Well after 1600 miles on my Pilot skis and at the request of SWISS SLEDDER i figured i would write a report on the 5.7 pilot skis!
I replaced the stock skis that had 8 inch carbides with the pilots in hopes that it would eliminate the darting and give the sled easier steering (it had steered like a dump druck)
I rode the first 360 miles in wyoming and another 240 miles around my house with the stock 4 inch carbides! The conditoins were hardpack in wyoming and the sled was perfect for those conditons... easier steering with a slight amount of push that was not uncontrollable... My buddies complained of darting on there sleds but i felt my sled darted very little and mainly at lower speeds under 30mph..(did not dart at all at higher speeds)
These skis are definitly not the best ski for off trailing because you dont have a deep kneel and the sled doesnt want to turn. In this case you would want the pilot 6.9 skis!
After that trip i switched to 6 inch carbides in the middle to help the slight push i had in sharp corners!
Rode the remaining 1080 miles in the U.P. the conditions were always changing due to the fact that it was always snowing off and on! Some trails were torn up pretty bad in corners and others were hardpack!
In the hardpack these skis rail around the corners with the 6 inch carbides! In the soft floffy snow you actually can oversteer and the sled turns better than trying to allow the carbides to grab... (i think this could be due to the outside carbides bitting better when oversteering)
IMO... These skis and carbides are a great investment if you want easy steering and great cornering, they also seem to give you way less ski pop up and more control!
My buddy has a 02' polaris xc600 and wants a set for his sled! He would push threw corners badly while i was easily cruizing threw them with little effort or leaning!
FYI... I have 162 studs in my sled, Limiter strap is at OEM setting and weight transfer rod is set at MAX..
ENJOY...
Brian
