What can I do to make my XP sidehill better?
- Thread starter Trashy
- Start date
Yes it requires a little trim of the plastic, but no big deal.
Hmmmm... that doesn't look like plastic to me
I would just quit riding all together before I would resort to that!
A
Hmmmm... that doesn't look like plastic to me
Haha, no that is our carbon fiber dash/airbox. But it shows that whether its carbon or stock plastic, its not to hard to make it fit.
I commend the aftermarket for offering various mods to help people personalize their sleds so that we don't have to change riding style, but have the machine adapt to us. With that said.......keep your money in your pocket and learn to ride the damn thing!
We've become a bunch of whiners over the years. My sled won't handle like buddies sled will, he goes higher than i do, he's not as tired at the end of the day and I am........it goes on and on.
Notice the guys that make those highmarks we all try to beat.......they can jump on any sled and out mark anyone else on equivalent machinery? And to boot, they never compain about being able to get their sled to do what they want.......most of these boys are riding stock or close to stock sleds........No I'm not talking about the,"My dick is bigger than yours crowd" Look around at the quiet guys with the stock sleds making the marks your trying to follow.......it's not the sled, never has been.
Now not to toot my own horn because I get humbled countless times a year but I was highmarking a '05 Summit 800 151 with a friggin '98 Summit X. the 670 was bone stock with a 2" riser....the Summit had a can.......the guy couldn't stop complaining about his sled and the fact it was running like ****. So I hop on and proceed to out highmark myself(on the 670) by 100ft. WTF he says.....it boiled down to rider ability, as it normally does. I just shook my head and my group took off.
BTW-I was so frikkin sore after the day on that 670, definately makes you appreciate what we ride now. Standing on the seat, back bumper, hanging right over the handlebars.......brought back all those memories of trying to make something go that really doesn't want to. With that being said, my riding buddies didn't see my riding style change all that much other than the fact I was a monkey humping a football trying to wrestle the machine around all day.
Maybe because I weigh 225 without gear it's easier for me to handle sleds, but from my '10 Summit X to my brother's '10 M8 or my buddies '05 Vector....neither guy can put a mark on the hill or cut through the trees with the ease that I can. With that usually comes the highmark as well.
I don't know, not to pinpoint anyone or to tell anyone to get their crap together and learn to ride but.....I rode all 4 brands this winter and after a couple powder turns or a scouting run up the hill....and I was on the gas like I had been riding(whichever sled I was on) all year long. Again, I don't know, anything with less than 200hp I can pretty much ride without issues, unlike so many people on here that can't ride their bone stock sled to save their life.
Sorry for the rant, I'm watching the Indy 500 and can't understand why they get 15 "Push to Pass" hits whenever they like. 200rpm jump for 18 seconds.....15 different times....race the friggin car and the best man wins.....not who has the most "go button" hits left at the end of the race.
With that being said........good luck on getting the sled to do what you want it to.
I had a conversation with a Engineer from BRP this season and he asked why do we(mountain riders) change the sleds they design so much. When we sifted through all the mods and what they accomplish, we had stripped the arguement down to the fact that most mods are to accomodate our personal riding styles instead of adapting to the sleds and realizing the potential of the sled as is. Again, we could go further with that one but for the majority of people who fight their sleds all day long....there's no need for more steering, more power, less weight, more travel.....it's all a waste if you're still trying to figure your sled out to the point where you need to spend money to get it to do what you want. It should be the other way around. Get the sled to do what you want.......after the sled begs for mercy and you cannot will it to go any higher....then start modding.
We've become a bunch of whiners over the years. My sled won't handle like buddies sled will, he goes higher than i do, he's not as tired at the end of the day and I am........it goes on and on.
Notice the guys that make those highmarks we all try to beat.......they can jump on any sled and out mark anyone else on equivalent machinery? And to boot, they never compain about being able to get their sled to do what they want.......most of these boys are riding stock or close to stock sleds........No I'm not talking about the,"My dick is bigger than yours crowd" Look around at the quiet guys with the stock sleds making the marks your trying to follow.......it's not the sled, never has been.
Now not to toot my own horn because I get humbled countless times a year but I was highmarking a '05 Summit 800 151 with a friggin '98 Summit X. the 670 was bone stock with a 2" riser....the Summit had a can.......the guy couldn't stop complaining about his sled and the fact it was running like ****. So I hop on and proceed to out highmark myself(on the 670) by 100ft. WTF he says.....it boiled down to rider ability, as it normally does. I just shook my head and my group took off.
