Change it up. What skis NOT TO BUY!

[SqueezeER]

I mean I could live with the Tuners, but my trails are mostly tight and twisty. So I'm thinking I'm going to change skis. So I start to research. There are like 6 or 7 different ski options!? And about 20 different forums?! Common.

This isn't a , I hope! But its a general question.

With all these different skis out there, are they all basically going to be good? Or is there one that is just junk?

The main ones I'm looking at are the C&A's, Curves or Kimpex, then the Pilots. Prices vary as well, so I'm going to take that into consideration.

#2. If I chose Pilots, or Cat skis, how do I order them to fit my Viper?

Any info I appreciate it. I know there are tons of ski posts out there, and I've read them. Basically they tell me that most people change their skis, and never have anything negative to say about the new skis they put on. I'm looking for that negativity! Tell me which ones not to buy!

 

[Wannaviper]

If you order Cat skis to fit your Viper, they are an exact fit; you can use the Yamaha rubber "stoppers," but life will be a lot easier if you buy the AC stoppers. I bought the AC bolts, nuts and washers, just to be certain that everything went together perfectly. Set up with Snow Trackers, I think that they are as good a trail ski as you will find anywhere else, and at a reasonable price. The only negative I can think of with AC skis are the limited color combinations if you want to match sled. Basically it is black or white skis, with some different ski loop colors, mostly AC colors like orange and green.

I dislike the Tuners, and have nothing good to say about them, except that if you add a set of Snow Trackers, they are actually a decent trail ski. I think that they "push" more in soft snow than the AC ski set up with Snow Trackers.

If you are considering any off trail, the SLP Mohawks are an awesome ski; they have great flotation, but they are also a predictable trail ski. The biggest negative on the Mohawks that I can see after 4,000 miles on them with my XTX is the fact that they do require some steering effort. I went from 9" to 6" carbides, and they still need some muscle. 2nd, like any single keel ski I have ever seen (without Snow Trackers) they do dart, but no worse than other skis I have tried. SLP makes a "keel" add on if you use the SLP short carbides that are designed for them, and they reduce or eliminate the darting.

 

[B.anderson14]

I have the c and a pro skis And I love them.

 

[rocky18]

If you order Cat skis to fit your Viper, they are an exact fit; you can use the Yamaha rubber "stoppers," but life will be a lot easier if you buy the AC stoppers. I bought the AC bolts, nuts and washers, just to be certain that everything went together perfectly. Set up with Snow Trackers, I think that they are as good a trail ski as you will find anywhere else, and at a reasonable price. The only negative I can think of with AC skis are the limited color combinations if you want to match sled. Basically it is black or white skis, with some different ski loop colors, mostly AC colors like orange and green.

I dislike the Tuners, and have nothing good to say about them, except that if you add a set of Snow Trackers, they are actually a decent trail ski. I think that they "push" more in soft snow than the AC ski set up with Snow Trackers.

If you are considering any off trail, the SLP Mohawks are an awesome ski; they have great flotation, but they are also a predictable trail ski. The biggest negative on the Mohawks that I can see after 4,000 miles on them with my XTX is the fact that they do require some steering effort. I went from 9" to 6" carbides, and they still need some muscle. 2nd, like any single keel ski I have ever seen (without Snow Trackers) they do dart, but no worse than other skis I have tried. SLP makes a "keel" add on if you use the SLP short carbides that are designed for them, and they reduce or eliminate the darting.

...all good advice from my experience. One other thing. The steel bushing or insert that goes into the ski to accept the mounting bolt. I used AC and had to heat the ski a bit, then press the "bushing" into the ski with a large c clamp. This sled quality wise is not as good as our 2012 Vector was, but it's better on the trails. Maintenance wise...Viper sux.

 

[Wannaviper]

...all good advice from my experience. One other thing. The steel bushing or insert that goes into the ski to accept the mounting bolt. I used AC and had to heat the ski a bit, then press the "bushing" into the ski with a large c clamp. This sled quality wise is not as good as our 2012 Vector was, but it's better on the trails. Maintenance wise...Viper sux.

I had a similar experience. Both the skis and bushings were AC parts, and you would expect them to fit together "seamlessly", right? There was no way that the bushings would press into the skis without some modification. I never thought of heating the ski, and after trying everything to make the bushings fit, I ended up boring out the holes to the same size as the bushings I was supplied. I guess it is another example of AC quality control. But like you said, while I miss the build quality of my old Vector, I would not trade it for the ride and handling of the Pro Cross chassis.

 

[JCviper]

C&A PROS, LOVE EM

 

[ishpeming fan]

Curves with leading edge all the way. sorry, cant think of a negative thing to say about them.

 

[SumpBuster]

Curves with single runners steer harder, dart a little, but have gotten me out of trouble more times than I can count, on an apex and a sidewinder...two totally different animals. They take the c and a skags by the way.

 

[ishpeming fan]

I have 6 inch shapers and 4 inch leading edge and if front skid spring is set right the effort is the same or less than any aftermarket ski. I have used USI skis on Ski doos, SLP SLT skis on viper and Curves on Viper. Stock 2014 Viper skis single keel that came stock on sled darted like crazy and pushed like crazy with doullys on. Put Curves on and smiling all day long on the trail. I have never tried the snow trackers yet but some say they are awesome on any ski. Zero darting with 4 inch leading edge on Curves.

