Aftermarket Skis

[garyl62]

At the risk of starting a "brand bashing" thread, I'm looking for some advice on new skis for my 07 f8. I'm mainly on the trail and I'm running the stock skis now. I've got bergstrom triples with shims on them and have a stock track with 102 studs. I get some pushing through the turns so I'm mainly looking for something to tighten that up. It's not bad, but reading some other threads and other sites it seems like a lot of people complain about Cat skis and say there is a night and day difference when you go to something else. Also, I'm considering next season buying a new Cobra 1 3/8" track and will not stud that so take that into consideration in your reply if you want. Interested in what everyone would suggest and why.

 

[mikes99ss]

Have you tried shortening the limiter strap one hole. I bet that would take care of your push in the corners and......Its FREE!!

 

[ac600sp]

I run the slydog powder hound ski, 8". No more darting when trail riding. I have friends that run the 7" version which is the trail ski and they like them!

 

[indy_500]

Usually I'd say the pushing in corners is all in suspension setup but I'd have to agree with you that cat skis really do suck. They have been lacking in that department for quite awhile now. I've liked all the C&A's I've had (XTX & RZR), they dig, and I mean dig hard in the corners. They do steer harder than almost any other ski on the market. Before dropping the coin, you can try tightening your limiter straps and cranking up front shock spring preload. Not to pick on you but I know your not a light guy (neither am I), are you running stock torsion springs in the rear? Your springs are probably not doing their job, too much weight on the rear of the sled takes it all off the front therefore it would push through corners without enough weight on the front.

 

[Uncle Vito]

Have you tried shortening the limiter strap one hole. I bet that would take care of your push in the corners and......Its FREE!!

Usually the limiter strap only has an effect on take off/acceleration. Increasing front shock spring pressure (front shock in skid) will decrease ski pressure while decreasing spring pressure will increase ski pressure.

Start with the spring before tinkering with the limiter strap.

With that being said, I'm running C & A Pro TRX's on a Doo and really like them so far........

 

[Hoosier]

We have a couple kittys in our group - none have issues with pushing. One darts, but that's with stock carbides still. I'd assume it's in the set-up. I'd call Bergstrom. They've been helpful for me with issues before.

 

[garyl62]

Thanks, I'll see what kind of adjustments I can make from the current set-up. Not looking to spend $ I don't have to, so we'll see. Everything on the sled is stock, and I've got almost 4k miles on it so not terrible, but maybe time to do a little tweaking and adjusting.

 

[Woodtic]

Sounds like you need to slow down Ricky. I have a 700 Snow Pro I bought new in 06. Aprox 8k on it and corners great. Ski's are original. Sounds like a set up problem. Proper set up is your friend. You have one of the best trail sleds made. No need to throw after market at it.

 

[garyl62]

We have a couple kittys in our group - none have issues with pushing. One darts, but that's with stock carbides still. I'd assume it's in the set-up. I'd call Bergstrom. They've been helpful for me with issues before.

Don't have any darting issues, I stopped into Bergstrom yesterday to see Scott (picked up a set of triple points for the Crossfire) and we talked about it for a while. He said the same thing about being in the set up.

Usually I'd say the pushing in corners is all in suspension setup but I'd have to agree with you that cat skis really do suck. They have been lacking in that department for quite awhile now. I've liked all the C&A's I've had (XTX & RZR), they dig, and I mean dig hard in the corners. They do steer harder than almost any other ski on the market. Before dropping the coin, you can try tightening your limiter straps and cranking up front shock spring preload. Not to pick on you but I know your not a light guy (neither am I), are you running stock torsion springs in the rear? Your springs are probably not doing their job, too much weight on the rear of the sled takes it all off the front therefore it would push through corners without enough weight on the front.

Hey there now... I was the skinny guy a few years back on the "Did you get fat...." thread! To bad Lenny didn't start another one cause it's time to knock a few pounds off again. Seriously, I'm sure my weight has something to do with it too. I didn't notice it last season, but when I was up a month ago that's when it started being an issue. Was even getting some ski lift at times. I'm on the diet wagon again, and I'll adjust some of the set up so hopefully those two things will give me some positive results.

 

[groomerdriver]

Increasing front shock spring pressure (front shock in skid) will decrease ski pressure while decreasing spring pressure will increase ski pressure.

I thought it was the other way around? Oppps.......you're talking about the front TRACK/SKID shock. My bad....sorry!

 

[G]

Anybody still use Curve skis or the equivalent?

 

[garyl62]

Well I thought I'd just do some adjusting and eventually I'd be able hit on the right set-up, but I just kept reading about all the frustration people had with the stock skis and it seems everyone said once they got something else it was great. With only riding in the UP 3-5 times a year, and not having a shop to work out of for adjustments I really didn't want to take a lot of time tweaking things in the hope of getting it right. So I decided to make the jump and get some new skis to go with the new track I just ordered.

