Ripsaw or Cobra

[garyl62]

I've been debating about replacing the stock (128") track on my f8 this season. Mine is missing a couple lugs, is studded which I'd like to get away from, and is only a 1" lug. I was planning to buy the Cobra 1 3/8". We only ride in the UP, mainly trails, but I wanted something that would let me feel a little more comfortable going off the trail on some fire roads or fields. Thing is I've found a used Ripsaw 1 1/4" for about $275 cheaper. It's off an 2011, its clean, not studded, not missing any lugs and the sled it's on has been stored inside all the time. It has around 4k miles on it.

So the question is this: Anyone have some advice on if you'd notice a difference between these two tracks for general UP riding? I'd love to save the cash, but even if its in great shape will I regret buying a ripsaw vs the cobra, or buying a track with that many miles on it?

 

[ezra]

the cobra is a better loose snow track but the rip will have better side bite for hard twisty ridding.
I have never been a big fan of the rip saw but anything is better than that pile of junk on your f8 . not knocking your sled just the junk cat put on it I know I had one.
4k on a track better be pretty cheep

 

[sweeperguy]

Is it a ripsaw that was 1.25 new, or is there 1 1/4 now. With 4k if it was 1.25 new it's probably like 3/4 now or less.

 

[garyl62]

the cobra is a better loose snow track but the rip will have better side bite for hard twisty ridding.
I have never been a big fan of the rip saw but anything is better than that pile of junk on your f8 . not knocking your sled just the junk cat put on it I know I had one.
4k on a track better be pretty cheep

Oh believe me, I know what I've got is junk so don't worry about stating the truth. I've had a Cobra when we did the track extension on my old ZL and we liked it a lot. You're saying the same things I've read and heard in the past so that's why I was planning on the cobra as I figured it was a better choice for the type of trails and conditions in the UP and a new one is $545 to my door. He's asking $250 for the ripsaw. Bottom line, will I notice $300 difference? The other question is what's a fair price? I've found almost new take offs for that before, but seems like now even junk and crap is getting $200.

Here's a photo


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Is it a ripsaw that was 1.25 new, or is there 1 1/4 now. With 4k if it was 1.25 new it's probably like 3/4 now or less.

It was 1 1/4 new, I haven't measured it now but you know what everyone says "only ridden on good snow in MI" but from the pic it doesn't look to have much wear.

 

[joks79]

Cobra would be my choice for a trail sled

 

[Hoosier]

My friend has a ripsaw on his 2014 zr800 and I just don't like the side bite on it - rather have a little give on the turns. I put a predator on mine last year, which is an older track but supposedly works similarly to but not as good as the cobra, and I like it a lot better.

I was also looking for a used track last year too as my budget for riding is tight but I found used tracks to be way overpriced. You just don't know what conditions they have been ridden in.

Another factor is all the labor - if you are putting all the time in, might as well get the track you want. I would get the cobra or something similar

 

[ac600sp]

Cobra would be a better track of the U.P. I've had both the ripsaw and cobra. Cobra is far a better track for loose snow! Ripsaw is a awesome hard pack trail track. I'd go cobra 1.3 or even a 1.5 or 1.6 if you ride mostly U.P. You can never have enough traction on the U.P. Trails

 

[pippy_b]

Cobra, cobra, cobra!

 

[Deleted member 10829]

I wouldn't buy a track with 4,000 miles on it (may not even take it for free), he's taking it off for a reason as he must have liked it to keep it that long. I guess the other consideration would be how long do you plan on keeping this sled?

 

[indy_500]

For the UP ripsaws are not a good track. Due to lake effect snow the trails are always sugary and sloppy, studs are about useless as the base is usually much deeper than say northern Wisconsin.

 

[ezra]

how about a new wrench in the works 136 kit from tracks usa. not like there is any snow to ride around your house any way right now. I thought about it a bit with my 07 .thought it could help with squirmy sea saw thing on the 07.

 

[jimmyj]

My brother just put a 1.6" Cobra on my 2014 renegade 800. Love it. It has a Ripsaw 1.25". Took it off trail in some drifts and such and it was awesome. Most of the riding I do is in the Keeweenaw.

