Best skid for pro?

[colorado_matt]

Everything you guys are talking about and asking questions about leads directly to the new mtn. tamer. It is redesigned this year. The biggest highlight is the new coupling adjustment knob, and it works flawless. In a matter of 30 seconds, you can adjust back and forth between ease of lifting the skis and little to no ski lift and everything in between. The front and rear arms have been redesigned and are stronger than the previous version. All of the rotating and sliding shafts are hard anodized meaning less 'stiction'. I have ran mine on my pro with the stock engine and also with 11 lbs of boost. It works very well for all of my applications ranging from tight technical tree riding in 3 feet of new snow, to 100+ foot cliff drops.

I chose to run EXIT shocks because I feel they are the toughest and best shocks on the market. The ride on this sled is absolutely amazing. See more @ www.timbersled.com

 

[assault11]

Everything you guys are talking about and asking questions about leads directly to the new mtn. tamer. It is redesigned this year. The biggest highlight is the new coupling adjustment knob, and it works flawless. In a matter of 30 seconds, you can adjust back and forth between ease of lifting the skis and little to no ski lift and everything in between. The front and rear arms have been redesigned and are stronger than the previous version. All of the rotating and sliding shafts are hard anodized meaning less 'stiction'. I have ran mine on my pro with the stock engine and also with 11 lbs of boost. It works very well for all of my applications ranging from tight technical tree riding in 3 feet of new snow, to 100+ foot cliff drops.

I chose to run EXIT shocks because I feel they are the toughest and best shocks on the market. The ride on this sled is absolutely amazing. See more @ www.timbersled.com

Do you use the stock mounting holes? It rides better than previous models? Will just switching to this skid make the sled climb better?

 

[colorado_matt]

Do you use the stock mounting holes? It rides better than previous models? Will just switching to this skid make the sled climb better?

Yes you use the stock mounting holes. They provide all of the necessary hardware to mount the skid(4 3/8ths bolts with lock washers). I'm not sure if the difference is from the M to the pro, but this sled with this skid absolutely rides better than my 3 previous M sleds with Timbersled suspensions. As for making the sled climb better, well it's a bit more complicated than a simple 'yes'. The Mtn. Tamer has a lot more adjustments than the stock skid, so you can really fine tune the performance exactly for what you want to do. No more settling for it working ok for this but not so good for that. With the stock skid, I had out of control ski lift and my biggest complaint was that the shocks were junk. The stock skid can be greatly improved with shock upgrades, but is still limited in function. With a Timbersled suspension properly setup, yes it will definitly out climb a stock suspension. The weight transfer is so much better, which helps get the track on the snow even better and you gain so much control.

 

[XP2009]

The pic you posted looks like the stock suspension with different shocks? Or is it all different? Price?

Nextech only replaces shocks. No skid changes. Pricing is on the web site (can't remember exactly).

 

[Clarke673]

IMO, id go wiht an ez-ryde... i have a friend with a timbersled and he likes it alot, but it's by no means purfect. Neither is the ez-ryde, but it works for me, and lots and LOTS of pro racers.

NOTE- look at hte approach angle, and this is a 09 dragon wiht 05 IQR race sled front suspension, which makes the front end sit up about higher, and this is with NO drop and roll.

 

[M7SLEDHEAD]

Ez-Ryde in a PRO

I would like to hear from some more guys that have ez-ryde skids in pro's. Sold my M7 mod but kept the ez-ryde w/exit shocks. I'm 95% sure I will be getting a 2013 Pro RMK. Just debating if I should keep the ez-ryde and put it in the pro or sell it and just put exit shocks in the stock skid on the Pro.

 

[mountainhorse]

I don't make it a secret that I'm a fan of the Timbersled suspension... Heck... I'm installing one with a friend on his XP tonight if he ever gets here. I've had them in my last 3 sleds.

The Timbersled Mtn. Tamer also is a "Bolt in" skid ... quick assembly and quick install. Unlike M-10's or the EZ-Ryde where you have to cut brackets off and rivet in mounting plates.

With the features and shock package choices .... not to mention the sturdieness of the components... The Timbersled Mountain Tamer rear suspension offers real world "seat of the pants" difference that you cant get with a simple shock pakage upgrade on a stock skid... Not to mention the fast coupling adjustment that you get with the Mt. Tamer. This allows you to go from a playfull ditchbanging, creek hopping play machine... to a skid that will keep you in control as you climb a nasty hill. Keeping in control is the key to the game. The knob adjustment keeps this

I've ridden both the stock PRO RMK, Assault and an M-10 equipped PRO RMK in addition to the Fox package and Z-broz package on the Stock skid.

