Like the Title implies, what are the differences between Twins and Triples when it comes to sleds?

I want a triple, but really can't say why. I do know they make more HP, but that doesn't mean they are going to be the best for what I want to do.

So help me out, tell me the stregths and weaknesses of both so that I can be more informed :)


WeaSiL

What do you want to do?

trippels are a thing of the past my friend.

Whats your rideing style, are you a ditch banger? Do you like to rip around through the trails? If you do then the twin is for you, not because of the power but because of the chassis, they are easier to throw around and handle much better than the triples in outdated chassis. I f you ride groomed trails and like to hang out on the lakes then you prolly would like the triple, they have long legs and run very well on smoother surfaces. They are much smoother than twins, they pull hard but smooth whereas the twins tend to vibrate alot. However the newer twins are almost pulling as hard as the big triples do, so with that in mind you have a powerfull engine sitting in a lighter chassis that handles good it seems like the logical choice is to go with the twin. In my opinion nothing runs as smooth or is as powerfull as a big triple, they just need to get it in a good lightwieght chassis. I'm sure others think different but thats my opinion hope it helps.

Get a twin for all around trail riding,a big triple if you are going to hang out on the lakes. try them both out before you buy if you can ,kind of hard to do this time of the year,have fun

I myself own a triple and don't want this post taken byest because I have owned both and of several makes. I agree the twins are lighter and more nimble but the triples power advantage is a great pay off for working harder in the trails when you get a nice little stretch and show the power that is sitting at the end of yer thumb! I work hard to stay with the big twins in the trail but I am usually infront of them but always with them, don't get me wrong when we stop and am sweating and they aren't but I don't care I love to ride hard and fast and with a triple I feel like I have done that! And when we hit the lake that is when I get my break because 9 outta 10 times I am waiting on the otherside of the lake for the twins! All depends on the individual I don't feel there is any right or wrong desicion between them it all depends on you. :withstupid:

I think MACH is right it just depends on you.Where i live there is so much different terrain that i could have several different makes and models and be happy.I personally own a twin and Am looking at getting a 96 ZRT 600 triple.My twin is nimble like said before but after snowmobiling for 20 years i want to own the sound and feel of a triple.It's more of the Cadillac ride you may work harder but like mach said sometimes it's worth it in the long run!!!!!!!!!!! Two years ago I would have said triple for power but you can not really use those terms anymore seems though these twins are justa as fast.The powerband of a triple to me does seem smoother!!!!!!!!!!!

i now have a twin, because unfortunetly the triples are a thing o fthe past. however i would like to have both. But sense i can only have enough money for one sled, it is a twin because it suits my riding style. i like ditch banging and playing around more than hitting the long lakes and big roads for speed. and when i do hit the roads, my 800 twin will still give me 115 mph and thats fast enough for me. if u like the lake, and the big roads, buy a big triple. but if like playing around some like i do, u will like the lighter twin, but go with a 800 for that extra tourque. How bout the new F7. very light, same hp as a 800 twin and will woop the twin 800's. all depends how u ride buddy. good luck

`can't beat the sound and smoothness of a triple...I never noticed the big difference beteween the supposed lightness of a twin compared to a triple, and I'm always jumping bewtween my mxzx700 and vmax4 800 (and that's a 4 popper), so you'll have a hard time convincing me otherwise...sure, small difference, but not gonna make you say "ugghhh, can't drive this thing, too heavy"...another nice thing about the triples and fours is they give the perception they're never working hard...

another nice thing about the triples and fours is they give the perception they're never working hard

my zr 800, never revs over 7300 rpms. any triple i had would rev at least 8200. that one thing i like about my 800, it may not be as smooth as the triple but it revs lower. But 2 of my buddies have a 01 and 02 xc 800's, they do vibrate more than my zr 800. not sure why, but u feal it more in the handlebars on the poo's.

JMHO If we are talking 800's, I don't know how you can go wrong with either twin or triple for trail usage. One thing I have to add to the above is that I am of the larger variety when it comes to size. I have the weight to throw large sleds around to the point where I don't notice it quite as much as somebody of the lighter (say 160-200lb.) guys. Guys that size do very well on 6-700 twins on the trails when run against my 800's. That is until we get to a place where we can all stretch our legs a bit :D

There still is no substitute for the sound of a tripple....outdated or not.

triples always seem to better on fuel, from my experience anyway......i think triples will make a come back some of the outboard manufactures are bring some back. You could always look at the marine industry to see were new technology is going.

pipedbravo, in my experience with triples they were only average on gas. My 98 zrt 600was nothing to brag about and my brother had a 99 zrt 600 last year and he was always the first in need for gas. same when i had my 98. Atthe same time my dad was running a 02 600 twin pantera, his friend has a 00 600 formula, along with 3 other 600 classic tourings. all were better on gas then the triples. i will say we had a 2001 srx for a few weeks and that was very good on gas. I run a 800 twin and 2 of my friends do as well, and we get super good mileage. better than most of the 600's and always better than the triples.

wow ... what did I start now???