BTW-I was so frikkin sore after the day on that 670, definately makes you appreciate what we ride now. Standing on the seat, back bumper, hanging right over the handlebars.......brought back all those memories of trying to make something go that really doesn't want to. With that being said, my riding buddies didn't see my riding style change all that much other than the fact I was a monkey humping a football trying to wrestle the machine around all day.
Maybe because I weigh 225 without gear it's easier for me to handle sleds, but from my '10 Summit X to my brother's '10 M8 or my buddies '05 Vector....neither guy can put a mark on the hill or cut through the trees with the ease that I can. With that usually comes the highmark as well.
I don't know, not to pinpoint anyone or to tell anyone to get their crap together and learn to ride but.....I rode all 4 brands this winter and after a couple powder turns or a scouting run up the hill....and I was on the gas like I had been riding(whichever sled I was on) all year long. Again, I don't know, anything with less than 200hp I can pretty much ride without issues, unlike so many people on here that can't ride their bone stock sled to save their life.
Sorry for the rant, I'm watching the Indy 500 and can't understand why they get 15 "Push to Pass" hits whenever they like. 200rpm jump for 18 seconds.....15 different times....race the friggin car and the best man wins.....not who has the most "go button" hits left at the end of the race.
With that being said........good luck on getting the sled to do what you want it to.
I had a conversation with a Engineer from BRP this season and he asked why do we(mountain riders) change the sleds they design so much. When we sifted through all the mods and what they accomplish, we had stripped the arguement down to the fact that most mods are to accomodate our personal riding styles instead of adapting to the sleds and realizing the potential of the sled as is. Again, we could go further with that one but for the majority of people who fight their sleds all day long....there's no need for more steering, more power, less weight, more travel.....it's all a waste if you're still trying to figure your sled out to the point where you need to spend money to get it to do what you want. It should be the other way around. Get the sled to do what you want.......after the sled begs for mercy and you cannot will it to go any higher....then start modding.
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You make a few good points, and I agree with you on most of them..... but you kind of contradict yourself on a few things as well.
When I started this thread, I wasn't so much after some aftermarket part to cure things that I may be doing wrong; I was looking more for suggestions on anything that peeps commonly do wrong that can be corrected. Like many of us my riding has come a long ways over the years and a lot of credit goes to both those that I have been lucky enough to ride with and the many good tips and pointers I have picked up on this site along the way. And on that note, thanks to all who have posted info here!
Maybe one day more of us will be able to ride kinda sorta like Bret. :face-icon-small-sho
No, not contradicting. I refused to tone it down down the trail, or on the hill despite the fact I was on a 12 year old sled. And because of that I hurt. If I had twice the travel, smoother power, lighter throttle pull, less weight I know I wouldn't be as sore. Regardless of how I rode the newer sled.
And thanks for not taking it personal, wasn't intended to be, just a "flare up" about reading numerous threads with people flopping back and forth on brands and spending huge dollars only to flog them and buy/build something else just to do it over again. While not intended to stir the pot, I would like some people to simply try harder and try to learn everytime they are on a sled. Not make excuses to bolt stuff on that in the end make no difference because people refuse to adapt. I got this friend that just pisses me off.....anyways, again thanx for not taking offence. :beer;
And thanks for not taking it personal, wasn't intended to be, just a "flare up" about reading numerous threads with people flopping back and forth on brands and spending huge dollars only to flog them and buy/build something else just to do it over again. While not intended to stir the pot, I would like some people to simply try harder and try to learn everytime they are on a sled. Not make excuses to bolt stuff on that in the end make no difference because people refuse to adapt. I got this friend that just pisses me off.....anyways, again thanx for not taking offence.
:beer;
With that being said, in your powder turn coming from the left towards the camera, looks like your fighting the balance point of the sled instead of being comfortable on the balance point. Maybe the sled isn't far enough over, or you have a bit too much throttle. Can you carve nuts in the powder really slow? Getting tighter and tighter? How about running down the trail on one ski? Ever see how far you can make it?
I've found when I find that balance point and can move my body around the sled while keeping it balanced, I can do much more because I'm comfortable on the sled. Doesn't happen right away, but once you can master it, makes riding a whole lot easier. And most of the tips and tricks in "Schooled" are extremely hard without that balance. I bought and watched that vid with my brother and dad and we all loved it. Actually went to the shop afterwards and started jumping all over our sleds playing with balance and foot placement etc(What else can you do when it's 80deg out)
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J
anyone have a video of an xp doing some technical sidehilling or boondocking? never seen it done before.
T
This is the best comment so far!
TheguyX
6. - I have set my handle bars slopped back at almost the same angle as the steering post that it is attached to. I find that contrary to an M8 Sno Pro where I can stand fairly close to the front, I have to step farther back on the running boards for the 2009 Summit X, so I need to angle the Steering back far enough so that I can do that without having to lean forward.
