First Ride on the 15 wide Extreme

[Steelhead Slayer]

Stock gearing in my 09 163 - on an air strip with packed snow about a mile long i can consistently hit 90+ mph at 5500 ft. I also am not sure how accurate the guages are. I am puting in a 20 t top gear today which may slow it down on the top end a litte, not sure.

 

[Rotax_Kid]

I'd like to bring this back up...it was an interesting thread.
I did find a 146 x 2" in a 2.86 track...measured a Everest non Etec 600 and it is a 146 x 15 x 2. Might be a decent track for a guy like myself who runs both the flats and the hills.


In something completely different..anyone ever thought about pressures in the tunnel from the rotating track? Wonder if there is any benefit to almost a type of "relief valve" in the tunnel somewhere...maybe right before the drivers? Idea has crossed me before..had a line on some pressure transducers, but that fell through.

 

[CATillak]

My rev has some holes in the tunnel for other mounting points, i took the little plastic plugs out, maybe that helps to evacuate the air? Id like to get a rev with a 15 wide track and compare them, been riding 15 wides a lot this year they seem no easier to dip around than a 16 wide but they take off slower out of the hole than the 16 wide.

I vote 16 wide powerclaw

 

[K.Materi]

Can a guy put a 162 length track on the doo 163 rails? I havent looked but just curious.

 

[Summit X]

So I don't know If I have decided yet but is working better Challenger extreme or AC powder claw?

Also will the 153 & 154 tracks work on an 05 summit 151? Do I need bigger rear wheels? It sounds like it has been done by a couple of the post but nobody mentioned bigger rear wheels. Or will the different driver take up the extra length?

I like this topic my track is getting a bit banged up after 2500 miles and I have been thinking about the powder claw. Of course the Rev isn't near as hard to throw around as the XP's so that isn't a big benefit for me. I am actually a bit scared I may want to put he sway bar back in if I go to a 15 track.

Off subject but just some words of advice on the XP, STAND BACK. You have to get your feet back on the xp or they just feel heavy. You need to stand at least 12"-16" back from the toe holds. Just look at where your feet are in comparison to the chain case on the rev and then the XP and it makes sense. This can be debated but is coming from a die hard Ski Doo guy that found himself seriously thinking about a D8 or an M8 for handling(I couldn't afford either so I still have rev) after last year. After riding this year they told me to stand back and it worked. Seams this would be better if the darn seat wasn't so wide!

 

[trinitypowder]

I wish I could try the Power Claw under mine. I love the Extreme, but the weight, or lackthereof, of the Claw is appealing. My sway bar is out and with the 15 wide the sled is AMAZING! Handles completely different. Super "reactive"

 

[Summit X]

Sounds like the answer to a stiff sled to me!

 

[SnowSnob]

Nice report! Once you get the track speed up, and can keep it up, the extreme is pretty inpressive. My track clips are BLUE!! Looks just like titanium! That baby has been hot! Scratchers are a must

I swapped snowflaps for a longer uncut one and I can't believe how much cooler my sled runs now on the trail. Before I would have to drag my feet after about 10-15 miles to cool her down cause I don't have scratchers....not no more.

 

[trinitypowder]

Yep, that's a good idea-big flap, less heat. The old 15 wide extreme served me well today in the snowies!! Climbed like a home sick angel

 

[eagle]

Has anyone tried cutting the powdermax down to 15"

 

[Revdawg]

I'm just not buying it that the 15 wide is tht much more manuverable. I have put lots of 16 wides on to polaris's and cats and there was no loss of agility but a slight gain in floatation. your saying a 1/2" per side is making the sled that much more agile? maybe on really crappy snow but in the pow i can't see it. Guess i'll have to ride one and see.

 

[Elkwagn]

So I don't know If I have decided yet but is working better Challenger extreme or AC powder claw?

Also will the 153 & 154 tracks work on an 05 summit 151? Do I need bigger rear wheels? It sounds like it has been done by a couple of the post but nobody mentioned bigger rear wheels. Or will the different driver take up the extra length?

