Is the Ripsaw track as awesome as they all claim?

[MSRX-ERNIE]

I think not! I love the hook up on this track but after only 1700 miles on it there´s big chunks missing on the track on my 04 Warrior. I will have to replace it to next season.

Any one with some good idea´s on a good replacement track?

Ernie

 

[Stormbringr1]

With it's deeper lugs...and the torque of this engine...it is important that you not hit the whip and spin the track entering or exiting roadways or other areas with marginal snow conditions...

It stands to reason that they lugs will tear off if enough force is placed on them on surfaces where they will grip...and not slip.

 

[4Fighter]

They don't hold up to low-snow conditions or too much side force that you would experience if you were trying to scrape a bank for snow while riding down a road. Mine has torn outside belt lugs since about 800 miles - Yamaha would NOT replace! But overall, I think the taller, agressive style is much better than a non-ripsaw track.

 

[Blue Me]

Save Lugs.............add studs!!!

 

[Mighty]

I only have 800 miles on mine but it looks like new.

 

[SRXSRULE]

Mine is an 1.25" with 900 miles. Looks new, but sucks off trail in the powder. I may be putting a traditional style track back on it or go up to a 1.5" ===SRXSRULE===

 

[YamahaRx-Warrior]

I have riden in some very Icey conditions and one side of the track the outside lugs got heated up and snapped off on many of the paddles on the left side. I have seen many tracks do this. My other ripsaws look like new.

 

[ReX]

I ran a 9860 (snowcross version of the 9818) on my Storm and it has to be the most durable track out there. It still looks like new after 4000 hard miles, no studs.

The ripsaw on my 05 with 3450 miles on it is showing much more wear, but it's still holding up. There are about 3 lug tips missing, all the tips have rounded off, and there are a number of cracks near the tips starting to form. There is also 1 lug pretty much torn off, but that might have been from spinning and hitting a rock or something.

Traction wise, when new, the ripsaw definitely seemed to have an edge (could be the mono-shock too) on typical trail conditions, but now that it's worn a little I think the 4000 mile 9860 has the edge.

On icey trails, the new ripsaw seemed to have a significant advantage over the 4000 mile 9860.

In summary (IMO) - when new, the ripsaw is probably the best track out there, with the 9860 a close second. Durability wise, the 9860 can't be beat (although for the price... The 9860 retailed for $1700 Cdn. I got mine cheap when a number of snowcross teams switched to different tracks a few years ago).

 

[nhrxrider]

This is an awesome trail and powder combination track. I have a friend who went with one on his Doo 700 136", and even with a 2-up sled, he goes some crazy places. There is a mountain near here that gets 4'+ of powder during a typical winter, and ge goes off trail looking for more fun. Another friend tried that sled and was so impressed that he bought 136" rail extensions and a ripsaw and hes very impressed with it. Here is a quote from an a-mail I got a few nights ago from a friend with a new Mach- "Ripsaw kicks #*$&@, was a good idea to swap it out
when new! Broke trail in Pisgah in 12" of powder and up steep hills, could
stop and just take right off again, awesome track"

He swapped out the stock Mach track when he bought the sled and went with the ripsaw after hearing how great it was. It will be my next track if I keep my sled...I'll have extensions and a 136" ripsaw.

With that said, its like anythign else. There are tradeoffs. What makes the track work so well in the conditions it was designed for makes it wear quicker in poor conditions. The guy with the 2-up did some damage to his when he had to go through some bad conditions. Its also wearing on the corners because he has his sled set up so he can slide the corners, which tears up the edges of the track.

So you get a track that works awesome but wears quickly. Its sure better than the original '03 finger track that didn't work in almost any conditions, and still shredded in no time. Right now I'm running a track that was originally from a '97 Cat ZL440. It has 96 studs, and had about 2800 miles when I pulled it off the Cat. It went onto my ZRT800 for another 1000+ miles, and has been on my RX for around 1200. It still looks almost new, has no ripped or broken lugs, and all studs are in place. It works 100 times better than my original piece of crap. But again, there are drawbacks. It doesn't have what I want for off trail powder, but it works O.K. Its an all around track that does nothing great, except last a long time.

Pick your poison. If you want a track that performs awesome, you have to give something up. If you want a track that lasts a long time, be prepared to give up some performance and traction.

Jim

 

[Superman]

I had a 9833 on my 03' (fully clipped version of the 9818) The rip saw is a good track but if I had a choice I would take the 9833. Trail performance is about the same but the 33 seemed better off trail.

 

[Scooby]

Dukesters 04 Warrior now has about 19,000 on the ripsaw and it is still going strong. His brother drives it every day and he is a hard on every thing!

 

[MONSTERTURBO]

Before owning my first yamaha this year, i had a 2002 edge chassis w/ 800xcr motor in it. Had over $13,000 in this machine and the best investment was the ripsaw track..

 

[SnowBandit]

I have a ripsaw with over 2000 miles on it. Its on a 02 viper and looks brand new.. My brothers RipSaw on his warrior is in great shape with 1,800 miles. The stock track that came on my 02 viper was crap after 2,000..

 

[Flipper]

The stock track on my 02 Viper was crap as soon as it left the showroom, that track was terrible.

 

[QCRider]

I ran a 9860 (snowcross version of the 9818) on my Storm and it has to be the most durable track out there. It still looks like new after 4000 hard miles, no studs.

The ripsaw on my 05 with 3450 miles on it is showing much more wear, but it's still holding up. There are about 3 lug tips missing, all the tips have rounded off, and there are a number of cracks near the tips starting to form. There is also 1 lug pretty much torn off, but that might have been from spinning and hitting a rock or something.

Traction wise, when new, the ripsaw definitely seemed to have an edge (could be the mono-shock too) on typical trail conditions, but now that it's worn a little I think the 4000 mile 9860 has the edge.

On icey trails, the new ripsaw seemed to have a significant advantage over the 4000 mile 9860.

In summary (IMO) - when new, the ripsaw is probably the best track out there, with the 9860 a close second. Durability wise, the 9860 can't be beat (although for the price... The 9860 retailed for $1700 Cdn. I got mine cheap when a number of snowcross teams switched to different tracks a few years ago).

Note that Almost RX-1 is another NON studder. Any guys that have studded these tracks having these problems?