A good rear mountain skid that for a normally aspirated sled??

[429dhm]

Im looking to upgrade my rear skid but from my research a lot of the rear skids are for big HP applications. I have to ride a very heavily whooped 25 mile trail to get to some great riding.

I believe the Holz Alpha-X and Timbersled Mountain Tamer would be a good choice, but I don't know how they would handle the whoops.

I have heard some good things about the Ez-Ryde setup but would it not be over kill for a normally aspirated sled?

 

[mountainhorse]

TIMBERSLED ALL THE WAY FOR ME

I have the Timbersled Mountain Tamer-X in my Dragon.

I chose it for reasons of performance, value, weight and adjustablily

Here in the spring conditions in California, in Whistler and out in Alpine, the trails were heavily whooped. This skid gets up on top of the snow well and keeps the sled under control very well when climbing. It especially shines in the deep snow, keeping the track hooked and moving the sled where I needed it to go.

The Mtn Tamer gave me the performance I've been looking for.

This suspension is Very adjustable with the DSC (Dual speed Compression) control to handle big sharp bumps/drops and g'd out hits, rebound control, and shock position in addition to air pressure and coupling control (coupling timing and total coupling control).

The Timbersled Mountain Tamer gets on top of the snow in the RMK's better than any other rear suspension I have ridden. The coupling of the front and rear arms keeps the track on top of the snow and hooked up in all conditions. This suspension also shines in high hp climbing... while still giving you fast adjustablily to handle the boondocking you want to do.

This suspension is also lighter than the others by 5 lbs... With the spring sale, the price is $1280 with the fit kit for your stock rails.

I've ridden the Holz Alpha-X in similar conditions... It handled the whoops very well and is a well built performance mountain skid... no doubt about it.

I did a good write-up on my Timbersled install skid here:
My Timbersled Mountain Tamer Rear Suspension Install into a Dragon With Pix


I just saw Jeremy Kinzer's sled after a horrible crash on a wicked climb (good job Jeremy ).... the sled is mangled... the Timbersled components are in good usable condition.
BTW... the T-sled skid is on sale right now at 20% off till they sell out for the season.

 

[rmkboxer]

I have the alpha x and love it, I would put a camo extreme on while your doing it also

 

[catmanm8]

If you have walker shocks, I would spring and valve them for your application...cost less than a new suspension, then do the camo extreme track.....best bang for the buck.....
A good shop can do a good revalve.....watch out for the guys who want to just boost the pressures....
Percent of positive change for the $$$ is great..Polaris rails and linkage are good....walker shocks in the hands of a good tuner are also good...seems like they are the most misunderstood shock...

 

[diamonddave]

I have the alpha x and love it, I would put a camo extreme on while your doing it also

Wow...I'm gonna swap you sleds when you're not looking and save my 2K plus...working on this very same thing as we speak and debating holz or timbersled.

 

[rmkboxer]

Wow...I'm gonna swap you sleds when you're not looking and save my 2K plus...working on this very same thing as we speak and debating holz or timbersled.

the alpha x is on sale right now, I had back surgery today and I will tell you that when I rode this year it sure helped me, if you are not sure what you want we could hook up next yr since I am done and you can ride it. I only have it because I got such a smokin deal I couldn't pass it up, I got the camo extreme, avid drivers installed on the shaft and the alpha x for $2400

 

[Angermangement890]

I would say EZ Ryde all the way. I've had an M10 and an older Holz unit (pre Alpha X) The EZ Ryde outperforms both by a large margin. It gets up on the snow exceptionally well and handles the rough stuff on the trail like its not there. My example of how good it really is........ I let my wife ride my EZ ryde equipped sled so I could figure out some issues on her sled. She rode the EZ Ryde about 3-4 miles, and WOULDN'T give it back! She stopped the sled and when I asked her if something was wrong she said "I'll have an EZ Ryde for next season" I laughed and then she told me I was riding her sled until she had one under her sled. Well I can tell you this, she wins. She had an entire season on the skid and its by far the best skid she has ever ridden. It sidehills very easily and has tons of adjustment. We were gettting it really dialed for her when all our snow went away. She has a 685 for a powerplant in an IQR chassis.

 

[F-Bomb]

I've had two full seasons on the Holz Alpha-X. If you know how to dial those shocks in and get your limiter system correctly balanced for your weight, your sleds power, and your riding style you will not find a better all around performing setup. Plus you get the ability to manipulate and control how it functions so that you can get a plusher ride in the big woops all with a slight turn of a dial and a little shock pressure changes. It's really really cool.


BUY rmkboxers stuff as that is a great deal...or buy new...but buy!

Do you hear all the bally-hoo about the 2011 PRO? Well as awesome as it is (AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME AS A BOX STOCK SLED) it isn't even in the game with my 09 decked out with everything Holz for off trail handling and performance. Polaris essentially duplicated Holz's suspension both front and back on the new Pro chassis sled. THAT SAYS A TON!

