to VK or not to VK

[longtrack]

I've been following this site for a couple of years now and there is a lot of good info. But I just find with the VK there is so many differing opinions about the machine that I just couldnt decide weather id love the machine or hate it, so for now I stuck with what I knew, the venture TF. Maybe in the future I will own one.

As far as the other brands of utilities, they seem to also have their pros and cons, but ive always had good luck with yami and would like to stick with them.

I guess the only way to tell is if you ride one for a while but thats not usually possible when you buy one.

 

[stewartb]

I couldn't be happier with mine. I loved the old one. The new one is different. Heavier, but smoother, more comfortable, better suspension, more power, warmer to ride, better lights, MUCH faster.....just plain better! The Professional will shock you with the acceleration. This isn't your average wide track!

 

[Ry]

I bought a 2009 VK-PRO for working and its great. I am running an ice hut rental business and its perfect for that, towing 5 or 6 people on sled or moving my 8'x8' shacks across the lake 5 - 6 kms. If you're not constantly towing and using the low gear, don't buy one. Sure its a nice ride but its still a work machine. Yamaha made 27 models of sled available for sale here in Canada in 2009, theres got to be a Yamaha for everyone. Any questions about VK PRO?

 

[eric3793]

I've been following this site for a couple of years now and there is a lot of good info. But I just find with the VK there is so many differing opinions about the machine that I just couldnt decide weather id love the machine or hate it, so for now I stuck with what I knew, the venture TF. Maybe in the future I will own one.

As far as the other brands of utilities, they seem to also have their pros and cons, but ive always had good luck with yami and would like to stick with them.

I guess the only way to tell is if you ride one for a while but thats not usually possible when you buy one.

I sold my Polaris WT and picked up a VK in '08. I rode groomed trails with a group of regular sleds for a week to break her in. I loved the comfortable, warm ride and the very good milage. It is able to cruise easily at 70mph and 18mpg in ideal conditions is typical. As I became familiar with the machine, I began off-trail riding as I have done for many years on my other WT machines. The VK is 130 pounds heavier that the older 2-stroke machines so this weight really effects deep snow performance. In the past I could get unstuck using the reverse-forward-reverse-forward technique. Not so with the VK. I have tipped this machine on its side at very slow speeds and it required two of us to rite it.

I added 11" ski skins which helps keep snow out of your face and lap when riding deep powder. Dual carbides and 144 picks make this sled handle like a dream on groomed and icy conditions. The VK is a outstanding groomer which is where the 4-stroke really shines. Hour after hour at low speed pulling is a treat. This sort of activity on my older Polaris was painful because I felt I was over working the 2-stroke.

Riding with a friend that has a Bearcat 660 made me realize that the VK rear skid is not good. The AC rides like a limo in the bumps and I cannot keep up on rough trails.

I now have nearly 6000 miles on my red beast without any problems. I do like it alot but the weight is a concern. Would I buy another one? Probably. Although I am very curious about the light weight Expedition 600SDI. If Skidoo puts the e-tec motor in this sled next year I will be tempted...but I will likely keep the VK until 10K miles. Maybe Yamaha will make some changes by then.