Call me stupid but I cannot for the life of me figure out what that video is supposed to show. Looking the A-arms I presume this is the "improved" performance. However, myself and my 120 lb son can do that on my stock sled all day long.
Please explain. What does the video prove or demonstrate?
He's driving on set-up snow. Its harder to tip a sled on its edge in set-up snow. The more narrow the front end, meaning, the less distance from the centerline of the sled to the skeg, the less "input weight" is required to tip a sled on its edge. Its a rule of thumb that for every 1 inch less from centerline to the ski center, there is approximately 10 pounds less required on the handlebar pull. It makes the sled act as-if it has more degrees of positive spindle caster and raises the roll center.
When you're in a meadow and crossing an old track, like doing a carve or a crop circle, you'll find instead of more feeling of when hitting the old track, the sled wants to tip back up, away from your body, rather instead, the rear end wants to wash out, but you re-learn to overcome this by turning the handlebars, steering into the snow, into the direction you're going; this controls the washout - now you can steer the sled over old hard tracks as the sled is rite leaned over.
shortline) However, myself and my 120 lb son can do that on my stock sled all day long.
joe) You make the sled one inch wider on center (that means go from 36 to 38") and you might do that all day long, but tomorrow you'll be calling in sick because your shoulder muscles are sore a/f. Go from 38 to 40 and even worse, well, you wont make it "all day long" you'll throw in the towel and say "fukkit, lets ride".
Ok, go back the other way from standard 36 to 34 or 33.8-ish and you'll have to somewhat re-learn, re-shape your riding skill because you'll think the sled is more tippy, no, its how
you control the sled, so now you'll have to control the sled with new body english, and Mister, your skills will get higher. Ive been running on
my own 33.8 front end and now for going on 3 seasons and i can't believe at some of the hard, sharp hairpin turns i can make in fresh snow and riding on set-up snow is much easier to tip the sled on its edge.
Just like "Teth-Air" says, Dont give up Barcode. In fact, you use nay-sayers to give you the motivation to press on. The more knowledge you have about it, the more you'll have peace. ive made my living going against the bashers, (mostly my competitors
big mouths) if they say go left, YOU go right. if they say go down, YOU go up. if they say gear up, YOU gear down. and you'll learn more about "how and why" things work and learn their advantages of it. Anyone who listens to "Them", well, that's as far as the listener will get. Never stop working at it.