 

[garyl62]

I wouldn't buy a track with 4,000 miles on it (may not even take it for free), he's taking it off for a reason as he must have liked it to keep it that long. I guess the other consideration would be how long do you plan on keeping this sled?

He's taking it off because he just bought the sled and he's putting an Ice Attak on it since he mainly runs hard pack and some rivers. As far as keeping the sled, I'm thinking this will be a sled I hang on to for a long time to come. In a year or two it will become a spare sled, but it's been paid for since day one and at this point I'd never get enough for it to make me want to get rid of it since I don't need the money out of it to get another one.

how about a new wrench in the works 136 kit from tracks usa. not like there is any snow to ride around your house any way right now. I thought about it a bit with my 07 .thought it could help with squirmy sea saw thing on the 07.

I've gone that route before, I guess with this sled I was planning to keep it pretty stock, plus if I add an extension kit I've got another $130 into it plus slides. But hey, now you've got me thinking again...

As far as snow, you're right about that, but I'm going up in 10 days, then back again 2 weeks after that so I don't want to get into a bigger project right now. I could always just get the parts and leave the sled with Chad though, would be nice to come back up there to an extended sled.

 

[ezra]

but u may have better luck finding a nice used 2.25 136 1 3/8 or 1.5 . a guy may just shoehorn one in with out a tunnel extension especially if u can get a rail ext with big wheel kit offset.

 

[polaris2]

the cobra is a better loose snow track but the rip will have better side bite for hard twisty ridding.
I have never been a big fan of the rip saw but anything is better than that pile of junk on your f8 . not knocking your sled just the junk cat put on it I know I had one.
4k on a track better be pretty cheep

Had ripsaw on last sled now have cobra. X2

 

[garyl62]

I ordered the Cobra this morning, stuck with the standard 128". Hope I'll get it on so I can use it a little on the Ride-In weekend. If not, I still have the 1.6" on the Crossfire so either way I'm good to go!

 

[Wyelde]

Any experience with the Ripsaw II? it looks quite different from the original, and it reputed to combine some of the qualities of the ripsaw and the Cobra.

 

[teamblue]

2 days late seeing this, I have 2 new 128 Ripsaws in the garage, I would of sold you. IMO Cobra's are junk. they are to soft and the lugs rip easy.

 

[garyl62]

2 days late seeing this, I have 2 new 128 Ripsaws in the garage, I would of sold you. IMO Cobra's are junk. they are to soft and the lugs rip easy.

Thanks Brad, but I like the cobra from my past experience. I don't ride on hard trails often and even though I didn't ride 1,000's of miles on the one I had, I never tore a lug. If I was riding around us, or in N WI on a lot of twisty trails I'd think about the ripsaw. Too bad it's not a quick change out, or I'd think about getting one from you to put on for a weekend if I'd be riding N WI.

 

[journeyman]

I have been debating this myself but it is to get rid of the Ripsaw 136 on my 2007 Yamaha Attak. I too ride the UP every year and that is where the bulk of my miles get put on for me. I was planning on a Cobra and some of my ride partners use them on 136 Attak machines. I have run the 121 Cobra for several thousands of miles on my old 2 stroke Viper in the past. Here is what I have found....on my Viper I put about 5000+ miles on it with a Predator, then I ran a Cobra, sold that. Then I tried a IceRipper, I hated that, nothing but a Ripsaw with little picks in it. Then went back to the Cobra again before I sold the machine just short of 10,000 miles on it. The Cobra really hooked up well especially in the UP of Michigan. The one thing was it scrubbed top end immensely. It also was a bit testy in the corners where it would bite and cause some body roll. All in all I still thought the Predator was the best track on that machine. Last year I picked up a clean used 2007 Attak from Pat's in Greenland....all stock. Love the sled but the track is so so at best. The Ripsaw is a hardpack track and the UP snow is too sugary to get a good grip. I was planning on going with a Cobra but I talked with the guys at Port Yamaha and they said they got rid of all theirs and had plenty of issues with torn lugs etc. They really like the Ripsaw II. It is a combination of a Ripsaw, a Predator and a Cobra in one track. Decent for a little off trail (unlike the Ripsaw) but also good on hardpack and corning. Yesterday I ordered one and am having Pat's put it on when I get up there.