My thoughts after the weekend... Quick run down of the sled. 2019 165 with Silber turbo, 154 tunnel, Elevate kit, Fox Float 3s with Evol in the front and Yamaha mountain skis.
Putting the skid together was fairly straightforward and the kit came with all components. Nothing from the OEM skid is reused, a niceity. I installed the skid in the lower holes like Ice Age recommends for Elevated sleds. I also started the shocks at Kevin's recommended settings for my weight which is 260 before equipment.
With these settings and the coupler blocks set on 2 the sled sled climbs like a goat. In situations where the stock skid would wheelie and leave you trenched it now climbs on top of the snow and nothing can stop it. It takes the steepness out of any hill. I was very impressed. Great for steep tree riding. With the same shock and skid configuration it is also very difficult to get the sled to feel real playful, even when the coupler blocks are set on 1. With the cut tunnel and my weight I had issues with the skid catching the back of the tunnel when I did get on it and try to get the ski ups and when on the bottom of step drainages going up them. I will try and move the skid to the factory holes in the rear to see if that helps alleviate the track catching and help lift the skis slightly.
A few issues that I need to figure out and that I had. The lock nut on the FTS came off some how and the axle and washer are lost in the snow. The shock and bolt are fine and I didn't loose the spacer. I made sure to LocTite all of the bolts throughout the skid and still had the bolt for the rear arm work loose. I caught it before I had any major issues. A Allen screw for one of he the spacers also worked its way loose and is gone but I didn't put LocTite on them so that's on me. Lesson learned is LocTite everything and retorque during your first ride.
Fi employee monitoring software worktime nal thoughts, the skid is awesome. The fit and finish is very nice and I have no complaints. It turns the Alpha into a conquer anything sled. With some adjustments and tweaking I won't want to go back to stock ever unless I am trying to get real rowdy doing Saxton type stuff. With the shocks and such the skid if worth the money and does what it's advertised to do.
hmmm, interesting experience