I had an '07 Summit X 151 which I just loved and when BRP announced the light weight '08's I just had to have one. I thought as good as my '07 X was that the '08 would be that much better. It is very powerful and goes through the snow very well but is not nearly as nimble as the '07. It is very light to lift but rides through the snow very heavily. I traded with a friend who had an '07 with us and I couldn't believe the difference and neither could he. I am very disappointed in it and wish I had my '07 back. I am hoping that others are experiencing the same thing and can tell me how to correct it. Maybe adjusting the ski pressure or other chassis modifications. I asked another friend who has an '08 how he liked his and he mentioned the the same thing and I didn't say anything just to see if he noticed it and he had. If anyone has any "substantive " suggestions I would be very interested. If it can't be corrected I am considering trading it off. The weight loss wasn't worth it so far to me.
My '08 XP163 seems to ride heavy in the snow
- Thread starter Termite
- Start date
I did notice the same thing, I went from an 05 151" to a 08 154" and was wishing it rode like the old 05. I still have not gotten it to fall over as easy yet, but I did find some things that helped. 1. move your handlebars back some, don't try to ride way up front, it won't handle easy with your feet shoved up front. 2. increase preload on front spring for less ski pressure. 3. loosen preload on front skies. 4 limiter strap, well I like to climb high, so I havn't tried that yet, but everything is easy to change on the hill, so just play with it and find where you like it.
It bothered me too and I couldn't leave it alone so I moved bars back, disconnected one side of the stabilizer bar, lighten pre-load on ski springs to lowest setting, then I let limiter strap out and found that the shock was fully extended and the strap was loose. I was concerned as this can wreck the shock. I have redrilled the rails 1" forward and moved the lower shock mount. Now the strap does work. I run this shock about 1/2 way pre-loaded and the back shock spring on #2 so the ski's can lift slightly on climbs. This combination and deep snow has made this machine awsome. It is true that on hard pack the sled still feels a bit rigid and I wish the shocks had clicker dampening so I could soften
. Oh well it's 90-95% of the way there. They had to leave something for 2009 models.
. Oh well it's 90-95% of the way there. They had to leave something for 2009 models.Yes, these guys are right. Take all the ski-pressure off. You don't need to trade it off. Why do you think all the suspension is adjustable? So you can set it up for the way you want it to feel, and ride. The loss of weight is big and once dialed in, it will be noticeable. Power to weight ratio! Simple
Remove the sway bar.
4
4fun
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Thought the same thing on firmer snow but handles light in the powder . t
he softer the snow the better it feels . The snow isn't always soft (I wish ) .
I am running the stock ski's . I traded the right and left around and have them in the narrow setting . You can pull it up much easier now . Sort of like having a 6 in. narrower stance on firm snow . No different in powder . Side hilling ? I like it much better .
he softer the snow the better it feels . The snow isn't always soft (I wish ) .
I am running the stock ski's . I traded the right and left around and have them in the narrow setting . You can pull it up much easier now . Sort of like having a 6 in. narrower stance on firm snow . No different in powder . Side hilling ? I like it much better .
Teth-Air
Can you be more specific on what you move or is there a kit to relocate the front shock.
My dad has an 08 154 and I have an 05 151 we traded sleds and we both thought the 05 felt much lighter. He was also ready to tade it back for his 07. We did everything mentioned above disconected the swaybar ( does it have to be removed completely? I didn't think it did.), loosend the front shocks, moved the handlebars back, tightened the front shock in the rear suspension, and the limiter was already loose.
I rode the sled for 1/2 a day and I thought the sled was much harder to handle then my 05. I shrugged it off as it wasn't my sled and I wasn't used to it, but after I mentioned it to my dad he addmitted that he thought it was harder to handle as well. We also had another 08 154 with us and he said it was much harder to throw around than his 07 as well. He said it handled more like the King cats that he used to ride
It sure would be nice to figure out the deep snow handling for this sled because I couldn't find anything else wrong with it. Tons of power and the clutches worked flawlessly. It is just that a sled that is #50 lighter than a rev shouldn't feel #50 heavier.
Can you be more specific on what you move or is there a kit to relocate the front shock.
My dad has an 08 154 and I have an 05 151 we traded sleds and we both thought the 05 felt much lighter. He was also ready to tade it back for his 07. We did everything mentioned above disconected the swaybar ( does it have to be removed completely? I didn't think it did.), loosend the front shocks, moved the handlebars back, tightened the front shock in the rear suspension, and the limiter was already loose.
I rode the sled for 1/2 a day and I thought the sled was much harder to handle then my 05. I shrugged it off as it wasn't my sled and I wasn't used to it, but after I mentioned it to my dad he addmitted that he thought it was harder to handle as well. We also had another 08 154 with us and he said it was much harder to throw around than his 07 as well. He said it handled more like the King cats that he used to ride
It sure would be nice to figure out the deep snow handling for this sled because I couldn't find anything else wrong with it. Tons of power and the clutches worked flawlessly. It is just that a sled that is #50 lighter than a rev shouldn't feel #50 heavier.
My sled is loaded on enclosed trailer for trip so I can't get photos but if you look at the lower mount on the front skid shock, you will see it is in the center of a rod that runs between the 2 rails. I simply removed the 2 bolts on either end, and slid it forward to 2 new holes I drilled in the rails about 1" forward. The worry was that if I went too far, the shock would bottom early. I have not noticed this problem and everything worked well. Now if I crank the spring tighter, the limiter strap actually gets tight in the longest setting. I think that ski switcheroo that is mentioned in the previous thread is interesting aswell.
p.s. if doing the shock thing be carefull not to lose the washers on the i.side of the rails, when you remove the bolts.
p.s. if doing the shock thing be carefull not to lose the washers on the i.side of the rails, when you remove the bolts.
I moved shock forvard about 2-2.5 inch too and I think it will help alot to have that light nimble feeling ,my brother has 06 800 151 so I will try couple deferent set ups let you know on friday.
I moved shock forvard about 2-2.5 inch too and I think it will help alot to have that light nimble feeling ,my brother has 06 800 151 so I will try couple deferent set ups let you know on friday.
Can you get some pictures of that?
Thanks
