Who's actually rode the new Skinz front end? I'm on the fence about spending another $1000 on a front end. Does it really make that much of a difference? I'm a bigger guy about 230 LBS geared and am used too throwing sleds around to get them to do what i want. I guess i am just wanting opinions on the new front end from people that have actually rode it. Or is there a better place to spend $1000? I've got a turbo already just looking for suggestions.
Nytro Skinz front end!!!
- Thread starter mountain man
- Start date
I spent a whole day on it.
Let me go find you the thread I posted on that.
Take a look at these two threads on it.
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=263165
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=271737
And then this one that I wrote up.
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267561
I ordered the new suspension the afternoon that I rode it.
My box is sitting downstairs unopened from Skinz.
Just as soon as I get this MPI Supercharger installation done, the next project will be installing the new SPG Front end.
The riding difference really was rather striking.
I honestly can't wait for this next season.
I expect a WHOLE NEW SLED on the mountain with this summer's changes!
Let me go find you the thread I posted on that.
Take a look at these two threads on it.
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=263165
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=271737
And then this one that I wrote up.
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267561
I ordered the new suspension the afternoon that I rode it.
My box is sitting downstairs unopened from Skinz.
Just as soon as I get this MPI Supercharger installation done, the next project will be installing the new SPG Front end.
The riding difference really was rather striking.
I honestly can't wait for this next season.
I expect a WHOLE NEW SLED on the mountain with this summer's changes!
Last edited:
T
TRUEBLUEMAX
Well-known member
If you watch the you tube video that skinz made about it you can see the difference between before and after. I have not ridden the front end but I know that the issues they had in the video with riding this thing before the front end were the exact same issues that I have. I was blown away at the stuff they were doing with the new front end on there. I liked also how they had a Pro Rmk that they were doing the same stuff with and the Nytro seemed to do just fine going the same places.
I have my front end and can't wait to get on the snow and see how it goes.
I have my front end and can't wait to get on the snow and see how it goes.
C
Cookn
New member
I watched the video as well, one comment made i remember is that the front end can be set up to not work well, and I believe they were talking how it is set up in conjunction with the rear skid.
Two questions I have are;
For those running a different rear skid than timbersled or kmod, will this front end still work well?
Has any testing been done on a nytro with a 174 skid.
Thanks
Two questions I have are;
For those running a different rear skid than timbersled or kmod, will this front end still work well?
Has any testing been done on a nytro with a 174 skid.
Thanks
Cookn
I'm gonna test that theory. I am skipping over the Nytro Pro Mountian Air (Yamaha) in my 2011 MTX in favor of testing both a timbersled and arctic cat M skid this winter with the skinz front end. I am pretty sure TrueblueMax is already running the AC skid in his nytro, so you're going to get feedback on these setups. Unfortunately, my feedback won't be until November/December when mine hits the snow but I am pretty sure the guys out west will probably chime in earlier.
My opinion is that although the skid matters, the Nytro front end had issues right out of the box that no skid could fix ...simply the wrong geometry to work well, especially in powder. I know the skinz front end has been tested with coupled (Holz and Timbersled) skids and the uncoupled Yami Pro Air so its NOT that sensitive to rear suspension design. I am willing to bet it will work equally well with the AC M rear suspensions and probably every other one on the market.
By December, every combo will have been tested and the results will be in.........but I'll bet its a winner.
OTM
I'm gonna test that theory. I am skipping over the Nytro Pro Mountian Air (Yamaha) in my 2011 MTX in favor of testing both a timbersled and arctic cat M skid this winter with the skinz front end. I am pretty sure TrueblueMax is already running the AC skid in his nytro, so you're going to get feedback on these setups. Unfortunately, my feedback won't be until November/December when mine hits the snow but I am pretty sure the guys out west will probably chime in earlier.
My opinion is that although the skid matters, the Nytro front end had issues right out of the box that no skid could fix ...simply the wrong geometry to work well, especially in powder. I know the skinz front end has been tested with coupled (Holz and Timbersled) skids and the uncoupled Yami Pro Air so its NOT that sensitive to rear suspension design. I am willing to bet it will work equally well with the AC M rear suspensions and probably every other one on the market.
By December, every combo will have been tested and the results will be in.........but I'll bet its a winner.
OTM
T
TRUEBLUEMAX
Well-known member
First off I really don't think you are going to be that interested in this front end if you are running a 174. People running the 174 I think are mainly looking to climb more than really boondock. I think those people are looking for something more like a Zbroz setup that is wide and gives you a lot more stability.
Mike I was just talking with Scmurs about that tonight how it will be interesting to ride together and see the difference between our sleds. They will be set up almost exactly the same other that his having a Tsled and mine the AC skid. I am very interested to see how this front end works. I know the improvement going to the AC skid was huge so I am stoked to run this front end.
I think this year has got to be one of the most anticipated from a lot of people. I know a lot of people got boost this summer from MPI, MCX and others and a lot of people are excited to see what this front end really does. Isn't it amazing how much buzz this front end has created and there are only a handful of people that have actually ridden the thing.
