I'm a Polaris guy(right now). But have owned them all. Last Yamaha was a 79 440 exciter. :D

Anyway, I'm going to buy a used 02 this spring.
I love the way the Viper looks and I think they are build well.

Here is what I've heard, maybe you Viper owners can set me straight
or confirm.

In stock dress.

1) I hear they won't run with the 700 twins (pol, doo, cat) and will even get beat by the 600's at times? (on the lake)

I'm not going to buy a 700 that runs with 600's.

2) I hear the mxz's, zr's and edges will leave it far behind it the moguls?

I'm not compairing it to a rev, f-cat or pro-x because I'm going to be buying an 02.

So... I don't want to spend $6000 on a pooch. But I love the way they look and are put together.

So any imput from you viper owners is appreciated.

I have an 02 viper & bought it new. I am very happy with my sled it is an awsome all around sled. I have done no mods to my sled & never lost to a 600. I have raced a 00 600 polaris xlt tripple, (stock) 01 600 ZR with minor mods & 96 zrt 600 tripple tripple & beat all, I have never raced a doo 600 or bigger but a good friend of mine has a 440 racer & I cant beleive how quick that thing is he gives me a better race then the 600's until about 80 mph. Another good friend has a 03 F-7 and his sled is faster but not by much it is a close race.

I have no regrets buying a viper even after hearing the negitive talk that alot of people like to make about it. (mainly in these fourms) It may not take the moguls like the F-7 or the rev, but it wasnt designed too. Don't get me wrong it can take the bumps just fine though, but corners like nothing else I have rode before, It is a great trail sled! (with a some mods it would be a great lake racer)

I have an 02 Viper ER and an 03 REV 800X.

I had to say bye to the Viper.

The good-
I simple loved it last year, it sounds great, the triple is smooth as silk, the gauge package is the best, and it corners flat... it is built with great quality and it works very well.

Its not the fastest sled, but it is close enough to them for me...

The not so good-
The track profile it too short, .91" does not provide enough bite for the powerful engine, it just spins and I an not a stud proponent

The rear skid is very poor. It is old and needs updating after riding a real long-travel suspension I see what I was missing. The Viper can keep up with the REV its just that the rider of the REV feels nothing the rider on the Viper is taking a pounding! I was sore for two days after a 150 mile trip last year, now I can ride back to back 200 milers without a pain.

The reverse works ok but is very clunky, not yamaha's normal style

Heavy, the Viper is very heavy and you can really feel it in the handlebars.

Horrible in the "deep" snow (10"-20") . The shape of the nose forces the snow right into your face and it sinks to the bottom even with a skid plate.

But that's after riding the REV, the Viper probably compares more favorably when compared to other "conventional" style sleds.


AAJMO!

I like the handling on a nice groomed trail. The rear suspension is a little stiff, but I like that a little stiff anyway. Not a lake runner but a silky smooth engine and they are sharp looking. It is a nice all around trail sled. I just think they are a better built machine than Polaris. I'm sorry to offend anyone, but I have ridden them all and that is my honest opinion.

With the right clutch set-up they will run with any 700 single pipe machine out there and yes they will beat some 800's but you must understand that clutching is crucial. After all they did take the trail stock 800 single pipe class at the haydays, there must be some potential in there, you just gotta bring it out. A friend of mine owns one and he is running pretty close (about even) with an MXZ800 in our group, both sleds are clutched and studded, other than that they are stock.

99srx700....do you know how your friend set up his clutch??

We've got 1300 miles on our 02 Viper Er
Plusses: Best looking sled on the market and will look like that for year's to
come. (Why else would AC copy the h/lite look to their F series

Engine is sweet! Not the fastest but does well for 122hp. Smooth
as silk and probably bullet proof given Yami's track record

Fuel economy is awesome. Everybody I ride with needs fuel way
before I even think about fuel.
Negatives: Harsh ride compared to comparable size sleds- waiting for my
upgrade to softer springs and shocks (Yamaha pays most of the-
cost) but parts have been on back-order since May!
One thing to check into- If your 02' was a snow check it might have a 3 year
transferable warranty which might be the clincher. :D

I can attest for the great MPG. I have two friends with them and they are always have a good 1/4 tank left when we are on fumes. On rides where it is considerable distance between gas stations we keep one viper up front and one viper in back just in case we need to siphon gas from one of them. :D

SKid does stink but update makes it livable. I think it is just a harder skid to figure out how to tune.

One thing to get is a second set of hood straps and put them right there the letters start. On nasty trails the hood has a tendency to slip inside the belly pan and scratch it.

I have two 2002 Viper ER sleds in my shed. Easy to do maintenance on, reliable, smooth power, no vibrations, etc. One has the stiffer shocks for my jumping, and my girlfriends has the softer shock update. I"ve ridden it and it is really smooth, but still not too soft.

Great sleds!

Buddy I ride with bought a 2002 viper Er put a 156 track with 2 inch paddles on it. made it a mountain sled. this year he installed hauck's venom kit, different helix & spring, triple pipe, reeds, and the head surfaced, set him back about $1,100 bucks. It screams.

I own a MM700. I will say this, my mm and my buddies viper always have fuel left. last ride we went on, 3 other guys with twins (580, 600, and a 700) ran out of gas, barely made it to the trailer. we both had according to electric gauge, 1/4 tank.

Been very reliable. built well, easy to work on. Like the post above said, even my mountain max, in deep powder the front dives down and snow goes right over the hood into your face, not crazy about that. But Im gonna try some simmons flex ski's next year, I hear those help a lot.

:inlove: I have a 2002 viper er with 6000km now , Ihad the shock update ,It work very good . if you by one make sure that it has the rear heat exchanger install. I also put the optional engine tensioner, and a tempa flow . The clutch and jetting all stock even original belt is right there doing is job. I used to run a vmax 4 so the viper is a real improvement . I had the chance to try a rev it sure run well but i would not trade mi viper for it . This thing is so smoot quiet good on gaz, reliable and i love the ride.