Easy to steer skis

[1049triple]

Since there is a lot of people who had heavy steering issue, and ski replacement make them worse, I thought I should make a new thread to complement the skid spring upgrade.
What aftermarket ski give you the easiest steering and give you the least amount of darting?
Please be also specific on the carbide used.

 

[Mods]

Since there is a lot of people who had heavy steering issue, and ski replacement make them worse, I thought I should make a new thread to complement the skid spring upgrade.
What aftermarket ski give you the easiest steering and give you the least amount of darting?
Please be also specific on the carbide used.

I am also curious as to what others find to have helped. I've heard good things about the Curve skis, but let's see what some of the guys say.

 

[Yamadog]

Well I believe you need 3 different threads for this. The RTX, LTX and XTX are all completely different in feel and steering. The XTX being the most difficult due to the uncoupled suspension.

My XTX with stock skis and the dual 8" bars was heavy in steering but had a bad push. Even with backing off the front skid shock spring it became harder to steer and still had bad push. I now have Simmons flex skis on it and 2 - 8" carbides on each ski and it does turn now but drives like a truck. When sitting in the shop next ot an LTX both on the floor the LTX with center keel skis can be turned with 2 fingers mine takes both hands to go lock to lock.

both jacked in the air are the same amount of pressure to turn them. The steering knuckles cause the skis to lay on inside edge as you turn it sharp which is forcing you to lift the front of the sled as the skis (simmons) tip or lean on edge

 

[tator]

have the curves, like them alot. the biggest changer in steering effort i have seen is the front shock psi.(stock and curves) and noticed easier steering = more push. im playing with that now to get it where i like it. also noticed little changes in psi made big changes handeling

 

[Yamadog]

Those are Mohawks on the stripped LTX on right.

 

[1049triple]

I also found the LTX are easier when using stock skis. By the way, their center keel is 3/4" deep vs 1" deep for the mountain Cat skis we have on our XTX.

 

[1049triple]

Like you said Yamadog, when turning, the skis tend to lay on the inside edge, and this would make the steering heavier to turn, especially on wide skis with outside keel like the C&A.

 

[stingray719]

Since there is a lot of people who had heavy steering issue, and ski replacement make them worse, I thought I should make a new thread to complement the skid spring upgrade.
What aftermarket ski give you the easiest steering and give you the least amount of darting?
Please be also specific on the carbide used.

The XTX has a softer front shock spring as talked about in this thread - http://www.ty4stroke.com/threads/interesting-skid-shock-spring-info.131147/
If you ride deep off trail snow the quickest fix is a set of Polaris Gripper skis. I made the mistake of putting Powder Pro skis on my 2014 M8 last year and it made it steer like a truck without power steering. My fix was the stiffer front skid shock spring and non aggressive skis, mine steers like power steering...couldn't be happier.

 

[rxwhopper]

Snow trackers semi aggressive totally fixed mine on stock skis

 

[SR Viper]

I put pilot skies on mine and they work great.

 

[RTX]

14 rtx
Steering was light last year with stock skis and stock carbides. Limiter straps were in the first hole. Front shocks set at 70 psi. Transfer blocks were set in stock position.
The sled darted and pushed in the corners.
Also noticed the track got squirrly when letting off the gas fast or breaking fast.

Over the summer i pulled up the limiter strap 1 hole dropped 5 lbs in the front skis to 65 psi, transfer blocks were turned but i cant remember what my setting is right now.
I installed simmons flexi skis with 4" shaper bars on both sides.
I put 40 miles on it last weekend The sled is now much harder to turn and grabby in the corners.
The squirrly feeling when breaking and letting off the gas has disappeared.
Will be working with the simmons and suspension settings for 400-500 miles trying to find the best setup for me
then swapping over to either usi thipple threats or pilot 6.9 skis And starting the whole process over again

I believe some skis are better than others but most skis are only as good as your entire setup.
If you are not willing to set up the skid to work with the skis you wont fully benefit from a ski change

 

[stingray719]

14 rtx
Steering was light last year with stock skis and stock carbides. Limiter straps were in the first hole. Front shocks set at 70 psi. Transfer blocks were set in stock position.
The sled darted and pushed in the corners.
Also noticed the track got squirrly when letting off the gas fast or breaking fast.

Over the summer i pulled up the limiter strap 1 hole dropped 5 lbs in the front skis to 65 psi, transfer blocks were turned but i cant remember what my setting is right now.
I installed simmons flexi skis with 4" shaper bars on both sides.
I put 40 miles on it last weekend The sled is now much harder to turn and grabby in the corners.
The squirrly feeling when breaking and letting off the gas has disappeared.
Will be working with the simmons and suspension settings for 400-500 miles trying to find the best setup for me
then swapping over to either usi thipple threats or pilot 6.9 skis And starting the whole process over again

I believe some skis are better than others but most skis are only as good as your entire setup.
If you are not willing to set up the skid to work with the skis you wont fully benefit from a ski change

You are correct in what you said. But I would add the OP has an XTX, which has a 110# front skid shock spring and your sled has a 135# front skid shock spring. That is why us XTX folks have a heavy steering issue stock. As I put in a different thread the fix for me was to put the same spring as yours in my XTX.

Yamadog was right this thread should be split into model threads as the suspensions are not the same and is causing some confusion.

 

[1049triple]

What skis do you run Stingray?

 

[1049triple]

Ok Camoplast All Terrain, I just saw it.

 

[tator]

I believe some skis are better than others but most skis are only as good as your entire setup.
If you are not willing to set up the skid to work with the skis you wont fully benefit from a ski change

agree 100% i had the stockers, pushed when new and steered with one hand. changed shock settings and steered like a tank but 0 push there is a compromise there which everyone feels is different. i switched skis for the color and size. not for better handling for i too feel it is mostly in the setup.