IMO, no comparison... The timbersled gets on top of the snow faster than the stock skid...even with ugrades.

I've been on some T-sled skids from the past that were not adjusted or installed correctly and WOW... did they perform poorly... Once adjusted or installed correctly... the owners were amazed with the difference with the same skid.

Other things that set it apart from an "upgraded stockers" are the hard anodized shafts and bushings on the oversized cross shafts where the stock skid runs bare aluminum in bare steel with grease... The smoothness of the bushings is THAT much better.. you could actually run them without grease and it would work more smoothly than the stocker.

The Timbersled is more rigid than the stock skid as well as being about 4-5 lbs ligher than the stock skid on the same scale when equipped with the EVOL Float shocks. (that is a good thing!)

If we had some snow rather than dirt here.. I'd send you some pics from the field...

.

 

[Hairy Mark]

i really like my timbersled. i have ridden it with a 174 x 3 in track and it still feels light on the front end. in a matter of seconds i can change it to where you can steer up the steepest chutes. it is like the skis are welded to the ground. hwo much better is that. and that is on a stock pro for now. i can tell you in a week how it works on a pro that will have 14# of boost. then we will really know how it will stay on the ground. the new skid is light years ahead of the old one. and well worth the money.

 

[Clarke673]

I would like to hear from some more guys that have ez-ryde skids in pro's. Sold my M7 mod but kept the ez-ryde w/exit shocks. I'm 95% sure I will be getting a 2013 Pro RMK. Just debating if I should keep the ez-ryde and put it in the pro or sell it and just put exit shocks in the stock skid on the Pro.

terrible idea. the ez-ryde is the worst skid on the market. buy a timbersled.


By the way... i'll give ya $500 for your skid to take that "junk" off your hands ?

 

[bcpowderhound]

I havent had the chance to ride a pro yet but in my 2008 dragon I have a nextech coupled skid with single fox shock. It is a full skid and not just shock update. I run an aerocharger and at 11.5 lbs of boost with water to air intercooler it works great. It has alot of adjustment and will keep the skiis down while climbing very well. Once it does catwalk tho its very easy to control and will stay up till u cant hang on any longer.

 

[M7SLEDHEAD]

My concern with putting the ez ryde into the pro is if it will change the dynamics of the sled which seems to be what makes the pro so likeable. I was hoping to hear from someone that is actually running on in a Pro and get their input on how they like it and how the sled response to it.

 

[Gager]

terrible idea. the ez-ryde is the worst skid on the market. buy a timbersled.


By the way... i'll give ya $500 for your skid to take that "junk" off your hands ?

Clarke_67 - Not good enough, tell us why you think the Ez-Ryde is sooo bad or are you just trying to get one of the best skids cheap?

 

[Gager]

I ride a Pro-RMK 155 with the SLP Stage 4 kit and do a lot of boondocking and technical riding. I am not a straight up the steepest hill around kind of rider.

Stock skid – IMO the stock skid works very well off the trail in deep snow, climbing, side hilling and carving. I like the ski lift and am continually surprised how I can keep this machine moving in difficult situations. However, the skid absolutely wears me out on a rough trail! Even though we don’t buy our mountain sleds for trail riding, we do need to get to and from the hill without blowing out our knees. If not for the poor rough trail ride, I would not be contemplating changing skids.

Ez-Ryde – I’ve run two ez-ryde skids, one on a 2008 700 RMK 155 and the other on a turbo charged 2007 Phazer with a 153” track. Both machines ride very well on the trail and are a blast to pound through wooped out trails as long as you have the front end setup to keep up with the rear. I believe that it works equally well on the hill in the steep and deep. My ’08 700 consistently outperformed other 700’s and many 800’s because it floated and side hilled so well. I have over 1800 miles on my 2007 EzRyde skid and have had no major issues with it, but I did add ice scratchers from the very beginning. I did have to replace a few bearings in the small anti stab wheels and I do take it down and clean and inspect all parts in the off season. The skid does not mount in the stock location so you will have to drill your tunnel to mount the skid. When I bought mine they were including the mounting template and brackets and now I understand they charge extra for both. The skid is field tunable only with the hi/lo speed rebound clickers on the rear shock reservoir and with spring preload on both shocks. Additional tuning requires removing the shocks to add or remove spacers or change the springs and raising or lowering the mounting locations. They do provide a nice tuning guide that you can download from their website. Both my skids work very well with the factory setup and I’ve only changed the rebound clickers. I’ve not put my ez-ryde skid under my Pro because I didn’t want to remove it from 700 (it’s my backup sled) and I don’t want to drill the Pro tunnel.
I will be snow checking a 2013 pro and will be changing the skid to either an Ez-Ryde or Mountain Tamer. For me, the Ez-Ryde holds an edge because I own one and know how well they work, however, I do want to consider the Timbersled skid. I’ve not had a chance to ride a sled equipped with a Mountain Tamer. I know turbo riders like them for the ski lift control and adjustability. I’ve read reports (as in this thread) that they float better than the stock skid when setup properly, but not many reports on how it handles the rough and wooped out trails. Could somebody comment on this?

