Any advice for the new free rider ?

mattyg1405

mattyg1405

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Hey guys
I have been sledding for awhile now, I race xc dirt bikes, ride technical terrain, and I really enjoy it. I'm trying to get the same feeling riding my sled since I'm kind of getting tired of the wannabe racers on the trails and the consequences you could potentially pay for others lack of skill or smarts.

I bought an xtx le this year with the 2.25" track and mountain ergos to help me get out in the back country of New England. So far so good except I know how to set up xc style sleds or lake race set ups , I really don't know what works in the deep. The viper seems to trench a lot more than it should with the stock set up in the rear, which could get me into some sticky situations in the deep / steeper areas I get to especially because everything I ride is tight. What are some ways to improve this ?


Another thing I notice is my center shock spring is a nightmare, it feels too soft, especially on the trail. It collapses and kicks way too much. Will increasing spring rate and adjusting my rebound and compression to my liking go against what I'm trying to accomplish off trail? I'm just trying to figure out what works off trail and the season being so short I can easily waste the rest of the season not knowing or being familiar enough with powder set ups. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Another thing is maybe a more experienced rider could tell me is the viper xtx le a capable climber ? Or is is still just a entry level boon docker, I know a lot of it is technique and I know I'm not on a pro rmk but I'm finding myself busting my #*$&@ to side hill and transition and climb on this sled.... And I not a beginner I've been riding for years and years I'm just trying to expand my skill set and I'm wondering what I can do to make my life easier.

Thanks guys, this is my first post in the mountain section looking for help.
 
As far as sidehilling and carving, maybe remove sway bar??
 
Its a known issue, at least by me. ;)

See this thread for the cheap and easy fix. http://www.ty4stroke.com/threads/interesting-skid-shock-spring-info.131147/

Once you get the skid balanced all is easier. You will need to narrow it to 38 inches if you want to sidehill with ease. I bought a Cat 38 front setup on Ebay for 200 bucks, not sure how many kits are still on there. Then I had shocks shortened. At that point you have a real boondocker with the 2.25 Camoplast, a lot more than any cross over machine. But stock there is too much weight on the skis and it trenches.
 
XTX LE with 2.25. MPI
95% back country :) 5% trail. :(
6'3" 230lb. with my gear
75psi Front
125 psi Rear
middle shock: 18ish threads showing
Sway bars removed for weight savings, hole was plugged to keep snow out.
8inch Slydogs with bushing set to narrow. (A-arms are already narrower on LE, 40inch rather then the normal 42 on the SE's. but you could still goto 38 like stingray719 spoke about, I think that 40 is prefect for how I ride)


I'm very happy with how lite the sled feels, how easy it is to carving, side hilling, uphill turns, etc. It will do a tight figure 8 carve on both sides. It will cat walk until I chicken out and let off. We did alot of tree riding in the hills last weekend in 3-4 feet of snow and this sled loves the deep stuff on a hill side and so do I. Very little driver effort needed as your zigging and zagging up a hillside, just pick a line in the trees and go. You asked if its capable, Yes its very capable :) There has been more then once when I was climbing steep when I'm picking my line and then I start getting that feeling I might not make it but the sled always surprises me in the end and finish without breaking a sweat. We don't ride mountains but we do get into some pretty hilly country side .
 
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I'm actually amazed how noticeably better the sled handled both on and off trail with the 135lb spring, I also ordered the 145lb spring as I have a feeling it will be perfect. Finally have the handling characteristics I wanted and my arms dint hurt from excessive ski pressure
 
mattyg1405 said:
I'm actually amazed how noticeably better the sled handled both on and off trail with the 135lb spring, I also ordered the 145lb spring as I have a feeling it will be perfect. Finally have the handling characteristics I wanted and my arms dint hurt from excessive ski pressure
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I started at 135, went to 145 ZBROS spring and is just right at my 165lb weight. T&T in Wyoming (cat dealer) is putting 180 spring in the 2 stroke M8 just as a reference.
 
