Venture GT - Split Personality?

This weekend I took the new Venture GT's out for some trail riding - and it turned into a trail racing and off trail hill climbing adventure!

Using the suggested suspension settings found here on this board made a WORLD of difference in the handling. We were hitting speeds of 50-60 on the dream-o-meter in the trails and hammering through the turns. The GT's front shocks soaked up the bumps and kept the skiis on the ground and that sweet triple motor pulled at any RPM.

I felt kinda strange at the end of the day since this is supposed to be a "touring" sled and all. Should I be worried about riding this machine too hard, or is this really an all around machine with a split personality?!

How did you set your suspension up? Need the details dude.

ttt

snow4me said:

How did you set your suspension up? Need the details dude.

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All I did was follow Roger's advice here:

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=53453

"I have an '07 RS Venture. The first thing I noticed when riding was that it handled like a big bag of wet crap. It wanted to fall right over any time I tried to make a corner, at any speed. It was if the entire sleds weight was resting on the front of the track. What I did to fix this was simple. The front shock in the rear suspension is easily adjustable. There are 2 nuts tightened together at the bottom of the spring on this front shock. Get all the ice off these nuts and shock, it will make adjusting it simple. Turn the lower nut down about 1 1/2" from factory set-up. (I found the factory had this spring tightened right up, keeping weight off the skis and keeping all the weight on the front of the track). Grab the spring, and turn it until it makes contact with the nut you moved 1 1/2". Snug up the 2 nuts against each other. The sled handled like a totally different sled after this quick fix. All my riding is on groomed trails. I want traction, with no ski lift, and weight on the skis when I turn at any speeds. This seems to work well."

That is honestly exactly what I did, and it made a huge difference. I still might try lessening the front shock pre-load a bit (dealer set it pretty stiff), but so far I am very happy as is. I was able to side hill out of a deep valley on one knee and maneuver through the trees with confidence!

I found the same thing, at first I felt like crying..I spent all this money for a sled that can't handle my type of riding ....I did the same thing as you came on the web site and started to do my homework and making the adjustments my fellow TY brothers have made...Everytime I ride my sled i like it more and more, I am finding I am playing in the deep stuff more and more because I know how to handle it...Still making small adjustments, but very happy with the handling capabilities of this big sled...Even the boyz I ride with, that drive a 700 Crossfire, and a 600 rev are surprised ........

apltx08 said:

ttt

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"ttt" ???

TonyD said:

apltx08 said:

ttt

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"ttt" ???

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I do this when I'm watching the post replies answers, I'm interested on how you set-up your suspension...

Help me keep informed on post...

kyzer said:

I found the same thing, at first I felt like crying..I spent all this money for a sled that can't handle my type of riding ....I did the same thing as you came on the web site and started to do my homework and making the adjustments my fellow TY brothers have made...Everytime I ride my sled i like it more and more, I am finding I am playing in the deep stuff more and more because I know how to handle it...Still making small adjustments, but very happy with the handling capabilities of this big sled...Even the boyz I ride with, that drive a 700 Crossfire, and a 600 rev are surprised ........

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So then, do you think these sleds are made to handle this style of riding? I ask because I don't want to beat mine up too bad. I mean, I am not flying off cornaces or anything, but do tend to hammer through the twisties without any reserve!

Yes the sled can handle it. Glad to see you like your Venture GT I will be looking for one
Yamadoo