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Anyone dropped from 162 to a 153? Regrets?

J
Nov 27, 2007
104
0
16
LOVE my M8 153. I weigh 230# and have yet to feel that I'm at a disadvantage with that itty bitty short track. We ride mostly Cascade concrete at Mt. Adams.
 
D
Nov 26, 2007
129
1
18
north idaho
153

I had a 162 and sold it to a buddy and got the 153 (no money lost). I just have more fun on my 153. Riding them back to back I'll go higher on the hill with the 62 but it feels like more work boondocking and in the tight trees. It is more forgiving in the deep, but I won't go back, after all, it's about having fun, and for me that means the 153. With the new p claw on mine I'm looking forward to seeing how they stack up.
 
T
Nov 27, 2007
76
5
8
Cle Elum, Wa
Riding tomorrow with a buddy that has a piped M6 153. I'll have to get on it and compare the "FUN factor" against my stock M7. The longer this thread goes, the harder to decide. Hopefully I can get on an M8 153 before the season is up and evaluate that. Good night all.
 

WyoBoy1000

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 27, 2007
11,213
3,928
113
Red Lodge MT to North, CO
a m6 wont tell you anything every sled has different power and wont be the same as another size m sled. the power of my m1000 makes it feel lighter to me than a m8 just my opinion. where you live you would prob enjoy a 153, if you can handle a 162 go with that. In last years snow one of the guys I ride with is a 160lbs and I was at least 60 heavier than him geared up. He had a 08 153 I road a 07 162 both m1000's with slp full pipe, in the deep I would high mark him 3 to 1 and I was always leaving the highest mark after all was said and done. If you point and shoot the longer the better if its the type of snow you may not make it over the top, if both sleds will make it the 153 will get there faster most likely. As for boon docking its all rider style depending on weight. the new 09 sleds are a lot better I think a 09 153 may out do a 08 and older 162. But my weight and ability I prefer the 162, I do ride in MT and WY a fair amount in the lighter snow where length makes a bigger diff. even still on the 09 162 I find it trying to wheelie over at times and iff it where any shorter would cause prob. I am around 215lbs now and 6'6" longer works for me. If I lived where you do I would get what my friends have for the competition factor.
 
H
Mar 25, 2003
341
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18
52
Thief River Falls, MN
Had a 151 on my old mod 1M, then went to a 162 M7, then back to a 153. Best thing I ever did, going back. Easier to throw around, overall greater fun factor for me. Of course we hardcore boondock, so it works great for my application.
 
J
Jan 18, 2009
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17
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Sudbury, ON
This thread is hillarious considering I live in Ontario. I am buying a 141 because I'm worried the 153 is waaaay too long for me out here. I couldn't imagine needing a 162. Of course, we don't get the snow you guys get out west but still have some good neck deep powder at times. Coming from a firecat with a 1.7" track, the 153's i've ridden feel like they're 30' long haha.
 
V
Nov 27, 2008
689
123
43
North Bend, WA
The same topic has been on my mind for a new sled purchase next year. I love boondocking and need more float than I have on my 136" but don't want to give up the nimbleness and response to rider input. Having not ridden these different tracks back to back, I was originally wondering how much could 4" extra on the snow really change the handling. After trading back and forth with my wife I've noticed a huge difference between 1.75" and 2" paddles, both on 136" tracks. I'm shocked how subtle differences affect performance in a big way.

I was thinking more track = more float = less sticks and more fun. The input on this thread is good and now I'm leaning towards adding a couple 153's to the stable.
 
T

tcpeterson

Member
Jan 14, 2009
327
19
18
Orofino, ID
Really you can't go wrong either way. In my opinion most of it is just rider preference. I rode both track lengths on the demo day last year and couldn't tell much difference in handling aspects so i bought the 162 thinking that it couldn't hurt to have the extra float. I am happy with my choice and am having a blast on my sled.
 
C
Jan 24, 2009
101
12
18
Labrador, Canada
Don't really have the hills or the massively deep snow here to deal with 162, I just ordered my 153 and figure it will be plenty, wish I could have tried it at different weights to see the difference though, this time last year I was 264 without gear, currently down to 197 and dropping will probably be down to 160 or so before my M8 shows up (quoted 1st of November by my dealer).
 
G
Dec 20, 2007
1,941
864
113
Three Forks, MT
I would defintely be happy to ride either, but I prefer the 162

I am 170 lbs and I feel like I can throw my 162 around like a rag doll. Have no problems. The M is so nimble I really don't see how people can tell the difference.

