Yamaha Poll: What Skis are you running on your Sidewinder?

[CrosslakeJohn]

ltx-le, 137 studded, semi-aggressive snow trackers on tuner III skis, toe set to zero.
We ride mix of groomed trails and racing around on the lakes.

 

[craiger68]

Sidewinder Model: 2017 SideWinder LTX LE
Track Length: 137
Studded: Pre-molded Studded Track
Type of rider: Aggressive Trail Rider.

Changed ski's to Curve XS with Woody's Slim Jim Dual runners, and made suspension adjustments to lighten up the steering effort. Very happy with the results. 2800 miles and counting so far this year.

 

[VX1R]

Sidewinder Model: LTX-LE
Track Length: 137
Studded: No. Swapped out stock track with 1.5" lug Ripsaw 2
Type of rider: Aggressive Trail Rider.

After reading the various negative handling reports on the stock Tuner skis with owners trying different runner set ups with less than stellar results I chose to replace the stock Tuner skis with SLP Mohawk skis right from the get go. I'm running the SLP round bars with 4" of carbide. I chose the SLP Mohawks after riding a few Vipers with them and also from the favorable reports I read about them on the ProCross chassis based sleds.

After making a few suspension changes to get the correct suspension balance I am extremely satisfied with these skis on my SideWinder.

 

[Motorhead]

SIDEWINDER: LTX LE
TRACK LENGHT: 137
TRACK: Pre studded 1.22" XT
TYPE OF RIDER: Very Agressive in right places and conditions, otherwise Agressive compared to most.

Tried the stock skis and found them to be very jittery in hard pack or icy trails, and downright dangerous in more than 2-3" of snow on trails. They will not turn. I found myself almost stopping around curves because the sled just would not turn period. In fact I can truly say this was the worst handling sled I have ever owned overall. ( have been in this sport since late 60's) and have owned way too many Yamahas to list here.

Tried adjustments to ski pressure and rear skid but not much difference.

So I bought a pair of Curves and added the Woodys Slim Jims. Wow what a world of difference, these skis provide confidence on all conditions. Only negative is that the sled still commands lots of effort to steer once off throttle. Have tried least amount of ski pressure possible, limiters out all the way, and different positions on transfer bar. No darting what so ever though!!

At this point I have taken away the sleds great handling and ride capabilities in trade for easiest steering possible.

Not sure where to go from here. Would like to compare against the Pilots I guess, but until then I may revert to stock settings again to finish off year. Sled rode and handled better then anything I have ever owned once the curves went on, just steered crazy hard.

When I ordered my curves, dealer only offered 6 or 8" Slim Jims. I wanted 4 but had to settle for 6".

 

[Bouellette77]

Sidewinder LTX-SE
No Studs
Aggressive Trail rider

Stock tunners pushed in the corners and also had very heavy stearing. Switched skis to the pilot 6.9's with 8" brb executive round bar carbides in center and stock 4" on outers. Have about 500 miles on new skis and has made a world of difference!

 

[ShootToThrill]

Model RTX-SE
129 track
180 studs
SLP SLT skis with 7.5 inch shapers
Aggressive trail, 99% UP riding

 

[ricardo]

STX-DX
137 Cobra 1.6 no studs
Experienced, but aggressive trail rider

Tuners push terribly in any soft snow(fresh snow or worn trail) and were nervous on hardpack. Tried more carbide and all suspension adjustments, gave up and ordered the MoHawks with 6" 60 degree SLP carbides. Now it turns!

 

[gvessey]

Sidewinder Model: LTX-DX
Track Length: 137
Studded: No
Type of rider: Aggressive Trail Rider

I am running stock skis and just changed inside carbide to a Yamaha 6 inch bar. I find the tuner 3's push terrible on the loose stuff, and super hard to steer, or to get out of someone else's tracks in icy hard pack, and very catchy in the corners. I have made many adjustments to the suspension and cannot get it where I like it. I priced Cat skis today, and CA Pro's and will be checking into pilots 6.9's, but the tuners are getting replaced next season.

