Best/favorite groomed trail track

[74Nitro]

While I agree that isn't too bad mileage, it was how quickly it went south after the reflash.
I believe I would not be needing a track if not for the reflash…...
For comparison my buddy has a turbo Cat with the stock track at 8000 miles and that sled has been flashed to 250 hp and studded from day one.
My Viper has 10k on the stock track

When you reflash a Sidewinder it is not the reflash that is costly. It is all the other parts that you stress that add up to $$$$$$$

Track life is highly dependant on how much time the machine spends at high speeds. High speed trail riders who run hard are not going to see the same track life as the cruiser gang. Not even close.

 

[JayM]

I can get an Ice Storm 150 for $770CDN or Ice Cobra for $780 CDN BRP dealer wants just over $1100CDN for the 1.5" Ice Ripper XT

Just got the price for the 1.5" Ripsaw II, $660 I'm likely gonna do that with some iGrips that will be the best option I think. Probably end up around $900

 

[maim]

the no tax sale at royal is next week jaym. need to go get some bearings for stock and shocks for another sled.

 

[JayM]

the no tax sale at royal is next week jaym. need to go get some bearings for stock and shocks for another sled.

I will have to check but their track prices aren't usually the best even with no tax. But good tip will go check the sale out I'm sure I will find something lol

 

[Avenged7x]

I'm also in the market for a new track this year.

The original Ripsaw2 Quiet Pad track on my LTX still looks to be in decent shape, However after 6500 miles (half of which at 280hp) including lots of prolonged high speed runs I'm concerned for its well-being. Losing a track at high speed isn't much fun and there's too much risk of collateral damage. I've also been having issues with studs loosening, despite an entire new set of studs with loctite installed last year by the dealer under warranty. The studs are the Woody signature series in a 2-4 all double backers. I'm hoping that by going with more and better quality studs that that issue takes care of itself.

I'm a 90-95% groomed trail rider, we have plenty of wide high speed trails here and usually have great trails and lots of snow. I really like the Rip2 on the trail, so I'm leaning towards a fully clipped Rip2 1.25" and 192 1.575 megabites or gold diggers. However, the Rip2 is quite poor in any type of off-trail or soft snow conditions. I'd like to get some off-trail improvement without giving up durability, on-trail performance and top speed. Obviously there has to be some trade-off somewhere. The Storm 150 seemed to be a decent compromise, but now that the long-term reviews are coming less than stellar durability does seem to be a concern. So that leaves a Rip2 1.5" as the other option. I know the Cobra tracks perform significantly better than the Rip2 offtrail, but I don't think they are in the same league for high speed durability either.

I think I'm pretty well set on a 2-ply studded track. Some like the pre-studded tracks but everyone I ask about them always starts off their answer with "Well they're not studs, but....". I see traction a lot like HP, more is always better.

Interested in hearing feedback from folks that have run these types of tracks in similar conditions and circumstances.

 

[JayM]

The more I look at it the more the RipSaw II 1.5" looks good, either stud it with regular studs or add iGrips works either way. 2ply track as well, should last as well as 1.25 Rip II but better traction.

 

[Beerman]

WHAT TRACK to USE?
For thousands of years there have been many questions that mankind has tumultuously pondered.

Is there a GOD?
Are there Aliens out there?
What came first, the Chicken or the Egg?
Where is this damn G-Spot?
What track do i use?

I can only give my opinion based on my MANY tracks throughout the years.
STAIN mentioned he rides ALL Groomed trails so 1.25'' should be more then adequate.
For me there are only 2 choices. The RIP II or the Ice-Attack.
I had over 14,000 HARD miles on my Ice-Ripper on my Apex. It was for ME & MY trails, the BEST all around track for traction, top speed, stopping & LONGEVITY!

