the 12 apex XTX over the 14 ac 7000lxr. The power of the motor and the power steering is flat out awesome. The handling is comparable between the two machines. The ac definitely has a nicer ride over the apex. Anybody that tells you a viper hangs with a apex is full of it. There is no comparison in the power dept. in the end do what u think is best for you. For me I'll stick with the XTX and my wife can ride the ac.

 

[wavemaster]

Well,to be fair,i ride a 2013 with power steering,i'm sitting a little higher than a 08,the new apexes are much better than the 2010 and older,did i mention power steering,so easy to steer,love it,but that's me,i'm 6'3" and i dont have sore knees

One of my riding buddies has a 2012 Apex XTX and it is sweet for the steering. I don't notice any difference in height to the 08 but then I never ride them back to back.

I would say the Apex with the PS is the best "smooth groomed trail" sled made, hands down. Still, the ergos of the Viper are much better for me comfort wise.

Unfortunately, or fortunately in some cases I don't always ride smooth groomed trails. A couple of the systems we ride in are always woefully underfunded and maintained accordingly. I also love ripping up the log trails and hills and I could never DREAM of doing that on the apex. If you have a bumpy system where you ride a lot I would go Viper. If you ever want to venture off trail (even turn around wherever you want) I would go Viper.

Both sleds are awesome, try them out.

 

[excallibur101]

I have a 2015 Viper XTX SE and I would not go back to the Apex for anything. One of my riding buddies switched with me last weekend and took the viper for a 50+ mile run.

Getting off the Apex I felt like I was run hard and put away wet.

1. Turning on the Apex (2008 Attak) easily double the force needed compared to the Viper.
2. Double the ski lift in corners on the Apex.
3. Sore back in the bumps on the Apex. To be fair I find it hard to ride the Apex standing and effortless on the Viper and in the bumps on the viper I just lift off the seat and jump those bumps.
4. Sore knees. It has been a few years since I owned an Apex and had a warrior before that - I always had sore knees. I went to the Nytro and the sore knees disappeared. Same on the viper - no sore knees regardless of the ride length. I wasn't on the apex 20 miles before the same old knee pain was back.
5. I miss the motor in the Apex - lol. I do not miss it sinking like a rock.

I would say I ride 60% sweet groomed - 20% off trail and 20% total crap I wish they were groomed trails.

Both sleds are great machines and both have their own character,its all a matter of the conditions you ride and your personal preference to comfort is what determines which would be the better choice in my opinion.Some personal advice to you from my own experience I will share is that most sleds stock form generally are ok but usually need some sort of tweeking or upgrade to suit yourself.From my own experience owning a Apex xtx its a fantastic all day trail sled with tremendous power to spare,the Viper is a bit lack luster in that department,although is a great aggressive off trail performer and a nice stand up machine,and rider positioning and comfort is set right.I will mention my Apex xtx was stiff when I first took it out when it was new and the stock skis were ok but had to go,worthless in deep powder.So,to correct this issue I softened the front and rear suspension springs a bit,installed SLP Powder Pro skis with 6 inch Shaper bars and installed a 13mm torsion bar,and now this sled flat out rocks.To simplify it this sled now handles like a new corvette in the fast corners and rides like a Cadillac through the bumps.After a 180 mile trip in Vermont last Tuesday I had not one issue of my body being sore from fatigue or being sore and was very happy.My buddy was leading on the Viper and I had no issue at all with keeping up to him and we ride aggressive.He is very happy with the Viper for its handling and ride stance but was a little pissed off that he could not lose me as he did not have the extra ponies under the hood.I can say the Viper is a quick ,peppy and nimble sled but will not shake off the Apex XTX when set up right.

 

[Stubbs]

We ran a 2011 Apex right out of fuel at 208km. My 2006 went the full 220km back to the truck, but I was very surprised it made it. We've never pushed either sled that far fuel wise in the past.