Short track, high lugs, opinions?.

[kimoaj]

Hi everybody!.

I wonder if you guys could tell me what you think of this combination, let`s say 307/38/51mm?. (121/15/2").

I have been discussing this alot lately with different people, having heard alot of different opinions.

Here are some statements:

1. High lugs on a short machine will decrease the topspeed.
(sounds reasonable, but all you don`t want speed, you want traction).

2. High lugs on a short machine will make it dig itself down.
(?. My thoughts: The more lugs, the more "mass" you will move, and the more forward movement you will get?).

3.The belt will wear out faster due to the higher revolutions. A short track will have to move faster then a long track, if the sleds should go at the same speeds.
(?. If it wears more, so what, it`s the fun factor that counts).

4. 51mm lugs on a short tracker is insane. 38mm will work much better.
(?).


I`m also beeing told that there is a reasion for the short lugs on the short trackers, ofcourse it is, they are speed trial machines. BUT, will a short tracker become useless if you put more lugs on it?.

You put on a track with a lug height suited for your riding style? . If you want to ride in some powder, the lugs will help you, or wount they?.

Gees I really don`t know what I should recommend to my friend who also is in doubt what to do.

Any opinions here?.

Thanks

Joakim

 

[yamaholic22]

Hi everybody!.

I wonder if you guys could tell me what you think of this combination, let`s say 307/38/51mm?. (121/15/2").

I have been discussing this alot lately with different people, having heard alot of different opinions.

Here are some statements:

1. High lugs on a short machine will decrease the topspeed.
(sounds reasonable, but all you don`t want speed, you want traction).

2. High lugs on a short machine will make it dig itself down.
(?. My thoughts: The more lugs, the more "mass" you will move, and the more forward movement you will get?).

3.The belt will wear out faster due to the higher revolutions. A short track will have to move faster then a long track, if the sleds should go at the same speeds.
(?. If it wears more, so what, it`s the fun factor that counts).

4. 51mm lugs on a short tracker is insane. 38mm will work much better.
(?).


I`m also beeing told that there is a reasion for the short lugs on the short trackers, ofcourse it is, they are speed trial machines. BUT, will a short tracker become useless if you put more lugs on it?.

You put on a track with a lug height suited for your riding style? . If you want to ride in some powder, the lugs will help you, or wount they?.

Gees I really don`t know what I should recommend to my friend who also is in doubt what to do.

Any opinions here?.

Thanks

Joakim

1. Yes, in general, taller lug tracks will decrease top speed, everything is a trade off, but if you ride mostly offtrail conditions then it probably doesn't matter very much

2.Taller lugs will not "dig" the machine down anymore than short lugs on a short track, the taller lugs WILL help with forward movement in deep snow. That being said, taller lugs do nothing for floation, they will not help you stay up, they will only help you move forward. If you get too deep and the snow is too soft, you will still sink. To help in this department you need a longer (or a wider 16" skidoo) track to help you stay on top of the snow. Taller lugs and longer tracks kind of go hand in hand. With a long track with no lugs, you won't have any bite to keep moving, but you will have floatation. With a short track with huge lugs you will have forward bite and not so much floatation. Short tracks turn a little bit better than longer tracks. The longer the track the harder it is to maneuver in general. Again, everything is a trade off.

3. I dont believe anybody could test in tight enough conditions to notice any difference in a short track compared to a long track based solely on track speed. It would take very highly controlled conditions and accurate measurements to even detect the difference in track wear in good snow conditions. Track wear depends MUCH more heavily on the conditions it is being used in, and what the rider is doing to it. Contrary to popular belief, punching it across roads DOES not aid in track life (this would seem hard to belief watching a lot of people out on the trails).

4. I had a 1.5" track on my SRX, and it worked MUCH better than a standard lug track in the deep stuff, but i took it off because the majority of my time is spent on groomed trails, so i was having problems with lug durability and hyfax wear, and also wanted the ability to run studs for icy conditions and lakes/rivers. If i rode the majority of the time in loose conditions and offtrail, i would have kept the 1.5" track on for sure. It just didn't suit my conditions very well.

