I need help with an '08 XP

[Landrec]

Fellas (and Ladies) - I am somewhat new to the sport of mountain riding. In fact, this is my first full season. Last year, I poached off a friend who had an '06 Rev 800 and an '08 XP and was gracious to let me borrow them on occasion. Of the two, I really liked the XP, so I found a used one this fall and made the plunge. (It should be noted that these were the only two sleds I had ever ridden.) Only afterwards did I start reading these forums and found out that the '08 XP was not exactly the best sled for the type of riding my buddies tend to do (steep and in the trees.)

Now I am in the predicament of having spent my "fun money" for the year, but am getting spanked when trying to pull lines. We rode yesterday in some really good snow, and I feel like I got run over by a truck! I know that some of my troubles are rider induced, and that I need a lot more experience before I can run with the big dogs, but there has to be a way to get this thing to lay over a little better. Can any of you give me a recommendation for a relatively inexpensive way to make it handle a little better?

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

 

[snowmobiler]

tilt the bars back and standing father back helps keep the front end out of the snow when your on the throttle.

 

[SlingingMercury]

Move skis to narrow position and flip them left for right/right for left. Remove the sway bar. Position your feet about 12-18 inches back in the foot boards. Make sure you riser is in line with steering post.

 

[naturalyhigh700]

cut outer edges of skis at the back makes it better for sidehilling i dont have any pics but im sure someone can post some

 

[LRD]

As above, narrow ski stance, no sway bar, rotate handle bars back so risers
near strasight line with steering column, and cut skis.

Cutting skis helps a bunch, it allows the uphill ski to punch down into the powder a bunch easier, heres 2 pages on it http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=236380

I did one better and narrowed my skid plate down to 8" under my a-arms, again it makes it easier for the uphill ski to punch down into the powder.

Also get bith of the "Schooled DVD's) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMTQ-W5qU3c and Schooled Again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExHM0OTTzVs&feature=related
They are great vids and they stop and Teach ya how to do it!!!

Then there is chassis setup, front skis springs, front limiter strap and shock and rear. Somebody else will have to touch on that as my sled is to mod to relate to a stocker,mine is only 365 lbs with my own skid creation.

Good Luck

Here is my ski cut which is now pretty mild to what a few guys have done.

 

[naturalyhigh700]

365? sorry to get off subjects but that sound amazing how about some pics??

 

[supersprocket]

All are right.I was broke in with an 07 800r and felt the same.It truly is seat time on the machine all those little tricks help espacially the ski cutting,i also recomend a inner wheel kit.But i would not do anything untill u can do right with the stock set up first.In the long run it will make u a better rider.Its all body positioning i way 150 sokin wett and can put my 07 anywhere now.What im trying to say is your xp will do anything u tell it too u just have to believe in yourself and practice practice practice.Have fun and dont give up(Ive seen xp's do some of the most amzing stuff)and the new 11 800 etec is even more amazing

 

[Landrec]

Thanks everybody!

In addition to being relatively green to sledding, I weigh 160 with all my gear on. Now I know that really isn't an excuse, as I have seen some smaller guys just shred. But most of my riding buddies are 200+. When I ask them for tips, they say "just lean." Thanks.

As far as "Schooled" goes, that guy defies gravity. Watching Burandt makes you just want to go out and ride (and once you do, it makes you want to cry when you are as stuck as you have ever been while trying to copy his style.) I have had some success with the wrong foot forward, but try as I may, the darn thing always ends up rolling out of the sidehill. I will try removing the sway bar and cutting the skis and see if that takes some of the "amatuer" out of my efforts.

Oh, and thanks for the pics. They really help to illustrate what you are talking about.

 

[winter brew]

I would disagree with anyone who says the XP (any year) isn't a great sled for the steep/trees. IMO it's as good as anything out there when setup properly. The biggest issue is most guys tend to set them up like they did their older sleds and that just doesn't work with the XP.
Suspension setup, bar position, proper clutching and the XP is as good as it gets IMO. Search the Doo section, there has been alot of talk on all those aspects of XP setup.

 

[LRD]

365? sorry to get off subjects but that sound amazing how about some pics??

Here ya go, 6 pages on how I did it and almost all of it will work on any XP,
my goofy little 8 Lb Lite Primary wont' work on 800's though http://www.dootalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=218137&hl=lrd&st=0

Good Luck

 

[whiskeyxp2]

I haven't ridden an 08 xp but I have two 09 xp's. I'm pushing 150 or 160 with gear. When I was shopping I had heard that the xp's were tough to lean but now that I have some seat time on them it's second nature. My beggest advice would be getting more seat time, just find some open slopes and fields with some decent snow and just get used to the center of balance. I did remove the sway bar and that makes a huge difference and easy to do. Before you invest heavily in chassis updates get to know the sled better so you know which mods work for your styles of riding.

 

[Landrec]

I will be the first to say that my lack of riding time is my biggest adversary. I am sure that any sled out there will go where it is pointed with the right rider on board. I guess I was asking for some advice on how to get the sled set up to lessen my learning curve a little. I am riding with guys that have been at it all their lives, and I don't like being the weak link. I really like the sled, and don't want to sound like I am bagging on Ski-Doo at all. So far, I have gotten places that I never would have believed just a year ago. It's just when the trees get tight and we are having to cut across the hill that I am having trouble. I can get the thing on it's side, but even when hanging it out (Burandt style) I can't keep it in the cut - I either go up (and get stuck) or roll out.

I just topped 600 miles today, and I must say that certain techniques are starting to get easier, but staying in a sidehill just isn't one of them.

I really appreciate everyone's input.

 

[naturalyhigh700]

i know you have probably tried this but remember turning in and out while in a side hill can change it going up or down and put your foot as far forward in the footwell as you can and stay over/weight forward the front of the sled.

 

[801]

get the videos school and schooled again!!! will answer alot of questions!

 

[skidoo_guy]

I am sure you already do this but it sounds like you need to countersteer. Once you get it on the side it is just a matter of countersteer and throttle control. Like all the rest said the only way to get a feel for that is practice.