XTX off trail riders...what's your setup?

[ViperMatt]

I changed my A arms to the same stance of the mountain sleds I believe the xtx Le has a narrower stance as well.

So an after market upgrade? How much did that cost you?

 

[kodak]

It cost me about 1500 the shocks have to match the 38" stance which is the biggest expense if you could get them used you would save some coin you can get the A arm kit from Cat country cat sells for like 380 or something other aftermarket guys sell them maybe sponsors of this site I went with the cat kit because it comes with everything you need and easy to get a replacement if you bust one.

 

[kodak]

probably a good bit but I have not drove one just saw what they could with the bigger track

 

[ViperMatt]

It cost me about 1500 the shocks have to match the 38" stance which is the biggest expense if you could get them used you would save some coin you can get the A arm kit from Cat country cat sells for like 380 or something other aftermarket guys sell them maybe sponsors of this site I went with the cat kit because it comes with everything you need and easy to get a replacement if you bust one.

Ouch. That will have to wait for next season then lol. I'll start shopping around until then.

 

[fiddlersgreen]

Did you adjust the center shock yourself? Have you tried other variations of it and did that change anything?

Yes I did. It was at 17 threads showing first when I got it and found it rough on the trails.
My limiter was tight like that when I got the sled and I left it like it.
I let off on the Center shock and lowered the pressure in the fronts and rear shock. Night and day on the trail.
Felt like it wanted to throw me over the handle bars on rebound.
It's way better now for trails.
I just want to try something different for powder.
Nos pro and stingray helped with the trail setup...thanks guys.

 

[stingray719]

So an after market upgrade? How much did that cost you?

I bought one of the Arctic Cat upgrade for the Cat 2012's on Ebay complete kit for 200 bucks. Sent shocks off to guy in Idaho who shortened both floats for 100 bucks. So my narrow front cost 300 bucks

 

[kodak]

Nice wish I saw that sooner

 

[viipeR]

i ride strictly backcountry. 6'3 220 ilbs... i run 75 ibs in the front floats and 135 in the rear. have yet to touch the center shock. Disconnected sway bar and narrow ski stance. I have been riding backcountry since i was a kid so I can get just about any sled to do what i want it to. However, these vipers do lack where the other brands excel in technical backcountry riding. If you are running the cobra 1.6 you are going to have to get used to maintaining track speed and momentum feathering the throttle and leaning all together at the right time. This is true with ALL sleds, but the viper requires more attention to this aspect. It is a difficult chassis to get used to, and it will knock the sweat out of you all day. The only way i see making it easier then already mentioned is putting it on a sevre diet spending the coin on little trinkets here and there to shed the weight, and installing a 38" kit. Even then, it wont be like others, but will do well

 

[stingray719]

i ride strictly backcountry. 6'3 220 ilbs... i run 75 ibs in the front floats and 135 in the rear. have yet to touch the center shock. Disconnected sway bar and narrow ski stance. I have been riding backcountry since i was a kid so I can get just about any sled to do what i want it to. However, these vipers do lack where the other brands excel in technical backcountry riding. If you are running the cobra 1.6 you are going to have to get used to maintaining track speed and momentum feathering the throttle and leaning all together at the right time. This is true with ALL sleds, but the viper requires more attention to this aspect. It is a difficult chassis to get used to, and it will knock the sweat out of you all day. The only way i see making it easier then already mentioned is putting it on a sevre diet spending the coin on little trinkets here and there to shed the weight, and installing a 38" kit. Even then, it wont be like others, but will do well

In stock form yes as the stupid weak front skid shock spring makes it heavy feeling and non responsive. Change out the front skid shock spring and it handles exactly like the M8. I have mentioned this to you before, you can fix it or complain of course your choice.

We travel stupid deep powder and trees and I run a 162 Campolast X3 with 3 inch lugs and about the only time I break a sweat is digging out the girlfriends sled.

 

[viipeR]

In stock form yes as the stupid weak front skid shock spring makes it heavy feeling and non responsive. Change out the front skid shock spring and it handles exactly like the M8. I have mentioned this to you before, you can fix it or complain of course your choice.

We travel stupid deep powder and trees and I run a 162 Campolast X3 with 3 inch lugs and about the only time I break a sweat is digging out the girlfriends sled.

stingray, thanks for the info. i read your skid spring write up earlier in the season and my dealer and i actualy sat down and reviewed it together for a few hours. i havent had a chance to play with it yet. i was just giving my opinion thus far, that is all. i will indeed be playing with that spring.....

 

[stingray719]

stingray, thanks for the info. i read your skid spring write up earlier in the season and my dealer and i actualy sat down and reviewed it together for a few hours. i havent had a chance to play with it yet. i was just giving my opinion thus far, that is all. i will indeed be playing with that spring.....

Sorry if I came across rather abrupt, but this chassis is a dream to ride set up correctly, and it is frustrating to hear people having issues when the fix is so easy. Our Vipers steered heavy and lifted the skis because the skid would not transfer so something had to give and it would lift the skis, that and trench. Mine wheelies less now than it did stock, and I get GREAT transfer for traction. That is especially valuable to me when nursing through the trees. If you don't want to wait on a spring relocate the lower skid shock mount and use stock spring. But turn your XTX into an M8 kind of handling sled....I did

 

[yamahaguy]

XTX LE with 2.25.
95% boondocking 5% trail.
6'3" 230lb. with my gear
75psi Front
125 psi Rear
middle shock: 18ish threads showing
Sway bars removed for weight savings, hole was plugged.
8inch Slydogs with bushing set to narrow. (A-arms are narrower then a XTX-SE so thats a bit different)


I'm very happy with how lite the sled feels, how easy it is to carving, side hilling, uphill turns, etc. It will do a tight figure 8 carve on both sides. It will cat walk until I chicken out and let off. We did alot of tree riding in the hills yesterday (3-4 feet of snow) and this sled loves the deep stuff on a hill side and so do I. Very little driver effort needed as your zigging and zagging up a hillside, just pick a line in the trees and go. Very flickable! Every time I ride I am learning more about the sled and I'm impressed. After 8 hours of playing in the back country yesterday I am not sore today, that's a good sign that this sled does not need to be wrestled around when playing in the deep stuff .

 

[Groomer08]

I agree with him^
This sled loves the powder, and if yours wont go or the #*$&@ end feels low or digs, your limiter strap is holding you back. Lengthen the strap.
Carves easy peasy. I do S turns because straight is boring on this sled.
Viper climbs deep untouched pow almost almost as good as a backcountry 1.75 nytro, and leans/sidehills better.
Oh, and its not going to lean as good if you put the 4th wheel kit on fyi!!!
Lays over good because of the narrow rear idlers.
Stingray swears by the spring mod.

 

[Groomer08]

^are you truly happy with your rear suspension however?
I am not. Its good, but after riding polaris rush and skidonts back to back with mine i want it better.
Feels like its either soft and working, but bottoms on huge stuff, or a pogo stick and not really working but it wont bottom.
No happy adjustment to the suspension

 

[YAMMAROB]

Stingray, is there any advantage to doing the spring mod and going back to he pre location bolt holes? or are they the same?