If all goes as planned I'll be sporting a new Cobra track pushing new SLP SLT skis running on Bergstrom Triple Points come Ride-In weekend! I'm dumping a chunk of change into this so I really have high expectations for the results and with Chad doing the set-up for me when I'm up there I know it will be as good as it can get. Hopefully you'll see me running down the trail on that black and orange f8 with a big smile on my face.

 

[garyl62]

What a difference these skis made! I kept thinking about so many threads I had read where people talked about how they couldn't believe the difference and why they hadn't made the switch away from stock skis sooner. Almost every turn I took this weekend I felt the same way. The new skis, combined with the new Cobra track made this ride so much better. The acceleration was so much better at all speeds and the straight line tracking as well as the true turning without any push in the corners made riding effortless. Not only did Chad get these things put on, but he also changed out spindles, tie rods, upper and lower A-arms and springs on both sides in a day for me. I put new all black parts (dumped that old grey stuff) on the front of the sled and now it looks as good as it rides! Had to believe from the colors and graphics this is an 07 f8.

 

[groomerdriver]

What a difference these skis made! I kept thinking about so many threads I had read where people talked about how they couldn't believe the difference and why they hadn't made the switch away from stock skis sooner. Almost every turn I took this weekend I felt the same way. The new skis, combined with the new Cobra track made this ride so much better. The acceleration was so much better at all speeds and the straight line tracking as well as the true turning without any push in the corners made riding effortless. Not only did Chad get these things put on, but he also changed out spindles, tie rods, upper and lower A-arms and springs on both sides in a day for me. I put new all black parts (dumped that old grey stuff) on the front of the sled and now it looks as good as it rides! Had to believe from the colors and graphics this is an 07 f8.

View attachment 50388

Glad to hear it worked for you Gary! Chad is awesome isn't he? There's something in those McIntyre genes that says "we take care of our customers!"

 

[Hoosier]

What a difference these skis made! I kept thinking about so many threads I had read where people talked about how they couldn't believe the difference and why they hadn't made the switch away from stock skis sooner. Almost every turn I took this weekend I felt the same way. The new skis, combined with the new Cobra track made this ride so much better. The acceleration was so much better at all speeds and the straight line tracking as well as the true turning without any push in the corners made riding effortless. Not only did Chad get these things put on, but he also changed out spindles, tie rods, upper and lower A-arms and springs on both sides in a day for me. I put new all black parts (dumped that old grey stuff) on the front of the sled and now it looks as good as it rides! Had to believe from the colors and graphics this is an 07 f8.

View attachment 50388

What did you use for carbides with these skis?

 

[Hoosier]

What a difference these skis made! I kept thinking about so many threads I had read where people talked about how they couldn't believe the difference and why they hadn't made the switch away from stock skis sooner. Almost every turn I took this weekend I felt the same way. The new skis, combined with the new Cobra track made this ride so much better. The acceleration was so much better at all speeds and the straight line tracking as well as the true turning without any push in the corners made riding effortless. Not only did Chad get these things put on, but he also changed out spindles, tie rods, upper and lower A-arms and springs on both sides in a day for me. I put new all black parts (dumped that old grey stuff) on the front of the sled and now it looks as good as it rides! Had to believe from the colors and graphics this is an 07 f8.

View attachment 50388

What did you use for carbides with these skis?

 

[garyl62]

What did you use for carbides with these skis?

Bergstrom Triple Points, I've had them on everything and I've always thought they've been great.

 

[Hoosier]

Bergstrom Triple Points, I've had them on everything and I've always thought they've been great.

I have them on my Fusion also now for about 6,000 miles. Incredible how they don't wear. With the aftermarket skis, did you still shim them and use the ski savers too?

 

[ezra]

did u do any motor work on that thing yet Garyl62? it is amazing how much they left on the table with that motor . I sold my 07f8 to a guy I know and I never really liked the 07 it was ok but they made a bunch of changes to fr suspension geometry for a reason. I have been on the 09 and 11 and they are a diff sled. that said I was impressed what a set of Mohawks did for his/my old 07 was wishing I would have spent the cash when I had it .

 

[garyl62]

I have them on my Fusion also now for about 6,000 miles. Incredible how they don't wear. With the aftermarket skis, did you still shim them and use the ski savers too?

I put the savers on, and I know this sounds stupid, but I don't know about the shims. Chad swapped the track, a-arms, spindles and put the skis on. I forgot to ask him.

did u do any motor work on that thing yet Garyl62? it is amazing how much they left on the table with that motor . I sold my 07f8 to a guy I know and I never really liked the 07 it was ok but they made a bunch of changes to fr suspension geometry for a reason. I have been on the 09 and 11 and they are a diff sled. that said I was impressed what a set of Mohawks did for his/my old 07 was wishing I would have spent the cash when I had it .

I haven't done any work to it. Got any suggestions of where you'd start? As far as moving to something newer, I've thought of looking for another one, but with all the cash I just put into this one I figure I've got at least another year or two with it. Then I'll probably jump to something new. We'll see