RS Venture TF- New, and not pleased.

[Cagiva]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and own an RS Venture TF as well. I am so glad I am not the only one who noticed and had buyers remorse from that track howl that you get at a certain speed range. Nevertheless I would say they are as reliable as can be and when you are out there by yourself that is all that matters to me. I use a Senna comm system in my helmet and it works great, I can ride with music if I want to or even use my phone in case of an emergency (if there is coverage) without having to touch my phone. The Senna system integrates seamlessly to your helmet, it does not cover your ears like plugs do and you can adjust the volume so you can still be aware of what is going on around you but to the beat of your favorite Pink Floyd song.

 

[CaptCaper]

The track howl is from the fully clipped windows now and the new style cogs driving the track. I had a few Attaks 2007 type. They were very quiet and less vibration for sure cause only every 3rd window clipped and the old style cogs. I noticed on the 2009's with the full clipped and new drivers it gave howling and they changed that year I believe. But it is a stronger track drive for sure. Larger drive shaft too.

I put 10k miles on two of the attaks and 5k on another and never had issues with either tracks or axle and cogs. But I don't drive them hard like some do.

 

[sailor joe]

The track howl is from the fully clipped windows now and the new style cogs driving the track. I had a few Attaks 2007 type. They were very quiet and less vibration for sure cause only every 3rd window clipped and the old style cogs. I noticed on the 2009's with the full clipped and new drivers it gave howling and they changed that year I believe. But it is a stronger track drive for sure. Larger drive shaft too.

I put 10k miles on two of the attaks and 5k on another and never had issues with either tracks or axle and cogs. But I don't drive them hard like some do.

you've owned and got the track howl to go away on a RS VENTURE TF by unclipping the track to 1 every 3rd? The machine should be sold with a warning about the howl. Joe

 

[CaptCaper]

you've owned and got the track howl to go away on a RS VENTURE TF by unclipping the track to 1 every 3rd? The machine should be sold with a warning about the howl. Joe

No I didn't say that. I said I owned attaks and then we had bought a 09 ltx which isn't an attak but by then it was called ltx for the 136 track. That o9 howled. Same skid,motor, etc except for some improvements as the 07. By 09 they changed to fully clipped and drive cogs to extrovert as part of improvements. My 2016 vector 146 track howls and the wifes now 2013 vector ltx howls. as did her 2010.

My attaks never howled or had vibration. that's why I feel every third window and no extrovert drivers is the reason for the howl starting with the changes they made there.

 

[sailor joe]

No I didn't say that. I said I owned attaks and then we had bought a 09 ltx which isn't an attak but by then it was called ltx for the 136 track. That o9 howled. Same skid,motor, etc except for some improvements as the 07. By 09 they changed to fully clipped and drive cogs to extrovert as part of improvements. My 2016 vector 146 track howls and the wifes now 2013 vector ltx howls. as did her 2010.

My attaks never howled or had vibration. that's why I feel every third window and no extrovert drivers is the reason for the howl starting with the changes they made there.

thanks for the clarification, the howl is no fun..I know it's distracting.

 

[CaptCaper]

thanks for the clarification, the howl is no fun..I know it's distracting.

you get used to it. all machines have their con's I like my japan made con's for sure. the reliablity has been A1 since 07. we ride often and never see another machine,homes or autoroads. not fun if you break down. no cell either.

 

[sailor joe]

you get used to it. all machines have their con's I like my japan made con's for sure. the reliablity has been A1 since 07. we ride often and never see another machine,homes or autoroads. not fun if you break down. no cell either.

my buddy has 5 Ventures, you are correct that they are ultra reliable. He also has a RX1 that is a nice machine..he did have another RX1 that he got 50,000 miles on and Yamaha actually bought it back from him for $5000 on a trade in.
Another great thing about the Venture is that huge windshield, it is absolutely fantastic for keeping you "warm" on the most bitter cold days and I could ride with my helmet shield open because the wind would not get to me. I have ear issues and the deep sound of the drone was too much...I actually regret selling that sled because it was reliable and could have let my friends and daughter use it.
Good luck with your Venture, maintain it and it should last a very long time. Joe

 

[Derek Fosbury]

Newbie to this forum - have snowmobiled all my life except a 15 year hiatus which I just rectified by getting a pair of 2021 Venture TF's . Love the sleds, but have resorted to noise-cancelling earbuds to deal with the howl - also bad for me as I'm very sensitive to those frequencies.

