For those that have ridden on several tracks please rank the following

1) Stock 1" Track
2) Stock 1" Track w/ studs (if you've studded what length and brand)
3) 1.5" Freeride
4) 1.5" Freeride w/ studs

So you are selling your FreeRide for a stocker? I am guessing you may have gotten an answer to your question and think you may go back to stock with studs?

I have yet to bother putting studs in my Freeride as it is just a vast improvement over the stock ripsaw. The lugs are stiff enough that I have not studded it yet.

I guess it would matter more on what sort of riding you are doing. If it was groom trails and lakes, studs are always the way to go. But for the wide variety of riding we have been doing, the freeride smokes by itself. It's such a nice all purpose track and so much fun when we actually do get some fresh snow and go pound some drifts.

When I had my phazer, the freeride was amazing compared to the 1".

And the freeride retails for around 600.

The main issues is I never rode the sled before I started modding it. I picked it up last March and worked on it all summer. All I have to go off of now is others opinions. I am trying to decide whether the 85mph w/ the Freeride vs. the 7-9 mph improvement w/o is worth the low end trail performance or not. And yes I would be studding it if I go back.

Hanlon - you are correct on the $600 range - I was looking at the wrong model when I priced the retail value.

$495 to your house... Called tracks usa about 2 weeks ago. And they aren't making any 136" freerides right now???? Not sure why?

I was out in the deep stuff last night after getting back from a holiday trip. 18" of fresh was uncommon for us, but that track was worth every bit in it. From what I see, it works so much better for those few times off trail that it is worth keeping around.

Unlike a big paddle track though, you can tell this is more of a snocross style track as the paddles are stiff enough to perform really well on trail as well. So unless you are making some money by downgrading to the stock track, stick with the freeride and stud it up for trails. Then have the best of both worlds.

Sure you will lose some top end, but you will have to make that call based on your riding style. I only get blown by on the lakes and open fields. But put 6" of fresh on the field, and it's a blast to have the freeride. Your mileage may vary

This is only my opinion, but I guess I have been having so much fun just searching for the deep ditches, drifted tree rows etc that this is the perfect way to abuse the torque this engine has.

Good luck, it's fun either way.

i would always go biglug with no studs imo,back in the day i was one of the first to get a 1.25 and it would shred, my buddies were close minded and always studded, i could usually get the holeshot and then again on top because the studs would slowem down.

not to mention that studs make you go faster in icy conditions, doesn't mean you can stop faster though once the track traps the snow, and the fact if ya ever got caught up in it, yea it can happen, then if a stud goes thru your heat exchanger,

it also limits where you will ride do to damaging studs, i don't knowabout you guys but ificome to a road and theresnoway around it, as long as i can get cooling i 'll use it.

and you don't have to worry about this happening because you don't have enough power to do it, but on my first real sled i had a track rip in 1/2,

heres what happens, it comes out the back damages your tunnel whacks you in the back, puts you in serious pain quickly, then as your hurtling at warp speed across a field and your heading toward a drainage ditch, it takes out your brakes. no fun imo

RANKING

1 FREERIDE

2 STOCK W STUDS

3 STOCK

I rode my phazer with stock track, really sucked in most conditions. So I studded it 96 down the middle, some what better on hard pack, but still sucked in most trail conditions. My uncle has the freeride 121 the traction difference in all conditions is mind boggling. One trip we rode 350miles in 30 to 35 degrees so snow was harder early but soft and sloppy in the afternoon I had 5.2 miles more on my speedo than he did at the end of the trip. Yep track spin. We lined up a few times and we were both in the 84-86 range on the speedo.(but he blew me away off the line.) IMO the freeride is hands down the better track. You need a taller lug to take advantage of the phazers low end torque and midrange. I'll throw another idea at you, I extended mine to 128 and put a firecat sno pro 1.375x 13.5 unstudded on it. I love the traction, and the extra length is nice on and off the trail.
Go with the freeride and get the helix mod schmidt bros is offering for $50 that is supposed to add 3-5mph on top and not effect bottom end and you have the best of both worlds. My.02

