Venture Lite/Utility General discussion

[pogoyamie]

Since we don't have a forum...have this fresh new venture lite with nothing to compare it to...not exactly my sx600, viper or rev...mods, tips, performance...just trying to get something going here! What Phazer/Phazer Mtn mods can we carry over...

 

[Bugbear]

I'm with ya.

 

[pogoyamie]

said it on other posts, I'll say it again...been sledding all my life...new to the 4-stroke game, new to the 2-up game. I love the way this sled feels compared to any 2-up I've rented...It's smooth as heck...ride mostly solo, but the wife gave up sledding after a crash, but still likes to ride when she can (we have a 3yo). not alotof wide open groomed trails where I ride. Mostly ditch banging and trail cutting to get to some decent groomed trails if I ride from the house. I can trailer to wide open groomed highways, but usually don't. So, that said I'd like to make my family tourer perform the best I can...not a real big market for 2-up performance products other than bags and hitches! I think wider skis for better float, some weight off the hind end but keeping the 2-up seat, and more velocity. it just feels a little slow...maybe it's the vibration/weird noise you get when the exhaust isn't right under you? Mountain lite chassis is the closest, so maybe we can get some ideas from those folks....but wait...they're probably out riding caus they get gobs of snow!!!

 

[SledderSteve]

I would hazard a guess that Gypsyroots http://www.ty4stroke.com/profile.php?mo ... ile&u=5617 probably has the most Venture Lite experience on this forum. He posted quite a bit last year but not so much yet this season. Maybe he'll chime in on this thread.

 

[pogoyamie]

thanks sledder steve...spent lots of time on mukwonago when i lived in pewaukee...on upper or lower?...shame ow it got recked (if you fish) when it froze solid. Again depends on upper or lower.

 

[pogoyamie]

wife still works out of waukesha...how's the snow been this year...good early here...now hot and rainy...sameas lat two years...few good rides foum the house...thats it...grew up in mass...miss wi

 

[pogoyamie]

Grew up in mass worked for GE in waukesha now back in mass wife still works for GR healthcare in waukeshsa...snow spent here...bad 5 years...if i sold the sleds and did 1 trip to togwotee wy i'd save money every year over the last. STILL WHANT LAMBS SPECS ON WHAT THY SOLD

 

[GypsyRoots]

I would hazard a guess that Gypsyroots http://www.ty4stroke.com/profile.php?mo ... ile&u=5617 probably has the most Venture Lite experience on this forum. He posted quite a bit last year but not so much yet this season. Maybe he'll chime in on this thread.

Thanks Steve!
My sled is still in the shop!
New track, new battery, recalls, updates, tune-up, etc...
I am going to get it this weekend, but not before I fork out US$1900... ouch!
I moved from Bethel, upriver to Sleetmute, so my dealer is about 250 miles away. (remember, we have NO ROADS in west Alaska).
We have much more snow here than out on the coast, remember last year's fiasco??? Well, I am looking at a 4 foot base outside! And it just keeps on dumping!
If any of the members here have questions, or would like more info about riding in Alaska, feel free to contact me. I will do my best to help!

To all,

Be Well

 

[pogoyamie]

WE HAVE NO SNOW AND IT KEEPS ON NOT DUMPING...HEHEH...THE VENTURE LITE IS SLOWER AND MUCH MORE DIFFRERENT THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER HAD...BUT I LOVE THE WAY IT FEELS...SORRY FOR THE SPELLING ON MY LAST POST...WIFE BOUGHT A BOTTLE OF DRAMBUI...LOSS OF GROSS/FINIGHT/ALL MOTOR SKILLS...OH WELL...IT HAPPENS

SO...IT FEELS SLOW IN THE HEAVY WET STUFF, BUT IT'S REVVING WHERE IT SHOULD. IT JUST FEELS LIKE IT'S HELD BACK...CAN'T EXPLAIN IT BETTER...SPENT LOTS OF TIME IN DEEP WEST POWDER WHEN I LIVED IN CO...NO REAL TRACK SPIN CAPABILITY BECAUSE IT DIFFERENT FLUFF...SLOW ON THE SEMI-PACKED TRAILS (50-60MPH)..IS IT NORMAL?

aLL SAID...I LOVE THE WAY THIS THING FEELS..THINK IT NEEDS FATTER SKIS, BUT LOVE THE 4-STROKE VIBE...CONFUSED AT BEST

 

[GypsyRoots]

Well, just picked up the "black Lite" from the dealer n Bethel this afternoon.
US$1974.00 not including the work and parts that were under warranty.
The total was some obnoxious 4200 dollars....
Kinda spendy for a year old sled.... I think...
But... the sled is great!
Not a rocket, not a tank, just a very unique and versatile sno-go!
Got it up to 85 MPH on 4 inches of loose snow on top of glare ice.
Since I have been riding a super wide track "other brand" for work, it feels a little tippy, but after about 4 miles of twisty sloughs, I got the body positioning back and it handles just fine.
I am happy! Although broke!!!
Tomorrow morning I head upriver, back home to Sleetmute, 250 miles of river running.
I am hoping to be home for supper...we'll see!

