Rs viper cooling, rad performance

[ontarioyamaha]

I have been riding a 2010 RS Vector for ten years. Looking to switch to a viper or winder. I noticed that there are no heat exchangers in the tunnel and the cooling is via a radiator. How well does it work. I am guessing hard pack trails would no longer be an issue.

 

[rb2001srx700]

I have both. 2020 SR Viper and a 24 Winder. The Winder is better for cooling then the Viper. Winder runs 170ish while the Viper will run in the 180's and hotter. I will be adding scratchers to the viper and see if that helps. I was surprised the viper was running as hot as it was on hard packed trails. I will also see if the cooling needs to be blead again.

 

[ksiesel]

The Viper has 2 sources of cooling. There is a heat exchanger at the front of the track. There is also an air radiator with fan at the front of the sled. The thermostat will typically keep 160-170. The rad fan will turn on around 195. In normal trail conditions, I only notice the fan run when I stop and idle.

I have had several instances where an ice bridge will form in the tunnel and when this happens, I have seen as high as around 205 while going down the trail. This is usually on long rail grades with speeds of 55+ for an extended period without many bumps to knock ice out. Also, the temps have to be under probably 20F for this to happen. I used to stop and knock them out, but you won’t get an overheat light until around 230 anyway so now I just keep riding and eventually, the ice dam will fall out and you see the temps fall fast at that point. Sometimes, I can notice this by the amount of heat coming onto my feet as the full cooling is happening via the air rad when there’s an ice dam.

Also on the ice dam, I have had once or twice where it will break off and rub violently at the front of the track. In those instances, just quickly stop, reverse to eject it, and continue on. I think I’ve had to reverse to eject the block twice in 10k miles.

FYI, the sidewinder has a very similar cooler at the front of the track, but also has full tunnel coolers behind it that the viper lacks. This means it has more capacity when snow is circulating, but it cannot idle indefinitely without overheating like the Viper can.

 

[yamahaguy]

I have been riding a 2010 RS Vector for ten years. Looking to switch to a viper or winder. I noticed that there are no heat exchangers in the tunnel and the cooling is via a radiator. How well does it work. I am guessing hard pack trails would no longer be an issue.

We have frequently rode in warm weather in late spring 40F to 50F, once was even close to 60F wearing T-shits some of you here probably remember the sun burn you got! All the vipers in the group had no trouble keeping cool even the turbo vipers do fine if your moving, just don't let them idle long when its warm out and you will be fine. Scratchers are a needed if your running a track the doesnt kick up snow. As @ksiesel said the ice dam thing happens to all of us from time to time under the right condiditions but not a big deal

 

[Cable810]

Keep it moving when it is warm out, keep idle time to a minimum and you'll be fine. I have never even come close to overheating mine!