Alot of guys have there bars tweeked forward, in front of the post. These guys obviously don't do drops , everytime I ride a guys sled set up like this the bars end up in the dash after doin a big jump or drop. set the bars straight up from the post, Not Ahead! and your weight stays back which makes it easier to carve. simple. might be hard for some to transition after having bars forward but work on it and doing quick manuovers and carving will come easier.
TheguyX
6. - I have set my handle bars slopped back at almost the same angle as the steering post that it is attached to. I find that contrary to an M8 Sno Pro where I can stand fairly close to the front, I have to step farther back on the running boards for the 2009 Summit X, so I need to angle the Steering back far enough so that I can do that without having to lean forward.
Alot of guys have there bars tweeked forward, in front of the post. These guys obviously don't do drops , everytime I ride a guys sled set up like this the bars end up in the dash after doin a big jump or drop. set the bars straight up from the post, Not Ahead! and your weight stays back which makes it easier to carve. simple. might be hard for some to transition after having bars forward but work on it and doing quick manuovers and carving will come easier.
P
If a 125lb girl can get it on its side, so can you!
This is about as tight as my turns get on my 2009 163 in about 4" of fresh... Yes, it's true it is harder to find that precious balance point on the XP... But once you get it into the deep stuff, OH MY!!!!! That's what I live for, so that's where I want my sled to perform.... The XP wants to stay flat on hard snow, but who cares about what it does on hard-pack??? If you want a picture of a sidehill, try tilting your camera :face-icon-small-hap
This is about as tight as my turns get on my 2009 163 in about 4" of fresh... Yes, it's true it is harder to find that precious balance point on the XP... But once you get it into the deep stuff, OH MY!!!!! That's what I live for, so that's where I want my sled to perform.... The XP wants to stay flat on hard snow, but who cares about what it does on hard-pack??? If you want a picture of a sidehill, try tilting your camera :face-icon-small-hap
Y
put down your purse
how about pull up your skirt, put your purse down and put on your big girl panties and ride.
Could not resist, these sleds carve through hot butter like a hotter knife.
Set up, set up, set up. Take a day and keep tweakin the suspension. I find each snow condition requires a change.
my 02 cents
how about pull up your skirt, put your purse down and put on your big girl panties and ride.
Could not resist, these sleds carve through hot butter like a hotter knife.
Set up, set up, set up. Take a day and keep tweakin the suspension. I find each snow condition requires a change.
my 02 cents
L
Hey the guy is only asking a question. Maybe you have had the seat time and have it down to a science, good for you:face-icon-small-win. From my own situation i have to drive 500 miles to see snow, so i for one love tips and ideas on how to SET UP my sled to make the most of a 3 day trip before the sled even hits the snow, i don't think the guy is asking how to ride in general just how to sidehill, having owned poo and doo at the same time i don't care what anyone says the doo takes a lot more SET UP time and having to find the finer points of the sled to make it perform than the poo.
Keep the ideas rolling, they are very helpful to many of us:face-icon-small-hap
Keep the ideas rolling, they are very helpful to many of us:face-icon-small-hap
S
Exactly, not all of us get to ride every weekend.
Some ought to keep that in mind.
S
If a 125lb girl can get it on its side, so can you!
This is about as tight as my turns get on my 2009 163 in about 4" of fresh... Yes, it's true it is harder to find that precious balance point on the XP... But once you get it into the deep stuff, OH MY!!!!! That's what I live for, so that's where I want my sled to perform.... The XP wants to stay flat on hard snow, but who cares about what it does on hard-pack??? If you want a picture of a sidehill, try tilting your camera :face-icon-small-hap
Do you park your sled when the snow gets hard or what????? :face-icon-small-con
I certainly care what it handles like in firm snow. Your pics are like powder compared to the snow conditions I'm talking about. I could whip circles until the cows come home in the snow conditions shown in your pics. Different story in the hard pack.
S
Hey Yammy !!! you need to come out here this winter. you can spend a day on my RT, I guarantee, once you climb off it, you'll be able to throw that XP around like it was a 250 Elan !!!!:face-icon-small-hap
Let's not forget that I used to ride an Apex. :hurt:
But other than that, just tell me when, Sledlvr.... We are always up for a road trip!
S
sorry about the dig
Sorry about the dig, I couldn't resist,
I'm in the process of rebuilding, apparently I need to lose 40-50 lbs before i do drops again, ......But next year for sure!!!!!
Sorry about the dig, I couldn't resist,
I'm in the process of rebuilding, apparently I need to lose 40-50 lbs before i do drops again, ......But next year for sure!!!!!
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