I have a 97 Ultra SPX. From the posts I have read lately, I guess I have what is called the aggressive chassis and apparently it is especially heavy.

Are there any tricks to make it lighter?

I'm sure a silencer will lighten it up, but will the sled be less reliable with a silencer? Is there a light and quiet aftermarket silencer?

Reliability and low maintenance is very important to me. I blew up my 99 zrt800 bad because I modded it out and then didn't pay attention to details.

Scott,

I've got a 96 XCR-SP with the same chassis which I'm making into a 97 SPX motor wise. I'm almost finished and can't wait to see how it runs. This machine is quite heavy and I'm not sure if it can be lightned up at all. I don't know about you but I've found that the sled handles pretty well for its weight. I ride with a couple of buddy's who ride the 500XC and the 700XCSP and I stay with them pretty well. Get on the twisty's and I'm behind but not far behind. Get in the open and we stay together pretty well. Your post is a good one. I would be interested in hearing some feedback from others with this chassis who have been able to lighten it up a little. By the way, I ride in the Ashland area of NH. I see your from the Concord area.

Learn how to set the machine up for your riding style. Learn how to ride the machine. Forget what everyone is telling you about weight and bad handling. It will never be a ditch banger, but they aren't a bad trail sled at all...even in the twisties.

Reply to Scott Nadeau. The aggresive chassis is indeed heavy. I had an XCR600SP and an XCR 700. A silencer should save you somewhere between 5-8 pounds and shouldn't require any other mods. As far as lightening up that thing any more, I really can't tell you.

Thanks for the replies guys. I don't have any problem keeping up with anybody, no matter what the trail is like...I guess I'll just leave it alone.

xcrspman, I aven't done a lot of riding in your area. I can get to Newfound Lake from my back yard in two hours, but I have never gone north of there without trailering. I crossed the Merrimack River just north of the Franklin Dam once, but I found the trails on the east side of the river to be bumpy so I turned back. Is there good riding on that side of the river? I hope to find time to ride to Pittsburg from my back yard this year.

If you can find aftermarket pipes you'll save 5-10lbs, can about 5 or so, fabcraft tunnel, about 15 lbs, legend rear suspension kit about about 12-13, use there titanium springs total weight loss is like 20-21lbs, 2-5 lbs light weight trailing arms, Light weight hood would save a bunch. So yes it can be lightened up overall.

If you want some good riding without going all the way to Pittsburg, try going to the Rumney area. They have an outstanding club and Charlie grooms the trails every Tuesday and Friday night. If you go up on Wednesday you will not be dissappointed. Great trails with great grooming equals fun! I can ride there from my house and be there in about a 1/2 hour. To be honest with you, I've never ridden south of Meredith, NH. Why go south when you can go North and West!!

Dont forget skis. I swapped to plastic on my 96 xcrsp and really could not believe how heavy the steel ones are when holding them side by side with the plastic ones. Sometimes weight is good. My Bro- in- law left the trail on this sled last spring and clipped some trees hard. Broke one in half about four feet up. Five inch trunk. Plowed a new trail into the woods. I should scan in a picture of the ski spindle. Bent at nearly a 60 degree angle. Sled had mainly cosmetic damage and is still strait after replacing spindle, etc. He got the worst of it. Double broken femur and heli ride to Dartmouth. Geesh! I still love the sled and will keep it because its a triple and not bad on fast trails and I know for a fact that it is durable!

Friend still has a 98, I had a 97.. we run the wee out them, and do through maintenace in the offseason. I'm amazed the beatings they take and contiune to run smooth and need little work.
Far as the wieght.. might get a pound here of there, but it costs $$ to buy light parts. I'd put the money towards power and planting it. Have a hard time telling any differance in weight with my genII. Get them both under power and they fell totally differant. Now our friend's xlt feel very light (just lifting)in comparison. I had a dg can on mine, can't tell you I felt the 5 pounds differance. But the clutching and reeds made it feel totally differanct except when were pulling them from the garage. These under power and the xlt feels heavy..steering effort etc.. Play with the suspension and dial it in. These love tight twisties. We swapped with many machines, people come off them wondering what the bad rap on the body style was about.
If your riding a lot of deep in rough trails , it's more than likely the wrong sled.
If you run normal trails and like the quick flats, these can run on rails.
Were keeping my friend's 98 and planting a warmed over 99 xcr motor in her. once it's done. We have contiplanted looking for an edge chassis to stuff it in, and might one day when we find a good deal on a rolling chassis. but were in no rush for the wieght lost.. really depends where you ride and the conditions your faced with.

The plastic skis are a great improvement. You'll get the biggest weight loss for you dollar there. My 96 XCR 600 SP was geared a little high. I geared down one tooth, dropped my mains two sizes and re-clutched. I still love how that sled handled. Very predictable.