The Yamaha Venture 700 was a popular touring 2up snowmobile manufactured from 1998 to 2004. Like its smaller brother, the Venture 600, this machine was also known for its reliability and durability. If you want to find out more about this vintage Yamaha sled, this post is for you.
We at PowerSportsGuide have compiled all you need to know into this Yamaha Venture 700 review!
Yamaha Venture 700 Review
The legendary Yamaha Venture family was introduced in 1991.
The first model was based on the famous Phazer II and utilized many advanced features like an easy-to-use reverse with a beep warning and heated passenger grips.
Thanks to its outstanding comfort, the high-end Yamaha Venture instantly became popular in the marketplace. What’s more, it was considered to be the “Snowmobile of the Year” in 1991 by the American Snowmobiler.
After many years of development, Yamaha completely renewed this family before the end of the Millennium.
In 1997 the liquid-cooled Venture 500 and 600 made its debut, followed by the more powerful 1998 Yamaha Venture 700.
Therefore, the Japanese manufacturer offered four Venture models around the 2000s, which were as follows:
- Yamaha Venture 700 (VT700) – (VT70 in 2004) – Manufactured: 1998-2004
- Yamaha Venture 600 (VT600) – Manufactured: 1997-2005
- Yamaha Venture 500 (VT500) – Manufactured: 1997-2001
- Yamaha Venture 500 XL (VT500XL) – Manufactured: 1999-2000
There’s no question that the most popular sled of this breed was the flagship Venture 700. This machine was considered to be “the Cadillac of the trails” and with good reason.
Powered by a smooth 2-stroke triple engine, the Venture was one of the best 2up touring sleds at that time.
To be more precise, the engine of the Yamaha Venture 700 was a liquid-cooled, 698cc, 2-stroke triple. This single-piped power mill provided about 112 – 115 HP and featured three flat slide Mikuni TM33 carburetors, power valves, a CDI ignition, and an electric start. This engine saw some minor upgrades for the 2004 model year.
Although it cranked out less HP than its more powerful triple-piped counterparts, it still had a really broad power curve and plenty of torque. Also, this power source was known for its reliability, durability, and stellar gas mileage.
The Venture 700 was propelled by a 136” x 15” rubber track, which ensured excellent traction. For a better bite, many owners studded the track to get the most out of their sled.
The advanced long-travel ProAction Plus rear suspension system offered 11 ½ inches of travel, resulting in super comfortable rides even with a passenger. Many riders say that the Venture 700 was one of the most comfortable 2up touring snowmobiles ever built.
Although the Venture 700 wasn’t designed for off-trail conditions, it could go through really deep snow without getting stuck. This was a tremendous advantage as the sled could easily and effortlessly break ungroomed trails.
Standard features included an 11.9-gallon fuel tank, large footrest, grip warmers, comfortable seat for two riders, and the unique “Easy-Adjust” backrest.
It was no coincidence that the sled won the “Best Liquid-cooled Touring Snowmobile” award in 2001 from Snowmobile Magazine.
But to the greatest regret of many fans, Yamaha discontinued the Venture 700 after the 2004 model year.
Yamaha Venture 700 Problems
Every snowmobile has its weaknesses, and the Venture 700 was no exception. In a nutshell, the most common problems with the Yamaha Venture 700 were as follows:
- Defective front suspensions ski columns (Recall on the ‘97 and ‘98 models)
- Defective starter on the early models (Recall)
- Cracks in the slide rails
- T.O.R.S. malfunctions
- Suspensions were too soft
Let’s start with the recalls.
According to Off-Road.com, Yamaha issued a recall on the 1997 and 1998 Venture 700 models due to their defective ski columns. This recall affected the 500s and 600s as well.
Unfortunately, the welds on the ski columns proved to be weak, which led to potentially dangerous situations.
The early Venture 700 models saw another recall because of their defective starter. The ring gear of the starter was prone to becoming loose and generated a characteristic “clank” noise.
Fortunately, both of these issues were covered under recalls.
Another common issue with the Yamaha Venture 700 was their low-quality slide rails, which started to crack after a short time. Since this was a very common problem, used side rails for this model were quite rare on the market.
Therefore, many owners invested in new OEM rails or just welded and strengthened the stock units.
Like many other Yamaha snowmobiles at that time, the Venture 700 also suffered from T.O.R.S. malfunctions.
When it came to the riding experience, many riders found the suspensions of a Venture too soft. Although it offered very comfortable rides, it bottomed out easily.
Consequently, jumping with the sled was not a good idea. But let’s face it, this is the price of plush riding!
Finally, let’s not forget that the Venture 700 was not a lightweight machine, so it wasn’t easy to handle on rough terrain or easily thrown around by hand.
Apart from these, the Venture 700 was one of the most reliable and dependable 2UP snowmobiles around the Millennium.
