How light can you make a Nytro?

[AKrider]

I'm debating what to do with my '08 Nytro 121. I want a mountain sled so I'm thinking should I modify my short track into one or cut my losses and buy a new, base model '13 Ski-doo Summit 600 for about $8000? I know the pros and cons for 2 & 4 strokes so let's not discuss that. Don't care about turbos, stock power is fine.

Offroad.com posted the wet weight of an '08 Nytro MTX 153 was 620 lbs. An '08 Ski-doo XP 800 163" is 528 lbs wet. That is a difference of 92 lbs. My guess is it will take a bunch of expensive aftermarket parts or custom made parts to get the Nytro down to this weight. What is a realistic weight to expect without spending a small fortune? In another forum a post said the SPG Nytro Black sled weighed 540-550lbs wet. That is a $20,000 sled.

 

[Roadrider]

Sounds too heavy for a dry weight. My apex mountain is only 603 dry, stock.

 

[tapex_07]

No that weight is correct. Wet weighs are way different. Your apex is prob closer to 700 wet. 70lbs if fuel alone, 4quarts of oil, coolant it all adds up quick..
I would say to drop 75-100lbs all depends on the parts you pick and the kinds of deals you can find. But the price of the SPG includes some labor.

 

[Off Trail Mike]

AkRider:

As you probably know, the 08 & 09 mtx's were Yami's heaviest mtn sleds. They did drop 20+ lbs starting in 2010, and are still coming down. My 11 MTX 153 wet weight is 568lbs....measured with a crane scale but it has had some help.

The biggies on the weight reduction plan were the following:

Cat Suspension - Rear
Yoshi Muffler
Li-ion Battery
Skinz Seat
Aluminum Drop Brackets
Slydog Skis
Skinz Front Suspension

I still prefer the Nytro over a 600/800 2s because of its phenomenal powerband and torque. Its just more fun for me and with a bit of the excess weight removed, its a great 4 stroke mountian sled ..... so if it was me I'd redo your RTX Nytro..

I'm sure the AK guys who are on here may have a bit more to say on this topic!

OTM

 

[AKrider]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

With the 568lb wet weight, am I safe to assume you are using the stock tunnel and body parts? I've followed Caleb and Ricky's builds over the years and am blown away by what they've done. I don't have the tools or fabrication skills to go down that road.

I'm liking the idea of bolt on parts and stripping things off I don't need. I like the idea of using the stock rear skid out of a Cat since I could buy one used.

The big thing I like about this idea is I own the sled and love the motor. I'm also very cost consious and I don't want to dump a bunch of money into this only to find a plain jane, base model XP Summit 144 with the Series III 600 is more capable. Reason I'm comparing to that sled is because it is pretty inexpensive for a new sled and the old 600 is their most reliable motor.

 

[ALASKANCOLT45]

AkRider:

As you probably know, the 08 & 09 mtx's were Yami's heaviest mtn sleds. They did drop 20+ lbs starting in 2010, and are still coming down. My 11 MTX 153 wet weight is 568lbs....measured with a crane scale but it has had some help.

The biggies on the weight reduction plan were the following:

Cat Suspension - Rear
Yoshi Muffler
Li-ion Battery
Skinz Seat
Aluminum Drop Brackets
Slydog Skis
Skinz Front Suspension

I still prefer the Nytro over a 600/800 2s because of its phenomenal powerband and torque. Its just more fun for me and with a bit of the excess weight removed, its a great 4 stroke mountian sled ..... so if it was me I'd redo your RTX Nytro..

I'm sure the AK guys who are on here may have a bit more to say on this topic!

OTM

I agree with the list above. I would add to the list -
Skinz air frame running boards.
Headlight delete kit and put on small lightweight L.E.D.s.
Remove all the foam on your plastic panels. Foam soaks up water and becomes very heavy once wet.
And since you have to extend the tunnel I would take a look at these at Diamond S tunnels.
http://www.diamond-smfg.com/Chassis.html
I would deffinitely recommend boost. When you start hill climbing these nytros dont have the power to climb as high as the 800 2 strokes. And boost makes everything funner.

 

[rlcofmn]

http://www.diamond-smfg.com/Chassis.html

I need to start building tunnels for that price

I don't really have that much to say on the subject because everything I do is already posted on threads. But the Nytro is only what you make it to be.

To compare a 600 doo to a Nytro. In the hill climbs last year, I would beat Smelcer on his 600 by 2 seconds on his 800 he would beat me by 2. Him beating me on the 8 I think was mainly due to rider ability. He has years of experience on hill climb races and had already had probably 30 runs before I got my first that day. When I was racing against him on his 600 it was my first 4 runs up a hill climb course ever. What I am trying to say is even on a mostly stock Nytro the 600 doo does not compete. My sled at that point had a 144, old gen 2 Polaris Holz skid, header built by me (who knows the power increase/decrease) lightweight battery and seat. The tunnel was all custom but I don't think it was lighter than stock.

But that being said, from reading your posts. I don't think you will ever be happy with your Nytro. But I also don't think you will be happy if you bought a new 600 doo either.