I've ridden several different M7s with 153s and had a 162 M7 and really don't think that 153 is easier to throw around.

Definitely can tell the 162 floats and climbs better though.

Just my 2 cents.

I almost bought a 09 M8 with a 153 instead of the 162, but I am really happy with the 162.
 
M
Nov 26, 2001
323
28
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38
laramie wy
90% my a$$. his freakin sleds are turboed and free. i could do alot on a sled that didnt have a consequence
as for the topic... had an 05 m7 162 best sled ive ever owned, baught an 07 m8 153 didnt like how it handled so i traded it in on an 08 m1000 162. i wont ever own another sled that is less than a 162.
 

backcountryislife

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 26, 2007
10,893
7,413
113
Dumont/Breckenridge, CO
My last few sleds were 151, 153, 153, 156 (with a 128 as a toy sled), then I bought a 141 this year.

I'll never ride a longer track again unless it has a turbo. THis sled is so much more fun than any other sled I've ridden that I can't imagine going back to a bigger track, not to mention the stupid 162. I was given a 162 last year when my 1000 got totalled, it was the best sales pitch for the 141 i could have ever had.

I ride high altitude soft snow in CO & I love to jump climb & ride trees.

Mostly jump though.

IMO it ALL comes down to how you like to ride. the shorter tracks are just more fun, but they're more of a challenge. If you just want to be the first one to the top or you want hassle free tree riding the 162 is a great sled. No amount of posts can tell you how you want to ride.
 
B
Nov 26, 2007
1,463
166
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so i guess im a rider with no skill im 180 with a 162.... Funny I can outride most 153's in the trees and most 1000's on the hill. poor me. wheres the mater chris when you need him . pfft.
 
M
Nov 26, 2007
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Cranbrook B.C.
Are some of you guys really talking smack about Burandt ??" his sled are turbo'd and free" for some reason I highly doubt that, but I mite be wrong!

I ride a 153, ownd 159 rmk and have rode lots of 162's, I'm 180lbs and the guys I ride with all have turbo sleds (nytro,m8,vector, ect...), next year I will too. But at no way are they out riding me through the tree's or making it where I can't unless we're talking straight up.

next sled will be a 153 again, if I were over 220 pounds I would have a 162. at the end of the day no matter what is said a 153 will be easier to toss around then a 162, but mite not but the huge difference that some think it is.

of course this is just all IMO and experiences.
 

backcountryislife

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 26, 2007
10,893
7,413
113
Dumont/Breckenridge, CO
so i guess im a rider with no skill im 180 with a 162....

Welll, now that you mention it, that's kinda what i had heard through the grapevine. I didn't want to say anything...:D

I'm not saying that a 162 takes no skill to ride (close, but not quite:eek:) I'm just saying that the shorter you go the more the fun factor goes up but the pain in the *** factor goes up as well (stuck more, gotta be more careful taking off, etc) but IMO it's worth it for the fun & maneuverability of the shorter track.

The longer track takes SOME of the challenge away, why else would we ride them? I talk smack (umm, all the time) but you don't see me on a 128 like I wish I could ride cause I'd be stuck all day! I know a guy around here who has a 1000 in a snopro chassis that goes everywhere the big boys go, HE knows how to ride, it's all in how much work you want it to be getting there!
 

HMC 399

Active member
Lifetime Membership
Jan 15, 2008
144
29
28
utah
Chris hates 162 sled he think only sissy ride them. He look at it as more of a challenge to out high mark a 162 on a 153. I thought I would never have a 153 but I love them now and understand why he only rides 153.

I Have a friend that had a 153 M8 and he was always trenching bad but he is 6.2 and 260 Lb. So this year we updates his sled to a 09 162 bumper and power claw and its a lot better for him it floats his big B** a lot better.

So it is a weight issue so if you are 185 or less ride a 153 and if you are bigger than 240 ride a 162.

Kevin for h@!! sake ride a 162, it will save a lot of guys back problems. Your riding style single handedly keeps sno bunjie in business. I think the only reason chris will let you ride with him is he likes to see how far he can ride with your nose fastened to his hind quarters. Was he on a 153 turbo'd 1000 in canada? I think I agree with the homo obsessed backcountry on this one, depends on what your in the mood for. I go back and forth, might buy a 153 next. I think you can't go wrong either way, demo one of each and then choose what feels best for you. There is no wrong answer as long as you're having fun, it's not the best rider but the rider that has the most fun that wins in my book. Sorry about the sarcasism backcountry I think that 141 could make for some intense tree riding, I would assume more speed and commitment needed.
 
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