Heard a little rumor.

[SledFreak]

I was talking with a reputable (ski-doo) tuner yesterday about what track I should run on my Apex and we were talking about ski-doo's new 1 ply track. He said he has been testing this new track for over six months now in snow and grass and it can hold up just as good as any other track. He said with 144 megabyte 1.175" stud, in a 121 x 15" Hacksaw, which is a 1" track compared to the same new 1 ply track, it is just shy of a 9lbs difference in the two. So, the 1ply being 9lbs lighter. Now, one is 120" and the Hacksaw is 121", so realistically their will be a 6-7lb weight reduction between the two in a 121" format. He also said that Yamaha already put there order in to Camoplast for next year for the same 1 ply track. Now he is not sure if it's for a 120" or 121", but bank on them coming with this new light track for their 2009 release. The difference between the 120" and a 121" is only 1 bar. He said that Camoplast is not making any 121" 1 ply track this year, but will for the 2009 season. If I don't by a new sled next year, I will be putting this track on my Apex. This should be really good for some good top end speeds and should work awesome in groomed trail and lae racing applications. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Charged RTX]

If it is only 1 inch shorter it can not be just 1 less lug. It must be a new pitch.

 

[SledFreak]

It is a new pitch.

 

[Grimm]

It is my undrstanding that you can't use just any stud in this new single ply track, but a specially designed one. You apparently have to use studs without the shoulders, ie. threaded stud right down to the head of the stud.

 

[welterracer]

yamaha has to make hugE changes for next year to be even more comparable to the light weight XP..

9lbs is huge off a track.. if they use there light weight clips like on the new nytro it should be amazing..

 

[number1kyster]

As far as I'm concerned you are going to be seeing sleds go down hill in the future. Sacrificing dependibility for weight. I personally will never feel 9 lbs on the trail or in the ditch but I will notice when my track blows off at 5k miles. JMO

 

[Ryen]

If it is only 1 inch shorter it can not be just 1 less lug. It must be a new pitch.

I read somewhere that the new pitch is 2,86 instead of 2,52.

 

[JJWickenhauser]

That is a big deal. Rotating wieght is more than fixed wieght. (at least from my experiences) So... GO YAMMI!! I also believe that Yamaha's are built better. I would also not give up weight for less durability. I mean, isn't this why we're on 4 smokers to begin with?

 

[yamadoo]

That is exciting to loose ~9 #'s and if I remember my physics correctly a rotating wt is multiplied by as much as 7 for total effect.

don't assume lighter means weaker or less durable it all depends on design. Do we really think the sled engineers have not thought about durability > break down > warranty repair $. Anything that ends in $ is paid very close attention to. So I will hold my judgment until the riding reports are in. I think the engineers can do this right.

My 2 cents

 

[**sj**]

rotating weight is lost horsepower....how much free horsepower would you like boys?!

 

[snappy]

That is exciting to loose ~9 #'s and if I remember my physics correctly a rotating wt is multiplied by as much as 7 for total effect.

don't assume lighter means weaker or less durable it all depends on design. Do we really think the sled engineers have not thought about durability > break down > warranty repair $. Anything that ends in $ is paid very close attention to. So I will hold my judgment until the riding reports are in. I think the engineers can do this right.

My 2 cents

oh like the first year f7's

 

[Daranello]

hey ill stick with 2 ply. I dont want a flat

 

[Yeller]

As far as I'm concerned you are going to be seeing sleds go down hill in the future. Sacrificing dependibility for weight. I personally will never feel 9 lbs on the trail or in the ditch but I will notice when my track blows off at 5k miles. JMO

These are exactly my thoughts as well. Not to mention in my experience with the wife's 550 fan rev, the lighter the sled, the more it floats and becomes harder to handle on the trails ... especially with some loose powder on the trail. IMO you need some weight to stay planted. I came from a rev to my nytro and I never noticed the extra weight on the trail.

 

[KnappAttack]

It will be 9 lbs. yes, but do not expect any big increase in performance. I took 8 lbs of rotating mass from the track of my pro-stock 800. As well as another 22 lbs from the chassis, that is a total of 30 lbs., and It did not pick up even a hundredth of a second! 1 lb. of rotating is not 7 lbs as you have been told. It still is 9 lbs however. Pro-stock is a weighted class and I would carry 25-30 lbs of lead in the belly pan and take it out for heavy mod. NO DIFFERANCE IN ELAPSED TIMES! Did make the sled easier to cary around the pits though. It takes a whole lot of swing in weight to get an increace you can see on the timers. I will admit they are much funner to ride being lighter. That is the way Yamaha NEEDS to go!

 

[pro116]

As far as I'm concerned you are going to be seeing sleds go down hill in the future. Sacrificing dependibility for weight. I personally will never feel 9 lbs on the trail or in the ditch but I will notice when my track blows off at 5k miles. JMO

Many lighter materials are stronger than then heavier stuff depending on the material.