Sounds like I'm following your moves ! I'm falling in love with this sled as I spend more time setting it up and riding it. A thousand miles into this purchase and I'm happy as hell.
 
mattyg1405 said:
Sounds like I'm following your moves ! I'm falling in love with this sled as I spend more time setting it up and riding it. A thousand miles into this purchase and I'm happy as hell.
Click to expand...

Next move might be 153 2.6 powerclaw....................:rolleyes:
 
So I was comparing the le to the se the other night it looks like my le is a pro limb chassis vs. the pro cross. The tunnel is longer. I don't know what else but there's definitely a difference in the rear tunnel length and how it tips up on the le.

What all is involved for you to put the 153 on the regular xtx ? I've been thinking my next track is most definitely a 153 or a taller lug 141 but I haven't checked to see if the 2.6 comes in 141. Although there is something to be said about how capable the 141 2.25" really is. I had mine in the trees this weekend practicing my off hand side hills and there's no denying that this thing goes, at one point I stopped as I was side hilling because I didn't want to ruin a good looking tree so I turned down or avoid it, I lost my speed coming around it and tripped over my seat on my transition. I climbed back aboard and was certain I was stuck. To my amazement the sled climbed out so hard I fell off again lmao I couldn't believe it, I'm now learning to trust the sled and I'm getting way farther. I'm like a black sheep where I ride I never see another Yamaha. When the powder is endless a 153 would go a long long way especially for the heavier riders like my riding buddy, his weight and cobra track really don't like the pow pow like the le. It's funny I get the same questions from the guys on free rides and assaults ... " how do you like that thing isn't it heavy?"
 
mattyg1405 said:
So I was comparing the le to the se the other night it looks like my le is a pro limb chassis vs. the pro cross. The tunnel is longer. I don't know what else but there's definitely a difference in the rear tunnel length and how it tips up on the le.

What all is involved for you to put the 153 on the regular xtx ? I've been thinking my next track is most definitely a 153 or a taller lug 141 but I haven't checked to see if the 2.6 comes in 141. Although there is something to be said about how capable the 141 2.25" really is. I had mine in the trees this weekend practicing my off hand side hills and there's no denying that this thing goes, at one point I stopped as I was side hilling because I didn't want to ruin a good looking tree so I turned down or avoid it, I lost my speed coming around it and tripped over my seat on my transition. I climbed back aboard and was certain I was stuck. To my amazement the sled climbed out so hard I fell off again lmao I couldn't believe it, I'm now learning to trust the sled and I'm getting way farther. I'm like a black sheep where I ride I never see another Yamaha. When the powder is endless a 153 would go a long long way especially for the heavier riders like my riding buddy, his weight and cobra track really don't like the pow pow like the le. It's funny I get the same questions from the guys on free rides and assaults ... " how do you like that thing isn't it heavy?"
Click to expand...

Yep know what you mean. When I do see sleds they watch me blast out in the deep and just watch or leave.

153 just need rails or track extension and track, no tunnel needed. Your 141 2.25 is very capable, but the 153 2.6 powerclaw makes it a true steep and deep sled, yet still very trail friendly. NOS-PRO on here was running a 153 2.25 powerclaw ask him about what he thinks of it.
 
yamahaguys said:
Hey MattyG, hows the XTX LE working out for you?
Click to expand...
I'm really enjoying it, running a test this weekend see if I'm going to settle on a 148 center spring. Other than that I absolutely love it, mpi turbo with the revised oil drain kit and a four stroke ROV has brought my confidence level through the roof. I'm not afraid anymore to get in the trees and roll the sled over, and the mpi kit dialed in is no joke for I the tight New England riding I do.
 
Sounds like you ride just like we do. These sleds are a blast on a hill side in the trees. Im glad you're getting it dialed in. The revised oil vent kit does work great, I have rode alot before and after the kit and I can say it definitely works when shes on her side, no more smoking!!!! .


Thanks to MPI for fixing AC oil tank issue. Someone had to do it.
 
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