 

[rmkboxer]

I've had two full seasons on the Holz Alpha-X. If you know how to dial those shocks in and get your limiter system correctly balanced for your weight, your sleds power, and your riding style you will not find a better all around performing setup. Plus you get the ability to manipulate and control how it functions so that you can get a plusher ride in the big woops all with a slight turn of a dial and a little shock pressure changes. It's really really cool.


BUY rmkboxers stuff as that is a great deal...or buy new...but buy!

Do you hear all the bally-hoo about the 2011 PRO? Well as awesome as it is (AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME AS A BOX STOCK SLED) it isn't even in the game with my 09 decked out with everything Holz for off trail handling and performance. Polaris essentially duplicated Holz's suspension both front and back on the new Pro chassis sled. THAT SAYS A TON!

I'm not selling mine, I just got it all for that price. I absolutly love it

 

[diamonddave]

the alpha x is on sale right now, I had back surgery today and I will tell you that when I rode this year it sure helped me, if you are not sure what you want we could hook up next yr since I am done and you can ride it. I only have it because I got such a smokin deal I couldn't pass it up, I got the camo extreme, avid drivers installed on the shaft and the alpha x for $2400

I didn't say I was going to give it back, lol.

 

[PowderMiner]

Going to keep the 163, 09 for another few years might update the wifes/my spare sled to the 155 Pro for 2012.

I definitely want to go with the Camo X track for next year, seeing there needs to be some work to get the most out of it and the sled...

The main thing holding me back from the bigger investment of a suspension upgrade (other than the cost) is the installation and tuning fears. I'd hate to drop $4+k and not get it tuned or tune it so bad the thing was worse than stock

If there is a good enough discount with the spring and package sales it might be worth having the shop do the work, reducing my non-mechanical error (destruction) probability

Also is there a concern with the aftermarket suspensions not having the fat-boy springs for those of us that need them?

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Going to keep the 163, 09 for another few years might update the wifes/my spare sled to the 155 Pro for 2012.

I definitely want to go with the Camo X track for next year, seeing there needs to be some work to get the most out of it and the sled...

The main thing holding me back from the bigger investment of a suspension upgrade (other than the cost) is the installation and tuning fears. I'd hate to drop $4+k and not get it tuned or tune it so bad the thing was worse than stock

If there is a good enough discount with the spring and package sales it might be worth having the shop do the work, reducing my non-mechanical error (destruction) probability

Also is there a concern with the aftermarket suspensions not having the fat-boy springs for those of us that need them?

PW, if your buying holz stuff...they are a dream to work with..when you order they will want to know your sled, mods, your weight, riding style, and snow conditions...when you get your stuff it comes with excellent instructions, and if you do have any issues with the install or how it rides..they are a phone call away and will know how to get you fixed up..they really stand behind their stuff and are very customer oreinted...

 

[Angermangement890]

Going to keep the 163, 09 for another few years might update the wifes/my spare sled to the 155 Pro for 2012.

I definitely want to go with the Camo X track for next year, seeing there needs to be some work to get the most out of it and the sled...

The main thing holding me back from the bigger investment of a suspension upgrade (other than the cost) is the installation and tuning fears. I'd hate to drop $4+k and not get it tuned or tune it so bad the thing was worse than stock

If there is a good enough discount with the spring and package sales it might be worth having the shop do the work, reducing my non-mechanical error (destruction) probability

Also is there a concern with the aftermarket suspensions not having the fat-boy springs for those of us that need them?

The EZ Ryde comes with a bracket to install the skid, you remove your stock skid, bolt the bracket in place, locate you new holes remove the bracket and install your new skid. Very easy to do. Also the skid shocks will come valved and sprung for your rider weight. You have some very easy to access adjusmetents on the EZ Ryde that make tuning it in to your style a snap.

 

[F-Bomb]

It doesn't matter if you are 150lbs or 300lbs. The Holz Alpha-X comes with the Fox Evol X rear shock and the Fox float 2 front so your ride height, rebound, and dampening are all easily adjustable. The geometry of this suspension is exceptional in this chassis so then you just have to dial things in for your needs. Just one of the spectacular benefits of this suspension is that you can tune the setup to YOUR specs.

With all of the combinations of conditions for the day, rider weights/body position, state of tune, power transmission systems, variations in terrain, variations in snow conditions, ect ect, how can a suspension work ideally for all around conditions when you throw in this many variables? The answer is they can't unless you have the ability to adjust your suspension. The suspension also will not be ideal in the all around without some adjustments. The cool part is the adjustments take seconds and can be done right out in the hills. Most guys don't ever mess with them but if you are willing you can set your sled up to be plush on the way in and then firm things up for better balance and high performance in the deep off trail.

Powderminer...save your money on the track..research f-bomb track mod. Do this exactly as I've spec'd and you will experience better overall performance out of your modified 5.1 then the 2.4 CE and save a ton of money. This comment has been extensively tested and proven and is an unarguable performance fact for this application.