Best/favorite groomed trail track

[STAIN]

I have a dilemma. I have a tuned Winder RTX and am debating my next track. I removed the stock track at 200 miles and have run a storm 150 for the past 5000 miles, 3000 miles tuned. The track is starting to delaminate and some lugs are tearing. I ride groomed trails exclusively. I was going to go with the ripsaw 1.5 as I liked the way the storm 1.5 moved the loose snow under less then ideal conditions. I also still have the stock track . I began to think that maybe the stock 1.25 with some Superlite pro backers might work also...and save me @$600.
Top speed is not a concern for me and any track I install will be studded.
Anyone run the Ripsaw 1.5? Thoughts? Other options??

 

[Yamajon1]

Nothing wrong with the 1.25 if your sticking to groomed trails.

 

[STAIN]

Anyone run the rip 1.5 on trails?

 

[Alam300]

Camso ice attack 1.22 best all around trail track , no delamination great hookup with lugs that won’t fold over under acceleration and 256 studs installed, no worry throwing stud through heat exchanger or tear outs, also 10 pounds lighter than track with push through studs

 

[Turboflash]

Agree w YamaJon. I too ride almost exclusively groomed trails. To me, what I want is TRACTION corner to corner (both accel out of corner and decel into corner). Part of my groomed trail riding includes occasionally crossing lakes and running forestry roads. So, I want a track that has a balance between aggressive traction in groomed trails yet still have ability for good top end (relatively short straightaways). We all know a track with lots of long studs will give us the traction corner to corner but at some sacrifice on top end (compared to a comparable sled and track with lesser studs and shorter lug heights). I like the 1.25" RipSaw 2 my Cat came with. Not as aggressive as a the traditional RipSaw 1 but still not bad. I studded it up with 192 ea. 1.62" StudBoy Lake Racer Carbide studs mounted on double StudBoy ProLite backers (center belt only). I find this setup just right for my riding style with a 280HP tune. Of course, you need to balance the front end with appropriate carbides/skis.
BTW- I have also run all aluminum setups too. I weighed and calculated weights for both. The double ProLite backers set up is lighter by 15%.

 

[Rich Kay]

My take... If your on a groomed trail all the time 1-1/4" studed seems fine to me, now what track?? The ripsaw is a great track (had one on my apex with 15,000miles) If you get into longer lugs and still want to stud the studs are going to get long and you could have clearance issues. Just a FYI, I put a 1-1/2" intense with no studs on my apex and love it on groomed trails and loose snow. Its the first time in 30 years I have no studs. Yes my riding style has change some and I am always in good snow condition too.... so? Your winder will have lots of power so maybe someone will chime in that has your situation.. Good luck.

 

[WinterWolf]

Personally, if you’re riding groomed trails all the time like you say, no need for anything more than the 1.25” ripsaw in my opinion. I have a tuned RTX also with the stock Ripsaw, and I studded mine up with 180 1450” Megabites, and it hooks fabulous!! Moves loose snow like a MoFo, and I’m very happy with it.

Go with the Stock Ripsaw 1.25”, and just stud it to your preference, and save some money in my opinion.

 

[1nc 2000]

All depends on what type of conditions a person rides in.
I trail ride mostly in the lake effect area of Lake Superior, the trails have plenty of snow on them and not much ice. I run a Backcountry 1.75 track with no studs, hooks up great on acceleration and stops better than a smaller lug track also.
If I was running in a lower snow area with icy corners I would be studded with a lower lug track.
Run what fits the trails and conditions you ride in.

 

[JPS]

All depends on what type of conditions a person rides in.
I trail ride mostly in the lake effect area of Lake Superior, the trails have plenty of snow on them and not much ice. I run a Backcountry 1.75 track with no studs, hooks up great on acceleration and stops better than a smaller lug track also.
If I was running in a lower snow area with icy corners I would be studded with a lower lug track.
Run what fits the trails and conditions you ride in.

I agree, depends on the conditions you are running on. i have a tuned Sidewinder XTX 1.6 track at 141 with no studs hooks up very well but i am riding on good snow with very little chance of ice, i ride mainly northern Maine, NH and northern Ontario, again groomed packed trails with good snow the 1.6 cobra works very good plus eliminates any chance of stud damage.