 

[XP123]

Sidewinder XTX LE
Track length 137
Trail rider
Pre studded track
I have a ice attack track

I put Doo Pilot 6.9 skis on my sled from new with 7" shaper bars in center and 5" round bars on outside. I only tried the tunners for a short time. I had 5.7 pilots on both my Apex and my Nytro and liked them.

 

[Turbo 998]

Sidewinder LTX LE
No studs
Semi - Aggressive trail rider
Tuner skid are terrible if there is any loose snow and we're darting on the trails. I put double 6'" sharper bars on mine and still didn't want to turn in the corners so I took rockerdan's advice and bought the 6.9 pilots haven't tried them yet but seems like a lot of people are switching to them with good luck!!

 

[Pstn head]

Sidewinder Model: RTX LE
Track Length: 129"
Studded: No
Type of Rider: Trail rider

The tuners seemed to work ok on the Viper so I tried the same set up of carbides (6"-shaper bars outside and 7.5" shaper bars inside ) on the Tuner-3 equipped on the Sidewinder and they worked good on packed trail and hard base after some sleds broke it up a little and with not more than a couple centimetres of fresh snow. Having said that, they still did wash out entering the corners at a high rate of speed and at moderate speeds. I didn't really have the confidance so I would be cautious and not able to corner without a lot of body english. Honestly I wasn't convinced on some aftermarket skis and did not want the hard steering that some exhibit.
I had the opportunity to try Sidewinder 's with various skis and one with Curves with slim jims back to back and the Curves were amazing so I had to have them. Now the sled handles so good and is easy to steer in most trail conditions except in warm temps (not ideal anyway) like above freezing temps. I now have full confidance in the handling and can enter any turn hit the apex stay tight right and exit at a faster rate of speed than ever possible with the Tuners or any other ski for that matter. The Sidewinder can be a very capable, safe and fast as heck snowmobile when set up AND with good skis.
Id also like to add that IMO the tuners are a good ski, easy to steer in 90% of conditions and if the snowmachiene is riden in a normal manner they are more than capable to deliver good handling characteristics and comfortable steering without much effort which is fine for most. I still think the manufactures develop skis to meet these needs, too hard to steer, darting, heaven steering is not attractive to most. For the aggressive rider maybe they can offer an aggressive ski as an option.

 

[Boomer09]

Sidewinder STX DX
1.6 Cobra - no studs
Experienced but aggressive rider

Overall quality is great and makes my Apex feel slow but stock skis are useless. Major understeer in most conditions and steering effort is too heavy. For $20k I think Yamaha should provide skis that actually handle properly. Based on many comments I will be buying Curves or some other after market skis next season.

 

[**sj**]

Sidewinder Model: ltx le
Track Length: 137
Studded: Yes
Type of rider: max Aggressive Trail Rider.

Having years of experience with simmons...very familiar with dual runner skis....I am well aware that a dual runner ski doesn not work well with a rider forward sled .....especially a heavy one (pilot 6.9 is not a typical dual runner since the second runner if added is higher and the keel is curved) speaking of a curved keel...the brp pilots and the slp skis all feature the curved keel...easy steering...temporarily the cat procross skis are on..with the final ski being the mohawks most likely

***update*** decided to add the 6.9's , brp took the best attributes from slp and the price is right..

 

[Mighty]

Sidewinder Model: 2017 SideWinder L TX LE
Track Length: 137
Studded: Studded Track
Type of rider: Aggressive Trail Rider.

I read too many bad reviews about the stock ski's and threw a set of cat ski's on before she ever hit the snow.

 

[krm]

model ltx le
137 track
studded
aggressive rider

Changed skis so i could ride in ungroomed conditions .The stk. turners don't get up on the snow like the 6.9s doo ski does .