i went 151 to 162 now back to a 146 for next year but i did lose 50 lbs to so i want to try the shorter track
Anyone regret going longer ?
- Thread starter Flakey
- Start date
seems like the rider forward chassis make the longer tracks much easier to handle. im going from a 144 to a 162, sort of a big jump, but i rode a 153 half the year, and i could barely tell the diff betweeen the 144 and 153 except 2 inch lugs vs 2.25 made a large difference in the soft stuff... taller seems to be mo better.
I went from a 144 to a 162. I have rode all lenths the longer is better in deep and climbing but sucks going off cornices because the rear end is so long the front wants to nose dive. Also when boondocking in trees the 162 sometimes complicated things being so long. I am trying to sell my sled to go a 154. I personally think anything between a 151 to a 156 is ideal. If I didnt like cornices and boondocking alot I would stay with the 162 it is amazing what the longer track does for you though. Just my 2 cents. The thing I would recommend is riding someones sled that is longer and that will help you decide.
My 166" IQ 900 is easier to ride than my 136" Indy Ultra hands down. Going to a 174" this summer. Only problem is track replacement costs. That's most of the reason for the 174". I can get it for about $300 cheaper than the 166". Plus I can put my 10" wheels under it that don't fit the 166". And as for turning in the trees, no problem if you can run the throttle and trust the sled. I'll follow any 121" thru the trees and be right there behind 'em. Sometimes in early spring it will try to ride me off narrow paths(maybe cuz I'm about 170lbs.), but like I said, you just have to trust the sled and go for it! I think my next sled will be like a 155-159" just because of track choices. I really want a Maverick. If they made a 166"/174" Maverick I would be one happy camper.
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SilverGriz
Well-known member
Went from a 156x15" to 163x16". No change in handling ability. The extra track in both length and width really helps in deep powder.
My 166" IQ 900 is easier to ride than my 136" Indy Ultra hands down. Going to a 174" this summer. Only problem is track replacement costs. That's most of the reason for the 174". I can get it for about $300 cheaper than the 166". Plus I can put my 10" wheels under it that don't fit the 166". And as for turning in the trees, no problem if you can run the throttle and trust the sled. I'll follow any 121" thru the trees and be right there behind 'em. Sometimes in early spring it will try to ride me off narrow paths(maybe cuz I'm about 170lbs.), but like I said, you just have to trust the sled and go for it! I think my next sled will be like a 155-159" just because of track choices. I really want a Maverick. If they made a 166"/174" Maverick I would be one happy camper.
When comparing longer to shorter tracks make sure that we are comparing apples to apples. There are a few replies here indicating that longer is better but if you look at the posts, the riders have stepped from older sleds with shorter tracks to newer sleds with longer tracks. It is understandable that the newer sleds float better on the snow, but it is due more to the shallower approach angle and less to do with the track length. Yes longer will help you float on the snow, but the approach angle, track design, suspension, clutching and ski design are just some factors that are light years ahead of where they were on, for example, a 1996 Ultra....... Just something to keep in mind. A lot of the newer shorter track sleds will climb with some of the older, longer track sleds....There is not a huge difference in a new 154 ich and 163 inch XP, almost not noticeable on the snow.
Well, first off thanks for all the great replys!
Because I rarely ride in tight trees, and 98% of my riding is on Mt. Baker(which BTW has the world record for snowfall) I'm leaning twards LONGER ! I'm kind of getting excited now. I'd really like more floatation. I love carving and climbing so I think that longer track will come in handy.
Thanks again everyone ! !
Because I rarely ride in tight trees, and 98% of my riding is on Mt. Baker(which BTW has the world record for snowfall) I'm leaning twards LONGER ! I'm kind of getting excited now. I'd really like more floatation. I love carving and climbing so I think that longer track will come in handy.
Thanks again everyone ! !
I know I'm the odd man on here, especially after reading all the posts, but I don't want to go longer than 141 if I can help it. Here's my theory: Longer track, yes, more track for traction, but also more weight and more power required to turn it. I have an '05 M7 141" with cutler's 1000cc kit. I know that the big bore is what made the difference (obviously) but I have a light weight, nimble sled with tons of power that will climb with anything I want to. I have no problem going places where others with longer tracks go. My dad rides a KK 162" cutler 1150, and I have as yet to have a day ridiing with him where his sled can out climb me. So my thought--light weight, high power to weight ratio, very easy and nimble to throw around and still go where you want. Just my thoughts.
i would have 2 disargee about the 141 comment. unless u got a20 on that thing u arent gona climb no where. ive seen 200hp revs 136's climb and they couldent climb to where a stock mt.vector was with a 151. i dont think a 141 m7 would do much better with a cpc 1000 kit.
im not calling you a liar i just dont see it when its bottomless. maybe in spring time.
im not calling you a liar i just dont see it when its bottomless. maybe in spring time.
After a few shorter sleds, then a few 151-153's, then a 156... My new 1000 is coming with a 141, not going longer than 150 again. I spent a weekend on a 162 & was completely vindicated in my choice of shorter, the 162 sucked.
I like to climb & jump, but mostly jump. I enjoy my 128, but wouldn't go that short for my main sled.
I like to climb & jump, but mostly jump. I enjoy my 128, but wouldn't go that short for my main sled.
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AkHockey10
Well-known member
hmmm i dont know dude.. heres what ive seen. example: I have a challenger 144" on my 600. Other buddy has a 151" 700 a20.. January snow...i can go anyplace he can go and most times hes catching up to me. Ive seen a stock a20 M7 trying to catch up to a stock 04 Rene.. they even switched sleds and the Rene was still a head of the M.. I mean of course, rider experience and weight have a big thing in that but, to be honest i dunno..hm..
All I know is me on my 144" in bottomless usually equals stuck sooner than later. I'm thinking big hp, which I can't afford nor really want, will result in trenching out even faster. So what I'm hoping to get out of the longer track is to float like a boat.
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IceCap
Well-known member
Long track.... shorter track which one should I go with??
There are too many variables to say which is really better, however if you are in really deep fluffy snow and want to slow down to a crawl or stop and want to get going without trenching down and getting stuck....... the longer the better.
Highmarking with equal HP the longer the better. You can highmark the longer tracks no problem with a shorter track as long as you are putting out more track speed than the longer track. You will need more HP and good clutching to acheive this.
Manouverability between the longer track and the shorter is not significant enough to make the shorter track a winner.
There are too many variables to say which is really better, however if you are in really deep fluffy snow and want to slow down to a crawl or stop and want to get going without trenching down and getting stuck....... the longer the better.
Highmarking with equal HP the longer the better. You can highmark the longer tracks no problem with a shorter track as long as you are putting out more track speed than the longer track. You will need more HP and good clutching to acheive this.
Manouverability between the longer track and the shorter is not significant enough to make the shorter track a winner.
Well, believe it or not, but my set up will climb. Anyone who has ridden with me will tell you the same, even if it's deep powder. I only suggest the reasons I wrote before as to why it does climb, but once again, I'll tell you that it will climb in deep powder where the long tracks climb.
the shorttrack is nice. but why didnt you go 153? best of bolth worlds.
Go big!!!!!!!!!
Spare your buddies the agony of digging you out all day.
Spare your buddies the agony of digging you out all day.
Seconded. My dad had a 162 with his Cutler and went and bought a 153 the next year. Now he's thinking of a 150x2.5
