bye bye poo hello doo:) need advice on 12 etec mods and must haves!!!

[89sandman]

first let me tell you a little about how i got here. hit a deer last summer on my motorcycle and wasted my body pretty badly. tried to ride my pro last winter a couple of times but was just tearing my body up so sold it so i couldn't ride it. let my body heal for the year, its in pretty good shape now except for my shoulder. seperated it extremely bad in the wreck and its never gonna be the same again. so decided i'd try it again this year. got a smokin' deal today on a new 12 154 etec, if i told you the price you wouldn't believe me. so now i need to get it set up and ready to ride for this season. not a point and shoot guy love the trees and the deep. been riding for over 15 years now and am a very aggresive rider.

can: must loose the suitcase sized can for something a little more weight friendly. heard the bikeman can works good on the etec, went to their website and it looks like they make 2 different cans. also noticed there was some kind of sensor adapter? anyone got opinions on which on works best and would assume the adapter is a must have? i ride mainly 4-7k.

any cheap easy things to loose weight? not into spending hundreds, just looking for any simple little things to loose a pound here or a couple there.

handgaurds and mounts: whose mounts work best and what handgaurds fit them? don't roll my sleds so stiffer ones work fine for me. wondering which ones give good protection from branches as well as wind.

tunnel bag: since the etec is supposed to get such great mileage i guess i won't be carrying extra fuel this year so want to loose some of the stuff out of my backpack and into a bag. would like something that has some good storage and is waterproof if possible. always carry my shovel in my pack so a place for that is not needed in the bag. noticed the heat exchanger tubes go right up the middle of the tunnel. does this create problems with a bag? how strong is the top of the tunnel?

bar bag: always like to keep my camera, 2way, gps on my bars for easy access. once again looking for something waterproof.

frogskins kit: noticed all the open holes in the front venting. i love to ride the deep so need something to keep the pow out. is frogskins the best option or does doo make a kit?

venting: on my M this was a must. on the pro not so much. is this a must have for the etec? if so which kit gives the best flow?

powder jack: always laughed at these but now i think its a must have for me. like i said i love the deep and if you ride it your gonna shovel it. don't think the shoulder is up for too much of that so figure this will save it a lot of unneeded stress. i've heard the cheap one is a pile but is there anyway to get around spending 3-400 for something that should be around 1-200? like to keep my stuff spotless clean, any way to mount the thing somehow so it doesn't mar the crap out of my tunnel?

lefty: have always like the goldfinger set-up the best. anything work better on the doo?

goggle bag: is there a place inside that is better to put one? does doo make one or do i need to get a different one?

clutching: is the factory stuff good out of the box? or do i need to do a little tweaking?

boards: how do the stockers work? not into spending hundreds on airframes so if they need to be change whats a more cost effective option? feethookers?

any must haves? have never really followed the doo's very closely but will be doing a ton of reading the next few weeks. have the belt burning issues been addressed and fixed or is that something that still needs to be worked on? anyone have any experience running the gates extreme on these? have had good luck with them on my other sleds and are a lot cheaper!!!

any input you guys can give me would be greatly appreciated. only one of my buddies is a doo guy so i need all the help i can get.

 

[eman0993]

first let me tell you a little about how i got here. hit a deer last summer on my motorcycle and wasted my body pretty badly. tried to ride my pro last winter a couple of times but was just tearing my body up so sold it so i couldn't ride it. let my body heal for the year, its in pretty good shape now except for my shoulder. seperated it extremely bad in the wreck and its never gonna be the same again. so decided i'd try it again this year. got a smokin' deal today on a new 12 154 etec, if i told you the price you wouldn't believe me. so now i need to get it set up and ready to ride for this season. not a point and shoot guy love the trees and the deep. been riding for over 15 years now and am a very aggresive rider.

can: must loose the suitcase sized can for something a little more weight friendly. heard the bikeman can works good on the etec, went to their website and it looks like they make 2 different cans. also noticed there was some kind of sensor adapter? anyone got opinions on which on works best and would assume the adapter is a must have? i ride mainly 4-7k.

