[TTA89]

I have the factory Ice Ripper and I'm used to how it handles and I don't really have any complaints, but the idea of better braking and more traction is always appealing. I've never ridden a sled with studs and I'm a little concerned about what happens when I ride the sled down asphalt roads with no snow to cross bridges or down sidewalks to lunch and dinner. What will happen when I try and ride out of my concrete floor garage? What about extra vibration? Spring riding includes dirt, sticks, rocks, etc. I primary ride VT, NH, and Maine with 100% trail riding and wildly varying conditions as most know.

It seems like a lot of extra things to think about. Is it really worth it? Spinning the track getting out of the gas stations or the garage is already a pain in the ass, what happens if studs are on there?

 

[Formula800]

I'm interested as well. Also, what year was this as I like the gas price

 

[TTA89]

Hah! Google Photos says Feb 11th, 2020. Pre-covid, pre-Biden money printing.

 

[origYeti]

I just about didn't click on this post because I didn't want my wife to see the post title in my search history.

 

[ateick]

Pros - better acceleration and braking on SOLID BASE and ICE. Pre-studded tracks don't compare. Not going to feel a difference in the soft mushy stuff. No problems crossing roads, getting gas, etc. You just go easy on it and try not to create any track spin.
Cons - Extra mass on track = slightly reduced top speeds. Potential garage floor / driveway damage ( I always try to dolley in and out ). Prestudded tracks will scratch as well. Risk - studs have been known to leave their comfy home and find their way into a heat exchanger.

I'd say if you deal with a lot of hard trails and icy conditions including lakes it may be worth it for you to try. Go two studs per bar. If you don't like they can always come out and be resold.

 

[XrsRene]

My buddy is up in northern Maine. One sled is down with a stud through the heat exchanger

 

[XrsRene]

I’ve ridden with studs since 97. Swore I never would ride without them. I have an ice ripper 1.5 now and one less worry is throwing a stud

 

[Beau11]

Oh, you're a stud virgin? You're missing out.

 

[Rotax!]

I have been studding tracks since 98. I have never damaged a heat exchanger in any sled. My MXZ 98 670 was the only sled that I had studs rip out of the track. I have studded about 15 sleds since then and none have done damage to the heat exchangers or tracks. Todays snow conditions with all the rain and ice being formed, plus add in the high hp of sleds these days, IMO, they are a must. If you are a 100% trail rider, then I think the safety factor alone is well worth it and the pull in acceleration on the trail is awesome. My last sled was a 2020 TCAT and it was studded with 144 down the middle. Unless I am drag racing, I only stud the middle belt. I just ordered a 2024 Renegade XRS 900R with a 1.25" ripsaw 2 ply track. I will be installing 144", 1.625" Triggers in a 4-2 combo of doubles and singles. Just make sure you have the rear tunnel protectors installed.

 

[Rotax!]

On another note as well for the guy that lost a heat exchanger.... Studs do require some maintenance as well, just like wear bars. You need to check them. At least once a season, you should re-torque them to ensure you have none that are loose, bent etc..... You can't just install them and never check them again.

 

[Ryan76]

My buddy is up in northern Maine. One sled is down with a stud through the heat exchanger View attachment 2027572

Studs suck and are destructive. Zero need for anything outside of the little ones in the lugs

 

[UP Rider]

A few years back I was hit by a guy with no studs in an icy corner. He came in hot and his rear end slid around and hit me. He wasn't going exceptionally fast, just too fast for no studs. Had he had studs, any kind of studs, he would have made the turn and motored right by.

 

[Ryan76]

A few years back I was hit by a guy with no studs in an icy corner. He came in hot and his rear end slid around and hit me. He wasn't going exceptionally fast, just too fast for no studs. Had he had studs, any kind of studs, he would have made the turn and motored right by.

Lol but he was driving like an A hole and above his means….

 

[SShooterZ]

I’ll never ride a sled again without studs. Way too many conditions you come across in a typical season and the studs make navigating them all more controllable and consistent. I go over mine every off season and have no issue replacing questionable or beat up studs. I also don’t hammer the throttle crossing roads or on pavement and haven’t had a pullout in thousands of miles.

 

[Ryan76]

I’ll never ride a sled again without studs. Way too many conditions you come across in a typical season and the studs make navigating them all more controllable and consistent. I go over mine every off season and have no issue replacing questionable or beat up studs. I also don’t hammer the throttle crossing roads or on pavement and haven’t had a pullout in thousands of miles.

If you like them run them. To the guys curious about them you wont miss them. Unless you like more variables more issues and studs slamming the chassis tunnel and wrecking tracks go for it. The little ones in the prestuded track lugs offer all the average trail rider would ever need. I used 1”-1.25” push through studs all through the 1990’s and i do not miss any of that weight. Price and destruction.

 

[SShooterZ]

If you like them run them. To the guys curious about them you wont miss them. Unless you like more variables more issues and studs slamming the chassis tunnel and wrecking tracks go for it. The little ones in the prestuded track lugs offer all the average trail rider would ever need. I used 1”-1.25” push through studs all through the 1990’s and i do not miss any of that weight. Price and destruction.

10s of thousands of miles with studs on a variety of years, makes, models and HP. None of what you said happened to any of them. I’ve run Woodys, Fast-Trac, Studboy, etc. FWIW.

 

[Ryan76]

10s of thousands of miles with studs on a variety of years, makes, models and HP. None of what you said happened to any of them. I’ve run Woodys, Fast-Trac, Studboy, etc. FWIW.

Excellent 👍

 

[Ryan76]

The 440 fan i just purchased in jan was basically mint 4700 miles accept the track was wrecked. The studs trashed everything the lose track with studs hit. Multiple studs were ripped out of the track. This was not my doing but from what i see of peoples maintenance schedules. Studs are not for everybody 😝

 

[SShooterZ]

The 440 fan i just purchased in jan was basically mint 4700 miles accept the track was wrecked. The studs trashed everything the lose track with studs hit. Multiple studs were ripped out of the track. This was not my doing but from what i see of peoples maintenance schedules. Studs are not for everybody 😝

It’s not uncommon to see snowmobilers try to squeeze blood from a turnip with their sleds. I’ve seen many posts over the years where half the track is missing and folks are like, “Do you think it’s good for another 2,000 miles?”.

I put a lot of time and effort, and many times money, into my offseason prep. Season is too short to have to deal with a failure and let’s face it, we’re riding 80-100 MPH rockets on snow. If something goes wrong at a bad time, the outcomes can be bad. Really bad. Not worth it to me. I have no problem replacing studs and/or a track if they’re going south. They don’t fix themselves and never get better. Why risk it IMO.

 

[markc]

10s of thousands of miles with studs on a variety of years, makes, models and HP. None of what you said happened to any of them. I’ve run Woodys, Fast-Trac, Studboy, etc. FWIW.

Same here

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk