Sled comparison

[Studroes144]

Not sure this is the right place for this topic but I'd love to hear the input of viper owners or people that have had seat time on a viper on comparisons between the viper and other leading sleds from the different brands. I'm hearing all kinds of hype..and I do believe it's just a lot of hype..about Polaris' new line up, cat didn't bring anything to the table other than higher prices, only thing skidoo changed was going to Ronald McDonald colors. I have no interest at all in switching brands, I plan to ride yamaha for as long as I own a sled and I plan to own my viper for 4-5 years. My question is, how would you guys compare your vipers to other new sleds you've ridden as far as power but more importantly the ride quality. So far I've ridden a couple 14' xf7000s. Same power obviously but the ride was a little better than my viper in. The fact that it had a little more plush ride on smaller bumps but still all the big bump capabilities. Had a decent amount of seat time on a 14' renegade 800 x package and 13' pro r switchback as well as a 12' xrs 800. The renegade seemed to handle small bumps perfectly but bigger bumps I thought it was lacking and handling feel off along with it bottoming easily. The xrs was all around too stiff..I though it was more stiff than the viper and I didn't feel safe or in control riding it. Both sleds were lazy and not very responsive, took a long time for power to come around but when it did it would pull hard. The Polaris seems to be fun to ride on the trails because it is very responsive but power falls off very fast. Far more impressed with my viper as far as power. Ride quality..I don't like it at all. I know the pro r is suppose to be a great suspension but to me it felt so awkward that I couldn't just jump on it and ride. The sled acted so much differently than anything I've ever ridden and it didn't seem to handle big or small bumps that good the few different times I've rode it. Now I've complained most of the season about the stiff suspension of the viper but all in all it seems to be the most consistent riding sled that I've ridden out of all of the new sleds. It's a very predictable smooth sled that handles all types of riding GOOD. It's not the best at any specific type of riding but it handles any type of riding I want to do with it where I feel very limited whenever I'm on the doo or Polaris sleds. Just expressing some thoughts I've had with the miles and riding I've done over the last few months. Curious if others are feel the same about other brand sleds they've ridden. This may shed a bit of light on those considering spring checking a 2015 sled. One other thing that I think is funny is all the hype being thrown about Polaris' new 800 engine and the big hp increase..now if cat jumped up 10-15 hp that would be worth talking about. Doesn't really seem too impressive to me that Polaris is now finally putting out the same numbers that cat has had with their 800 for the past 3 years. Just my opinion on that. Let's hear what you got to say viper guys.

 

[vsmpowered]

i was at demos in old forge one thing i wish they had polaris axys demo rides the sled felt good just sitting on it

 

[wot-75]

I came off a switchback 800 pro r and prefer the Viper on the trail. My buddies still have theirs and tell me my sled scares them because unlike the SB where you feel like you're riding it the Viper , to them, feels like it's taking you for a ride. This is obviously a reflection of the heavier weight and flat cornering of the Viper where, to me, the SB feels less planted and lighter. I will say that the Viper seems to respond better when ridden aggressively... The harder I push the better it feels!

 

[yamahas]

Studroes144,

I moved you're topic to the head to head section.

Thanks.

 

[Studroes144]

Thanks, hoping to see Input from vipers owners or more specifically people that have had a decent amount of seat time on different chassis. Each chassis is great in it's own way but I feel the viper is the best all around sled I've ever ridden! That's my true opinion, not just because I own one. I've owned yamaha 4 strokes in the last for the love of the engine. I'm ridding the viper now for the love of the sled, does anything I want it to do and does it all very well!

 

[fxnytroxtx]

I test drove the new renegade xrs yesterday, also rode buddy's mxz xrs ('12 '13 '14) and for me the viper doesn't come close to them in anyway, this sleds respond to your every input and do everything with ease, where the viper is a soulless stubborn donkey that just wants to kick ur a$$ all day long. As for power, as long as I can get a decent corner to corner I'm good, that's why I love yamahas triple.

Wish polaris had the new sleds to demo, they felt really good just buy sitting on it. But no demo no buy, sorry polaris you lost a possible buyer.

 

[fxnytroxtx]

And Ronald McDonald colors don't look bad at all in real life, actually liked it, but they will also have all black for xrs models

 

[Studroes144]

I've enjoyed reading the posts from other forums that the skidoo guys are say..for every 1 person that likes them there is easily 25 people that think they are ugly as sin. That is coming from skidoo owners. Granted they atleast did something right and made an all black sled but still have their same ugly body style from last year. For me the jump on and ride factor was much better on the viper than the skidoos, that is with driving their two top r-motion sleds..oh and the fact of paying $1000+ for a comparable skidoo makes me also very happy of how much I like the viper.