I have a 163" x 3" Axys RMK and to be honest, I am slightly disappointed in the climbing department. I should say that I think the handling is night and day difference between the Axys and the old Pro, but I was expecting a little more out of it when it comes to climbing ability. I have been out west on 2 trips so far, should be broke in. I have 2 buddies with identical 2015 Pro RMK 163s, both bone stock. Mine is also bone stock. I was expecting the combination of the new chassis, more power, and the 3" track to really out climb the old pro but it doesn't seem to have much, if any on them. I did ride a belt drive Axys 163" with the Kurt's Polaris gear down kit and an SLP pipe and I will say that sled was night and day difference better than mine. It felt as though it had way more power. Any time I would start to get in trouble with it, I could just crack the throttle a bit and it would climb right out, where I would have probably had to turn out on mine. I'm assuming it was mostly the gear down kit as I can't imagine the SLP pipe would make that huge of difference. I was also thinking it's possible that the 2.6" track with the belt drive is just a flat out better setup. But I was riding with another guy in the group who had a stock 163" with the belt drive which I didn't get to ride, but he also stated that there was a huge difference with Kurt's Polaris gear down kit. Now, I'm wondering if anybody has tried gearing down their 3" tracks with any success?? Or any other mods that may wake up this machine? Anybody here have any similar experience?
Slightly Dissapointed
- Thread starter derrickj
- Start date
There are a ton of good reports on here about both the SLP setup and the Bikeman setup. I've got the 163x2.6 belt drive setup in stock form and I love this thing. I'm betting the difference you felt was the SLP setup and not so much the gear down
For me and all the ones I ride with, it is completely different than what you say.
The 3" with the chaincase is already geared way low. Its probable mostly your suspension setup, try to loosen your front track shock as much as you can without loosing the spring retainer. I have 3 or 4 threads showing on mine. I also don't know what your running for rpm's but 8200 to 8300 seems to be the sweet spot. Also make sure that the front of the tunnel isn't getting plugged up with snow and that track tension isn't to loose.
what is the gearing?
Something like 2.5 to 1
Hmm Ive gearing and clutching the 3 inch tracks since they came out. my preferred ratios are 2.3-2.4 with the 7 tooths. 2.5 with 7,s is too low IMO
You have been running polaris sleds with the 3"?
Or skidoo?
The p85 and the tra react differently for top end belt clamp.
For what it's worth I'm running stock gearing but non stock clutching.
It does destroy the stock setup.
I run a mod Doo and have also installed 3 in.on Poo as well.
I had a 2014 Pro - Carl's did the 3" and clutching on it. I added the KMOD 37" front end. Really liked the sled and felt like I could go anywhere on it.
Weekend before last I rode with a new 163x2.6 Axys. He did have the SLP single on it. He out climbed my pro so bad it was silly. Watched him do it on his and then on another Axys - same but only had the diamond S can. To say that the Axys out climbed it would be an understatement.
This was not a technical climb, it was just a straight up, deep powder climb. Mine went up about 300-400 yards before it would start digging hard and I had to turn it out. The axys' went another 800-900 yards higher.... and it was getting steeper past the 300-400 yard mark (thats why mine was digging). I would never have believed there could be that much difference. We traded sleds back and fourth - same results with him on mine. Mine was pulling RPM, no issues, just flat got it handed to it.
Drove home, talked to the wife, dumped the pro off and picked up a new 163 x 2.6 axys last Friday. Had a blast on it. I had my pro dialed in where I felt really comfortable on it... the axys feels better out of the box than it did. Sled ran awesome, way more power. Can't say enough about that sled.
Weekend before last I rode with a new 163x2.6 Axys. He did have the SLP single on it. He out climbed my pro so bad it was silly. Watched him do it on his and then on another Axys - same but only had the diamond S can. To say that the Axys out climbed it would be an understatement.
This was not a technical climb, it was just a straight up, deep powder climb. Mine went up about 300-400 yards before it would start digging hard and I had to turn it out. The axys' went another 800-900 yards higher.... and it was getting steeper past the 300-400 yard mark (thats why mine was digging). I would never have believed there could be that much difference. We traded sleds back and fourth - same results with him on mine. Mine was pulling RPM, no issues, just flat got it handed to it.
Drove home, talked to the wife, dumped the pro off and picked up a new 163 x 2.6 axys last Friday. Had a blast on it. I had my pro dialed in where I felt really comfortable on it... the axys feels better out of the box than it did. Sled ran awesome, way more power. Can't say enough about that sled.
D
doudea
Well-known member
I'm on the 163" Axys with the 3" track and am very impressed with the sled. Much better chassis than the PRO chassis in every way. Just got the turbo put on it last week, and this thing is just stupid now. Honestly when I snow-checked it last year I thought it would be better than my PRO, but didn't expect this much better. Then adding how well the turbo set up is running, I'm just blown away what this thing will do now. Polaris did an excellent job with this sled.
My wife is on a new Axys 800 with the 155" X 2.6" track and, it will out climb her old PRO chassis 800 163" in the deep stuff. ( I know because I rode here old sled while I was waiting on getting my ECU re flashed from Silber over that weekend.) That ride we had about 3' of pure fluff and the Axys 155 out performed the PRO chassis 163" and both sleds are completely stock with stock exhaust. Just my 2 cents.
My wife is on a new Axys 800 with the 155" X 2.6" track and, it will out climb her old PRO chassis 800 163" in the deep stuff. ( I know because I rode here old sled while I was waiting on getting my ECU re flashed from Silber over that weekend.) That ride we had about 3' of pure fluff and the Axys 155 out performed the PRO chassis 163" and both sleds are completely stock with stock exhaust. Just my 2 cents.
the Pro,s big shortfall was the stupid tall gearing. It wood never climb in the efficient shift area.The Pro with simple stage two kit matches the new HO HP. approach angle is the same on both if they both run a 3 inch..depending on the chosen track that will determine the better climber. The taller chassis will be more nimble.
If you can't out climb a 15 pro you got big problems. I still own a 14 along with my 163x3 axys. I ride every week with a 15 163 that has a X3 track, high comp head and hps can. He is by far a better rider and I out climb him every time by A LOT! Also, if you don't have 18 hours or more on the hour meter it's not broke in. Eric
Yah, these things perform fantastic. When my bud buries his 163 (I mean BURIES in the bottomless, like handlebar deep) we simply rock the sled a bit, I give him a ski tug, and he tractors out without spinning the track. It is nuts how well they get on top of the snow. He made some suspension spring changes and it didn't really affect the performance negatively. (Stiffer rear spring.)
J
Jaynelson
Well-known member
Ya that doesn't sound right...the 155 Axys climbs with my 163 pro no prob and does not feel like it needs anything to "wake it up," it feels like an animal for a stock sled.
Is it pulling full rpm? Check throttle cable tension, suspension set up, belt deflection, track tension, clean clutches - all the usual stuff that needs to be gone over during/after break in? Rider difference factor as well?
Is it pulling full rpm? Check throttle cable tension, suspension set up, belt deflection, track tension, clean clutches - all the usual stuff that needs to be gone over during/after break in? Rider difference factor as well?
Thanks for your input guys, I was curious to see what everybody thought. I want to emphasize that I am impressed with the chassis and handling. I have owned 3 different pros and have ridden my new Axys along with my buddy's pro back to back and do agree there is a huge difference in handling. I just don't feel that it climbs that much better if at all. My track tension is spot on. I'm normally pulling 8100 to 8150 for Rpms. I will have to check the hour meter but I think they allow fully advanced timing before 18 hours. I have not touched the suspension from the factory. I might see an SLP pipe in the near future.
As far as straight up hill climbing, I have really only raced side by side once against the pro and we both ran out of hill. I did win but his ski was on my bumper. I'm basing things mainly off of feel. He rode my sled and thought the same thing. Not a huge difference in climbing. Not nearly the difference I felt between mine and the Axys with the gear down kit and SLP pipe.
As far as straight up hill climbing, I have really only raced side by side once against the pro and we both ran out of hill. I did win but his ski was on my bumper. I'm basing things mainly off of feel. He rode my sled and thought the same thing. Not a huge difference in climbing. Not nearly the difference I felt between mine and the Axys with the gear down kit and SLP pipe.
