What does everyone think is better? I hear triples have a pinch more power & perform more at the top end, but the twins are torquer. Also, snowmobiles require a lot of care and maintenance. It would seem to me that triples have that much more of a chance of something going wrong.

Tripes More Power Perform.

I have one of each. I think that the triple runs smoother, but I like the torque of the twin. Maintenance wise, they both require the same upkeep.

I do like the top end of my triple and the exhaust sound, but for the riding that I do the twin fits the bill.

It's not a question of "whats better"? It's a question of "what type of riding style you prefer"?.

If you want all out brute acceleration, and wicked top speed, than the triples are a better choice. The big bore twins now however, allow for almost just as much, if not the same acceleration as the older triples. One myth is that twins come out of the hole quicker. This is not true if you are comparing two sleds of the same displacement. Both will be equally potent out of the hole, so the holeshot would more depend on available traction,gearing, and clutching. Triples were designed for all out raw acceleration and top end. Twins became more popular because of lighter weight,less cost to manufacture,and less cost to repair.

If you like to jump,ditchbang through the woods, come out of corners very aggressively,and race on a track, then the twin is probably your better choice.

Triples tend to be heavier than twins, but feel smoother, and sound more aggressive. The triples also tend to vibrate less than the large bore twins of the same displacement.

IMO, if I could own one of each I would. Hope this helps.

Twins became more popular because of lighter weight,less cost to manufacture,and less cost to repair.

This is especially true for the OEM's because they can sell us a sled for the same price. with one less of everything on it.(pipe, carb,piston)

I've been messing around trying to answer this question for the past 2 riding seasons. Have and ride one of each regularly so it's very easy to compare between them. Spent a lot of money trying to get the tripple top end on a machine that also does very well on a trail. I've come very close, but still...... well, here's where I'm at, but not done yet. I'm sure my results are subject to debate.

The tripple does not do well in the air, or in the very tight twisties - the weight thing. No way of getting around it. The twin will never sound like a tripple, will never be a smooth as a tripple, and can plainly run away and hide from the tripple in ditches, mogul fields and any other technical stuff. The tripple is quickly catching up to the twin in the mogul fields now with the 136"/Edge/clicker set up - which also may be giving it an edge (no pun intended) out of the hole.

I'm still disappointed that the triples from Cat and Doo are gone. When comparing engine weight of a triple and twin the difference is only like 4-8lbs. I found that the chassis the triples were in weighed a ton. It is very disheartening that the triples were basically discontinued because of the media and that the sport wanted to concentrate on sno-x machines. To this day the triples are for the most part a great all around machine that a twin can never ever compare to. They last longer, sound better, are way faster and ride better for most conditions. No they are not made for ditch banging or jumping (because of the overweight chassis not the motor). Sure the big bore twins now serve the same purpose but at the cost of life robing vibration. In addition the weight is also up there. Lets all not forget about the weight of the rx-1.
I am not convinced that triples were discontinued because they were heavy. They were discontinued because of the manufactures profit margin!!! :cussing:

I use to think that a same displacment tripple would always top-end a twin.....until cat came out with the F-7.

a triple engine may only weight 4-6lbs more, but the carbs and pipe add to that also.

I agree 100% that the manufacturers build twins because they are cheaper to produce. Same reason why all the cars today are 4 cylinders! Even trucks, you couldn't get an old '80's Chev or GMC with a V-6, but now all kinds of them have 6's.

Originally posted by mtrsprt@Oct 26 2004, 08:57 AM
It's not a question of "whats better"?* It's a question of "what type of riding style you prefer"?.

If you want all out brute acceleration, and wicked top speed, than the triples are a better choice.* The big bore twins now however, allow for almost just as much, if not the same acceleration as the older triples.* One myth is that twins come out of the hole quicker.* This is not true if you are comparing two sleds of the same displacement.* Both will be equally potent out of the hole, so the holeshot would more depend on available traction,gearing, and clutching.* Triples were designed for all out raw acceleration and top end.* Twins became more popular because of lighter weight,less cost to manufacture,and less cost to repair.*

If you like to jump,ditchbang through the woods, come out of corners very aggressively,and race on a track, then the twin is probably your better choice.

Triples tend to be heavier than twins, but feel smoother, and sound more aggressive.* The triples also tend to vibrate less than the large bore twins of the same displacement.

IMO, if I could own one of each I would.* Hope this helps.
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Well said mtrsprt. There is nothing like grabbing the throttle of a big triple on a straight stretch but then again ditch banging with a light weight twin is alot of fun too. It all depends how and where you ride, both have their good and bads but I wish the triple would have stayed around longer and got the better tech from the newer twins, that would of rocked. But that would have costed the manufacturers alot more money to produce.

