dcstewart77
New member
Summer project - arctic cat skid install in a Viper (121", 136" or 144"?)
What a great season it's been so far in New England. I've put on 2000+ miles already, all from my house in central NH (in February 4 of us rode from Wakefield, NH to Caribou, ME and back in 6 days). Anyways…
Still not ready to pull the trigger on a new sled for next year so I going to be making some mods to my newer 03 Viper in the off season (I figure it's cheaper to spend up to $1k or so than to buy a new $9k+ Nytro or Vector GT). Currently it's stock with the exception of a 2" riser, a homemade (TY copy) seat riser, and Pioneer revalved shocks. The seat riser and handlebar riser made a huge difference, like night and day for comfort, and surprisingly did not seam to affect handling. The shock revalve helped but not as much as I had hoped.
So I'm thinking of the following options and would welcome any feedback:
1. break down and buy a boss highrise seat. Simons or Pilot skis. Replace the proaction with a -01 121 arctic cat skid from a zrt600 that is sitting in the corner of my garage.
2. boss seat. Skis. 121 arctic cat skid with a tracksusa 136" extention and 136x15x1.25 track.
3. boss seat. Skis. 121 arctic cat skid with a tracksusa 144" "tip up" extension and 144x15x1.25 track (kind of a Viper XTX).
Obviously option 1 is the cheapest. I just bought the arctic cat skid and will install as a summer project.
Option 2 or 3 would limit me to no studs, which I have now (without new drivers). But with the snow we have had this winter I'm foolishly hoping that the next few years will be similar. Don't want to go higher than a 1.25" lug as a lot of my riding is done on groomed trails.
I'm a little concerned about using the cat ETT skid in a tunnel that is not "kinked" in the rear. I wonder if in theory a proaction skid in a arctic cat tunnel could travel up into the "kinked" tunnel or if the arctic cat skid is designed with more travel. Plus if I extend a ETT skid (136" or 144") in a non-kinked tunnel am I making a problem worse and asking for problems?
From searching this site it sounds like a 136" is a great combination. Has anyone gone 144" with a tip up extension? I wonder how that would handle on groomed trails.
Any insite would be much appreciated.
What a great season it's been so far in New England. I've put on 2000+ miles already, all from my house in central NH (in February 4 of us rode from Wakefield, NH to Caribou, ME and back in 6 days). Anyways…
Still not ready to pull the trigger on a new sled for next year so I going to be making some mods to my newer 03 Viper in the off season (I figure it's cheaper to spend up to $1k or so than to buy a new $9k+ Nytro or Vector GT). Currently it's stock with the exception of a 2" riser, a homemade (TY copy) seat riser, and Pioneer revalved shocks. The seat riser and handlebar riser made a huge difference, like night and day for comfort, and surprisingly did not seam to affect handling. The shock revalve helped but not as much as I had hoped.
So I'm thinking of the following options and would welcome any feedback:
1. break down and buy a boss highrise seat. Simons or Pilot skis. Replace the proaction with a -01 121 arctic cat skid from a zrt600 that is sitting in the corner of my garage.
2. boss seat. Skis. 121 arctic cat skid with a tracksusa 136" extention and 136x15x1.25 track.
3. boss seat. Skis. 121 arctic cat skid with a tracksusa 144" "tip up" extension and 144x15x1.25 track (kind of a Viper XTX).
Obviously option 1 is the cheapest. I just bought the arctic cat skid and will install as a summer project.
Option 2 or 3 would limit me to no studs, which I have now (without new drivers). But with the snow we have had this winter I'm foolishly hoping that the next few years will be similar. Don't want to go higher than a 1.25" lug as a lot of my riding is done on groomed trails.
I'm a little concerned about using the cat ETT skid in a tunnel that is not "kinked" in the rear. I wonder if in theory a proaction skid in a arctic cat tunnel could travel up into the "kinked" tunnel or if the arctic cat skid is designed with more travel. Plus if I extend a ETT skid (136" or 144") in a non-kinked tunnel am I making a problem worse and asking for problems?
From searching this site it sounds like a 136" is a great combination. Has anyone gone 144" with a tip up extension? I wonder how that would handle on groomed trails.
Any insite would be much appreciated.
I would get a 136 suspension, and mount it back 4 inches and run a 144 track. Woerks really good in the deep snow, and rides awesome. Just me though. It is my summer project for the warrior. moving the 136 pro x back, and adding a 144x1.25 preditor. Maxdlx
03viperguy
Moderator
I really like my mono skid in my viper, great for our NH trails. good on the low speed stuff near home and it handles better than before running up in speeds in Pittsburg.. I could even give you a hand if needed over the summer 
what type of riding are you doing? trail?
what type of riding are you doing? trail?
03viperguy
Moderator
oh, and I love my simmons skis and unstudded ripsaw in my 03
dcstewart77
New member
For type of riding I would say 90% trail 10% off trail. I'm thinking a 136" would be a good compromise.
I checked over on the TY 4-stroke side and there are guys running 121 Arctic Cat skids as 136" with extensions in Warriors...no mention of issues using them in a non-tipped up tunnel.
While a converted 136" centainly won't be a mountain sled it has got to be alot better than the stock 121" finger track in deep snow.
I checked over on the TY 4-stroke side and there are guys running 121 Arctic Cat skids as 136" with extensions in Warriors...no mention of issues using them in a non-tipped up tunnel.
While a converted 136" centainly won't be a mountain sled it has got to be alot better than the stock 121" finger track in deep snow.
03viperguy
Moderator
true, I have just never wanted to lose the handling in the tight twisties here in central NH. some trails I probably couldnt turn the corners if I was longer lol!
P
PureYamaha1970
Guest
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