I second that question for my 04 Summit 151, I have a buddies Xp track I would like to try

 

[trinitypowder]

I'm just not buying it that the 15 wide is tht much more manuverable. I have put lots of 16 wides on to polaris's and cats and there was no loss of agility but a slight gain in floatation. your saying a 1/2" per side is making the sled that much more agile? maybe on really crappy snow but in the pow i can't see it. Guess i'll have to ride one and see.

Think about this-if you have less rubber/track, you have a more manuverable sled. I don't know how you would measure "it", but think about it.

 

[trinitypowder]

So I don't know If I have decided yet but is working better Challenger extreme or AC powder claw?

Also will the 153 & 154 tracks work on an 05 summit 151? Do I need bigger rear wheels? It sounds like it has been done by a couple of the post but nobody mentioned bigger rear wheels. Or will the different driver take up the extra length?

I second that question for my 04 Summit 151, I have a buddies Xp track I would like to try

I'm starting to see alot of Power Claw that have missing lugs. Guys say they can't hold up to a Turbo's power and that they are going back to the Extreme 2.5 lugger. Your '05 has 2.52 drivers so the new tracks(Doo 2.86 and CAt 3.0)won't work until you change drivers. As far as the length goes, I think a big wheel kit could make up the difference.

 

[revpilot]

I've got a few rides on my powerclaw now under my rev and I don't think it makes much difference carving side to side, that's more noticed in ski-stance set up. If 16 wide was an option I'd have it. I was disappointed that the paddles folded back on the first ride but they seem to go back a liitle and stay that way, maybe that's in the engineering. The thing I've noticed is that you can lose your momentum and then get going again, I like that for boondocking. This year has been so hairball for avys that I haven't got to pull any wide open steep stuff but from my experience with some decent tugs through the trees, I think it hooks up well. If the turbo guys are tearing lugs off, that's probably from trenching down into the rocks, folding the lugs over I'd blame on the not-so burly track. Having said that, I'm putting 220-250 horse to it with my NOS on the 827 and it's folded over a little but stabilized. Overall, I'm happy with it so far.

 

[turboless terry]

I do believe a 15 is easier to tip up than a 16. I have run a sled with a 18 for grooming and if you think that thing is going to tip up your crazy. If you have a truck that is 10 feet wide compared to 8, which one do you think will roll over quicker. Granted, there are other factors involved. It is the same on a snowmobile. Your rear suspension has a lot to do with it. Also, how your front shocks are set.
I am a die hard ski-doo guy but stock to stock a cat will tip up easier than a rev. I have an 06 rev with a fabcraft tunnel and mountain addiction rear with 2 wheels and nothing I have seen will turn quicker or tip up easier. It has a 151. I can pull it over on a concrete floor with one hand without jerking on it. I can't even come close with the 07 xrs. Try that with yours sometime. The 07 has an ez ryde and 2 wheel kit. The 06 feels like it is a 100 pounds lighter than the xp.
I do think you have to lose some floatation on a 15 but cat and polaris hav'nt seemed to buy into that. Maybe they know something we don't. I believe there is more to set up and the chassis than 15 or 16.
Comparing stock to stock if I was just going to boondock The cat is easier. For an all around sled I would take the doo.

 

[2THTOP]

146 2.5

I put a 144x15x2.5 chall extreme on my 146 XP works fine stock drivers

 

[trinitypowder]

Sweet!! I'm off to Togwotee to try out the Extreme up there!! Later

 

[Revdawg]

I know what your saying that narrower is easier to tip over but its only a 1/2" per side. And the track curls/rolls up too when you lay it over. The two wheel kit and proper suspension set up make way more difference.
Cats are easier to tip over but its the chassis.
The extreme is an awesome track ran that last year on my mod rev with a drop and roll and fabcraft tunnel. Sled really rocked it would kill my xp.

 

[X_RS EXTREME]

I need my sled to be easier to tip and handle in the air without loosing any of the four of my back wheels. 15 wide is the only way to go. Anyone want my 16x154