[Minker]

My Buddy just picked up the above sled, he is bringing it over for me to have a look before he starts riding it (I'm the neighbourhood mechanic) unfortunately I'm not that familiar with the Yamaha product line.

He say's the guy that he purchased it from is a gearhead so he feels it should be OK...but is there anything in particular that I should pay a little more attention looking at? What are there weaknesses... if any??? Or something that should require replacement or repair!

Any heads up would be appreciated.

Thx

Minker[attachment=21417]

 

[quebec]

Just make sure that the gas pump was replaced (recall) . The vipers are bullet proof, cheap on gas and oil and they run for ever unless you put pipes on it then reliability drops big time.
In 2002 many ownwers went for the revalving of the shocks but mine hasnt been touched and i love it . If you drive hard then you will like the original setup.

 

[obsessed]

Sorry to steal the topic but I have been seriously considering buying an 02 - 03 viper 700. They seem to be the best of top speed and suspension am I wrong? Is there a better machine out there that will out do it even when reliability is factored in?
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[srxguy]

In all honesty I wouldn't buy a viper and i'm a hard core yamaha fan. For what your gonna pay for a viper you can buy other sleds that are far more advanced, for example a rev. Everyone I know who bought a viper has told me they don't ride to well. Before I shelled out that kinda dough I would look at all my options. On the other hand as far as reliability you can't go wrong with a yammi. just my .02

 

[shortstop20]

Just buy a SRX and long travel the shocks! Then you have bulletproof 140 HP sled with better shocks. It's alot easier to just long travel the SRX than to pipe the Viper. If you're gonna pipe a Viper, a Bender Opti-cool head gasket and SRX style heat exchanger are about a must. SRX base gasket is a plus too(more coolant flow).

 

[quebec]

Originally posted by srxguy
[br]In all honesty I wouldn't buy a viper and i'm a hard core yamaha fan. For what your gonna pay for a viper you can buy other sleds that are far more advanced, for example a rev. Everyone I know who bought a viper has told me they don't ride to well. Before I shelled out that kinda dough I would look at all my options. On the other hand as far as reliability you can't go wrong with a yammi. just my .02

Mine rides very well even my friend says that his 2005 rev 600 ho sdi doesnt corner as well as my 2002 viper.
Maybe its because i never have the shocks revalved , thats why it handles so well.
It great on gas and oil and stays flat on the trails. Great all around machine !

 

[srxguy]

wow your the first person ive talked to that has been absolutely happy with their viper.

 

[garyw]

I owned a 02 viper for 3 years and put 8217 miles on it with no problems.I rejetted it down 1 size on the mains,camoplast 1.25 track,cerimic coated exhaust system,reverse,boyson reeds,max permorance roller secondary and it ran really well and great gas mileage on our trips to maine.Now I own a vector and I would not go back to a 2 stroke not complanning they are that much better.3564 miles on the vector.[]

 

[daman]

check clean and adj. your power valves make shure ther's no cables
pulled threw,and use a good syn. oil like amsoil,klotz etc.
to help keep the pv's clean.

 

[Octane]

The only people who say that Vipers dont ride well are the trail cruisers who didnt realize that the Viper was never designed to be riden as a putt-putt sled. The Viper was made to be ridden hard and fast.
Ive ridden a few Vipers as well as a few REVs and I wouldnt take a REV over a Viper. If you are a sno-x wanna be who likes to stand up all the time, get the REV. If you ride the trails and lakes and want something you can ride 200+ miles a day and not be sore at the end of the day and not have to fix all the time, get a Viper.
Now, how about if we answer Minker's question. Minker, there are really no major things to worry about on a Viper. Its a Yamaha, afterall.
Make sure the powervalves are clean and just keep an eye on the front w-arm. In some cases they can crack. It normally happens after the sled has about 5000 miles on it (if it ever happens) and you can fix it by either welding gussets to the stock w-arms or you can just buy aftermarket heavier-duty w-arms. Other than that, just keep the gas and oil tanks full and the sled should last 15,000 miles between engine rebuilds easily.

 

[Paulgr64]

Just make sure that the gas pump was replaced (recall) . The vipers are bullet proof, cheap on gas and oil and they run for ever unless you put pipes on it then reliability drops big time.
In 2002 many ownwers went for the revalving of the shocks but mine hasnt been touched and i love it . If you drive hard then you will like the original setup.

Bought mine used two years ago and dud not ride it much until now and sucking up a ton of gas at only 5 mpg. Any ideas? Could it be the faulty gas pump? Not sure if owner had the recall fixed… or just needs carburetor maintenance? I replaced the plugs. Starts up perfectly .. any thoughts? Ty!