Ping Pong
28/12/2004, 18h51
Maximum Sled Review: 2005 Yamaha SXVenom
Who knew a 100-something horsepower sled would be an intro model?
12/18/04
TOP STORY
Wade West
he times they are a’ changing! What used to be the heart of the high performance segment in Yamaha’s lineup is now the best blue sled for sledders learning the ropes. The 2005 SXVenom is the lowest displacement and lowest hp model, minus the VK 540 III, available. But this is not ordinary rookie unit, this is still pretty much the SX 600R when it’s all said and done.
Power
We’ve all seen the 600 triple under the hood of the Venom. It’s been in everything from the Vmax to the Mountain Max to the Venture. Yep, this engine gets around. And it’ll get you around, too. We like this package. It’s smooth, easy on gas and a pleasure to listen to when the trio of heated 31mm carbs open up.
Despite the 600 triple’s relegation to the fringes of Yamaha’s lineup, this engine has not been diminished in its performance. Owners will attest to the mill’s ability to run up a speedometer in short order. And though it may not be as strong as some of its two-cylinder counterparts, those who ride the three-holer are loathe to give it up.
But the writing is clearly on the wall for this package… in big, blaze orange block letters. Yamaha is heading to the four stroke side of life and there doesn’t seem to be much life left in the company’s two strokers any more. If you like the sound and feel of this kind of engine, get to your Yamaha dealer right quick because we don’t expect to be finding this model in the staging area for Snow Shoot next year!
Chassis
Like the two stroke triple engine, the Viper Chassis is likely to be extinct by the end of this winter, in our best estimation. It is a good, predictable setup. Yamaha staked its claim back in the 1990s with its lightweight but torsionally rigid ProAction chassis and it is still just as fun and just as reliable as it was in its early form. The nice thing about a frame that doesn’t flex and twist is that the suspension will do the same thing in the same conditions every time. There’s no guessing whether the sled is twisting under the loads of the trail because it isn’t.
Posturewise, the Venom is classic old school. You sit into the sled and ride it. It’s definitely not to be considered an easy transitioning sled like a Rev or a Fusion. But it does share at least one significant characteristic with these newer designs: the idea of balance. Yamahas aren’t the lightest sleds on the market. They’re reasonably light, but no featherweights. However, Yamaha engineers have historically been very astute at the arts of balance and making a sled feel light when maybe it isn’t. Such is the case on the Venom. It is not the lightest sled in the class, but it doesn’t feel any heavier on the trail than, say, a Firecat 500.
Fun
The SX Venom is a fun sled to ride. The triple power is smooth and an increasingly rare treat for the ears. When all three cylinders start singing into the single pipe, it’s harmony baby! The throttle is easy to modulate and the brake lever, with its nifty little adjustment screw is very comfy as well.
“When you get on the Venom, it’s like putting your best riding boots on,” commented Test Rider Steve Franta. “It fits you just like you remembered it would and you know exactly what to expect. Not only that, but once you get rolling down the trail, it just puts a little smile on your face. If my first sled had been this nice, I'd probably still be riding it!”
pour le lien avec photos:
http://www.maximumsled.com/maximumsled/snowmobile/articles_layout.asp?articleid=622&zoneid=1
Who knew a 100-something horsepower sled would be an intro model?
12/18/04
TOP STORY
Wade West
he times they are a’ changing! What used to be the heart of the high performance segment in Yamaha’s lineup is now the best blue sled for sledders learning the ropes. The 2005 SXVenom is the lowest displacement and lowest hp model, minus the VK 540 III, available. But this is not ordinary rookie unit, this is still pretty much the SX 600R when it’s all said and done.
Power
We’ve all seen the 600 triple under the hood of the Venom. It’s been in everything from the Vmax to the Mountain Max to the Venture. Yep, this engine gets around. And it’ll get you around, too. We like this package. It’s smooth, easy on gas and a pleasure to listen to when the trio of heated 31mm carbs open up.
Despite the 600 triple’s relegation to the fringes of Yamaha’s lineup, this engine has not been diminished in its performance. Owners will attest to the mill’s ability to run up a speedometer in short order. And though it may not be as strong as some of its two-cylinder counterparts, those who ride the three-holer are loathe to give it up.
But the writing is clearly on the wall for this package… in big, blaze orange block letters. Yamaha is heading to the four stroke side of life and there doesn’t seem to be much life left in the company’s two strokers any more. If you like the sound and feel of this kind of engine, get to your Yamaha dealer right quick because we don’t expect to be finding this model in the staging area for Snow Shoot next year!
Chassis
Like the two stroke triple engine, the Viper Chassis is likely to be extinct by the end of this winter, in our best estimation. It is a good, predictable setup. Yamaha staked its claim back in the 1990s with its lightweight but torsionally rigid ProAction chassis and it is still just as fun and just as reliable as it was in its early form. The nice thing about a frame that doesn’t flex and twist is that the suspension will do the same thing in the same conditions every time. There’s no guessing whether the sled is twisting under the loads of the trail because it isn’t.
Posturewise, the Venom is classic old school. You sit into the sled and ride it. It’s definitely not to be considered an easy transitioning sled like a Rev or a Fusion. But it does share at least one significant characteristic with these newer designs: the idea of balance. Yamahas aren’t the lightest sleds on the market. They’re reasonably light, but no featherweights. However, Yamaha engineers have historically been very astute at the arts of balance and making a sled feel light when maybe it isn’t. Such is the case on the Venom. It is not the lightest sled in the class, but it doesn’t feel any heavier on the trail than, say, a Firecat 500.
Fun
The SX Venom is a fun sled to ride. The triple power is smooth and an increasingly rare treat for the ears. When all three cylinders start singing into the single pipe, it’s harmony baby! The throttle is easy to modulate and the brake lever, with its nifty little adjustment screw is very comfy as well.
“When you get on the Venom, it’s like putting your best riding boots on,” commented Test Rider Steve Franta. “It fits you just like you remembered it would and you know exactly what to expect. Not only that, but once you get rolling down the trail, it just puts a little smile on your face. If my first sled had been this nice, I'd probably still be riding it!”
pour le lien avec photos:
http://www.maximumsled.com/maximumsled/snowmobile/articles_layout.asp?articleid=622&zoneid=1