70Plus is going to be wide open on a free ride , unless you go with 146 and toss some gears in it.

I would get a 146 but I don't plan on doing any gearing. So it sounds like I should just get a bc xrs and deal with the G4 and old-style display. Would a 2-inch powdermax be fine for the trail?

 

70Plus is going to be wide open on a free ride , unless you go with 146 and toss some gears in it.

 

A few things to keep in mind:

The G5 and G4 have pretty much the same rider triangle - G5 is a bit slimmer.
The G4 is not "outdated" - once the G5 is out, all G4's dont automatically downgrade their rider experience - that's just the marketing getting ahold of your "fear of missing out" and using it to empty your wallet.
The DIsplay on the Gen 4 is 2 years old - hardly an "old style" display - if you are deep snow riding - the display seems like a bit of a waste anyways - much better ways to spend your 800-1500$.

I know sleds are partly an emotional purchase - but its good to inject some objectivity into the process - get what you need and will work best for you vs what you think will impress other people.

Not directed at the OP, personally.

 

A few things to keep in mind:

The G5 and G4 have pretty much the same rider triangle - G5 is a bit slimmer.
The G4 is not "outdated" - once the G5 is out, all G4's dont automatically downgrade their rider experience - that's just the marketing getting ahold of your "fear of missing out" and using it to empty your wallet.
The DIsplay on the Gen 4 is 2 years old - hardly an "old style" display - if you are deep snow riding - the display seems like a bit of a waste anyways - much better ways to spend your 800-1500$.

I know sleds are partly an emotional purchase - but its good to inject some objectivity into the process - get what you need and will work best for you vs what you think will impress other people.

Not directed at the OP, personally.

Yea i was thinking about it today, I truly don't need the 10.25inch display it would just be nice to have over the 7.8 inch and I find the new technology really cool. I understand there practically the same with plastics updates but I have a feeling next year the backcountry will be in a G5 and my brand new sled will already be depreciated greatly and people will look at it as "outdated". This is my first brand new sled coming off of a 2011 renegade x so i want to make the right choice. Like you said i need to think about it more objectively and not just what's new and fancy and get what fits my riding style which is probably 60% off and 40% on.

 

The 2inch powder Max is my go to track. It's a great all around 50/50 track

 

I have a 2019 Gen4 Summit 146" that I'll occasionally ride on trail if riding with my Dad and his friends. I never go much over 50-60 with it on the trail as it's not made for that. It'll go 85 on the lake but the lugs won't hold up to much of that. The 2.5" track seems to be tougher and holds up better than the 3". I wouldn't touch gearing as that is what makes it so fun off trail. It'll be more tippy in the corners and doesn't eat the bumps like a 137" Rmotion does. The 154" is considerably more tippy than the 146" even though both are Tmotion. Short answer: Sure, you can do it but you have to be realistic about what riding you do and consider how much time you actually spend on the trail.

I'm at 1500 miles with no blown belts or missing lugs on my 146" and 1600 miles, no blown belts or missing lugs on my 154". 75% off trail

 

My dads a hardcore trail rider and I enjoy going with him, he cruises down the trails going 100mph. I don't think that ill stand a chance keeping up to him on a mountain sled and i highly doubt that its good for the track. Not too concerned about how tippy it is or how it corners or how it rides, but if i can only top out at 60mph without damaging things its probably not the sled I should buy despite my off-trail side really wanting it. I only do off-trail riding in the u.p so technically the freeride isnt even the right sled for that, so logically it doesnt make much sense.

 

Think about the trails! Please don't wreck them with a mountain sled

 

the u.p trails are already flooded with mountain riders and get absolutely destroyed constantly, another mountain sled isnt going to hurt anything

 

The 2 inch will suit u well. Think about a low snow year, and the trails might be the only thing u have to ride.
bcxrs is the way to go, even a used one with low miles….

 

I just came from a 18 summit 146 850 and now on a 22 bcxrs 146x2, and am more than happy with it. I had 6000 kms on my summit, and it did okay on the trails but the backcountry does it better. Off trail and in deeper snow I don't notice a huge difference between the two. Deep fluffy powder is the only difference. With the summit you'll want scratchers down all the time and you won't be crusing at 70 mph. It's a cruise along at 70-80 km/h and watch the temp gauge kind of machine.

 

I trail rode a summit 154x2.5 one year between sleds. I still had fun on it and rode in some less then ideal conditions for a mountain sled. I would only be worried about the narrow front end on the freeride for trail riding. The track should last as long as your not doing 70mph for hours on end. Tight trails corner to corner with short bursts to 70 wont kill the track. Freeride 146 would be a hoot I think.

 

Thanks for the help everyone! Really appreciate it. Ended up spring ordering a backcountry xrs 850 with the 2 inch track and 7.8” display.

 

You won’t be disappointed! The more I ride mine the more I like it. Great do everything machine

 

Where do you ride backcountry in the UP?