IT DID NOT WORK on my Winder!
Just not enough traction. Hard pack early mornings i STAINED me under britches.
Now mine is a 137'' so it didn't transfer like STAIN's 129 either. I'm also 165 lbs & was fighting handling issues when i had it on.
I put 7500 on my RIP II with 96 studs up the middle with Ecotrail until 4 studs came out.
The RIP II is just a great GROOMED TRAIL track. Some tracks do other things very well, but the RIP is Groomed King!

I believe BEERMAN runs a Storm & he says in the looser snow where he rides it really shines. He also admits on harder pack it's just not as good as the RIP.

MY .02 cents
Now worth .03 cents since my 401k made 12% this year.

P.S: I did not intend to compare STAIN to any fecal matter in me britches.
P.S II: Is there any posts on this G-Spot thing i can look up? I have a date tonite....

I'm waking up from a long Summer's slumber. I really like the Storm 1.5 in the looser stuff. There have been LOTS of times riding in the U.P. in what I'd describe as sugary snow, it doesn't seem to pack down, in that the Storm is bad #*$&@. But I'm kinda missing the RipSaw 1.25. I have 144 studs in the Storm and when/if it gives out I'll just stud my stock Ripsaw (which is in the garage) and put it back in. Honestly for 90% of the riding I do (almost all trail) it's the ideal track. I liked the reviews of the Storm and it looked very interesting so I gave it a try. In a big snow year like we had in MN last year, it's awesome, so it just depends on where and how you ride - I suspect the Ripsaw 2 is the ideal all-around track.

 

[Big_Phil]

Only issue is BRP dealer is asking for a lot for that track I feel like, maybe it's worth it though? So hard to take a gamble with zero reviews.

I can get an Ice Storm 150 for $770CDN or Ice Cobra for $780 CDN BRP dealer wants just over $1100CDN for the 1.5" Ice Ripper XT

Theres a guy in Quebec who sells brand new OEM take off tracks. I got a rip 129 for 525 cdn shipped to my door last season. It hooks better than the stock rip 2 did and still looks brand new after 5000kms of riding last season. It hooks too good in certain conditions actually, I have trouble getting the back end loose around corners at all. I'm debating putting shorter studs this season to get the rear a little looser. Trail studs don't hook on glare ice anyways right.

 

[stevewithOCD]

A lot of the tracks here are unproven so far.
So let's not make STAIN our guinea pig.
He's asking for what WORKS already.
Our boy STAIN rides almost all groomed trails AND he has a RIP II sitting in his living room pissing his wife off.
The decision is staying with a 1.5 Storm or 1.5 RIPSAW or maybe even an Ice-Attack................OR making his wife happy by not only removing the eyesore from the living room, but saving thousands of dollars so she can go to Hawaii while he rides 6,000 miles this year.

My pick: drum roll please............stud the RIP and buy her a Sarong!

P.S: The track in the living room & wife in Hawaii is a made up story to make my opinion more favorable

 

[stevewithOCD]

Did i mention he ALREADY owns a 200 mile RIPSAW II?

 

[maim]

I will have to check but their track prices aren't usually the best even with no tax. But good tip will go check the sale out I'm sure I will find something lol

lol well for me it was the cheapest way to get a new track. my 11 apex now has the talon 1-1/2"x15"x144" track on it and i wish i would have discovered them years ago but work with what i can get.

 

[STAIN]

I seem to change my mind every other day. 1 day, stud stock 1.25 and ride, next day buy a 1.50 ripsaw 2, stud it and ride it.
I cant wait for snow!!!!

 

[kinger]

Any of you short track (under 141) stud lovers go to a unstudded long track (141"+) and then back?

 

[STAIN]

Yes. I had a Nytro XTX

 

[Big_Phil]

Any of you short track (under 141) stud lovers go to a unstudded long track (141"+) and then back?

Riding anything unstudded in my area is dangerous IMO. Tight trails, too much traffic, not enough snow and we run the ice on Georgian bay all the time. If I was always up north with good snow and wider trails, I would definitely run a different track combo than what I have now.