153" or 162" 09 m8???

[Pastor]

Well now that you have got some miles on the 09 Arctic Cat 800's what are you seeing in the mountains for performance out of the 153" vs. 162"?

I like to ride off trail as much as possible, I like to climb, I like to take on obstacles, challenge myself, side hill, inverted turns and go back up the hill, carve, small cornice drops, fairly small jumps, I hope this helps. I like to ride. On normal winters I do alot of climbing.

I want to know what you have seen not what you think, for instance track speed can play such a part in climbing that it is very possible for a 153 to out climb a 162 but is that what you are seeing?

If you were going to turbo the 09 m8 what track length would you want?

 

[Davisoz]

Well can't comment on 09s but can on 07s. First off it depends on what you weigh. I am 220lbs and I can tell you the 162 is best for me. I ride a 162 myself but have experience on the 153s and I have less float abilities on the shorter track. However it is harder to kick around the longer track. If you are less than 180 you don't need a 162 track.

 

[2000TCMC]

I am 220 and like to do basically the same type of riding that you do.
I got the 162, but I came off of a 16x162 sled so it was an obvious choice for me. The 162 hooks up and goes on the hill, clutching is probably the biggest deal get it dialed in and ride it.

For a Turbo I would go with the 162 also as you will need as much traction as possible.

 

[jErM-OvErThEtOp]

I f your going to do more climbing then jumping then do the 162'. better floatation and you can still do the drop offs and little jumps but the 153' would be easier to throw around. I rode a 05 M7 With the 153' and i loved how i could throw it around and i only weigh 165 lbs. I got a 09 sno pro this year and I went with the 162' cause it floats better and im sticking a turbo on it so its better if you have a longer track for that and plus and its only 8 more inches on to the track but i dunno i think you would like the 162 i can throw mine around pretty good and im only 165lbs.

 

[cat08m8]

I’m 220 also and came from a 153 m8 last year and am now a 162 I tried and tried last year to beat my friends 162 8 and could not get it done some hills but u could see the plain difference in tracks so I say skip the 153 go to the 162

 

[joe dierte]

I was able to ride 09 153 & 162s last year I bought a 162 after seeing back to back how much better the 162 does in deep snow

 

[CrazyCanadianCat]

I am debating the same thing for next year. I agree that the 162 floats and can climb higher than the 153, but can you maneuver the 162 as well as the 153, like going around trees or boondocking? I currently ride a 153 M7 and am 5'9" 184 lbs.

 

[kane13]

I have no problems going anywhere so far with my 08 153 flotation is great and it is very easy to manuever i think this year with all the avy's i made the right choice, on the hills we have been climbing it has been working just as good as the 162 my track speed is faster and the snow is now hard packed but i know the 162 will take me in the deep. 210 lbs 6'