Well the recent trend in snowmobiles is towards the 'sno-x' avenue, so twins are king right now. They're light, lots of low end torque, somewhat lighter, and maybe more importantly, smaller. AKA easier for the twistys, jumps etc. Manufacturing costs I'd bet is the reason the big 4 have shyed away from triples as of late. Why spend more to build something when you can spend less, and people will still buy.

All that being said, NOTHING beats the sound of a triple triple.....

the triple runs smoother, but I like the torque of the twin.
Same here. Well said!!
SWRules

Triple's are faster for sure but the low end snap of a twin I like. All the people I know that have triples always seem to have trouble and to me all it is, is another Carb and piston to worry about...although the speed and sound :D

I hate the scream of a twin. Not saying i wouldn't drive one, but when ever i hear one i hate the sound. I like the low rumble of a tripple, especially the xlts.


Heres to hoping they put another good triple back into production. What say we start a petition?? LoL


Bauer

I now own an 800 twin and a 700 triple. no where here did I see anyone mention that triples get way better gas mileage than a twin.
don't know why, but my Yamaha triple gets way better mileage than my 800 Doo or my friends Cat 700 twin or his Cat 580.

2nd, I like the response of the triple, to me its really responsive. snappy, I like that. My new 800 gets with the program too, but not like the 700

3rd. the twin is torqy-er, is that a word? You can feel it.

now Im talking from the factory bone stock sleds, The new 800 has nothing done to it, the Yamaha has carb spacers (don't blubber at low end due to those) and thats about it.
I bought the Doo due to floatation. Wanted something better in the powder, and it does do that. I rode the triple the other day after riding the twin, and thats what I noticed, less torq but really responsive.

Bunch of sleds went drag racing across a meadow, mountain cat 900, rev summit 800, doo summit 800, rmk 800, my 700 yamaha, my yamaha jumped right off the start, but that was it, they took me after that. These mind you are all mountain sleds.
thats my opinion.

twins--

triples--

Originally posted by piped bravo@Oct 26 2004, 11:15 AM
I use to think that a same displacment* tripple would always top-end a twin.....until cat came out with the F-7.
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You used to think correctly.
If a 700 triple was ported, carbed, piped and tuned like and F7, it wouldn't even be a race (it's all about the breathing efficiency of the cylinders...... and smaller cyls. can have more port area per unit of displacement than larger cylinders can, and this is same as cylinders in a 4 stroke........ except it's the valve area that can be larger, not the ports like on a 2 stroke).

:withstupid: i think............. :huh:

I love the Dahm triplets.......We need a smiley that drools on here :blahblah:

I was going to the U when they were going there. Never saw them tho, except in playboy.

is this one of those "I havent seen that topic in a while posts"??????

I have both a triple and a twin and I like them both. I have yet to come across a 700 triple that even comes close to my 700 twin. I tried a buddys new viper and it wasn`t even in the same ballpark.It wasn`t in the same galaxy but it sure sounded good :D

Originally posted by reveater@Oct 28 2004, 08:26 AM
I have both a triple and a twin and I like them both. I have yet to come across a 700 triple that even comes close to my 700 twin. I tried a buddys new viper and it wasn`t even in the same ballpark.It wasn`t in the same galaxy but it sure sounded good :D
357788
Step on a well setup CK3 Mach 1, and your thoguht of a 700 triple will change.

<<<I have yet to come across a 700 triple that even comes close to my 700 twin.>>>


Take your twin out on a lake....

I&#39;m with mtrsprt, a well set-up Mach 1 (700 triple) will beat a F-7 on the lake.

By well set-up I, and I think mtrsprt, mean clutching, gearing and maybe suspension set-up for weight transfer. Nothing real extreme.

Tripples sound meaner but twins are less maintenance and less weight.

I would love to run a 700 triple on the lake. It just seems they all run and hide when we come out to play.

Originally posted by reveater@Oct 28 2004, 06:43 PM
I would love to run a 700 triple on the lake. It just seems they all run and hide when we come out to play.
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Here, I&#39;ll leave you my number.... call me anytime day or night. :D

Originally posted by The Hossman@Oct 28 2004, 11:59 PM
Here, I&#39;ll leave you my number.... call me anytime day or night.* * :D
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Exactly..... IMO there&#39;s only been one 700 triple tuned from the factory close to the way F7&#39;s are, and I wouldn&#39;t be betting against them.

I don`t live too far from you hossman maybe we could hook up this winter.I know a guy with a 2001 srx but haven`t been able to coax him into seeing how they run against each other, but I am curious to find out.

To be honest, I couldn&#39;t guess which way it would go. I think that the F7 vs the SRX might be the closest race ever.......

Last winter I was talking to a guy with a heavily modded SRX (same as mine) and he was just barely beating a relatively stock F7....

Gotta say, those f-cats are quick.

but the Mach 1 is quicker!