Track speed vs. track length
- Thread starter Dizzle
- Start date
Let's be honest here, Oregon gets a handful of DEEP bottomless days each year, most the time it's not that deep, atleast not deep enough that a 146" would keep you from going anywhere that you wanted if your a decent rider that is. I have a 155" and I have more days that I know I could be on a shorter track then I do wanting a longer one.
So far this season we've had about 4-6 days that were deep enough to jusitfy a 174" but the rest you could have been having a blast out on a 136" jibbing around, at least me. Personally I'm going to build another sled with a short track 136"-144" for normal days where the snow is only boot deep and spring/summer riding.
So far this season we've had about 4-6 days that were deep enough to jusitfy a 174" but the rest you could have been having a blast out on a 136" jibbing around, at least me. Personally I'm going to build another sled with a short track 136"-144" for normal days where the snow is only boot deep and spring/summer riding.
What "justifies" a 174 is if you buddy has one. Because you will not go where he goes if your riding a 144.
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Dizzle
Well-known member
Twostroke I completely agree with you. I grew up riding here in Oregon and rarely do I remember seeing snow as deep as I've seen it when I go back to McCall and ride. I think having a 163 over here would almost be boring cuz it would literally take you anywhere you could imagine. I'm surprised there isn't more people over here with the 46 XM's...I think that would be a perfect sled for the OR. riding. If Polaris built an 800 44', that would be my sled.
I'm a BIG fan of the shorter track sleds, and I live and ride in utah with the dry fluffy deep powder. With that being said, and to give an opinion on your original question about track speed vs. length, a shorter track obviously can turn a higher track speed than a longer track with all other things being equal. No one can dispute that, and adrenalineaddict may be correct that on two stock machines one being 155 and the other being 163 it is only a matter of 1 mph difference. Remember that with a longer track you are also heavier (and we all know just how important weight is on a sled). So here is my opnion on what to do, get the shorter track sled. It sounds like most of the time the shorter track is just fine with the snow conditions not being really deep and fluffy. If you are ever dissapointed that you cannot climb quite as high as the longer tracks in deep conditions, put some money into a big bore or a turbo and then you'll have the best of both worlds. With the added power you'll be able to climb anywhere the longer tracks go because now the difference will be much more than a 1 mph track speed difference which WILL get you there (trust me that it does make up the difference), but you'll still have the shorter track for lighter weight, manueverability, better jumping, and you won't have the "school bus" behind you.
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Dizzle
Well-known member
I appreciate your post Mjunkie but the short track + turbo is when this comes to mind:
If it's in the deep deep snow, to me there would be such a thing as too much track speed to where it would just sink? I think I read somewhere that it comes down to chasis design(which I agree with), but even more-so...track design. I think it is something that the engineers still have yet to furnish us with, but also gives us something to look forward to. Cuz a 14x track that climbs like a 63 and boondocks like a 55 sounds GREAT to me haha.
If it's in the deep deep snow, to me there would be such a thing as too much track speed to where it would just sink? I think I read somewhere that it comes down to chasis design(which I agree with), but even more-so...track design. I think it is something that the engineers still have yet to furnish us with, but also gives us something to look forward to. Cuz a 14x track that climbs like a 63 and boondocks like a 55 sounds GREAT to me haha.
Not to throw a wrench in your decision but, what about a 146 XP or XM? They are 16" wide. So the footprint is the same if not a little more than the 155". You sounded like you wanted a shorter track originally. The XM is an outstanding chassis.
Just my $0.02's
Just my $0.02's
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snowmobiler
Well-known member
rode all length xm's.the 146 will get stuck more.ill vote 154.
Again just my opinion and experience but on my 141 big bore, I never had any trouble going anywhere the long tracks were going even in deep fluffy stuff (usually hi-marking them even a little), and when it wasn't deep fluffy stuff, I was having an easier time going everywhere anyways, and having more fun at the same time. To each his own though, but increasing track speed on a short track can and does make up a lot of difference between the two. It's going to be your sled so of course you can decide on what you want but I don't think I'm giving up anything on a shorter track except being able to go slower in deep stuff. I admit that you have to keep more momentum on a shorter track to keep from getting stuck.
Personally, I think JayNelson was spot on with his observations. I've ridden them all at one time or another, brands and lengths. Track speed advantages are not myths, neither are track length advantages. As noted there can be disadvantages to both as well. When you are long in the tooth like me, one good stuck that could have been avoided by having a longer track is worth it. Believe me, it will save you some stucks having that extra track length somewhere along the line. May not be often, but, will happen. As Jay said, if your a heavier rider, go longer. If you need to go a little slower to pick that line or adjust to terrain, go longer. If you are a skilled, lighter rider and go shorter, you'll be able to run with us "older, heavier guys" that went longer.
LOL!!!
LOL!!!Quite a few years back I bought a 06 900 SBack 144" from an Uncle that moved up to a 700 Dragon 155". My wife wanted a sled so we picked up an 04 600 SBack 121" I think, It was light and she could start it easily. We ride in the mountians in ME around Rangely and Oquasic* sp. We were working our butts off keeping up with the guys in the deep powder, we both only had the 1.25" lugs. My wife was amazed about how great a rider her uncle was, practicly nothing stopped him. Then my wife found a hidden stump at 15mph and stopped her dead, messed her up and the IFS on her machine. So to be nice her uncle let her ride the Dragon home while I limped back with hers. Oh was she pissed once she found how easy he had it with that Dragon! Now she rides a 08 RMK 144" with 2" paddles nothing stops her now except full grown trees. I put the same track on my sled I love it! worst thing now is I am just short of 100 mph on the lake 'cause the added weight. but I wouldn't change it back that's for sure.
God Bless Americia
God Bless Americia
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