 

[JayM]

I have a dilemma. I have a tuned Winder RTX and am debating my next track. I removed the stock track at 200 miles and have run a storm 150 for the past 5000 miles, 3000 miles tuned. The track is starting to delaminate and some lugs are tearing. I ride groomed trails exclusively. I was going to go with the ripsaw 1.5 as I liked the way the storm 1.5 moved the loose snow under less then ideal conditions. I also still have the stock track . I began to think that maybe the stock 1.25 with some Superlite pro backers might work also...and save me @$600.
Top speed is not a concern for me and any track I install will be studded.
Anyone run the Ripsaw 1.5? Thoughts? Other options??

I'm in the exact same boat lol I ran 5500km (I think ~3600miles?) last season all trails miles on my 129" on the stock RipSaw II with 1.575 MegaBites. I used the Woody's Quiet Pad track pattern and while it avoided the inner quiet pads it has one alternating outside stud on each bar, on the quiet pad, destroyed my idler wheels.

I also realized I hate regular studs so I want pre-studded, I'm looking for better corner to corner acceleration (switching to Cat gearing on my Winder as well) and want a deeper lug.

Options basically are 1.6 Ice Cobra which I hear isn't that great or Ice Storm 150 but also delamination issues. I looked into thr new track Skidoo has the 1.5" Ice Ripper XT but that compared to an ice storm is an extra $400.

Maybe a Ripsaw 1.5" with some igrip studs would be the ticket?

The 1.22" Ice Attack seems nice but worried the lugs aren't long enough (could be a complete non issue on trails)

So many different opinions, hard to choose.

 

[Teamblue4]

Ripsaw 2 1.25 with studs.

 

[thor452]

I have run the 1" ice tech pre-studded track from Camoplast or what ever they call themselves these days track on two sleds so far and loved it on both one was my 07 apex and it was great but that sled was no off trail machine at all. the other was on my 12 apex xtx it is still on it now since the sled was almost new. I found it to be just as capable off trail as the 1.25 rip track that came on the sled. it was just the right amount of extra traction in my opinion to make the sled exactly what I wanted. then I put a super charger on the 144 apex and it was still the perfect track in my opinion. I have had to mind my budget a bit more with the purchase of the sidewinder I didn't like how the track would try to pass the skis so easy so I put the I grips in the stock track I am happy with this set up but If a new track was in the budget I would just get the 1" ice tech track I have put 10,000 miles on in the last two sleds.

 

[kinger]

I have a dilemma. I have a tuned Winder RTX and am debating my next track. I removed the stock track at 200 miles and have run a storm 150 for the past 5000 miles, 3000 miles tuned. The track is starting to delaminate and some lugs are tearing. I ride groomed trails exclusively. I was going to go with the ripsaw 1.5 as I liked the way the storm 1.5 moved the loose snow under less then ideal conditions. I also still have the stock track . I began to think that maybe the stock 1.25 with some Superlite pro backers might work also...and save me @$600.
Top speed is not a concern for me and any track I install will be studded.
Anyone run the Ripsaw 1.5? Thoughts? Other options??

What shortfalls did the Storm have? If you like it, replace with the same.

I find myself going longer and no studs to be my preference after riding high hp short track studded tracks for almost 10 years. I feel safe coming in and out of a corner with the unstudded long track which I was highly skeptical when I tried it for the first time with a 300hp apex. New winder is a BTX 153 x 1.75 and the short 100 miles I got on last year before it broke was in some tight windy trails. I had no issues. I also only ride 100-200 miles a day max and like to stop frequently so your riding may vary.

I will say once I found a track I liked, I typically just stayed the same. A wrong track choice can ruin the experience. Good luck!

 

[STAIN]

I did not like the ability of the Storm to hold the power of the 270 flash. It worked well stock but once flashed I could see the lugs starting to peel over almost instantly. It was studded. Worked great in almost all conditions, just not as durable once I started to ramp up HP
I have had pre-studded tracks, 3 of them actually. 1 each on a RX-1, Apex and Nytro. loved them. Dont think it is an option for a tuned Winder. I cant see it holding the power.
Groomed trails are never hard packed %100 of the time . Just as often I run loose trails that require more snow traction, conditions studs do not help in.
If I did not already own the 1.25 I would probably go with the Ripsaw 2 1.5 and stud it. Still might......

 

[kinger]

5000 miles is pretty respectable, what are you expecting for mileage?