Almost certainly I will be buying a sled tomorrow. Right now it is looking like it will be either a '97 ZRT 800 or a '99 ZR 700. I don't think that I will find myself "lacking" power with either one of those, and I am sure I can muscle whatever I buy wherever I want to go, it will depend entirely on the condition and mileage of the sleds.

thanks for all yer input guys


L8er
WeaSiL

i would think that the triples will come back. right now the thing is twins but it was that before then triples now twins again. i think if they offer a better chassis for the triple then it would be the way the way to go... i have had both and you just cant beat a triple.

like mach69 says they need a triple chassis that can house a triple engine down lower. right now the rave is snow crossing and soon the fastest lake sled thing will return where only the triple will get the job done.

If they could get the 809 triple into a REV chassis and make it work we would have one mean ditchbanger, plus you could go out on the lake and and wax your buddies, the best of both worlds. :inlove:

I am into that I would buy one for sure! think I might rather the zx chassis though (yes I know some one has done it but I want factory) :withstupid:

Well, I found a great deal on a '99 ZR 700 and will most likely be picking that up before the weekend. It is from a friend of my dad's so I know that he has treated it very well, and it is well maintained. Not to mention the fact that he is asking $200 less for it than what the dealership in london is asking for the '97 ZRT 800.

We will see after tomorrow. :)


WeaSiL

Not to undermine your decisions, BUT, the reputation of the ZR 700's was not very good if I remember right...there is a reason Cat stopped making them after only a couple years. You might want to hold off just a little on that one.

i also agree about the zr 700, maybe there is a reason there is such a good deal on that sled. i would check it out a bit more befor you purchase it.

the '99 was seriously miscalibrated clutchingwise....what is that thing worth? 2 grand or less??

Don't buy the 700!!! They needed way to much clutch and carb work to make them perform and compete with the other 700's. Even at that they were marginal.
On a positive note, the motor is reliable in stock form and the suspension is classic A/C. If you want overall power and speed with the ability to still trail ride get the Triple!!
Good Luck

I'm with the rest, don't get the zr700 you wont be happy with it's performance. That ZRT 800 will keep you happy for a long time.

One of our neighors and firends owned a 99zr700 before that he had a 98zr600 and said he wished he could have got the 600 back. The sled was in constantly all season trying to get something figured out with the clutching and setup. They could get it better but never as good as it should have been I would skip the zr700.

No, No, No, No, Don't get that ZR700 :nervous:

I would go with the 97 zrt 800. I to have heard bad things about the 700 twins. A triple weighs more then a twin but has more top end and smoother powerband then a twin. As far as fuel mileage my 800 could get better fuel mileage then a 1998 zl 500. A triple is also more longer lasting and reliable then a twin, atleast from what I have saw, but the do cost more when a rebuild is needed.

hmmm.... well, it turned out that the people at the dealership where i was looking at the zrt weren't very interested in taking my money. I visited their store on 3 separate occasions, only ONCE being able to see the sled, and even then it was in a very badly lit storage area. After numerous promises to have the sled out where I could look at it and run it and whatnot, it just never happened. The last time I was there, I waited for nearly an hour and a half while they gave me excuse after excuse why they didn't have it out yet. To top it all off, they had a BOAT salesman trying to sell the dang thing to me.

Needless to say I was far less than impressed. I had $4000 in cash in my pocket and they didn't seem to want it. So I left, and don't plan on going back.

I know the person selling the ZR, and I bought it because I like it, and he treats me very well.

I have read much of the things people say about the ZR, and I am willing to put the time and effort into it to make it really wake up.

I do value the comments and suggestions put forth by all of you, but customer service will go a very long way when it comes to my purchasing something or leaving and not going back.

The one other thing I have to say is that I am certain this sled will be miles from what I have ridden in the past as my last sled was a 1980 Trailcat 4000.


Once again, thanks for the comments and suggestions,
WeaSiL