I'm not sure how much better I can explain it in technical terms. The steering is way easier vs. stock set up. It side hills easier and doesn't seem to wash out like the stock set up. Stock set up, I was constantly fighting the sled. I was actually considering selling it before I put this kit on, it was that bad. Did you read that thread I linked in post #28? I feel like that was a pretty good summary/review. A guy I rode with had a 15 and now has an Alpha. He rode mine last year and said it was the best handling 15 he has ridden. I'm not sure what else there is to say. I would be open to talking on the phone, maybe that would be easier than trying to type out my thoughts.
Just a FYI front end height info
- Thread starter Barcode
- Start date
did your 15 have the cat 36" stance already or did you go from the 38 to the 36" barcode? just going from the 38 to the cat 36 is such a huge jump itself, im curious how much "change" was strickly from the narrower stance vs the 5" forward
Sled was all stock before installing the kit.
id want to head from someone that had the stock 36 and went with this kit. the jump from stock 38 to 36 was huge itself and one of the biggest changes from 15 to 16
A '17 Mountain Cat (Ascender chassis, Suzuki 800 HO) Gripper skis, DS Titanium can, Bikeman Y-pipe, Hubs Performance clutching, TP 911 clutch cover, BMP magnetic adjustable weights, otherwise stock. Added IceAge Elevate kit; OMG, that's the best mod by far! Your eyes & body position just show the sled where to go & it does it, even in tipping over!! Not tired at the end of the day! And I have not even fine tuned the shock pressures other than to add 10 lbs to the FTS & RTS as IceAge reccomends.
Yes, our kits a Giant improvement over the 2015 front end. Any narrower kit(factory or aftermarket) is. While you may not think it is a improvement over the stock 36" factory front end, it is.
On our own Alpha we've not seen the need to move the rear skid. We have added preload/air pressure to the front track shock to help with the added ski pressure going forward adds. But that doesn't mean you can't do it.
On our own Alpha we've not seen the need to move the rear skid. We have added preload/air pressure to the front track shock to help with the added ski pressure going forward adds. But that doesn't mean you can't do it.
Can you explain why your ski shocks were mounted upside down? Does this not effect the the performance?
Quite a few mount them upside down. No ill effects whatsoever.
That pic is Ross Robinson's sled.
The shocks are upside down because they fit best this way. As for performance there is no effect on the way they work. The ideas shocks can only be mounted one way/up right is a thing of days long past.
That is not true. It depends on the type of shock. Some can be installed either direction some must only be installed in one direction.
Sent it
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Guys, the 5 inch forward thing is nothing new.. Skinz has been doing it for years. Chris Burandt runs the further forward a-arms on his axys as well. Have you ever tried moving something with a crow bar? Isn't it safe to say the longer the crow bar the easier it is for you to move something? This is because of leverage. When you place the leverage point further back on the snowmobile, you make it easier for the rider to achieve a sidehill, or just get the sled on its side in general. I'm sure there are some draw backs to the design, however if off trail technical riding is what you are into.. the benefits far outweigh the negative. By the way, this kit is far more cost effective than the skinz kits.
This is the best explanation yet with how I feel the kit works, I just couldn't figure out to explain it best. I feel like some of you guys are attacking Barcode or maybe have a hidden agenda. Unless you have ridden a sled with this kit before and after, you shouldn't be making assumptions about how it works or if it works. I'm not saying it is the best thing out there, everybody rides different and has different skill sets. So seriously, why all the hate from some of you guys?!?
nobody is attacking, people just was answers on why/how its better. a single video of a sled on a lake proves nothing. your review is good but you also went from a 38 to 36" stance so its not apples to apples for guys that already have a 36" stance. how does a longer sled make it easier to initiate a side hill? i could see it being more stable because of the longer "wheelbase" but being longer doesn make it easier to initiate. we know how the raised front end is, plenty of companies doing that
Say what?
What type of shock is dependent on orientation? They're all pressurized in the damper with either a bladder or a piston for oil displacement.
And I think the crowbar/leverage analogy explains perfectly why it is easier to side hill and holds a side hill edge so much better. All of my comments are in reference to the pro climbs. I'm not sure somebody of my riding ability would need anything better than a stock hard core or alpha.
Guys, I got the Barcode kit mounted up on 2015 Proclimb 153" yesterday. I will measure the front end height change and post it later. I am wondering if I should change my ski pressures (currently at 60 PSI clutch side and 58 PSI muffler side). Also, I seem to remember reading that there is more ski pressure with the lengthened front end. Should I also increase my front track shock pressure before (1.2 or 3 threads) before heading out tomorrow)?
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