Best track length for me, 155 or 163?

[MARCUSO]

Care to explain? Trouble, like places you shouldn't or couldn't have gone w/a smaller track? With regards to your friend, I figured the longer track would inspire more confidence. Was it a different chassis that handled different?


I'm glad to see there's some big guys out there that like to ride too! Maybe it doesn't matter that much, but I can't help but think me and my gear need more track on the ground than someone who's 5-6 and 130.

I really like the idea of the 163, but I'm afraid last seasons huge snow is going to make me think I need it when maybe I don't and then I'll regret it later on in the "normal" snow years.

Do you have to lean it over or throw your weight around more w/longer sleds? Everyone says my GenII is the worst handling sled out there, it can't be worse than that can it?

Well, the guy never even used his old sled to it's full potential, and when he upgraded, his skills never improved.

To explain, lets see. There is some set up spring snow, and the sled gets really pushy and no ski will help/. You go down into a steeper valley and there is no flat spot on the bottom to turn around and a creek or trees are there.. You know when you get sucked into trees, same thing.
To go from pointing downward, and whipping the sled around (Make it or die) and shooting back up, can make trouble if you have low confidence... well a 162 does not dig like a 151 to get yourself spun around.

If you just stay on the open plains, and just tour... sure a super long track is great... you won't get stuck as bad, and in somewhat soft snow, that chews out, it is ok.

 

[MARCUSO]

Oh and one more thing, if a person learns how to not get stuck on a shorter track, they are already a better rider than someone who didn't and went right away to a long track.

 

[Bubba700]

I have the 155 in a D7 and am about 240 to 250ish with gear and There was prob only 2 days I wish I had the the 163, but even the guys with them were wishing they had somethin longer ( 6 ft of fluff). If you don't climb a ton stick with the 155 get the gearing and clutching right on it and it will handle everything you throw at it. The series 5.1 in a 155 just flat works well had some skidon't buddies wish it came in a 16 in wide cause they were jelouse of how well it works in the tight deep stuff.

 

[sleddinhusker]

Well, u know how I ride. You are alot bigger and stronger rider than I am, and I still kind of wish I would of went with the 163 instead of the 154. As easy as the 154, or 153's & 155's, handle in the trees, I don't think the longer tracks can be that much different and you would always have that extra print on those days you really need it. Should of rode one before i checked. Look at the 162's we rode with and how nice they were, besides the 1000.

I think someone like you, or my brother; a 163 or 162 would be the only way to go. He rode mine a lot this year and always said he wished it was a 163. Compared to our 02's, a 190" (if they ever made one) would handle the same. The new sleds are just easier to throw around and better overall. JMO

Only about four months left. Either way you go, u better be ready. Damn, thats just right around the corner.

 

[ckspeed]

4 months? I'll be be ready by then, is your checkbook ready? ...lol

Yeah, I'm really leaning towards the 163, it's only 4 inches or so right? So I can't imagine it's going to night and day, plus the responses here seems to all point that way or they're a toss up.

I guess my main concern is how it'll work in the years we don't have the incredible snow we had this year, it was so easy to get spoiled.

Seems the 163's are a lot harder to find that's for sure, the challenge may be finding one without buying new.

 

[poorider]

I've had both the d7 155 and currently the d8 163. I could tell there was a SLIGHT penalty in handling at first, but it's never been an issue, the iq raws are so easy to chuck around that the extra length should never bother you. By the way I'm only 5'9" (or 4'21" haha) and 170 lbs nekkid. I like the 163 at my size, if I was your size I wouldn't even consider the shorter track, and yes i do climb and like deep snow but my favourite riding is tight trees, gulleys, creekbeds, anything where tight turns and quick response is key, the 163 still does all that 100 times better than my old gen2 800 does. unless you ride trails every day GO LONG!!!!!

 

[R J]

I have the 155, I had the 159 and I have rode the 163 and didn't get enough of a taste to really say. The riding I do suits the 155 better simply because I'm not in the mountains all the time, I don't hill climb all the time (actually very little). I'm 6'1" and 230 right now.

