To stud or not to stud?

[dafalls]

Dealer talked me out of studding my Crossfire 800 LE. Others are telling me to install studs. Will be riding mostly off trail. Does the track need studs with the 1.5" lugs?

[mikes99ss]

Off trail, studs are completley useless

[dafuzz]

Studs that long are gonna mangle your track. You will end up with a ported track if you install studs and ride hard with that sled. If you're mostly off trail, studs are definitely not needed and just add to the sleds weight.

[pippy_b]

I used to ride studs on my 121" track. I have a Crossfire 8 LE as well and I will tell you that I mostly ride trail and you 100% don't need them. Enjoy the hook up of the 141" 1.5" track! You will be suprised at how hard it is to keep the front end on the snow!!!!

[mn_mxz]

You will be just fine without studs. We have Renegades, I have an 1.75" track and my wife's sled has a 1.5", we have never needed studs. We went from 121" sleds with studs to these sleds. I have been very happy with how they hook up.

[favoritos]

The Cobra track on that sled does hook up pretty good. It is also hard to stud because it is a thin track and prone to tear outs. Run it without and see how it handles. It is extra work just to stud that sled because you need tunnel protectors and cooling hose protectors. Actually, put on the cooling hose protectors, it is nice insurance.

[indy_500]

No studs!!!

[snow_monkey]

One year between Munising and X-mas we got a wopper of an ice storm. The trail leading to town was glass ice. No fun for the guys without studs!!!

[indy_500]

One year between Munising and X-mas we got a wopper of an ice storm. The trail leading to town was glass ice. No fun for the guys without studs!!!

its no fun when your the one not being able to ride because a stud poked a hole in your heat exchanger either!

[yamahauler]

extra money, extra maintenance, and just something else that if you rip one out it can do even more damage. That track will hook up just fine. I would try to ride one with studs first so you can see the diff. If you can test ride, don't do it on hard pack only. Make sure you get out onto a trail that is beat up a little and has the fluff on it and you will see that your track will do just as good if not better in that condition which is most of the time on the trail. Granted, studs will help you stop on ice or stay put on corner with ice.

[AlumaDoo]

A 1.5" track is meant for off-trail riding..therefore rendering studs useless. Granted you'll probably hit some trails, and yeah, probably come across some ice once in a while....but I have only ever considered studs one time, and that was due to an icy hill. Just backed up and got a run at it!! LOL....My vote is NO STUDS needed.

[snowbuff]

One year between Munising and X-mas we got a wopper of an ice storm. The trail leading to town was glass ice. No fun for the guys without studs!!!

Key phrase here... "One year". I agree, no studs. I have always, and still do, run studs but, with a 1-1/2" track, they are not necessary. The only place you would bennifit is braking, if anywhere. Tracks have come a long way in the recent years. I don't think I would use studs on anything 1-1/4" or deeper. JMO.

[robinson]

Never go with studs! Way more fun

[tomk]

people still put studs on there sleds?huh, dont do it

[Polarice]

Locally here in Ohio on the Portage River, we like studs. When you have a lack of snow and more ice they're nice.

On a trail in MI when there's icy corners, studs are for safety. In conditions like that, I would be very careful on your sled.

I have one that has a .92 lug track with 96 1.075 in the center. The other one has a 1 1/4" lug with no studs and I don't plan to put any on it. Both are 121" tracks.

I wouldn't stud a track like that.

[sledboy482]

Stud

[polarisrider1]

not.

[machz2005]

No studs...... I had them on one of my 8 sleds and would encourage anyone not to do it. You slide a little and when they grab, hold on!!!!!!!!!

[whitedust]

NO...Not on a powder sled just asking for trouble. No need for off trail riding since that is what you said you do. Trail sled YES for sure!

[snow_monkey]

I think we have come up with a good message. I agree I would not stud a deep lug track. If you ride groomed trails in Lower Michigan, "the ice corner capitol" I think it is a must. If you behave and are careful you will not have problems. Maybe I am lucky but 4 sleds in a row and no tear outs. If you check out the Canadian motor department they did a study years ago comparing non-studded to a studded sled. The difference in stopping distance was significant. At 60 mph the difference was huge. I do have a question. If you run with no studs are you restricted to a 4 inch carbide? After much reading it looks more important to balance the sled for it's intended use, carbides vs. number of studs. if you are not running studs and you jump into an icey corner will this cause your rear end to wrap around?

[grub]

1.5 track equals no studs. Anything over 1.25 and they fold over. You get none of the benefits of studs and all of the non-benefits like tear outs.

[tilltheend]

1.5 track equals no studs. Anything over 1.25 and they fold over. You get none of the benefits of studs and all of the non-benefits like tear outs.

I would have to agree with this one, I run studs on any 1.25 track but then from there I go right to a 2"+ paddle and skip the "tweener" tracks. I still think the best overall set up for the UP was an old RMK with a studded 1.25 camo track.

[cmharcou]

When I first started I was anti-stud. however I rode my buddies sled who has studs and I noticed instantly how much better the sled stopped and accelerated. We are mostly trail riders. So if your trail rider my vote is stud.

[yamadooed]

Not sure if its what,when, how or where I ride butt I tore up my track and I noticed this when friends were riding almost the same year identical sleds with studs and me without having to replace the track on both my sleds...

Quality studs correctly installed I've found the benefits will far out way any negatives I've had on a trail sled.

[salmonbum]

Dealer talked me out of studding my Crossfire 800 LE. Others are telling me to install studs. Will be riding mostly off trail. Does the track need studs with the 1.5" lugs?

Chris,

Don't do it. If your gonna play in the POW, its a waste, not to mention extra weight. If your gonna curise the trails, you shoulda got the 1.25 with studs. Since you now play in the trees, forget it .

Looking FWD to the snow. I am thinking of going 1.75 on my gade, buy like Jean says, that will make everything easy