Test Drove a Viper Today

[Mighty]

I am Canadian but honestly you think Bush was any better.

Yep, he wasn't a dictator

 

[Preacher]

I am Canadian but honestly you think Bush was any better.

Yep, he wasn't a dictator

[marq=left]

 

[ruffrider]

Test drove a Viper RTX SE & an LTX SE today. I was in the 2nd group out, the trail was fresh.

The RTX darted & the rear fishtaled. The LTX darted but then pushed w/the slightest amount of throttle. Darting & pushing can be resolved w/better carbides & proper setup although, I couldn't see how to adjust weight transfer on the rear skid - maybe you can't??. I could lift the ski in the turn easier than I can on my 1200 Renegade. Clutch engagement was lackluster but the backshift was great. The throttle response was not as crisp & instant as it is on Nytros & Apexes. The sleds are big. The seat's taller than an Apex & they're just as long. The ergos are fine, the fit, finish & 'feel' of the sled is Arctic Cat all the way. The most remarkable thing about the Vipers is how unremarkable they are. They didn't do anything poorly per say, they just didn't excel at anything either. Underwhelming is how I'd describe the sleds. Then for giggles I jumped on a Doo 1200. The clutch engagement & throttle response was better & the front end wasn't nervous like the Viper. The Viper is nice but it's merely average. The Apex remains an excellent sled & is a better trail sled IMO.

I think Yamaha dropped the ball by partnering w/Cat. Yam obviously couldn't afford to develop their own new chassis but the Viper seems to be too much of a compromise. On the upside, the Viper made me realize my Doo 1200 Renegade is the best handling sled in this class, & I am (or was) a Yamaha guy.

Ride on!

Very interesting. Assuming you went to the NH Snodeo, I demo'd the same group of sleds that you did. I have a 1200 GSX SE right now and when I got back on it after demo'ing the Viper it felt like a tank...steered heavier and was much more sluggish than the Viper. I am not crazy about the reliability issues with the Viper, so I wouldn't buy one right now even if I had the money. However, assuming equal reliability, the Vipers I tried were far superior compared to my 1200.

 

[2008 Nytro RTX]

Test drove a Viper RTX SE & an LTX SE today. I was in the 2nd group out, the trail was fresh.

The RTX darted & the rear fishtaled. The LTX darted but then pushed w/the slightest amount of throttle. Darting & pushing can be resolved w/better carbides & proper setup although, I couldn't see how to adjust weight transfer on the rear skid - maybe you can't??. I could lift the ski in the turn easier than I can on my 1200 Renegade. Clutch engagement was lackluster but the backshift was great. The throttle response was not as crisp & instant as it is on Nytros & Apexes. The sleds are big. The seat's taller than an Apex & they're just as long. The ergos are fine, the fit, finish & 'feel' of the sled is Arctic Cat all the way. The most remarkable thing about the Vipers is how unremarkable they are. They didn't do anything poorly per say, they just didn't excel at anything either. Underwhelming is how I'd describe the sleds. Then for giggles I jumped on a Doo 1200. The clutch engagement & throttle response was better & the front end wasn't nervous like the Viper. The Viper is nice but it's merely average. The Apex remains an excellent sled & is a better trail sled IMO.

I think Yamaha dropped the ball by partnering w/Cat. Yam obviously couldn't afford to develop their own new chassis but the Viper seems to be too much of a compromise. On the upside, the Viper made me realize my Doo 1200 Renegade is the best handling sled in this class, & I am (or was) a Yamaha guy.

Ride on!

Very interesting. Assuming you went to the NH Snodeo, I demo'd the same group of sleds that you did. I have a 1200 GSX SE right now and when I got back on it after demo'ing the Viper it felt like a tank...steered heavier and was much more sluggish than the Viper. I am not crazy about the reliability issues with the Viper, so I wouldn't buy one right now even if I had the money. However, assuming equal reliability, the Vipers I tried were far superior compared to my 1200.

Have you ever drove an X vs your GSX? Doo guys say the Viper is going to be junk and won't touch their 1200s but here you are you have a 1200 and your saying the Viper is head and shoulders above the 1200. INteresting

 

[2008 Nytro RTX]

Test drove a Viper RTX SE & an LTX SE today. I was in the 2nd group out, the trail was fresh.

The RTX darted & the rear fishtaled. The LTX darted but then pushed w/the slightest amount of throttle. Darting & pushing can be resolved w/better carbides & proper setup although, I couldn't see how to adjust weight transfer on the rear skid - maybe you can't??. I could lift the ski in the turn easier than I can on my 1200 Renegade. Clutch engagement was lackluster but the backshift was great. The throttle response was not as crisp & instant as it is on Nytros & Apexes. The sleds are big. The seat's taller than an Apex & they're just as long. The ergos are fine, the fit, finish & 'feel' of the sled is Arctic Cat all the way. The most remarkable thing about the Vipers is how unremarkable they are. They didn't do anything poorly per say, they just didn't excel at anything either. Underwhelming is how I'd describe the sleds. Then for giggles I jumped on a Doo 1200. The clutch engagement & throttle response was better & the front end wasn't nervous like the Viper. The Viper is nice but it's merely average. The Apex remains an excellent sled & is a better trail sled IMO.