any cheap easy things to loose weight? not into spending hundreds, just looking for any simple little things to loose a pound here or a couple there.

handgaurds and mounts: whose mounts work best and what handgaurds fit them? don't roll my sleds so stiffer ones work fine for me. wondering which ones give good protection from branches as well as wind.

tunnel bag: since the etec is supposed to get such great mileage i guess i won't be carrying extra fuel this year so want to loose some of the stuff out of my backpack and into a bag. would like something that has some good storage and is waterproof if possible. always carry my shovel in my pack so a place for that is not needed in the bag. noticed the heat exchanger tubes go right up the middle of the tunnel. does this create problems with a bag? how strong is the top of the tunnel?

bar bag: always like to keep my camera, 2way, gps on my bars for easy access. once again looking for something waterproof.

frogskins kit: noticed all the open holes in the front venting. i love to ride the deep so need something to keep the pow out. is frogskins the best option or does doo make a kit?

venting: on my M this was a must. on the pro not so much. is this a must have for the etec? if so which kit gives the best flow?

powder jack: always laughed at these but now i think its a must have for me. like i said i love the deep and if you ride it your gonna shovel it. don't think the shoulder is up for too much of that so figure this will save it a lot of unneeded stress. i've heard the cheap one is a pile but is there anyway to get around spending 3-400 for something that should be around 1-200? like to keep my stuff spotless clean, any way to mount the thing somehow so it doesn't mar the crap out of my tunnel?

lefty: have always like the goldfinger set-up the best. anything work better on the doo?

goggle bag: is there a place inside that is better to put one? does doo make one or do i need to get a different one?

clutching: is the factory stuff good out of the box? or do i need to do a little tweaking?

boards: how do the stockers work? not into spending hundreds on airframes so if they need to be change whats a more cost effective option? feethookers?

any must haves? have never really followed the doo's very closely but will be doing a ton of reading the next few weeks. have the belt burning issues been addressed and fixed or is that something that still needs to be worked on? anyone have any experience running the gates extreme on these? have had good luck with them on my other sleds and are a lot cheaper!!!

any input you guys can give me would be greatly appreciated. only one of my buddies is a doo guy so i need all the help i can get.

Congrats on the new sled! Glad you made it Out of the accident. Well Right away I bought Grip and Rip braces for the front end. The s&e mods bend pretty easy on these XPs. Not sure about the bike man can.
I went with full SLP. I know there are mixed feeling about full SLP but that is what I decided.
I had some Rox hand guards on my last sled. The ones made out of Skinz fabric with the metal brackets. Loved em but they wouldn't work on my FreeRide so I sold them.
Doo makes a heated handle bar bag that would be great for the Phone camera and gps.
Easy weight loss is pulling the foam out from the side panels under the hood and anywhere else. It will just get wet and freeze. I hear people keep the foam and heat tape on the exhaust side panel because over time it will warp the panel from the heat of the exhaust. But I pulled mine out.
For boards stock suck. I went with skinz airframe. Spendy but a nice quality product.
Clutching I'm going with Rooster Built but lots of opinions on that.
For a tunnel bag I have the ski doo expandable bag. But I carry my shovel in my Avy bag. Hope this helps a little ill add more as I think of them. Post some pics of the new sled!!

 

[skidoo_guy]

One of the popular cans for the XP is HPS but they are loud.

I have a small skins tunnel bag. Didn't like the way it would sit on the exchanger though because I would get some condensation, so I had a peice of galvanized metal bent to go over it and set my bag on that. Will probably see if I can get a piece of alum this year to do the same thing.

I believe snobungie makes a handlebar bag too.

I close up my holes with dog proof screen door screen. It is cheap and works well for the existing holes. My friend had frogskins on his M and ended up having to tape them down with duct tape.

Not sure on venting for the 12, but it wouldn't hurt and there are a ton of companies that sell it. The 12 does have the new belt guard, which I heard actually does work, so putting much venting on the clutch side probably won't do much.