Going into the store today I would pick the 155 again. I'm very happy with that track length for what I do. I wouldn't want to go 163, I feel that's just too long and task specific, in the same breath I wouldn't want to go to a 151 type size either because I feel that's a bit short. The 153-155 sizes seem to be the fit for me.

 

[TurboT]

I rode a 159" for quite some time. Now, a 163. I did notice a difference boondocking in tight, tree-filled areas. My money would go for the 163. Being a bigger guy(6'5", 260), the extra 4" does help. I would never go any less. Just my .02!

 

[treemongrol]

I've got a 151 and it may not go as high straight up as a 155 or 163, but I can generally go where ever they go. I've seen guys such as the one Marcuso is talking about that struggle because the machine is way to big for them. The bigger you are you will be able to throw the longer machine around easier but it could also give you false confidence and get you into a spot that you shouldn't be. The 163 would be great for the deep pow days, but to me I think that the 155 would be a better all round sled.

 

[Trenchmaster]

I rented a D7 155 for a day last year and it was great, but managed to get stuck a couple of times. I ended up buying a D8 163 and don't regret it at all. I'm 5' 15" 200 lbs and I found that the biggest advantage to the longer track was that it gave me more time to turn out of a climb after losing momentum. I used to get stuck fairly often on my old 02 800 RMK 151" but rarely did last year on the new Dragon. This sled has taken me places I would have only looked at on my old sled. If you want a sled for mountain riding get the longer track, if your riding fields and ditches go shorter. I ride the wifes 600 144" around home and it's way more fun then the long track.

 

[R J]

Why not just say you are 6'3" instead of 5' 15"?

 

[Trenchmaster]

Did you read through this thread? Just following the trend.

 

[MARCUSO]

Did you read through this thread? Just following the trend.

LOL!! some people just don't pay attention. EH?? HAH

 

[Ollie]

LOL!! some people just don't pay attention. EH?? HAH

What?

 

[ckspeed]

What were we talking about again? Oh yeah...

Well it really sounds like the 163 wins for me hands down.

The main problem is it seems there's about a 50:1 ratio though of available 155's vs 163's though. I really don't want to afford new, I guess I'll have to hope more start to surface as the year goes along.....

 

[TurboT]

What were we talking about again? Oh yeah...

Well it really sounds like the 163 wins for me hands down.

The main problem is it seems there's about a 50:1 ratio though of available 155's vs 163's though. I really don't want to afford new, I guess I'll have to hope more start to surface as the year goes along.....

Maybe you've already checked into it, but the polaris dealership in Laramie has some deals pretty regularly. Hope that's the sled you were referring to? Ray/Roy, sorry can't remember? will take you up to the Snowies, sled full of fuel already and let you ride it to see what ya think. Hope that helps!

 

[ckspeed]

Maybe you've already checked into it, but the polaris dealership in Laramie has some deals pretty regularly. Hope that's the sled you were referring to? Ray/Roy, sorry can't remember? will take you up to the Snowies, sled full of fuel already and let you ride it to see what ya think. Hope that helps!

Huh? I'm confused.

Rental maybe?

 

[TurboT]

Huh? I'm confused.

Rental maybe?

My friend was thinking of buying 2 used sleds from Roy @ Frontier Cycles in Laramie, Wyoming. So, Roy took them up personally in his own truck & enclosed(sleds already filled) and rode with them for the day. Josh(the friend), bought both of the sleds the next day. Roy told them he could take the sleds out personally if they wanted to. Roy is a standup guy. Great with people and business. I just thought you were looking for a sled? He might be able to help you. He's also the type of guy that if you keep buying from him(sled, parts, gear) he usually comps back in the long run

 

[ckspeed]

Oh, okay, thanks. I've talked to them before, they told me they didn't sell any 163's or even order any..... Of course they could get me an '09

 

[Metallic(a)sled]

i would go 155 for boondocking, tighter turning