Question for Minnesota riders

[Bamboozled]

I've got a buddy I've been trying to get join us on our annual trip out west each year. First mountain riding for him. He currently has a short track and knows that simply won't do out there. He's been looking at 151-153" track sleds (M8's and Summit's) but is concerned about how they will perform back here in Minnesota trail riding.

What do you guys do for riding back home in MN? Ride it as is with some suspension adjustment, change track, ice scratchers, or do you have another sled you use locally?

I've never had an issue riding my 144" Summit around here but maybe a 151+ would be an issue.

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[firecatguy]

I dont have any issues with my m8

 

[NorthMNSledder]

I few guys I know switch to a shorter lug track, but that is only if they ride a lot of trails. Otherwise we just leave them, but 80% of my riding if off trail so no big deal.

 

[bigdoug]

If you ride a lot of trails back here in MN then just put ice scratchers on, or a different track, otherwise we don't worry about it. Like northMNsledder, when ridin in MN most of my groups riding is off trail.

 

[snoprojoe]

X2!!

 

[Blu Du]

f#$k riding in MN

 

[schmitt]

I leave mine in the shed and pull out the 121. If you ride aggressive on the trails anything longer then a 136 suck's. If you watch close you might see the paddles flying off LOL .

 

[minet]

if he doesnt want to change out the track a couple times a year and has ruled it to owning only ONE sled , i would sugest 144x1.5 or 144x1.75

 

[xrated]

I'm going from 121 to 151 and plan on just putting scratchers on.

 

[travydog]

I have a 144 on my polaris and have no problem in the ditches around here in south dakota but a buddy has a 155 and it is hard to get in and out of them he really has to throw it around and lean hard to get out of a ditch. I would stay with a 144 or a 146. That would be the best of both worlds good enuf to go to the mountains and good for the trails.

 

[BU1]

f#$k riding in MN

LMAO!! Good thing I am able to get out west a couple of times a year. The tabs expired on my short track in 05, it hasn't been off the property since then.

 

[Headrush]

f#$k riding in MN

That's where I'm at

 

[thefullmonte]

That situation is exactly why they make crossover sleds. They are a good length with a decent lug height and work pretty good in both situations. Other than that I'm not sure what to recommend.
If you have a full blown mountain sled ditch riding and MN trails are going to be very hard on equipment. Even with ice scratchers expect to tear some lugs. They just weren't made for constant road crossings etc. In that situation I would just have a second sled just for ditch banging. Some seem to do it with no issues though so I guess we all have different experiences.
It is very possible to have a good time with a shorter sled with less track. It wasn't that long ago that a 136 was a long track. It takes a lot more snow and a much steeper hill to have the same amount of fun with today's sleds. Granted I don't know exactly how and where you ride. In most situations a 144 is more than enough sled.
Just my .02, but I hope it helps.

 

[Super B]

I ride my 155" long with 2.4" paddles around MN without an issue. I have been riding anywhere from a 136" up to 155" in MN for the past 8 years without any issues with lugs flying off etc.

 

[slash]

I rode in mankato area for 17 years it sucked,if you guyes from back home want to ride out here 144s work sort of ok! my wife rides a 136x2 chalenger as long as its not to deep she's ok.But it does not climb very well unless snows setup.

 

[Numbnuts918]

I wouldnt worry about anything big, just have some ice scratchers on the sled for extra cooling on the hard packed trails, & sure...you are going to have to wrangle a longer track around corners a bit more than a 121", but I ride my 153 x 2.25 here (when snow allows it) with no issues. If you get a carbed model plan to buy extra jets for out west elevations compaired to here, where EFI is gas & go.

 

[boondockinboy]

I live just up of Dultuh and i ride a xfire which is great for both, id say go with an xfire and throw a pclaw on it, change the weights and hell be able to stick with the 153's no problem

 

[Cowbell]

f#$k riding in MN

agreed....

 

[PooSlinger]

I disagree with the guys saying you'll be fine with scratchers running a 2" or 2.4" paddle. Well, I agree if you ride like a grandma, but if you grew up riding in the Midwest and really enjoy rocking it out on the trails, nothing beats a shorter track. I used to have a ProX 136 that I'd gear down and slap a 2" Challenger on for the trips west. Around here, it was a 1.25. I stepped up to a 155 and trail rode it once. The EZ Ryde was fantastic in the bumps, but it just wasn't fun to ride. I had to feather the throttle a lot, couldn't run for miles on end at 80 MPH plus.

I had a ton of fun on the 136x2 out west. Yeah, I got stuck a lot and couldn't pull any big climbs, but it was maneuverable, kept me out of trouble, and worked great in the Midwest.

IMO, the Crossfire 141 with a track swap for western trips is the best crossover available now. Polaris used to have it with the Switchback but they screwed that sled up last year.

 

[151Viper]

This is the exact reason I opted for the 144" RMK last year. I thought it worked great last year both home and out west. If I wanted I could stick a 1.25 on it for around home and it would be even better for trails. Most of the riding I enjoy is off trail even at home so the 2" has worked for me so far. If I knew I was going to have a high mileage year on the trails I would consider the 1.25 but I don't see that happening. It seems you are seeing more and more mountain sleds around the flatlands. I would recommend something in the 144" range for a dual use sled.