155 vs 163

[maxwell]

I like the idea of a 155 better but if ever I want to put on Neil's low boost turbo kit from Boost-it then I know I need the 163...That's why I'm torn.

Well if you buy a kit from Neill your obviously getting a Polaris he doesn't build an Etec kit. Please report your findings after you ride both sleds

 

[snopro]

Well if you buy a kit from Neill your obviously getting a Polaris he doesn't build an Etec kit. Please report your findings after you ride both sleds

I'm sure he will by next year. Saw his low boost Pro at Revy last trip. Works great and is a real sleeper sled. No boost gauges, no fooling around, just gas and oil.

 

[duck]

163?.....Pfffft..... why stop there..... 174 X 16 all the way.... go big or go home.....lol

9115M 16’’ x 174’’ (41 cm x 442 cm) 3’’ (76 mm) 75 lbs (34 kg) 3’’ (76 mm) F

 

[~Rowdy~]

Well if you buy a kit from Neill your obviously getting a Polaris he doesn't build an Etec kit. Please report your findings after you ride both sleds

I planned on putting up a little thread on how I found both sleds because I am completely unbiased. Figured it'd be neat from a different perspective. I'm not 100% on the pro yet but I can say I am leaning that way. The doo wasn't even in the running until I hopped on an XM and went holy $hit this thing rides WAY better than the XP. So now it's in the running. I'm really excited to get two full days riding each sled, it's such a great opportunity and I am very lucky to have that option given to me.

 

[Wilk INStheWEST]

I like the idea of a 155 better but if ever I want to put on Neil's low boost turbo kit from Boost-it then I know I need the 163...That's why I'm torn.

That kit is so tempting.

 

[TylerG]

I planned on putting up a little thread on how I found both sleds because I am completely unbiased. Figured it'd be neat from a different perspective. I'm not 100% on the pro yet but I can say I am leaning that way. The doo wasn't even in the running until I hopped on an XM and went holy $hit this thing rides WAY better than the XP. So now it's in the running. I'm really excited to get two full days riding each sled, it's such a great opportunity and I am very lucky to have that option given to me.

if you're going with Stephanie for 2 days, try a 154 one day and a 163 the next if she can swing it, then you have full feeling of both!

 

[~Rowdy~]

I'm sure he will by next year. Saw his low boost Pro at Revy last trip. Works great and is a real sleeper sled. No boost gauges, no fooling around, just gas and oil.

Thats why I like his kit and why I'm interested in it. I was supposed to test it out Sunday but the guy I was riding with sled wouldn't start and his intercooler was cracked so we packed up and headed home. I screwed up the electrical on my new grip heat so I would have froze anyways going up the trail, haha, so maybe it was a good thing.

I'm sure I will get out and have the opportunity to ride it. I know its been running great. And I like the idea of no d!cking around with a controller box.

 

[~Rowdy~]

if you're going with Stephanie for 2 days, try a 154 one day and a 163 the next if she can swing it, then you have full feeling of both!

That'd be great, I will have to ask her. I'm just really excited to have the opportunity to demo the sleds for full days so I can make a proper decision. I just hope there's snow.

Cranbrook 24-27 with the 155 800 pro
Revy 29-30 on the XM

 

[snopro]

if you're going with Stephanie for 2 days, try a 154 one day and a 163 the next if she can swing it, then you have full feeling of both!

I concur Tyler. Great point. I find a difference between the two for tippability in marginal snow. Not so much in good powder.

 

[mareshow]

That'd be great, I will have to ask her. I'm just really excited to have the opportunity to demo the sleds for full days so I can make a proper decision. I just hope there's snow.

Cranbrook 24-27 with the 155 800 pro
Revy 29-30 on the XM

I rode a 154 last year now i have a 163" turbo... in the deep snow that extra length really help! Also if you are going to turbo i would strongly suggest a 163", especially because you want a 3" track. The 154" is well... sure you'll have lots of fun with a turbo 154" but your skis will NEVER touch snow lol.

 

[bayman]

No doubt the 163. I've put(actually don't want to know) a lot of money into my 154 to get it to stack up to the 163. 2.5" track, baker skid,BB, nitrous. Next sled will be a 163, no question. But, I am a little bit of a pork chop. My money is on you buying a 163 XM and either T-Team or Sno Pro finding you a great deal. My .

 

[1100]

In my opinion go 163". The only time the 154" handle different is on hard pack. As far as jumping unless your into going big like Geoff Kyle I don't think the extra track Is going to effect you. We all buy these sleds to hopefully ride in the deepest powder and the sunniest blue bird days, when you get those days and your riding with a sled with the longer track then your current sled and have troubles following it around, it becomes on your list to do .

 

[~Rowdy~]

But wouldn't riding the 155 track push you to be a better rider? Sure you might have to work a bit more but then it becomes a matter of picking better lines, moving differently through the trees etc.

I ride a 151 now and haven't had too much trouble keeping up to the 163 and 174's. Couple hills had to turn out and take another run at but I've made it everywhere a 163 has. I've learned what lines I can and cannot make my sled go up, and when I do pick a line that's too steep it's made me learn how to try to NOT get stuck.