Yamaha Venture 700 Specs Chart
For your convenience, we’ve compiled the key specs of the Yamaha Venture 700 into these charts:
Yamaha Venture 700 Engine Specs
| Year | 1998-2003 | 2004 |
| Engine type | Liquid-cooled, 2-stroke, 7-port | Liquid-cooled, 2-stroke, 7-port |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Parallel 3-cylinder | Parallel 3-cylinder |
| Engine stroke | 2 | 2 |
| Cooling system | Liquid-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Bore x Stroke (“) | 2.78 x 2.35 | 2.72 x 2.44 |
| Displacement (cc) | 698 | 696 |
| Horsepower | 115 HP (Approximately) | 115 HP (Approximately) |
| Idle speed (r/min) | 1600 +/- 100 | 1800 +/- 100 |
| Carburetor | Mikuni TM33 x 3 | Mikuni TM33 x 3 |
| Turbocharged | No | No |
| Engine oil type | YAMALUBE 2-cycle oil | YAMALUBE 2-cycle oil |
| Fuel type | Unleaded gasoline. Pump octane (R+M)/2; 88 or higher | Unleaded gasoline. Pump octane (R+M)/2; 88 or higher |
| Starting system | Electric and manual with recoil starter | Electric and manual with recoil starter |
Yamaha Venture 700 Dimensions
| Year | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001-2003 | 2004 |
| Length (“) | 116.9 | 116.9 | 116.9 | 117.7 | 117.7 |
| Width (“) | 47.2 | 47.2 | 47.2 | 47.2 | 47.2 |
| Height (“) | 51.2 | 51.2 | 52.4 | 52.4 | 50.4 |
| Ski tread (“) | 42.1 | 42.1 | 42.1 | 42.1 | 42.1 |
| Fuel tank capacity (gal) | 11.9 | 11.7 | 11.7 | 11.7 | 11.7 |
| Oil tank capacity (qt) | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
Yamaha Venture 700 Weight Chart
| Year | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001-2003 | 2004 |
| Dry Weight (lbs.) | 582 | 595 | 569 | 567 | 578 |
Yamaha Venture 700 Track Features
| Track type | Molded rubber, fiber glass rod reinforced |
| Length (“) | 136 |
| Width (“) | 15 |
| Track deflection (“) | 0.98-1.18 / 100 N {22lbs} |
| Length on ground (“) | 37.2 |
| Suspension type | Slide rail suspension |
| Drive sprocket | Quadruple polyethylene, 9 teeth |
Yamaha Venture 700 Electric Features
| Ignition system | CDI |
| Spark plug type | BR9ECS (NGK) |
| Spark plug gap | 0.028 – 0.031 in (0.7 – 0.8 mm) |
| Battery capacity | YB16AL-A2/12 V 16 Ah |
| Battery max. charge rate | 1.6 Amperes/hr for 10 hrs |
| Headlight | 12 V 60/55 W x 1 |
| Tail/brake light | 12 V 8/23 W x 1 |
| Meter light | 10 V, 1.7 W x 2 |
| Indicator light | 10 V, 3.4 W x 3 |
Yamaha Venture 700 Features and Accessories
| Clutch | CVT |
| Primary Drive | Belt |
| Drive chain | Silent chain enclosed in oil bath |
| Reverse | Yes |
| Front suspension type | Independent double wishbone |
| Suspension type | Slide rail suspension |
| Ignition | CDI |
| Break type | Hydraulic disc brake (ventillated) |
| Track | Molded rubber, fiberglass rod reinforced |
| Break operation | Handle lever (left hand) |
| Throttle operation | Handle lever (right hand) |
| Chassis material | Aluminum |
| Body Material | Plastic |
| Rider capacity | 2 |
Yamaha Venture 700 Top Speed
The top speed of the Yamaha Venture 700 was about 90-95 mph on radar or GPS.
Source: Yamaha Owner’s Manuals. These charts are for informational purposes only! For exact specifications, please refer to the factory manual.
Yamaha Venture 700 For Sale
Surprisingly, the vintage Yamaha Venture 700 is still a popular choice, especially for beginners and young riders. These old sleds are far more affordable and easier to work on than any of the new models currently on the market.
If you’re considering buying one, you can find a vintage Yamaha Venture 700 for sale on Craigslist, eBay, Snowmobilesoup, Snowmobiletrader, Sledswap, and other snowmobile ad sites.
Also, you may want to visit some Yamaha Venture snowmobile forums and FB groups!
Takeaway – FAQs About the Vintage Yamaha Venture 700
What year did the Yamaha Venture 700 come out?
Yamaha revealed the Venture 700 in 1997 and offered it from the 1998 season.
What years was the Yamaha Venture 700 made?
The Yamaha Venture 700 was available from 1998 to 2004.
What size was a Yamaha Venture 700?
The ‘97-‘00 Yamaha Venture 700 was 116.9 inches long, and 47.2 inches wide, while the ‘01-‘04 models were 117.7 inches long and 47.2 inches wide. The height of these sleds varied between 50.4-52.4 inches depending on the year.
What was the track size on the Yamaha Venture 700?
The stock track sizes on the Yamaha Venture 700 were as follows:
- 1997-2001 Yamaha Venture 700: 136” x 15” 0.75”
- 2002-2003 Yamaha Venture 700: 136” x 15” 1”
- 2000-2004 Yamaha Venture 700: 136” x 15” 1.25”
How much did a Yamaha Venture 700 weigh?
The weight of the Yamaha Venture 700 varied between 567 and 595 pounds depending on the year.
What kind of engine was in a Yamaha Venture 700?
The ‘97-‘03 Yamaha Venture 700 engine was a liquid-cooled, single-piped, 698cc, 2-stroke triple featuring three flat side Mikuni TM33 carbs, a CDI ignition, and and electric start. For the 2004 model year, this engine saw some minor changes, and its displacement was decreased to 696cc.
How much horsepower did a Yamaha Venture 700 have?
Thanks to its powerful triple engine, the Yamaha Venture 700 had about 115 HP.
How fast did a Yamaha Venture 700 go?
The top speed of the Yamaha Venture 700 was about 90-95 mph on radar or GPS.
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