Yamaha Venture Lite 2-up

[cory_mn]

Wondering if anyone has one of these sleds in any year they were made and how they like it?? I am looking into getting one for use of an icefishing/trail machine. I know that most of you guys are from out west and probably don't have one of these but maybe there is someone on here from the upper midwest that owns one.

Pros and cons???

How does it pull a trailer/portable fish shelter???

MPG???

How does it handle slush on lakes???

Cold starting???

Thanks for any info.

 

[sdsmith]

venture

I used to have one of these. I think it was 1996 or there abouts. fan cooled.
Was a great utility sled but not very comfortable on riding long distances. The sled tended to want to wander on the trails even after rebuilding the front end. It was my wifes sled and she would get really tired on long rides. Almost to the point where she wanted to walk home??
My brother now owns the sled and he really likes it. He uses it for hauling skis and gear to the mountain.
As far as your list goes, I would say this sled would work very nice. It's really only down side is long rides with the guys.
hope that helps
good luck

 

[Environmentalist]

2000 Yamaha Venture

Picked up a 2000 550F Venture for my wife and youngest daughter the start of this year. We don't have a lot of seat time in it yet, but so far we like it. It does have Simmons skis, which I think helps with steering.

To answer your questions:

Pros and cons: Seats way too low...what do you expect from a 2000. Great hand warmers...almost too great, they will burn your hands!

How does it pull a trailer/portable fish shelter: Never pulled a trailer with it, but I have pulled an Equinox with a 2001 Ski-doo 600 and it did fine. I'm sure the Venture will do the same.

MPG: We are getting around 11-12mpg. Granted we have a lot of snow right now and have been pushing a lot snow on the trails.

How does it handle slush on lakes: No slush riding this year, just POWDER!

Cold starting: Started everytime and a couple times in negative tempatures.

 

[cory_mn]

thanks for the info guys, but I should have been a little more specific with my question. I am only interested in the newer four stroke sleds in any year that they were made.

what are peoples honest opinions on these yami 500 four stroke motors??

 

[cory_mn]

bump

 

[m8magicandmystery]

Cory..i worked at a Yamaha Dealership for a couple years recently...from what l seen and what the feed back i heard and from riding some of their sleds...for what its worth here goes...the 500 four stroke is decent in the phazer..and if you use the phazer what its intended for..500 in a utility sled venture lite for ice fishing..yep your ok...trail riding with even the slightest sidehilling,getting off the trail in a bit of powder...and the slightest hills with a bit of powder...you will regret the day you bought it....groomed wide trails..yep good...cat bearcats same thing pretty well...still the best seem two stroke ultilty...yamaha 500 venture two up fan is a great sled...skidoo skandics...etc..the venture light is just really heavy for the 80 ponies and handling is hard riding with just one person in 80 percent of what you will come up against let alone two....a good dealer will let you take a demo for a weekend...do it..and really try it in many applications..but just because he let ya ride it for the weekend don;t let it cloud your judgement...red flags you feel on heavy fourstroke should not be ignored..if you really want the four stroke yamaha has far superior handling sleds although a bit bigger engine that would do all you want and more in there sportier line ups..just adapt two up seat....but their fourstroke ultilitys..all of them..are very unforgiving