 

[Wannaviper]

It seems like everyone who talks about their single keel skis, even the ones who love their skis, reports that they dart unless they have the add-ons like the "leading edge" for Curves, or the "keel blade" for the SLP skis, or the ultimate anti-dart solution, Snow Trackers. Bergstrom claims that if you shim skis you can eliminate most of the darting, but in all honesty, I haven't noticed much of a difference between shimmed and non-shimmed. Let's face it, if other sleds have been on the same trail ahead of you, in the right conditions, your sled is going to want to follow in the tracks of those sleds, and will jump from one track to another. So it makes total sense that dual runner skis are most effective for preventing darting. My first dual runner skis were Simmons Flex Skis on my old Vector, and they didn't dart, but you needed three men and a boy just to turn them. I very quickly dumped them and went back to the original Yamaha skis, eventually adding Snow Trackers. Unfortunately, it seems like most dual runner skis, like the Tuners, are not very good at doing the other things that we want our skis to do. That is why I am a such a fan of the Snow Trackers. Their winged design provides the anti-darting characteristics of a dual runner ski, but their single carbide design bites and holds in corners the way a good carbide should. If you want good trail skis for your Pro Cross, any single keel ski with Snow Trackers for will work just fine.

 

[SqueezeER]

It seems like everyone who talks about their single keel skis, even the ones who love their skis, reports that they dart unless they have the add-ons like the "leading edge" for Curves, or the "keel blade" for the SLP skis, or the ultimate anti-dart solution, Snow Trackers. Bergstrom claims that if you shim skis you can eliminate most of the darting, but in all honesty, I haven't noticed much of a difference between shimmed and non-shimmed. Let's face it, if other sleds have been on the same trail ahead of you, in the right conditions, your sled is going to want to follow in the tracks of those sleds, and will jump from one track to another. So it makes total sense that dual runner skis are most effective for preventing darting. My first dual runner skis were Simmons Flex Skis on my old Vector, and they didn't dart, but you needed three men and a boy just to turn them. I very quickly dumped them and went back to the original Yamaha skis, eventually adding Snow Trackers. Unfortunately, it seems like most dual runner skis, like the Tuners, are not very good at doing the other things that we want our skis to do. That is why I am a such a fan of the Snow Trackers. Their winged design provides the anti-darting characteristics of a dual runner ski, but their single carbide design bites and holds in corners the way a good carbide should. If you want good trail skis for your Pro Cross, any single keel ski with Snow Trackers for will work just fine.

Thank you for your input! I think what I've learned from all the reading in this and different forums, is that you can't find a ski that is perfect. There is going to be some type of flaw, ie darting, pushing, hard to turn, expensive etc. What I know about the tuners, is that the drive straight as an arrow, they push sometimes, and don't turn good in snowy conditions, plus they don't float. So I guess I'm looking for a ski that's going to do most to close of everything well. That's why instead of everyone telling me how good skis are, they could tell me what skiis are bad. But I guess, its like asking the same thing, but in reverse. Maybe it won't get me anywhere. I know I'm not going to buy another dual runner ski.

 

[PeeWee86]

You are looking for skis that people don’t like. The only universal answer seems to be the tuner ski. Most will only try the original factory ski and possibly one other one. Unless they are throwing darts at a dartboard with their decisions they are going to pick characteristics that are important to them and they are generally going to see an improvement. Riders can’t complain about skis they haven’t tried.

There are always trade offs. With my ski replacement I had a goal of better floatation (wider ski) and the desire to stick like glue going through the corners. For those two traits I was willing to give up light steering. I’m riding on a C&A BX with 9” of Shaper carbide. They have met my original goals. In most snow conditions I have no problem with darting. At the time of purchase the only other ski I considered were the pilot 6.9’s. I’m confident that they would’ve had lighter steering and most likely more darting.

 

[drumz11]

Thank you for your input! I think what I've learned from all the reading in this and different forums, is that you can't find a ski that is perfect. There is going to be some type of flaw, ie darting, pushing, hard to turn, expensive etc. What I know about the tuners, is that the drive straight as an arrow, they push sometimes, and don't turn good in snowy conditions, plus they don't float. So I guess I'm looking for a ski that's going to do most to close of everything well. That's why instead of everyone telling me how good skis are, they could tell me what skiis are bad. But I guess, its like asking the same thing, but in reverse. Maybe it won't get me anywhere. I know I'm not going to buy another dual runner ski.

You should have SLP in your list if "So I guess I'm looking for a ski that's going to do most to close of everything well. " I've run all the skis you mentioned in your original post except Kimpex and SLP ski's are my hands down favorite for many reasons. Mohawks or SLT's are great do it all ski's. If I went down the list of most of the others it would be something like "this one does this well but not so well at this."

 

[mikextx]

Pilot 6.9s rail.....Tuners suck

 

[CooperT]

No darting with our procross cat skis and 6” slim Jim duallys. Sleds are basically on rails now after some help tweaking and setting up the rear skid thanks to guys on here.

We found our skis on Kijiji basically brand new condition for $250 set CAD. Any cat dealer should have a set of new take offs for around $250-$300. Single keel cat ski is what we use and we love them. Decent off trail as well