There isn't a goggle bag for the doo. I believe RSI makes one though that you could mount. Probably will end up mounting it by the can once you get rid of the suitcase.

Didn't hear much on the clutching for the 12's. I think it got a lot better, best to talk to Dynomo_Joe or Roosterbuilt on here, they are the go to people for clutch kits on Skidoo.

Could always put Better Boards on if the stock isn't good enough. I have found the stock is adaquete but not great. Miles ahead of what we use to have.

Depends on how far you wanted to go you could get the T-motion skid kit and put it in to make it more like a 13 and it is suppose to make it pull over easier (easier on your shoulder).

 

[cubby]

I've tried other cans and not happy with them don't mess around buy a HPS and be done with it.
Tunnel bag, go with one from sledsolutions, very nice fit and finish and is as close to waterproof as a guy can get.
Clutching on the 12's is pretty good right out of the box so really no need to waste your money there.
Bar bag, skidoo makes a nice one, but if you have a X then it will hit your grip warmers and shut them off once in a while so gotta watch that LOL.
Stock boards worked well from me, well enough not to spend $400 on new ones anyway.
Venting, that's just up to the owner. I don't want to cut up my sled and never had any problems with air so no need from me to waste money on them either.
Other then that get on it and go, have a good and safe season out there!!

 

[Summit74]

Rode the 2012 800 summit SP last year and said above, no need to spend a bunch of money, save it for gas and oil. Pull and go. Put a SLP can on mine and a muffpot.

 

[Hurricane Tim]

Go with the HPS can. They aren't that loud, and you will lose 10.6 Lbs (I weighed mine). Don't take that clutch guard thingy off, it actually helps to cool the clutches even though it looks like a heat trap. The boards fill with snow quickly, like most stockers, so board mods are up to you (airframes?). Have fun.

 

[sleding4life]

belt drive, c3

 

[89sandman]

thanx for the replies! dealer called today and said they were gonna hook it up to the computer to get it set up and running in the morning so i can pick it up in the afternoon,ssssswwwwweeeeettttttt!!! already started my internet search for my parts, gonna do some serious looking this weekend and start ordering on monday. then all i will need is some pow...

 

[Twostroke]

Right on. Looking forward to seeing how you set it up and your compairson to the Msled & PRO.

 

[eman0993]

thanx for the replies! dealer called today and said they were gonna hook it up to the computer to get it set up and running in the morning so i can pick it up in the afternoon,ssssswwwwweeeeettttttt!!! already started my internet search for my parts, gonna do some serious looking this weekend and start ordering on monday. then all i will need is some pow...

What mods u going with?

 

[sledman05]

Just my $0.02

Here are my mods to my 2012 XP 163...

Can - SLP (My buddy has a J&T Performance...too loud for my liking)

Handle Bar Bag - Ski Doo Heated Riser Bag (you will need to buy the cables to connect it to the electrical system of your sled...sold separately)

Tunnel Bag - Snow Skinz Powder Pak (waterproof and durable plus expandable!!)

XP Sag Reducer Bracket Kit - A must from Rooster Built (~ $60)

2" Riser Block (Still using the stock cables!)

Extreme Air Vents - I bought the 7 piece kit! IMO best on the market!

NO clutching yet...but I keep it clean enough to eat off of and blow it out after every single ride!!

 

[89sandman]

What mods u going with?

pretty much my list up above. anymore i try to stay away from engine mods, have found they cost a ton and you get nothing back for them when you sell the sled. i'm more into what makes the sled handle and fit me better stuff. the older i get the more comfort means

 

[89sandman]

a pick of my new baby

 

[Nytroty]

Nice sled! I love my etec and i am sure you will too! One question though. You had a pro before this and now you went to Doo. Why? Was it just price? or were you unhappy with something else on the pro?

 

[Teth-Air]

Really? You say you ride aggresively but you don't roll your sled and feel you need a snow jack??

Come on.. Any agressive rider takes a few chances, not necessarily with safety but for sure with lines and deep snow where you are not sure if you will make it without getting stuck.

