new slides with Vespel inserts any thoughts?

[jamesc]

my two biggest gripes with my 2010 vector ltx gt (my first sled) are the weight and the slider wear both of which i knew about before i brought it. now the weight is what it is but the slider wear really ticks me off. in 1600 miles i burned off the original set, then a set of graphite and the last set i put on is still usable but i want to replace them for the new season. it's not the 20 or so dollars they cost it's the hassle of replacing them and / or sweating them burning up while i watch a friend on an F7 ride trouble free down basically blacktop with a passenger no less. lying in the trailer fighting with these things really sux. i know Vespel is supposed to be a pretty serious composite and have seen it used in pump bushings that see some rather severe service. IF this stuff is the answer to the hyfax dilemma i would spend the $100 plus if for no other reason than peace of mind and not changing them in the trailer. i really don't want to be a guinea pig though.

rant off

anyone know what the deal is with them?

 

[sk-rx1]

Latest release date is Jan 12th. If it keeps moving we won't have to worry this year. I do have a set on order.

 

[slimjim2525]

Latest release date is Jan 12th. If it keeps moving we won't have to worry this year. I do have a set on order.

Where r u getting that release date? I just ordered mine yesterday and they said Dec. 29th

 

[sk-rx1]

Was at a dealer this afternoon, he gave me that as the latest update off the computer. Hope he's wrong but I doubt it.

 

[jamesc]

just read about these today on a site i didn't even know existed. wasn't aware they weren't in circulation yet but figured even if they were there probably wasn't enough feedback on them.

http://snowmobiles.yamahablogs.ca/

 

[SounderMN]

My dealer told me January 12 too. Just talked to him yesterday.

 

[blueironranger]

I'm waiting for them, my slides are close to the wear limit marks but they have been there for over 1500 miles now. Plus, the way we are lacking snow right now, it might be January before we are riding in Northern MN!

 

[JROCK]

Buy a set of pionner performance wheels spacer kit or excells larger wheels! At least you can those in a couple days! Wheels are more expensive but the spacer kit is the cost of a set of those new slides.

 

[sledneck22]

A good way to check your slide wear is to carry a 10mm open ended wrench with you while you ride. If you can't fit the open end over the side of the slide you don't have anything to worry about. They wear to a point then most of the weight is transfered between the wheels. I have seen more times than not that people change the slides out before they need to be. I was getting over 2000 miles per set on my GT by doing this. If you start riding blacktop with no snow then they will wear faster, thats obvious, but premature changes when they look bad happen quite often. I usually don't change mine out until I know they are paper thin or just wore through.
I realize it is a pain to constantly worry about them but sometimes over worrying costs too much labor and grief than what is needed. Just keep checking them, run your track loose, get all the bang for your buck and wear them to paper thin. The wheels in the skid are there for a reason.

 

[Zakre]

I rode all last season(2800ish miles) on a single set, with stock yammie wheels in less than ideal conditions and didnt wear through, they were damn close in two spots on the rail, before the rear small wheels (not large rear wheels, i have an xtx) This was stock wide slides. I am fully clipped, but run extros and a 1.75 BC so its not the nicest on slides, i dont have scratchers either.

I just pony'd up and got the X wheels and put the cheapo slides back on, gonna see if it was worth it this season!