153vs162 which is better?

[hugger70mtnmax]

So just wondering some opinions on which track length people one better. My preferred riding is tree riding and open meadow stuff. I do some hillclimbng but not a highmark kind of guy. I love to find very steep ridges to sidehill long steep hillsides also.

The sled is a stock mtx with a couple little things done but suspension is all stock. I have a 162 cat skid to put into it which will be my next upgrade along with a track. I am just thinking maybe I should trade the rails for some 153 rails and stay that length or maybe set it back a hair and go 156

I guess my main concern is losing maneuverability with the 162 or is it not a big deal. I love that I can be going 15-20 and do a full 180 tailwhip almost turning on a pivot. Will I lose that with the longer track?

Any thoughts would be great.

 

[treehugger]

A couple buddies have 153 MTXs and I have a 162. Their sleds are noticably easier to turn. But mine floats better in the deep and I don't get stuck as often. If I were buying a new sled today I would go for the shorter track.

 

[tapex_07]

I think you should go with the 162. Mainly for the flotation. Plus I would think it would be easier to sell the 162 stuff if you didnt like it. Just a thought tho..

 

[tmk50]

I really think that the best person to answer this is you and your riding buddies. You know the snow conditions that you typically ride in, the terrain you ride, and how you ride. (your riding buddies know this too)

What works best in your group? For us we ride a lot of trees, and don't do much climbing, but we still like the 159's and 162's because of the floatation when the snow is deep and dry. Late in the year I'd love to have a 144 when the snow is set up, but if I have to pick I want the sled that will perform when there is no base (December).

Guys on the internet will give you a bunch of opinions when you ask this - but I think you'd be better off talking to the guys you ride with.

 

[ruffryder]

I really think that the best person to answer this is you and your riding buddies. You know the snow conditions that you typically ride in, the terrain you ride, and how you ride. (your riding buddies know this too)

What works best in your group? For us we ride a lot of trees, and don't do much climbing, but we still like the 159's and 162's because of the floatation when the snow is deep and dry. Late in the year I'd love to have a 144 when the snow is set up, but if I have to pick I want the sled that will perform when there is no base (December).

Guys on the internet will give you a bunch of opinions when you ask this - but I think you'd be better off talking to the guys you ride with.

Excellent point!

 

[hugger70mtnmax]

Thanks guys. I am in pretty soft conditions most of the time so I like the idea of the extra flotation but I just don't want it to kill my maneuverability. I guess the best thing would be to find some nytro riding buddies with the longer track and see. Just too few nytros here in Utah. Only seen one this year besides me on the mountain.

Tapex you're probably right that I wouldn't have much trouble getting rid of 162 stuff but I'd rather do it once than twice. A lot of guys on the movies seem to throw around the longer stuff pretty easy but I'm not burandt either

 

[tapex_07]

Tapex you're probably right that I wouldn't have much trouble getting rid of 162 stuff but I'd rather do it once than twice. A lot of guys on the movies seem to throw around the longer stuff pretty easy but I'm not burandt either

Dont forget that Randy Swenson rides a 174 on his Nytro and his new Apex. He can throw them around pretty good too!

 

[hugger70mtnmax]

Looks like I will be going longer. One less thing to hassle with finding shorter rails. Thanks for the input

 

[..SNAKEBIT..]

The sled is a stock mtx with a couple little things done but suspension is all stock. I have a 162 cat skid to put into it which will be my next upgrade along with a track. I am just thinking maybe I should trade the rails for some 153 rails and stay that length or maybe set it back a hair and go 156
.

I understood that a cat 153 would work as a yamaha 162?
do the cat 162 also work as a yamaha 162?
I think I need to do something different for rear suspension and the cat swap seemed a reasonable priced as any

 

[Down]

I'd like to know about the cat suspension swap as well. I've got an nytro 180 mcx with the stock 153 skid/track and needless to say something needs to be done in that department. I'm thinking I'd like to go to a 162, so would a 153 cat skit bolt right in with a 162 camo track?

 

[hugger70mtnmax]

I had this discussion with someone over on snowest. They used a setback 153 with nine inch wheels. I don't like to do that because then you are losing track on the snow. The longer the rails the more track is on the snow.

I measured the rails and 153 rails between the yamaha and the cat and they are within 1/4" of each other. The thing that arctic cat has done is to make their front arm longer and located further forward than the yamaha stuff. It may not seem right because the new mount is a lot further forward but I think it works well.

I put one of these into my mountain max and I really like the way that the skid reacts to the power. It seems to take the initial shock and not just trench down like the yamaha does. It also has a limiter on the rear scissor are that keeps the suspension from sagging so far like the yamaha does which I believe is detrimental in the soft deep stuff.

I think it is a great alternative. It may not be a big boost skid but it works well for what I do. I picked up my takeout skid with zero miles for five bills so I will be into a track and skid for way less than a timbersled and loose almost the same amount of weight.

 

[YamaMTX]

Maybe you have already answered this. Just wondering if a 153 cat skid would bolt right in place of a 153 nytro skid spot?
if not what would you have to do to make it work?
Weight savings?
Thanks

 

[hugger70mtnmax]

It will not bolt right in. The bolt center to center is not the same for the front and rear arms. The placement on the rails is different also. The front arm mounts about three inches further forward with the cat skid. The rear mount still goes in the stock drop bracket but not in the original holes.

As far as weight goes a 153 skid I weighed with an OFT two wheel kit and scratchers bit no idlers was 43 lbs. That is the float skid not the regular. As far as I know the 08-09 skid was around 68 so about 25 lb loss. That is within five lbs of the timbersled. Not too bad I think.

 

[justinkredible56]

I've got a 162 on my sled. If you want to come up to Logan one of these weekends I'll let you ride it and see what you think.
-Justin

 

[YamaMTX]

thanks for the info hugger