I've done tons of reading on possible solutions, and I'm still unclear if anyone has actually replaced the 151" track on these machines with a "quieter" track to any success. I saw some threads on people getting the arctic cat quiettrack as a replacement, but those seem to be either 137" or 146" versions.

So... has anyone found a replacement track for the 151" variants that has been effective at lowering the howl?

 

[sailor joe]

Newbie to this forum - have snowmobiled all my life except a 15 year hiatus which I just rectified by getting a pair of 2021 Venture TF's . Love the sleds, but have resorted to noise-cancelling earbuds to deal with the howl - also bad for me as I'm very sensitive to those frequencies.

I've done tons of reading on possible solutions, and I'm still unclear if anyone has actually replaced the 151" track on these machines with a "quieter" track to any success. I saw some threads on people getting the arctic cat quiettrack as a replacement, but those seem to be either 137" or 146" versions.

So... has anyone found a replacement track for the 151" variants that has been effective at lowering the howl?

I researched the quiet track also...they do not make a 151 quiet track. I went so far as to "port" the track...that was useless. There was an experiment done by some Michigan engineering school where they took a 2016 Venture Tf and tried to make it as quiet as possible...dont believe a single word coming from that study..its a bunch of bull...there is no known way of quieting that track howl...otherwise everyone would know about it including the engineers at Yamaha and the problem would be solved a long time ago. Like I said I tried everything including porting and Bose active noise cancelling earbuds...the only real solution I came up with for getting rid of the track howl is getting a 2up Sidewinder...absolutely quiet machine...it's awesome...I put on power steering and its even better.
I had purchased a 2016 Venture TF with 32 miles on it for $7k US..a year later sold it for $6.5k US...so glad I didn't pay full boat for the sled...I would have taken a bath.
By the way, every now and then that Michigan engineering study pops upon this site, if you research it you can read it for yourself...its total bs...don't believe a word of it..it will just frustrate you. The sales person you bought your sled from should have informed you about the howl...if they were honest, truthful, forthcoming..but that doesn't sell a product. However Derek, you have the right kind of trails in Ontario to get beyond the 35mph track howl..after 39 mph the sled just sings...its a beautiful thing!! Joe

 

[Derek Fosbury]

I researched the quiet track also...they do not make a 151 quiet track. I went so far as to "port" the track...that was useless. There was an experiment done by some Michigan engineering school where they took a 2016 Venture Tf and tried to make it as quiet as possible...dont believe a single word coming from that study..its a bunch of bull...there is no known way of quieting that track howl...otherwise everyone would know about it including the engineers at Yamaha and the problem would be solved a long time ago. Like I said I tried everything including porting and Bose active noise cancelling earbuds...the only real solution I came up with for getting rid of the track howl is getting a 2up Sidewinder...absolutely quiet machine...it's awesome...I put on power steering and its even better.
I had purchased a 2016 Venture TF with 32 miles on it for $7k US..a year later sold it for $6.5k US...so glad I didn't pay full boat for the sled...I would have taken a bath.
By the way, every now and then that Michigan engineering study pops upon this site, if you research it you can read it for yourself...its total bs...don't believe a word of it..it will just frustrate you. The sales person you bought your sled from should have informed you about the howl...if they were honest, truthful, forthcoming..but that doesn't sell a product. However Derek, you have the right kind of trails in Ontario to get beyond the 35mph track howl..after 39 mph the sled just sings...its a beautiful thing!! Joe

Thanks for the advice about the Michigan threads - I had seen those and assumed they were dead-ends since they're a bit stale. The dealer was definitely pushing me towards the sidewinders, and was upfront about the howl. I had also read about it, just underestimated it or didn't realize the specific frequency, and how sensitive I was to it. My bias was really towards ultra-reliability, so I went in eyes-wide open, and don't regret my decision at all. Definitely agree that >60kph the sled just sings. The other factor was since I was buying 2, the price difference was not trivial!

 

[sailor joe]

Thanks for the advice about the Michigan threads - I had seen those and assumed they were dead-ends since they're a bit stale. The dealer was definitely pushing me towards the sidewinders, and was upfront about the howl. I had also read about it, just underestimated it or didn't realize the specific frequency, and how sensitive I was to it. My bias was really towards ultra-reliability, so I went in eyes-wide open, and don't regret my decision at all. Definitely agree that >60kph the sled just sings. The other factor was since I was buying 2, the price difference was not trivial!

I certainly can see cost as a factor. Very good to hear the dealer was upfront about the howl and over 40mph is where the sled really excels. Glad you're happy with it and good luck, happy trails. Joe