 

[beeze455]

I gotta buy some scales to get the weight, but I dropped 70 to 80lbs off mine. Details can be found at http://backcountryrebels.com/showthread.php?t=17294

3.4lb Tool Bag
3.6lb Sway Bar
2lb Parking Brake Removal (Estimated)
2lb Plastic Modifications
11.4lb Battery Swap
30lb skid swap
15-20lb exhaust swap and seat mod
1lb brake fin removal
5lb fox evols
4lb skinz a-arms

 

[Off Trail Mike]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

With the 568lb wet weight, am I safe to assume you are using the stock tunnel and body parts? I've followed Caleb and Ricky's builds over the years and am blown away by what they've done. I don't have the tools or fabrication skills to go down that road.

I'm liking the idea of bolt on parts and stripping things off I don't need. I like the idea of using the stock rear skid out of a Cat since I could buy one used.

The big thing I like about this idea is I own the sled and love the motor. I'm also very cost consious and I don't want to dump a bunch of money into this only to find a plain jane, base model XP Summit 144 with the Series III 600 is more capable. Reason I'm comparing to that sled is because it is pretty inexpensive for a new sled and the old 600 is their most reliable motor.

Akrider:

Yep, stock tunnel and body parts. Alaskancolt, great call on the foam....totally forgot. the skinz running boards are awesome too. They don't drop weight, but don't add it either when boondocking...something the stock running boards are notorious for: 5 lbs/side and a royal PITA always.

Rick and Caleb are the masters of builds and have documented all the ways to reduce weight, and I totally agree with Rick's comment: I'd still rather have a 4 year old nytro than a new 600 summit...getting pretty tired of the screaming two strokes with no powerband....just my 2 cents.

OTM

 

[bholmlate]

AKrider
If you do a search for TY member wolfone. He did exactly what you are talking about however he used a lot of expensive aftermarket parts to do it. He took an RTX and turned it into a supercharges Monster of a mountain sled. I realize that you dont want boost but he prety well documented the steps showing you how he turned his RTX into a beautiful MTX. Unfortunately one of his last posts on here talking about how this beautiful sled was turned into a pile of junk in the end. I think his original post was around two years ago now. Last year was the year a freak accident destroyed the sled. Just an idea

 

[woodsrider]

If you're looking for some one to tell you to get the 2 smoke you're on the wrong forum!

 

[rlcofmn]

Just weighed mine again, as always with un accurate scales. I had not weighed it with the new track so I was curious. 2 gallons of gas, otherwise ready to ride (tools, spare belt, tow rope, helmet light) it came in at a embarasing 544. The track is a real killer in weights but it's still 30 plus pounds heavyer than I'd like to see it. :exc:

 

[AKrider]

Yes, I've been extremely critical of the Nytro, so much so that they repeatedly threatened to ban me off this site. My focus with my Nytro was cross country racing and it isn't very good for that with the stock front end. Anyway.... my Nytro is very reliable, powerful and paid for and since I've got a different sled to race I can look at getting a mountain sled since all my buddies ride them.

Interesting comments about Matt's 600, he had either an eTech or an SDI. I'd be looking at the even less powerful carb'd 600 strictly due to it being the most reliable 2-stroke Ski-doo makes and it being reasonable in price.

The weight breakdown is encouraging. Nothing too exotic there. I was hoping for that! Guessing that the wet weight of the modified Nytro would come out around 540 which puts it in line with the wet weight of the 800's and their close to 12 gallon gas tanks.

Question I have is after all the weight is removed does it make a noticeable difference? A majority of the Nytro's weight is all right in front of you like a big ball. It is a top heavy sled, even worse when you run a Trail Tank like I have. I think a forward swept a-arm kit is a must do mod. Does it make a night and day difference? As far as boost I don't need it because we ride low elevations in Alaska and I want stock reliability and ease of use.

I've got to check out some more build threads and start adding up the costs of the suggested mods. My tunnel will need to be modified so that's one more thing to add to my list.

 

[AKrider]

Just weighed mine again, as always with un accurate scales. I had not weighed it with the new track so I was curious. 2 gallons of gas, otherwise ready to ride (tools, spare belt, tow rope, helmet light) it came in at a embarasing 544. The track is a real killer in weights but it's still 30 plus pounds heavyer than I'd like to see it. :exc:

This weight isn't for your tube chassis correct? How light were you thinking you could get that down to? That is way more exotic than I could go, but it would be interesting to hear.

I found a thread in another forum about the carbon fiber C3 Nytro a company planned to built. Their goal was reducing the weight by 100lbs. Seems like they should be able to go lower than that? Too exotic and expensive for me.

 

[rindtj]

Battery floats and skinz would be an awesome way to drop 15ish lbs right off the front end in a manner just about anyone could do and improve handling greatly. You do the flat suspension and tunnel extension and you are looking at about 2500$ and 40 lbs. With a sled that probably handles close to on par with a doo will it climb the 600 every time and is paid for. After trade and the 2500 in mods you prob wouldn't have the doo covered yet.