I think Yamaha dropped the ball by partnering w/Cat. Yam obviously couldn't afford to develop their own new chassis but the Viper seems to be too much of a compromise. On the upside, the Viper made me realize my Doo 1200 Renegade is the best handling sled in this class, & I am (or was) a Yamaha guy.

Ride on!

Very interesting. Assuming you went to the NH Snodeo, I demo'd the same group of sleds that you did. I have a 1200 GSX SE right now and when I got back on it after demo'ing the Viper it felt like a tank...steered heavier and was much more sluggish than the Viper. I am not crazy about the reliability issues with the Viper, so I wouldn't buy one right now even if I had the money. However, assuming equal reliability, the Vipers I tried were far superior compared to my 1200.

Have you ever drove an X vs your GSX? Doo guys say the Viper is going to be junk and won't touch their 1200s but here you are you have a 1200 and your saying the Viper is head and shoulders above the 1200. INteresting

 

[F7 Racer]

Well here's my point of view. If Yamaha hadn't come out with the viper, I'd have been buying a new Polaris. Sat idel for long enough it was time. Instead Yamaha is still getting my $$,not Polaris. Maybe us idiots buying the Viper will help keep Yamaha in sleds so all the bashers might still get there 2015 dream.

What Polaris if I may ask? Just wondering being looking at a Viper with the Nytro 4 stroke motor vs. what Polaris offers in engines it would probably have to be the 600 or 800 2 stroke block. IMO neither is even in the same ball park. The only reason I could think of buying the Polaris is the Rush chassis for ride quality. Thier 800 is down on power compared to the other 800's but maybe that's why they don't blow as easy either.

Even if Yamaha started offering a stroke at this point I don't think I'd buy it. I am sick of the worrying about premium fuel, ethanol in the fuel being more tempermental to burndowns ,2 stroke smoke smell and buying 2S oil at $30+ a gallon.

Actually the Poo 800 is the most likely to blow if you follow the 800 class with the 800 ETec a close second. The Cat 800 has been extremely good with class leading HP to boot.

 

[ruffrider]

Test drove a Viper RTX SE & an LTX SE today. I was in the 2nd group out, the trail was fresh.

The RTX darted & the rear fishtaled. The LTX darted but then pushed w/the slightest amount of throttle. Darting & pushing can be resolved w/better carbides & proper setup although, I couldn't see how to adjust weight transfer on the rear skid - maybe you can't??. I could lift the ski in the turn easier than I can on my 1200 Renegade. Clutch engagement was lackluster but the backshift was great. The throttle response was not as crisp & instant as it is on Nytros & Apexes. The sleds are big. The seat's taller than an Apex & they're just as long. The ergos are fine, the fit, finish & 'feel' of the sled is Arctic Cat all the way. The most remarkable thing about the Vipers is how unremarkable they are. They didn't do anything poorly per say, they just didn't excel at anything either. Underwhelming is how I'd describe the sleds. Then for giggles I jumped on a Doo 1200. The clutch engagement & throttle response was better & the front end wasn't nervous like the Viper. The Viper is nice but it's merely average. The Apex remains an excellent sled & is a better trail sled IMO.

I think Yamaha dropped the ball by partnering w/Cat. Yam obviously couldn't afford to develop their own new chassis but the Viper seems to be too much of a compromise. On the upside, the Viper made me realize my Doo 1200 Renegade is the best handling sled in this class, & I am (or was) a Yamaha guy.

Ride on!

Very interesting. Assuming you went to the NH Snodeo, I demo'd the same group of sleds that you did. I have a 1200 GSX SE right now and when I got back on it after demo'ing the Viper it felt like a tank...steered heavier and was much more sluggish than the Viper. I am not crazy about the reliability issues with the Viper, so I wouldn't buy one right now even if I had the money. However, assuming equal reliability, the Vipers I tried were far superior compared to my 1200.

Have you ever drove an X vs your GSX? Doo guys say the Viper is going to be junk and won't touch their 1200s but here you are you have a 1200 and your saying the Viper is head and shoulders above the 1200. INteresting

I've never ridden an X package in the 1200, but I do have some seat time on an 09 Gade Adrenaline. I wouldn't call it head & shoulders above the 1200 yet. Keep in mind I only rode a pre-build Viper for about 5 miles. It would be ignorant to make a bold statement like that right now. Maybe my setup on my 1200 is not where it should be. A lot of different factors to take into account. All I can do is compare what I have right now to what I rode, and I liked the Viper better.