 

[mountainhorse]

One thing to keep in mind with the EZ-RYDE.. which is a great skid BTW... is that you have to cut into the tunnel, remove the drop brackets and install the mounting plate for the install of the skid.

The same is true for the M-10's and M-10 copies like the Baker skid.

The Timbersled, and K-mod are Bolt in setups that do not require cutting or grinding.







.

 

[Rally2]

Excellent input Gager thank you!

I think Clark67 is joking in his post bashing the EZryde?? Emoticons are helpful so people don't take comments like this the wrong way.

 

[glassman]

Looking at the stock skid it is almost identical to a HOLZ set up. I can't help but think that with better shocks you should be able to achieve noticeable improvement over stock calibration. The aftermarket skids may be somewhat better, but are they really worth the cabbage? Older machines can really benefit from these for sure, but the new rides, Im not so sure.

BTW assault, do you have your skid bolted in the assault location or the recommended 1" down and back from the rmk position? Also need to back the spring pressure right off on the front spring to where it is just compressing when neutral, and increase the rear pressure. Mine has no problem with ski lift and pressure. Jumps right on top of the snow.

 

[F-Bomb]

Glassman you are absolutely correct. That Polaris skid is a direct imitation of the Holz Racing Products Alpha-X. They changed very little in geometry and function. When dialed in that suspension was absolutely OUTSTANDING in every aspect of riding for the IQ RAW that is it was designed for. The Polaris copy is exactly the same for the PRO. The only problem is the stock shocks don't allow for specialized setups and while universally a very good all around suspension setup they are seriously wanting if you've dealt with BETTER. When you apply superior quality shocks (we use Fox Racing Shox with a custom progressive rate Ti spring over a Zero Pro) and know how to set them up you get that same level of improvement from your suspension. Most importantly it's a super high quality tool in all environments. That total flexibility is what makes the stocker with superior shocks an outstanding setup.

 

[assault11]

Looking at the stock skid it is almost identical to a HOLZ set up. I can't help but think that with better shocks you should be able to achieve noticeable improvement over stock calibration. The aftermarket skids may be somewhat better, but are they really worth the cabbage? Older machines can really benefit from these for sure, but the new rides, Im not so sure.

BTW assault, do you have your skid bolted in the assault location or the recommended 1" down and back from the rmk position? Also need to back the spring pressure right off on the front spring to where it is just compressing when neutral, and increase the rear pressure. Mine has no problem with ski lift and pressure. Jumps right on top of the snow.

It's down and back an inch from the rmk position. I tighten my limiter strap and that helped a lot. I had the assault shock I'm the back but I exploded it so I have a pro shock now and actually works better

 

[glassman]

Im not sure why you would be having trouble with ski lift if you are set in the same position as me. Other than the front shock being different, we have the same set up. I have my limiter in the stock position as well. Must be something to do with the front shock and preload you have. I think the ride is decent for the stock skid, but will undoubtidly change to a superior shock system this summer.

 

[Mtn. Muncher]

Suspension improvements are going to boil down to personal preference and budget. The Timbersled Mtn. Tamer is going to be one of the better choices for a high end complete replacement skid simply due to its lightweight construction (38lbs) and supper smooth ride along with its quick coupling adjustment abilities to be a front end light boondocking sled to a full hill climb machine that can keep the skis down on a steep hill. This is cool option to have to be able to adjust the coupling in a few seconds and then feel the different on the next run up the hill. This will boost your confidents to do things that you typically would not feel comfortable doing. There is no other suspension on the market that makes these adjustments so simply without the need of tools or extra parts.

Allen
Timbersled Products