JDS

I use my grab bar all the time as well.

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JD
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2008 Polaris RMK 600-155"
2001 Arctic Cat ZR500
2003 Polaris Trail RMK 550F(wife's)

rgoers

Not *THAT* one... We were talking about the one on the handlebars.

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2004 Polaris Trail RMK 136
1997 Ski Doo Summit 500
2000 Arctic Cat ZL550 ESR (in NY)
2000 Arctic Cat 440 Panther (sold)
1980 Arctic Cat Jag 3000 F/C (in NY)

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and find out why!"

willdeh2

Good one, haha.

So now that I've got my clutch stuff and jetting figured out, I'm thinking about my suspension. Can someone explain a two wheel kit? Is it worth it for sidehilling? And do I have to buy something or can I just remove the outer wheels?

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1998 ZR 600 136" track
1989 Phazer (in pieces)

BC_Dan

If you remove the outer wheels and bearings, you will need to have spacers to take the place of the wheels.

The outer wheels help keep the track flat. With the outer wheels removed, the track can bend easier which makes sidehilling easier. However, if you only have two wheels and a wheel or bearing fails, it's not a good thing! That's pretty rare, but does happen. For one trip to the mountains, I wouldn't worry about it. The extra advantage the 2-wheel kit would give you with your experience level at sidehilling and with a ZR would be pretty small. There's a lot of technique involved, as well as skis, ski width, track depth and length that are a lot more important than the extra wheels on the track. Your sled won't be easy to tip, that's not what it was designed to do. ZR's are for cornering insanely fast and staying flat, flat, flat in the corners. They have a low center of gravity and you can change some things to make it better, but it still won't be a mountain sled. Mountain sleds are absolutely the opposite; they corner like a Freightliner but tip easily into the hill because they have a high center of gravity.

I guess my point is, set the sled up so it runs well in the elevation and temperature and go out and have a blast!

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2007 Dragon RMK 700 155", 2008 RMK 600 155", 2006 RMK 600 144", 95 Prowler 550 2-up, 1990 Indy 650, Really OLD AC Cheetah

http://www.avalanche.org/accidents.php

willdeh2

Thanks for the explanation Dan. Well I'm glad you steered me away from it, that'd just be more money I have to spend! I know the ZR isn't intended for carving and such maneuvers, but is it still possible? The thing is somewhere around 47 inches wide! Anyway, should I expect to get up hills with no problem or am I just going to slide down if I can't carve very well? Well either way I'm still going, and I'll probably just have to find out the hard way!

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1998 ZR 600 136" track
1989 Phazer (in pieces)

kccats

You will be amazed!

rgoers

You'll have a great time. Just don't bite off more than you can chew, and make sure you go with someone else (another sled)!!! You do not want to get stuck out in the wilderness overnight. make sure you prepare SOME sort of an emergency kit - shovel, water, food, fire-starter, survival blankets, small saw, rope, etc... Don't expect your phone to get a signal. If it does, great, but don't rely on having a connection. Make other provisions (GPS, SPOT unit, avalanche transponder).

You will NOT be able to go straight up most stuff the people with the long tracks can. You'll be able to carve okay with your ZR, if you can get your head around steering the opposite way of where you want it to turn. It's definitely counter-intuitive, and you may need more muscle to do it, but I think you'll be able to.

__________________
2004 Polaris Trail RMK 136
1997 Ski Doo Summit 500
2000 Arctic Cat ZL550 ESR (in NY)
2000 Arctic Cat 440 Panther (sold)
1980 Arctic Cat Jag 3000 F/C (in NY)

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and find out why!"

BC_Dan

In the right snow, my ZR580 with a 1"x 121" track went up and down mountains like a mountain goat. If it was fluffy powder, I was hard pressed to make the low mark.

__________________
2007 Dragon RMK 700 155", 2008 RMK 600 155", 2006 RMK 600 144", 95 Prowler 550 2-up, 1990 Indy 650, Really OLD AC Cheetah

http://www.avalanche.org/accidents.php

kccats

So the next question is 'WHEN'? Do you have a Guide? Where are you planning on going?

willdeh2

Thanks for the encouraging words guys! Sounds like I'll be alright. And yes I'm going with at least two other friends with bigger and more capable sleds, no guide.

We are going sometime in late February, assuming there is still snow then. I think we are going to stay in Vail with some people we know and then ride out of the Vail Recreation Area, sounds like there are trails that cover a good amount of area, and then we can get off trail when we find a good spot. Is anyone familiar with that area?

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1998 ZR 600 136" track
1989 Phazer (in pieces)

JDS

Take it easy the first day. Altitude sickness can get you at that altitude. Vail's base is over 8, 000. I've never snowmobiled there, but I have skied there a long time ago. You will definitely have snow there in February.

__________________
JD
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2008 Polaris RMK 600-155"
2001 Arctic Cat ZR500
2003 Polaris Trail RMK 550F(wife's)

BC_Dan

And March, and April, and May

__________________
2007 Dragon RMK 700 155", 2008 RMK 600 155", 2006 RMK 600 144", 95 Prowler 550 2-up, 1990 Indy 650, Really OLD AC Cheetah

http://www.avalanche.org/accidents.php