 

[RobWarrior]

Ruff, Thanks for your input...with all the negative posts about Cat I was starting to think about a Doo 1200. Damn a 2014 Nytro is starting to look good to me Troy City Garage has them listed at $7799.00 plus F&S. that would leave a lot of mod money?

 

[maxdlx]

http://m.youtube.com/index?&desktop_uri ... ONoc9fFWT8

 

[Sno Cat]

Test drove a Viper RTX SE & an LTX SE today. I was in the 2nd group out, the trail was fresh.

The RTX darted & the rear fishtaled. The LTX darted but then pushed w/the slightest amount of throttle. Darting & pushing can be resolved w/better carbides & proper setup although, I couldn't see how to adjust weight transfer on the rear skid - maybe you can't??. I could lift the ski in the turn easier than I can on my 1200 Renegade. Clutch engagement was lackluster but the backshift was great. The throttle response was not as crisp & instant as it is on Nytros & Apexes. The sleds are big. The seat's taller than an Apex & they're just as long. The ergos are fine, the fit, finish & 'feel' of the sled is Arctic Cat all the way. The most remarkable thing about the Vipers is how unremarkable they are. They didn't do anything poorly per say, they just didn't excel at anything either. Underwhelming is how I'd describe the sleds. Then for giggles I jumped on a Doo 1200. The clutch engagement & throttle response was better & the front end wasn't nervous like the Viper. The Viper is nice but it's merely average. The Apex remains an excellent sled & is a better trail sled IMO.

I think Yamaha dropped the ball by partnering w/Cat. Yam obviously couldn't afford to develop their own new chassis but the Viper seems to be too much of a compromise. On the upside, the Viper made me realize my Doo 1200 Renegade is the best handling sled in this class, & I am (or was) a Yamaha guy.

Ride on!

Very interesting. Assuming you went to the NH Snodeo, I demo'd the same group of sleds that you did. I have a 1200 GSX SE right now and when I got back on it after demo'ing the Viper it felt like a tank...steered heavier and was much more sluggish than the Viper. I am not crazy about the reliability issues with the Viper, so I wouldn't buy one right now even if I had the money. However, assuming equal reliability, the Vipers I tried were far superior compared to my 1200.

The comment insinuating I didn't attend is perhaps the most idiotic post I've seen. I enjoyed the laugh, though.
But from one snowmobiler to another, put Stud Boy 6" Shapers on the center, Doo 4" on the outside, full or near-full preload on your center shock. That'll get rid of the 'tank' feel, will eliminate darting & will corner well w/out pulling your arms out. Shimming the skis also works well if you don't want to run that much carbide. If your clutch isn't snappier than the Viper's, it needs servicing.
Cheers

 

[journeyman]

Well here's my point of view. If Yamaha hadn't come out with the viper, I'd have been buying a new Polaris. Sat idel for long enough it was time. Instead Yamaha is still getting my $$,not Polaris. Maybe us idiots buying the Viper will help keep Yamaha in sleds so all the bashers might still get there 2015 dream.

What Polaris if I may ask? Just wondering being looking at a Viper with the Nytro 4 stroke motor vs. what Polaris offers in engines it would probably have to be the 600 or 800 2 stroke block. IMO neither is even in the same ball park. The only reason I could think of buying the Polaris is the Rush chassis for ride quality. Thier 800 is down on power compared to the other 800's but maybe that's why they don't blow as easy either.

Even if Yamaha started offering a stroke at this point I don't think I'd buy it. I am sick of the worrying about premium fuel, ethanol in the fuel being more tempermental to burndowns ,2 stroke smoke smell and buying 2S oil at $30+ a gallon.

Actually the Poo 800 is the most likely to blow if you follow the 800 class with the 800 ETec a close second. The Cat 800 has been extremely good with class leading HP to boot.

I hadn't heard of the Poo's blowing, just that they were down on power. I know all about the crank bearings in the 800 Doo, been doing that for years. I have also heard how good the Cat 800 has been but here is the ironic thing. I ran into a group of Cat riders last year in the UP of Michigan. 4 brand new Pro Cross machines on their first trip. 3 were turbos and one was the 800...................was, the guy with the 800 had his motor blow with 50 miles on it and pre-mix still in the tank. Ruined his trip. This is just one case but I thought it was sure strange.

 

[Mighty]

Ruff, Thanks for your input...with all the negative posts about Cat I was starting to think about a Doo 1200. Damn a 2014 Nytro is starting to look good to me Troy City Garage has them listed at $7799.00 plus F&S. that would leave a lot of mod money?

I think you mean 2013

 

[RobWarrior]

No...2014 Spring order

 

[09nytro]

For all those purchasing the Viper next year! I Just would like to thank you in advanced for being a 1st year test pilot, And Wish you the best.

Your welcome.........anything is better than this god d### nytro......it's worst than a boat( money pit)

 

[Mighty]

No...2014 Spring order

Wow!