Mike I was just talking with Scmurs about that tonight how it will be interesting to ride together and see the difference between our sleds. They will be set up almost exactly the same other that his having a Tsled and mine the AC skid. I am very interested to see how this front end works. I know the improvement going to the AC skid was huge so I am stoked to run this front end.
I think this year has got to be one of the most anticipated from a lot of people. I know a lot of people got boost this summer from MPI, MCX and others and a lot of people are excited to see what this front end really does. Isn't it amazing how much buzz this front end has created and there are only a handful of people that have actually ridden the thing.
And it will be a little more than 1000 bucks unless you have shocks with the rotating end?(sorry, don't remember the technical name) but for another 3-400 you can get your shocks regraded to fit with the a arms. Witht he stocks they sell you are looking at about 2Gs.
That being said, I will be spending at least the $1400 for the front end, I just bought a nytro, but the few minutes (literally) that i spent on them I noticed the poor handling characteristics.
That being said, I will be spending at least the $1400 for the front end, I just bought a nytro, but the few minutes (literally) that i spent on them I noticed the poor handling characteristics.
This new front end, while not cheap, will give you a whole new Nytro when it comes to handling.
C
Cookn
New member
Truebluemax,
I am interested in the front end despite running a 174, which I do plan to spend a great amount of time boondocking on, thus why i am interested in the set up. I have currently purchased narrower a-arms from cr so i will see how they work with the cr rear skid. Also running a impulse turbo which has the fuel tank moved further back over the skid which should move the c of g further back. I am also coming off a xp so i already feel quite comfortable on the stock nytro. Guess I'm just used to the poor handling characteristics.
Skinz Front Suspension w/174 Skid
My new build is Skinz Front Suspension with R Evol Shocks & a 174 EZRyde - going 174 x 15 x 2.5 for flotation /traction (by my math it should have the same footprint as a 162 x 16) hoping the Skinz front end will make side hilling / Boondocking smoother & more predictable & a couple pounds lighter. The DVD was a pretty convincing sell.
Interested to hear any other 174 / Skinz ride reviews /opinions -
My new build is Skinz Front Suspension with R Evol Shocks & a 174 EZRyde - going 174 x 15 x 2.5 for flotation /traction (by my math it should have the same footprint as a 162 x 16) hoping the Skinz front end will make side hilling / Boondocking smoother & more predictable & a couple pounds lighter. The DVD was a pretty convincing sell.
Interested to hear any other 174 / Skinz ride reviews /opinions -
M
MTdream
Well-known member
My new build is Skinz Front Suspension with R Evol Shocks & a 174 EZRyde - going 174 x 15 x 2.5 for flotation /traction (by my math it should have the same footprint as a 162 x 16) hoping the Skinz front end will make side hilling / Boondocking smoother & more predictable & a couple pounds lighter. The DVD was a pretty convincing sell.
Interested to hear any other 174 / Skinz ride reviews /opinions -
no one to my knowledge has had the skinz new front end on a sled with 174....
However, having ridden a 174 track on my nytro for the last two years...I can tell you, anything is an improvement...and having ridden the new skinz front end, it will help every length sled...it is purely a geometry issue...not a track issue...
the geometry/balance/weight distribution is horrid on these sleds...and this front end solves that...or at the very least dramatically improves it!!!
Wish we could get Dan Adams of Next Level Clinics to jump in on this.
I am sure he could offer some significant insight into what he thought of how it rode.
I am sure he could offer some significant insight into what he thought of how it rode.
M
MTdream
Well-known member
Lots of threads about this but those with seat time, are less than 15 people...including the Skinz family (which is 5)
Most of the pics taken of it in action were taken by me....
The boys from Oft racing have ridden on it....
Dan Adams
Few guys in Alaska (some guy who jumps a little
)Some guy with a website for sledding (Christopher)
And a very small group of others...
Give it TWO more months and the end user reports will start rolling in big time!
Re-posting this from a previous thread:
Here's my ride impressions of the new SPG front end:
While it may be hard to quantify and describe a "feel" that you have when you're riding a sled, I'll do my best to give you my impressions. I was asked to test this front end and had a set of arms put on my 2010 162" Nytro MTX. I honestly did not have a lot of complaints about my sled to start with. Yes, it feels heavy at times and it did not always do what I wanted it to do, but I liked the sled. It has no boost, the only performance upgrade to this point was to put a 2.5" Challenger underneath it. That, and a relocator of course
We went out to the Beartooth's Northwest of Cody Wyoming in January for my first ride on the new front end. It is about a 12 mile trail ride up to a warming house at "Top of the World" from where you have to park the hauler. I hopped on the sled not having a clue what to expect. I had looked at the radical change in geometry and thought in my head that it was going to be squirrelly on the trail with all of the positive caster that was designed into the new front end geometry. I started out gingerly and progressed from there. The sled handled extremely well. It soaked up small moguls and stutter bumps like they weren't even there. I looked down at one point as I came out of a long, left hand sweeping corner and saw the dreamometer at 73 m.p.h. Keep in mind, this is a 162", 2.5" track, no sway bar mountain sled. I'm getting a really good feeling at this point.