5. Just keep in mind that everything is a trade off, and get a track that suits your riding style, not what everybody tells you they would like. In the scheme of things, YOU will be the one who likes or dislikes the track you put on, doesn't affect anyone else, so do what suits you best.

 

[ModMMax]

Good post 22

 

[kimoaj]

Thanks Yamaholic !! . Really informative post.

So, if you put higher lugs on a short machine, it will help you as long as you are a good rider and dare to keep the speed up. I guess you could say that if you want a short machine to handle powder better, and your only option is to get higher lugs, then it`s worth doing. If you have more money, then you could install an extension. But as you say, the longer track, the harder to manouver. Some hills that we have to ride up in order to get up on the mountain, is kind of tricky, because you can`t ride them straight up, you must ride "across" (didn`t find the proper word, sorry) to be able to get up, and it often happens that the guys with long/wider trackers needs several attempts, they hang over on the side of the sled to get steering, but the sled goes straight forward and then they fall out of the trial and they have to make another attempt. We "short" guys just hit the throttle and spin it sideways up, and then we go to the top and start laughing of the Lynx guys who keeps telling us that short trackers are worthless.

We never ride in hard packed trials, so I guess more lugs will help us.

Thanks for the help yamaholic.

 

[familyman]

I have a 2" paddle on a sx500r. I heard nothing but negativity...thats to much track for a 500...bla bla. Well I will never change it back and this is why.

Once you change your drives up front so the 2" clears you just changed your ratio. Then ad 2" back and your almost back to stock. (Smaller drives, taller track...taller drives, shorter track concept.)

1st. I didnt notice any top end difference in my sled. 2nd. wife can use the sled and go just about anywhere without the worry of getting stuck. Bites real nice in and out of ditches. that kind of stuff.

When we are group riding in deep powder I will take the 500 instead of my tripple just to be the one that blazes the trail. My buddies hate it when pull right up next to them while they are stuck and walk right out of it.

Just my opinion.

 

[kimoaj]

Sounds nice familyman ! .

Did you go down to 7teeths on the drive sprockets. Figure you had 9teeths originally?.
I actually didn`t think of that the belt would become to long if you don`t go up on the rear wheel size, but it`s logical I guees.

I friend of mine has an old Exciter with 2" lugs, works great. I can`t understand why there is so much negativity around this issue. I guess the track companies wouldnt bother to make tracks that sucked.

 

[Bakemono]

Unless you ride off-trail, I think Id avoid a 2" lug. On hardpack snow and ice the longer lugs are going to give you a rougher ride and you run the risk of breaking lugs.
I think Id rathar have a 136" with 1.25" lugs than to have a 121" with 2" lugs. The longer skids gives you a little bit smoother ride and the shorter lugs give you more flexibility (handles hardpack and off-trail fairly well without the rough ride on hardpack and risk of breaking lugs) and still good traction.
Cap'n

 

[vipertripplexxx]

Off Topic

Hey Craptain Toyota,
Did you buy a yamaha yet? Let me ask you this... how can you be "Yamaha's Biggest Fan and Toughest Critic" if you don't own one?


Rode a sx w/1.5" track last year, gotta have one! M2C
Try one out, see if you like it, then decide.

 

[98srx6]

2" tracks work really well on 121's, unless you are riding in low snow conditions.

 

[Bakemono]

Hey Craptain Toyota,
Did you buy a yamaha yet? Let me ask you this... how can you be "Yamaha's Biggest Fan and Toughest Critic" if you don't own one?


Rode a sx w/1.5" track last year, gotta have one! M2C
Try one out, see if you like it, then decide.

LOL...'cause I am. Sometimes you gotta ride what you can afford. If I could have found a good used SXr 600 for what I paid for my XC, Id be riding that right now.
Cap'n