Maybe you don't know this move but one of the most common mountain moves is rolling your sled out of stucks (so lose the windshield and hand guards). Don't carry a heavy jack that will weigh you down or get in your way.

For those who also don't know how to get out of a stuck facing up hill, try this one.

Lay on your back and put your feet under the front bumper. Push up until your knees lock, now use one leg to push snow under the front of your track. Relax and move under the machine farther and push on the bumper again and pack more snow under the track again. Keep doing it until the sled is straight up and down. Now you can stand at the side of the sled and spin it on its end before dropping it downhill.

If you are on the flat, you can still do this technique and once the snow is packed back under the track beyond its center point, you can push the nose down and the rear of the sled will pivot up out of the snow. No jack required!

It works for one person too but its always easier with Two.

 

[89sandman]

Nice sled! I love my etec and i am sure you will too! One question though. You had a pro before this and now you went to Doo. Why? Was it just price? or were you unhappy with something else on the pro?

yes it was a price only thing. if i could have bought a new pro for the same or even close to the same price there would have been no question. having said that if i thought the doo was a far inferior a sled i would have just bucked up the extra cash and bought poo. not sure if i'm gonna be able to ride this year. the body is fair but my shoulder is still pretty bad. gonna give it another try but if i can't i'm in the doo so cheap i can easily resale it and make a couple of grand.

have rode all the sleds they have out but the xm and for my riding style there is just no better sled than the poo. for riding in the trees nothing beats light weight and there is no lighter sled than the poo. not to say anything bad about the doo, it is just not quite as nimble as the pro. just as the poo shines in the tight technical the doo does in climbing. the poo just doesn't stand a chance when going for the highmark, the doo clutches work soooo much better it keeps the power going to the track. from what i've heard the etec motor is pretty much bullet proof where the poo is not. each has its advantages and disadvantages, just comes down to rider choice. will i be as happy in the trees on the doo, probably not. but will have a huge smile on my face when we hit the bowls and i'm smokin' poo's!!!

teth air, i am a very aggresive rider. i've just had to work hard for every penny i have and don't think rolling over 10k+ of my hard earned dollars is how to treat my stuff. some of my buddies do and more power to them, don't mind one bit listening to thier sleds pop and crack as we roll it over. its just not my style. i'm not affraid of a little shoveling, good way to keep in shape. have ridden over 15 years without a jack but my body isn't in the greatest of shape right now and if i'm to continue with the sport i love so dearly sometimes you've got to do what you must. have had several friends tell me i can still ride but just don't have to ride as hard. for me thats just not an option, unless i'm riding the way i like i'd just rather not. have laughed at jacks for years, what kind of a loser would ever want one now i know the one who'd rather keep riding than not...

 

[Mr.DOO]

The stock skis suck ! powder pros are a huge improvement ,a little more effort to steer them ,but they actually turn and make it easier to pull over ,not sure why.

 

[nobozos]

nice sled just got a couple myself.

 

[89sandman]

ok lets talk skid and shock setup. gonna try it with the swaybar in and then out. like my sled to roll as easy as possible and have never left it in on any sled i've owned. my front shocks are on the lowest settings. will bring them up on notch or 2 when i pull the bar. not interested in trail handleing at all, try to avoid that like the plague, i'm looking for the best tree/powder setup. want it to carve as easily as possible. front skid shock is one up from the softest and the spring cams are on the softess. i'm 200 pounds without gear. limiter strap in the stock spot.

how about the clickers, mine are set in the #1 position. what max rpms am i looking for? we ride 4500-7500 is pretty heavy snow, lots of moisture here in oregon. the motor is stock after the first 400 miles will be adding a can.

dealer told me to use the blend oil, thought they would run the full synthetic. has anyone figured out about what oil ratio these run? trying to figure out how much to buy for the season.

sorry about all the questions but would rather learn from guys with experience than waste precious riding time experimenting with setups. always found it easier to get a good baseline and then fine tune from there.

 

[m8magicandmystery]

a pick of my new baby

ya whore...next you will be on a snowhawk...

Kudo;s to ya..as long as your riding is the name of the game...!!!