We arrived at the warming hut and went out in to the back country from there. We found some open areas and I spent a lot of time doing gentle side to side rolls on the sled to get some more feedback from it. What I felt was a sled that was easier to get started in a roll, and when you were working the "zen" of the track, brain and thumb, it was way more predictable in the roll, throttle, and body english needed to do what I wanted it to do. We climbed up through the trees in to a higher, more challenging area that was completely untracked. I took the sled through some side hills and downhill powder turns and it reacted with significantly less effort, a lot faster and much more predictably than it had with the OEM front end. Have you ever been in that spot where you have one chance to do it right and get out of the situation that you were in without doing some serious damage? I found myself in one situation stopped, pointed down hill, way off camber and looking at open water. Ever had the feeling you're about to go downhill and sideways/forwards over the bars? I easily flicked the thing over, gave it some happy handle and it responded by turning on a dime, and doing exactly what I wanted it to do. This sled gave me way more confidence than I had before. After that, I went out looking for more of those "sticky" spots to get myself into and was pleasantly surprised each time by how well the sled responded to my input. Tight tree riding, open meadows, long sidehills, whatever I found , this front end flat out gave me more confidence with what I was doing with the sled in every situation that I put it in.
The rest of the trip just got better from there.
Scott
Here's my ride impressions of the new SPG front end:
While it may be hard to quantify and describe a "feel" that you have when you're riding a sled, I'll do my best to give you my impressions. I was asked to test this front end and had a set of arms put on my 2010 162" Nytro MTX. I honestly did not have a lot of complaints about my sled to start with. Yes, it feels heavy at times and it did not always do what I wanted it to do, but I liked the sled. It has no boost, the only performance upgrade to this point was to put a 2.5" Challenger underneath it. That, and a relocator of course
We went out to the Beartooth's Northwest of Cody Wyoming in January for my first ride on the new front end. It is about a 12 mile trail ride up to a warming house at "Top of the World" from where you have to park the hauler. I hopped on the sled not having a clue what to expect. I had looked at the radical change in geometry and thought in my head that it was going to be squirrelly on the trail with all of the positive caster that was designed into the new front end geometry. I started out gingerly and progressed from there. The sled handled extremely well. It soaked up small moguls and stutter bumps like they weren't even there. I looked down at one point as I came out of a long, left hand sweeping corner and saw the dreamometer at 73 m.p.h. Keep in mind, this is a 162", 2.5" track, no sway bar mountain sled. I'm getting a really good feeling at this point.
We arrived at the warming hut and went out in to the back country from there. We found some open areas and I spent a lot of time doing gentle side to side rolls on the sled to get some more feedback from it. What I felt was a sled that was easier to get started in a roll, and when you were working the "zen" of the track, brain and thumb, it was way more predictable in the roll, throttle, and body english needed to do what I wanted it to do. We climbed up through the trees in to a higher, more challenging area that was completely untracked. I took the sled through some side hills and downhill powder turns and it reacted with significantly less effort, a lot faster and much more predictably than it had with the OEM front end. Have you ever been in that spot where you have one chance to do it right and get out of the situation that you were in without doing some serious damage? I found myself in one situation stopped, pointed down hill, way off camber and looking at open water. Ever had the feeling you're about to go downhill and sideways/forwards over the bars? I easily flicked the thing over, gave it some happy handle and it responded by turning on a dime, and doing exactly what I wanted it to do. This sled gave me way more confidence than I had before. After that, I went out looking for more of those "sticky" spots to get myself into and was pleasantly surprised each time by how well the sled responded to my input. Tight tree riding, open meadows, long sidehills, whatever I found , this front end flat out gave me more confidence with what I was doing with the sled in every situation that I put it in.
The rest of the trip just got better from there.
Scott
B
b_sandgren
Active member
Well I placed my order last night with OFT. I hope that they are not TOO far behind on shipment dates.
I will be running this front end with my Float 2's (aftermarket set that already had the spherical bearing), Impulse turbo kit and KMOD Gen 2 that I installed last year. Sled runs like a raped ape, just looking for a little better handling.
Christopher, hurry up and get that super charger installed. You need to show me how to install this Skinz front end! Great install thread that you have going on by the way.
I will be running this front end with my Float 2's (aftermarket set that already had the spherical bearing), Impulse turbo kit and KMOD Gen 2 that I installed last year. Sled runs like a raped ape, just looking for a little better handling.
Christopher, hurry up and get that super charger installed. You need to show me how to install this Skinz front end! Great install thread that you have going on by the way.
S
SylvanLaker
Well-known member
Would totally love to buy a set or even keep stock at the shop but A $1000 / set will keep a lot of people away.
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