Cheers!

Ps. Here is a look at the next couple of days' forecast for the Kuskokwim Delta:

Updated: 4:00 PM AST on January 14, 2008

Blizzard Warning now in effect from 9 PM this evening to 3 PM AST Tuesday...

Now

Blizzard Warning from midnight to 10 am AST Tuesday... expect mostly cloudy skies with occasional snow and patchy fog across the Delta and along the coast for the next 6 hours and areas of blowing snow with visibility less than one mile. Winds are easterly 10 to 20 mph and occasional higher gusts along the coast.

Tonight

Snow and blowing snow beginning this evening and continuing through the night. Visibility reduced to one quarter mile or less at times. Snow accumulation 1 to 5 inches. Evening lows zero to 10 above. Temperatures warming into the teens toward morning. East wind 15 to 30 mph. Local gusts to 50 mph along the coast. Wind chills 20 below to 35 below zero.

Tuesday

Snow and blowing snow. Visibility reduced to one quarter mile or less at times. Additional snow accumulation around 2 inches. Highs 15 to 25. South wind 20 to 30 mph. Local gusts to 45 mph along the coast. Wind chills 5 below to 20 below zero in the morning.

Tuesday Night

Snow showers. Areas of blowing snow reducing visibility to one mile or less at times. Additional snow accumulation up to 2 inches. Lows 15 to 20. South wind 15 to 30 mph.

And for the Kuskokwim Valley:

Updated: 4:00 PM AST on January 14, 2008

No Active Advisories (US Severe Weather)

Now

Through 10 PM...expect cloudy skies to continue with a chance of snow across the Kuskokwim valley. Little accumulation expected with light north winds.

Tonight

Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows zero to 25 below. Northeast wind 10 mph.

Tuesday

Snow likely. Additional snow accumulation up to 2 inches. Highs zero to 25 above. Southeast wind 10 mph.

Tuesday Night and Wednesday

Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows zero to 20 above. Highs 15 to 25. South wind 15

 

[Bugbear]

Gypsy, knowing you have over 5,000 miles on the sled, when you get a chance and if you're inclined, I think we'd all appreciate a rough breakdown on the repairs/warranty items and your thoughts about them.
Nothing too detailed. Kinda wonder what's comming down the pike for my machine, although I've only got 209 miles on her. Starts fine at -4F.
Hasn't been colder.

We expect a dump here in Anchortown tomorrow from the same storm.

Hope you make it home with no trouble.

 

[Isthatahemi]

Well, just picked up the "black Lite" from the dealer n Bethel this afternoon.
US$1974.00 not including the work and parts that were under warranty.
The total was some obnoxious 4200 dollars....
Kinda spendy for a year old sled.... I think...

What's the $2g for?

 

[pogoyamie]

anyone running studs?

the pattern is easy enough, but I'm concerned about the exhaust. the little heat shield on the muffler isn't going to do much for protection. my local dealer said they had no 'tunnel protection specs or patterns'. I guess I've just come used to the stopping/accelerating advantage of the picks, having always run performance sleds. Again, we're talking vastly different snow conditions down here vs most of you guys. Lots of icy hard pack because it gets warm...plus this is my ice fishing transport, so traction can be an issue when we don't have alot of snow.

 

[GypsyRoots]

Gypsy, Hope you make it home with no trouble.

Well, after 14 hours, 268 miles and 13 open holes I am home.
The trails were really good up from Bethel to Tuluksak, from there on to Kalskag it was blowing and any vestige of a trail was blown and drifted over.
Then, good trail again from Aniak to Chuathbaluk.
But From "Chwey" on up to Crooked Creek there was no trail at all, I had a heck of a time "picking" my way through a lot of jumbled ice and open water, ...I hate breaking trail in the dark.
And just to top it all off... I ran out of gas within sight of the village. I was really hoping to make all the way on that last little bar... but I had 5 gallons with me so it was just a minor nuisance.
Well, the Black Lite is home and I am going to bed!!!

Gypsy Out....

 

[Isthatahemi]

But what was th $2000 you spent for?