I'm leaning 155 because I'm not a climber, but I can absolutely see why a 163 would be good as well.

 

[jhurkot]

154 or 155 and no turbo. Keep warranty and reliability.

 

[~Rowdy~]

154 or 155 and no turbo. Keep warranty and reliability.

haha I was waiting for you to respond. Hope to see ya in Cranbrook the 24-27th. You could probably stay with Steph and I in the hotel if we don't crash at Sean's

 

[maxwell]

But wouldn't riding the 155 track push you to be a better rider? Sure you might have to work a bit more but then it becomes a matter of picking better lines, moving differently through the trees etc.

I ride a 151 now and haven't had too much trouble keeping up to the 163 and 174's. Couple hills had to turn out and take another run at but I've made it everywhere a 163 has. I've learned what lines I can and cannot make my sled go up, and when I do pick a line that's too steep it's made me learn how to try to NOT get stuck.

I'm leaning 155 because I'm not a climber, but I can absolutely see why a 163 would be good as well.

I'm not a climber either. Haven't climbed a large hill in over 5 years because i had a few close Avy calls. My time is spent in the trees, steep trees, technical terrain and basically anything safe. The 163 made me a better rider. It opens up a lot of opportunity. It is not a old man sled for putting around and not getting stuck. If you ride a 155 it's only because you made a mistake purchasing your first mountain sled or you ride at home in flat land. The 155 is limited and the 163 is not. It opens up new lines. Trust me. There is terrain I used to just blow by and not take a second look at. And it's still safe terrain. Like 1100 Said SUNY deep bluebird days I don't care if your convinced the 155 is the best thing in the world you will wish you had a 163. And if you don't Your riding partners aren't challenging you enough. End rant. LOL

 

[maxwell]

154 or 155 and no turbo. Keep warranty and reliability.

Rly? Thought you were some hot shot mountain rider. Ill be taking that 1000$ for sure now that I know your on a 155. Hehehe Jk!!


But good point. Turbos are fun for a minute until your factory warranty you paid good money for is gone and its becomes a blow up special. Etec and Polaris short blocks aren't cheap. And if your nt putting the turbo on from new your going to need one.

 

[1100]

But wouldn't riding the 155 track push you to be a better rider? Sure you might have to work a bit more but then it becomes a matter of picking better lines, moving differently through the trees etc.

I ride a 151 now and haven't had too much trouble keeping up to the 163 and 174's. Couple hills had to turn out and take another run at but I've made it everywhere a 163 has. I've learned what lines I can and cannot make my sled go up, and when I do pick a line that's too steep it's made me learn how to try to NOT get stuck.

I'm leaning 155 because I'm not a climber, but I can absolutely see why a 163 would be good as well.

It does I guess. My first ride to the hills was on a citation 300, then a 485 phazer. Followed with multiple summits from 1998 till now. Did the low power small track thing. I would rather be the guy leading the group and pushing there limits then trying to follow with a smaller machine I guess

 

[1100]

But wouldn't riding the 155 track push you to be a better rider? Sure you might have to work a bit more but then it becomes a matter of picking better lines, moving differently through the trees etc.

I ride a 151 now and haven't had too much trouble keeping up to the 163 and 174's. Couple hills had to turn out and take another run at but I've made it everywhere a 163 has. I've learned what lines I can and cannot make my sled go up, and when I do pick a line that's too steep it's made me learn how to try to NOT get stuck.

I'm leaning 155 because I'm not a climber, but I can absolutely see why a 163 would be good as well.

It does I guess. My first ride to the hills was on a citation 300, then a 485 phazer. Followed with multiple summits from 1998 till now. Did the low power small track thing. I would rather be the guy leading the group and pushing there limits then trying to follow with a smaller machine I guess.

 

[jhurkot]

I'm not a climber either. Haven't climbed a large hill in over 5 years because i had a few close Avy calls. My time is spent in the trees, steep trees, technical terrain and basically anything safe. The 163 made me a better rider. It opens up a lot of opportunity. It is not a old man sled for putting around and not getting stuck. If you ride a 155 it's only because you made a mistake purchasing your first mountain sled or you ride at home in flat land. The 155 is limited and the 163 is not. It opens up new lines. Trust me. There is terrain I used to just blow by and not take a second look at. And it's still safe terrain. Like 1100 Said SUNY deep bluebird days I don't care if your convinced the 155 is the best thing in the world you will wish you had a 163. And if you don't Your riding partners aren't challenging you enough. End rant. LOL

A 155 will have higher track speed and will do 95% of what a 163 will do in deep snow. The key differences will be that with the shorter track you will need to use momentum to keep you going and it will not be as forgiving on and off the throttle. In a flat out high mark contest you're probably not going to win against the long track. The shorter track will make you a better rider because you'll have to make decisions quicker and you will have to work harder to go where a 163 does. Oh yeah the 155 is also easier to get unstuck.

I chose the 163 because I'm probably 220 lbs with gear and usually ride really deep snow.