How to shave lbs off the Predator
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
The stock tires/wheels are pretty heavy. Rears weigh about 21ea and the front 15ea. For Dune tires, Skat Trac or Padla Brat rears can weigh down to 11 pounds including the wheel. Front razr back from STU can weigh under 10. As for other things, stock hubs weight 2.5 pounds and the aluminum ones probably weight less. Stock skid plate is about 4lbs. Plus you can cut front fenders off, remove the plastic behind the foot pegs, remove the airbox and snorkel. You could prettey easily shave off 35-40lbs if not more. Getting much more would probably be expensive, like axles, swing arms, (kick start could probably save 15-20lbs easy).
Joined
·
2,923 Posts
There is no way each rear tire weighs 21 lbs. And what would you replace those with sincr maxxis made those lighter specially for the predator? And where ya gonna put that kick starter without spending/modifying like crazy. I could see weight being saved but not by this way.
Dump the steel handlebars. Hot Seat now has chromoly a-arms, and swingarms. Mettec has all the titanium bolts you could ever want, and you can change them out in small chunks. Take a look at those three jumbo engine mount bolts...they're huge, and heavy. Fab up an aluminum bracket for the fuel pump, water reservoir, and tail-light...they're steel stock. An ounce in sixteen places is a pound....how far do you want to go, cause the rider down the street just went further, while you were reading this. 
It's been silly season around here lately, I should've already posted the fastener specs. Dirk at Mettec is interested in packaging various kits ( front suspension, engine, rear suspension, etc) so people can do a little at a time. I just need to find time between races and articles to forward, and post here, the fastener specs. I also need to update the website with all the new mods to the Sport....hopefully gonna run like an afterburner equipped Taz this coming weekend. It's either gonna smoke 'em, or do instantaneous flips. 85hp and big tires...maybe I should've made that wheelie-bar.
Hey Modquad, is HSP going to update their site. I took a quick look and didn't find the chrome moly a-arms and swing arm. Hey and while I have you here, the rear bumper that HPD makes, is it polishable? (it's growing on me) I guess I could call but I know you have seen them in person. The picture looks like a brush finish.
Sure, you could polish that. When I first saw that, it wasn't on a machine...really struck me as wierd. Now that I've played around with it on a machine, it would easily be my bar of choice. If you give the Hot Seat folks a call @ 651-982-0600 they have their new catalogue out...complete w/ titanium suspension springs. They're getting everything ready for Haydaze, the states...er, countries largest snowmobile grass drags.
They're getting everything ready for Haydaze, the states...er, countries largest snowmobile grass drags.she is pretty good, i had her ripping on my 58 hp banshee. until she flew off... didn't weight enough and the suspension was like a rock for her, kinda really funny to watch... i should post a pic, but she is half naked in them all. aka trophy girl at truck carlisle.
Joined
·
434 Posts
I vote for riding the girlfriend, enough hard pumping will shave a few pounds off you. I lost about 40 with my new girl. I still weigh 250 though. =0)
I'm guessing that you dont want all the after market alum skid plates and crap, because that'll add like 40 or more pounds.
Ditch the airbox, go just a clamp on
LoneStar or Durablue axle when they come out
Billet Hubs front and rear
Moly front arms
Alum front and rear bumpers though they weight about the same as the stock steel
Ditch the tool kit
Ditch the stock pipe and got AAEN (it's light anyway, don't know about perf gains)
Ditch stock bars
Alum rear sprocket
and more pumping on the girlfriend and you should get pretty close to 40lbs off, maybe dome Douglas 160's and light Holeshots, just my thought/logic
I'm guessing that you dont want all the after market alum skid plates and crap, because that'll add like 40 or more pounds.
Ditch the airbox, go just a clamp on
LoneStar or Durablue axle when they come out
Billet Hubs front and rear
Moly front arms
Alum front and rear bumpers though they weight about the same as the stock steel
Ditch the tool kit
Ditch the stock pipe and got AAEN (it's light anyway, don't know about perf gains)
Ditch stock bars
Alum rear sprocket
and more pumping on the girlfriend and you should get pretty close to 40lbs off, maybe dome Douglas 160's and light Holeshots, just my thought/logic
Predator_96, rear Maxxis with wheel weigh 20.5 lbs each and its not the wheel making most of the weight. It doesn't matter what marketing BS they throw you, weigh em. I have a set of Sand Gecko's on Douglas .125s that weigh 17.5 and Geckos are a relatively heavy sand tire with a thick sidewall. Skat Trac's and Padla Brats are considerably lighter.
Sure, you'd have to mod for the kick start, but it could be done. Don't the sell the z450 with optional kick start? You not only get rid of the starter and associate relays, but you can get rid of the battery.
Sure, you'd have to mod for the kick start, but it could be done. Don't the sell the z450 with optional kick start? You not only get rid of the starter and associate relays, but you can get rid of the battery.
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
