Looking at the 2012 trail sled lineups seems that the traditional 121 track sled will soon be extinct. The new 121 is 128 & 136 is moving to 144ish. It took me awhile to embrace the 144 tipped but seems like the best of both worlds now. I bought a 136 in 2008 & will never go back to 121 but looks like the OEMs won't offer anything in 121 unless it is hard core bump sled. I won't miss the 121 will you?
Will The 121 Track Sled Be Extinct?
- Thread starter whitedust
- Start date
Firecatguy
New member
nope...good riddens........I remeber when the 136 started showing up and everyone complained that they are wrecking the trails......121 are things of the past....
Yamaha jumped to 144 tipped quickly with XTX & I had I hard time accepting that much track for trail riding. Now I think is 128 really enough? ... then compromise to 144 tipped as best all around trail track. 136 pretty much gone too. 121& 136 has gone south sooooo quickly as of new line ups!!
srt20
Active member
I understand that alot of the riders on here prefer longer tracked sleds. However I am not one of them. There is not a 136" or longer skid on the market that can handle on rails like a 121" I am not a off trail rider and never will be. Its just not my thing. But I guess if they do away with the 121" I will have to adapt. I have a 2010 136" Polaris in the stables now, but its strictly a back-up sled and will probably sell it and get another 121".
How long has 121" been the standard length track? Seems like the tracks should have been stretched once the longer-travel suspension came out in the 90's or whenever they did to maintain the same amount of track on the ground.
I've had this discussion many times. I'm tempted to go with a longer track, but I ride quite a bit in the tight trails in Northern Wisconsin and it seems that it would be more difficult to ride some of those trails with a longer track. I can't seem to find anyone with a longer track who misses the short-track though.
I've had this discussion many times. I'm tempted to go with a longer track, but I ride quite a bit in the tight trails in Northern Wisconsin and it seems that it would be more difficult to ride some of those trails with a longer track. I can't seem to find anyone with a longer track who misses the short-track though.
To me 121 will be around in 600ish 120 - 130ish hp 2s severe bump sleds all others moving up for a lot of good handling trail riding & high HP reasons. 128 is more of the norm now not 121 & if 2s bump sleds go to 128 then 121 will be dead. Most riders that like racing twistys sooner or later tire during the day & kick back to enjoy the ride & look for less bumpy line thru the trails. They will enjoy 128 a lot more & probably won't notice the longer track & 121 will be a dim memory.
polarisrider1
New member
Bingo!!! I will run a 151 or 155 down the trail all day long, but why. Loved my 144 edge switchback for everything.
Could you even tell the difference between a 121 and a 128? What is that, 3 extra inches on the ground?
Did you ever take the switchback out West (Togwotee, etc.)? If so, did you put a bigger paddle on it? Just wondering what your opinion is of the switchback for riding out there.
indy_500
Well-known member
he ran 2" track on that
indy_500
Well-known member
indy_500
Well-known member
Wanna take a guess who was the first to run 144" with tipped rails??? It wasn't Yamaha...
I like this thread
Firecatguy
New member
oh poo vs yamaha again.......oh wait i thought the thread was about track length?
I think Indy has an auto-message set up when someone posts about Cat or Yamaha.
Wanna take a guess who was the first to run 144" with tipped rails??? It wasn't Yamaha...
I like this thread
Why did Polaris go away from it? Seemed like it was popular before they shortened it.
the 121 will NEVER go away completely. DUH! thats like saying no more elc.start opt. or only tall windshield .
michaeladams
New member
you know what they say, guys with long tracks have little......trouble in the deep snow.
Better look again.... only 5-7 models per 2012 OEMs has 121 track. The rest of the 2012 lineups which is in the majority by far are 128 or greater. It is not a brand thing it is happening with all the brands. Still think 121 is going away & will only be available on ultra bump sleds in the future.
indy_500
Well-known member
Polaris has 8, Cat has 13, and Doo has 6. 121 isn't going anywhere. The reason Yamaha is going away from 121 is because their suspensions are so bad, they need something longer to bridge the bumps. Sad but true. The choices are more limited nowadays anyways as far as engine sizes go, that it makes less and less 121's. Cat will have a few more 121's sometime soon with their 600 DI. No, the 600 2-smoke from Cat is NOT going anywhere either, they just couldn't include a 600 2-smoker to pass the 2012 EPA regulations. That will put them over 15 easily.
polarisrider1
New member
That sled went to Tog. 3 times. I put a 144x15x2 challenger track on it then rejetted. Left clutching alone. Worked great up til 13,500 feet then it slowed a bit. I do miss that sled, a fellow JD'er bought it from me.