Track choices?

super1c

super1c

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Sep 15, 2003
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Freeland & Otsego lake, MI
Getting ready to order my tracks for my extended 144" vipers. I was going to go with a 1.352 cobra. Now im having second thoughts. The second thoughts are im realistically going to be riding trail 70% and the rest exploring off trail. This will consist of a big group of friends, wife drivers that can hold their own with any of the guys, and lots of kids on 121's. In another reality its big powder and lots of man hardcore backcountry riding (like i said another reality LOL!). So my track choice has expanded to include a 1.5 ripsaw another recommended track or even a 1.75 backcountry. We ride trails, any condition, backcountry exploring, concrete and anything else in our way. So my question is this...........

1) Will the cobra hold up to poor trails and concrete. Came highly recommended for trail and off, just worried about the nubs holding up.

2) Will a 1.5 ripsaw suit my trail and off trail needs. Was told this track does not perform well off trail. But im not side hilling and carving big powder. Just exploring.

3) Can i cram a 1.75 backcountry under that tunnel. Im thinking this track will be way more then i need. I want to keep the 9 tooth drivers so this may be out right away.

Ive read every post i could find but looking for opinions more suited to my needs. Price is not a factor so what ever works best is what i want. Staying with stock skid for now also.
 

I had problems with my Cobra falling apart... was just too soft...I always seem to stick with the ripsaw but have heard great things about the back country.
 
the cobra held up nicely for me. 1600 miles last year in 4 trips. Bad snow most of the riding. Holds up to cement just fine, just dont gas her on cement. I have a MM 700 with 5700 miles that i rebuilt last year. I went with hartman ext. and a 144 single ply track from tracks usa. I took it easy on no snow crossing and gas stations. I rode all last year around mancelonia and the up for one trip. In low snow conditions/groomed trails it pulled real hard. We were in brimley(up) last feb when the 2 big/wet/heavy snowstorms came in. Left on a tuesday night, 10" on weds night and a solid 14" on friday night. It pushed ALOT of snow and did great off trail. Never got stuck. I could stop off trail, give her some gas and she would stand up and easily pull out. I would highly suggest the cobra for trail riding with some off trail expeditions. The 1.352 lugs are pretty big. They are very flexible so they wont tear. Just don't rip her on clean cement. I just bought a viper and I am thinking about parting the MM out. Worth more if I tear her down. For Michigan riding and anything you will find in Michigan. The cobra is a great track that pulls hard on trail and is alot of fun off trail. Mine cobra is still really nice and if I do part my sled out I will let you know and give you 1st dibs on it. I have read all your posts about viper in the last 2 years. Your sleds are awesome and I always look for a pink viper in MI.
 
I recommend the cobra track for your application. I just jumped ship on my viper from the ripsaw to the cobra (121). Overall last winter i put 900 miles on and I'd say with the snow conditions we had, 20 miles of them were "easy" miles. For hard pack conditions the cobra bites just as hard as the ripsaw due to the lugs being so soft. It hooks up the same. Top end yes i did shave a few MPH's off because of the cupped lug design. I didn't mind because my sled isn't a lake racer. As others have said, as long as you take it easy on the concrete you will not get any excessive wear if any. My track still looks brand new!
Off trail: This track on my sled IMO works as well as a 136. The ripsaw trenches and get you no where fast. With the cupped design of the cobra it grips the fluff and gets you on top. I love this track. We never really had great conditions for off trail riding up here in upstate NY, a few branches poking through the snow and occasional rocks poking out and my track still looks new. It is pretty durable. I will never go back to the ripsaw again.
I've let countless friends with similar chassis's as the viper and they loved the cobra track compared to the ripsaw.
highly recommended.
 
PPS. inc said:
the cobra held up nicely for me. 1600 miles last year in 4 trips. Bad snow most of the riding. Holds up to cement just fine, just dont gas her on cement. I have a MM 700 with 5700 miles that i rebuilt last year. I went with hartman ext. and a 144 single ply track from tracks usa. I took it easy on no snow crossing and gas stations. I rode all last year around mancelonia and the up for one trip. In low snow conditions/groomed trails it pulled real hard. We were in brimley(up) last feb when the 2 big/wet/heavy snowstorms came in. Left on a tuesday night, 10" on weds night and a solid 14" on friday night. It pushed ALOT of snow and did great off trail. Never got stuck. I could stop off trail, give her some gas and she would stand up and easily pull out. I would highly suggest the cobra for trail riding with some off trail expeditions. The 1.352 lugs are pretty big. They are very flexible so they wont tear. Just don't rip her on clean cement. I just bought a viper and I am thinking about parting the MM out. Worth more if I tear her down. For Michigan riding and anything you will find in Michigan. The cobra is a great track that pulls hard on trail and is alot of fun off trail. Mine cobra is still really nice and if I do part my sled out I will let you know and give you 1st dibs on it. I have read all your posts about viper in the last 2 years. Your sleds are awesome and I always look for a pink viper in MI.
Click to expand...

Were in the mancelonia area just about every weekend. We have dinner at larrys about every night we ride on the way back to otsego lake. If you do come across us make sure to say hi! We were at otsego lake the night of that big storm. The riding was great, but the snow was heavy and the 121's had a hard time. Now we shall see how the 144's take to the bigger snow. Thanks for the comments and hope to see ya out on the trail, or maybe a beer at larry's! chris
 
I live 4-5 miles south Larrys, Hop, skip and a jump east of the highway. I wouldnt run anything taller than 1.5 lug what ever brand you run, plenty tall enough for the snow we get off trail and still good on the trail.
 
LARRY'S SEVEN-SKI INN!!!!!
CLASSIC PLACE!!!
I will always remember the Giant Mosquito from when i was a kid!!!
always gotta stop there for a cold one!!

so the Cobra does hold up ok with 96 studs up the center and on the northern lower - UP trails ????
i like my standard ripsaw.....but always looking for a better track, without going too tall of lugs for michigan...
buddy had a 1.5" ripsaw on his XRS rev.....vibrated alot, i didn't think it was much better than the 1.25" ripsaw - just my opinion.

anybody have any thoutghts on the ripsaw II yet ????
 
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