eou_edu
Newbie
First time poster here. I've been a long time phazer rider finally ready to step it up with a viper. Like most snowmobiles weight is an important topic. Of course it's a big topic that comes up especially when you talk about 4 strokes. I could never bring myself to riding a 2 stroke but the weight stats are seemingly impressive. That is until I started looking into them. It seems everybody around me rides a polaris pro RMK and immediately stat it's claim of 406 lbs dry. Then I started doing some math and realized they are actually pretty closer to equal than it seems. None of these even accounts for the after riding weight test that I've seen on youtube several times. From the research I've done:
Viper 605 lbs ready to ride 41.5
RMK 536 lbs
69 lbs difference.
Some basic viper mods:
lighter battery -10 lbs
lighter exhaust -8 lbs
Same RMK seat -4 lbs
The ready to ride weight is the RMK with a full 11 gallons, viper with a full 10 gallons. But with a 4 stroke you get a lot better mileage. How much I suppose is up for debate. But is it safe to say you'd have the same range on a viper with 7 gallons of fuel that the RMK has with 11?
3 gallons less of fuel off the viper "ready to ride" weight 6.2 lbs x 3+= -18.6
A viper now weighs 28.4 lbs more than an RMK while still being a similar sled. About 10 lbs of that is electric start (consider you now have a light battery). Can't really subtract that because you can't take it off, but if you did now you are within 18.4 lbs. Lightweight hood would loose another 5.5 lbs. Now you are withing 13.8 lbs. Considering they say the weight difference of 4 stroke vs 2 stroke engines is about 30 lbs, that's not bad. Somebody could probably get creative doing a few more modes to loose. You can probably count on bringing less tools due it reliability, the need for a spare belt isn't AS important. Lighter weight clothes even. If you account for the after riding weight test that's out on youtube, the viper is now actually quite a bit lighter.
Now of which matters or to say I will buy a viper and do any of these. But for a while it made me wonder. It bothered me for a long time how much more the yamaha weighed than the RMK but I finally realized it really doesn't. Even keep everything stock with a 200 lbs rider they are withing 8% of the weight of each other. That's the advantage of 4 stroke, electric start, with a full tank and longer riding range................ Feel free to correct any of my mistakes.
Viper 605 lbs ready to ride 41.5
RMK 536 lbs
69 lbs difference.
Some basic viper mods:
lighter battery -10 lbs
lighter exhaust -8 lbs
Same RMK seat -4 lbs
The ready to ride weight is the RMK with a full 11 gallons, viper with a full 10 gallons. But with a 4 stroke you get a lot better mileage. How much I suppose is up for debate. But is it safe to say you'd have the same range on a viper with 7 gallons of fuel that the RMK has with 11?
3 gallons less of fuel off the viper "ready to ride" weight 6.2 lbs x 3+= -18.6
A viper now weighs 28.4 lbs more than an RMK while still being a similar sled. About 10 lbs of that is electric start (consider you now have a light battery). Can't really subtract that because you can't take it off, but if you did now you are within 18.4 lbs. Lightweight hood would loose another 5.5 lbs. Now you are withing 13.8 lbs. Considering they say the weight difference of 4 stroke vs 2 stroke engines is about 30 lbs, that's not bad. Somebody could probably get creative doing a few more modes to loose. You can probably count on bringing less tools due it reliability, the need for a spare belt isn't AS important. Lighter weight clothes even. If you account for the after riding weight test that's out on youtube, the viper is now actually quite a bit lighter.
Now of which matters or to say I will buy a viper and do any of these. But for a while it made me wonder. It bothered me for a long time how much more the yamaha weighed than the RMK but I finally realized it really doesn't. Even keep everything stock with a 200 lbs rider they are withing 8% of the weight of each other. That's the advantage of 4 stroke, electric start, with a full tank and longer riding range................ Feel free to correct any of my mistakes.
InRBigness
Lifetime Member
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never mind the weight of the snow and ice that you will not be carrying around under your tunnel.
blueironranger
TY 4 Stroke God
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- 2014 Viper XTX
2009 Phazer MTX
The fuel economy is roughly the same, my buddies 800 Assault only takes 2-3$ more than my Phazer at a gas stop. After a long weekend of riding (1,100 miles) I had averaged 19.1 for the trip and he averaged 17.5 for the trip. Don't know what my Viper gets yet but I'll b happy if it pulls 17.5 like his 800. That's said, that 4 day trip used up about 1/2 his engines life expectancy.
eou_edu
Newbie
I'm surprised it's this close. It used to be a 4 stroke got almost twice the mileage as a two stroke and cost twice as much to run. But I don't really know anymore with new tec 2 stroke.
yamadoo
Yamadoo is a snowmobile ' aholic'.
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13 Apex XTX 45 anniversary RED/WHITE/BLACK 3K miles
10 Vector LTX Blue 9kmiles
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86 SnoScoot(2) for grand kids
I think only those who ride in DEEP snow can justify even bringing up the weight argument. For Midwest trail riders its not an issue.
If brought up to me, I will ask do you ever fill your sled with fuel? The will say well ya every time I go for a long ride.
I ask how can you stand it? I mean your sled now weighs more than my VIPER when I am near empty. I thought you weight conscious guys would rather NOT RIDE THEN TO RIDE A HEAVY sled?
Weight, other than mountain sled, is MARKETING point not a trail riders concern. My 2cents.
If brought up to me, I will ask do you ever fill your sled with fuel? The will say well ya every time I go for a long ride.
I ask how can you stand it? I mean your sled now weighs more than my VIPER when I am near empty. I thought you weight conscious guys would rather NOT RIDE THEN TO RIDE A HEAVY sled?
Weight, other than mountain sled, is MARKETING point not a trail riders concern. My 2cents.
InRBigness
Lifetime Member
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2014
- Messages
- 735
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- winnipeg, manitoba
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2016 Viper XTX-LE w/ MPI turbo
My favorite line when the 2 Smokers mock my Viper is: Well its not really a big deal to me as I usually ride it and almost never carry it.
rbell14
TY 4 Stroke Guru
Weight might matter more in the mountains but doesn't make much difference on the trails with me. I ride with 800 and 600 switchbacks and am faster in the trails than both. Fuel mileage is almost identical. I'm heavy on throttle turn to turn. They have larger tanks at 12 but actual MPG is very close.
You do realize the 2S guys also have all the mods available to them also. Probably more. Just the muffler alone can save them 15lbs(Diamond S)