After riding my 08 rtx for the fist time , I got right on the horn and ordered studs, I only put 24 double backers throughout the center with mega bites a lot better over stock, I am use to a 1.5" with 96 studs that was in my 02 skippy- doo mxz-x, I miss the track not the sled, ha ha, am definently putting a 1.5" studded on rtx but going to abuse stock track first, size matters in every aspect, run what you brung

I have decided to keep the freeride. The part I'm struggling with is the top end only reaching around 82-84 depending on conditions (for those with the freeride.. is this close to what you're seeing). I never rode the stock setup so I have no idea how good or bad it is... bad from what everyone has said. I won't make the mistake of not riding the stock setup again though. I think I did too much too quick with this thing. I do have the helix machined from Schmidt but my belt isn't jamming in far enough to take advantage of it. I have to figure that out.... but that's another story. The sled seems great though 0-70 which is why I bought it. The freeride seems like the right option though for the mixed bag of trail conditions I ride in.
Thanks for the input.

prav, I am 145 lbs with no riding gear on, stock rtx getting 96mph on lake infront of my house last year with perfect conditions on speedo not gps, I haven't ever run with gps on mph, going to run lake tomarrow, first one on lake, still open water on north end, with 19 tooth I was pulling ski's off the ground after 6 plus sled lengths with 3" of hard pack, riding saturday in Utica (the hill) hopefully get a lot of snow on friday, let u know

Good choice,the freeride is the best track for most conditions. You didn't do too much too fast. You took the info off here and modded the phazer to fix some of it's short comings and adapt it to your style. That's what this site is all about. You didn't miss anything riding it stock, I rode 3 laps around my yard stock and started digging on the sled sites for info on how to improve handling etc.. Your helix issue I'd call Chris at schmidt bros, he'll help you, he knows his stuff. You already know that though. Enjoy!

I am going to have the primary machined so it closes a bit further. This should help jam the belt further into the secondary and pick up the top end without losing holeshot (like moving up a gear will do). I will report when I get it all installed and run it.

I think the track ranking was a good question. Its always good to see some good replies coming from experiences..
I ran my stock ripsaw (no studs) for about 2500miles. I just changed it out for the 121" Freeride. Wow.. thats all I can say. This track really hooks up well rather than just spinning, diging down and getting stuck like the stock one.

I'm still unsure of my top spead, I have only hit 75mph so far... but I havent taken it down a good hard packed road yet, only lakes with drifts and windy conditions...

The one thing that hasnt really been answered yet is the Freeride with Studs. There have been a couple of opinions about studs in general, but nothing yet from anyone that has studded their Freeride. I am curious myself to hear about a first hand comparison.

Get the freeride track..if you do nothing else do that. That track REALLY HOOKS UP. Went riding with my friend who has a stock 08RTX and jumped between sleds and there is a HUGE difference. With my GET ER DONE kit i still could hit 85 on the speedo

I have 750 miles on the Phazer now this season with about 400 miles in the UP this past weekend. The freeride track was definitely the right choice. I have not ridden the Phazer with the 1" but I can tell that this track bites well and performs well with the torque this sled has down low. It doesn't have much on top so you may as well take advantage of what it does have to offer and that's get yourself some good hook on the bottom end. The only complaint with the track is it did seem to force a little extra hifax wear in low snow conditions. I did see 89mph a couple of times but could never break the 90 mark.

when you say "sno-pro" do u mean the race sled or the f-series? because i thought the firecats had a wider track than the phazers

I rode a phazer with a freeride, ulmer clutch kit, and geared I believe 1 tooth bigger on top. All I can say is that it felt like it had 20 more hp than a stocker. I am 225 without gear and the best I have seen out of a stock phazer is 89mph. The one I rode with the freeride, I saw 92 completely topped out.

WHAT IS FOR GEARING