Snowmobiles - A plea for HELP!

[eastcoaster]

Tim that is an old comment from 2007 re Sno Trackers. I have had these on two sleds for thousands of miles as have the guys I snowmobile with and many many others.
They are a proven product that greatly enhances steering control. I can only guess that any high siding event would be caused by dramatic steering input from the driver (driver error). The precise steering input they provide at all speeds is a huge safety factor for me. I would not ride without them.

 

[tim h]

Regardless of when the original comment was made. It's a valid point to be cautious when adding steering enhancements to your sled.
Folks added them , and then ended up high-siding. No guessing or speculation.
I know the trail systems in Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan well, and the snow/trail conditions that are common. It would really suck to high side on a turn and get thrown into the trees!

BE CAUTIOUS is all I'm saying.

@eastcoaster Your experience and trail conditions may differ.

 

[biffdotorg]

Regardless of when the original comment was made. It's a valid point to be cautious when adding steering enhancements to your sled.
Folks added them , and then ended up high-siding. No guessing or speculation.
I know the trail systems in Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan well, and the snow/trail conditions that are common. It would really suck to high side on a turn and get thrown into the trees!

BE CAUTIOUS is all I'm saying.

@eastcoaster Your experience and trail conditions may differ.

Very common topic on HCS, and it started as a troll post by a competitor to the Sno Trackers. I have never bought them, as I got great performance from my Woodies Dooleys at half the cost. But I have heard nothing but legitimate good things from anyone that used them.

The odd case of someone high siding their sled by using them was doing something really stupid to get their sled to flip by using good traction products. With any traction product, the balance front to back is very important. And crossing something like railroad tracks, or trailers where metal on metal will happen, it just needs to be done with care head on. But that topic comes up nearly annually by the trolls on HCS.

I take it with a grain of salt for sure.

And to the other comment, yes, they are like fins, as Yamaha seems to have an issue with steering in more than one sport. Yamaha has never produced a Ski worth beans. And I have owned 7 Yamaha sleds. But they can be made to work with a little help.

 

[anmut]

Alright guys - I did it. After lots of hunting I am now the proud owner of no less than three snowmobiles of various brands.

1993 Polaris w/ 2up seating 500cc, 3xxx miles. Thoughts: nice sled, steering is heavy. My wife likes the throttle response as there's room for 'mistakes.' Very easy going sled for taking kids for rides and such.

2002 Yamaha Vmax 600 triple, 8xxx miles. Fun sled, lots of power through the entire throttle band. Seems solid in handling and comfort. Easy to drive, just a really good sled with enough power to ride. Not too much power that I felt like I was in danger of losing control.

1998 Ski-doo MKZ 500, 3xxx miles. Holy sh*t this is a nutter sled. I picked this up as it was at a guys house whom I was buying a trailer from. It's light (no reverse/no electric start) and because I though my wife might enjoy something a bit more nimble as the metal skis on the Polaris are tough for her to torque on at low speeds.

Rode it last night and it is WILD. Throttle is so quick it'll pick the ski's up - I'm pretty sure with a little lean back I could wheelie this sled. Ride is squirrely as all hell - any slight turn and one of the ski's is lifting. It's going to be a fun sled, maybe not for my wife though.

Total investment for the three sleds, and including 10' aluminum snowmobile trailer, is $4k. Still not as fun as a jet boat in the summer, but it passes the time!

 

[Rooster585]

I know this is a dominate Yamaha forum, but growing up in the UP of Michigan, some of the best products out there were the Yamaha's. Yam makes a great product, and the dependability is always off the charts.
I grew up on Yamaha dirt bikes. Owned 1 Suzuki for 1 summer only, then back on the Yam. We had a Ski-Doo sled but it was hard to keep running. Folks I grew up with had Yamaha's and they just ran year after year.
I mean just look at the pictures above.....drool....drool....

 

[biffdotorg]

Alright guys - I did it. After lots of hunting I am now the proud owner of no less than three snowmobiles of various brands.

1993 Polaris w/ 2up seating 500cc, 3xxx miles. Thoughts: nice sled, steering is heavy. My wife likes the throttle response as there's room for 'mistakes.' Very easy going sled for taking kids for rides and such.

2002 Yamaha Vmax 600 triple, 8xxx miles. Fun sled, lots of power through the entire throttle band. Seems solid in handling and comfort. Easy to drive, just a really good sled with enough power to ride. Not too much power that I felt like I was in danger of losing control.

1998 Ski-doo MKZ 500, 3xxx miles. Holy sh*t this is a nutter sled. I picked this up as it was at a guys house whom I was buying a trailer from. It's light (no reverse/no electric start) and because I though my wife might enjoy something a bit more nimble as the metal skis on the Polaris are tough for her to torque on at low speeds.

Rode it last night and it is WILD. Throttle is so quick it'll pick the ski's up - I'm pretty sure with a little lean back I could wheelie this sled. Ride is squirrely as all hell - any slight turn and one of the ski's is lifting. It's going to be a fun sled, maybe not for my wife though.

Total investment for the three sleds, and including 10' aluminum snowmobile trailer, is $4k. Still not as fun as a jet boat in the summer, but it passes the time!

Very cool, you have a great collection of starter sleds that will start the addiction! Heck, the trailer is a quarter the value that will never loose much more. What a great deal. Now let's get this storm started that's going to nail MN/WI/MI!!!!

 

[biffdotorg]

I know this is a dominate Yamaha forum, but growing up in the UP of Michigan, some of the best products out there were the Yamaha's. Yam makes a great product, and the dependability is always off the charts.
I grew up on Yamaha dirt bikes. Owned 1 Suzuki for 1 summer only, then back on the Yam. We had a Ski-Doo sled but it was hard to keep running. Folks I grew up with had Yamaha's and they just ran year after year.
I mean just look at the pictures above.....drool....drool....

Crazy part about riding in the UP, is the trails up there have always been dominated by the biggest, baddest muscle sleds. It's where most could literally stretch their legs.

And Yamaha always seemed to have at least one monster in that category. So no, they have not been a market share leader since the mid 80's with the Phazer/Exciter. But they have always had a trail rocket for the UP. SRX, RX1, Apex and now the Sidewinder.

I have never ridden any other place where you can easily and safely hold triple digit speeds for as long, as you can on the trails in da UP. 600's may be king of the tight twisties of MN, but the 165+hp trail rockets and 200-300hp turbo sleds rule in da UP.

 

[Rooster585]

I grew up in Alger County in the U.P. The snowmobile capitol of the world. I have traveled all over the US, Mexico and a bit in Asia, Alger County is one of the most beautiful places, summer and winter.

 

[anmut]

Very cool, you have a great collection of starter sleds that will start the addiction! Heck, the trailer is a quarter the value that will never loose much more. What a great deal. Now let's get this storm started that's going to nail MN/WI/MI!!!!

That's what I'm talking about!

 

[anmut]

I know this is a dominate Yamaha forum, but growing up in the UP of Michigan, some of the best products out there were the Yamaha's. Yam makes a great product, and the dependability is always off the charts.
I grew up on Yamaha dirt bikes. Owned 1 Suzuki for 1 summer only, then back on the Yam. We had a Ski-Doo sled but it was hard to keep running. Folks I grew up with had Yamaha's and they just ran year after year.
I mean just look at the pictures above.....drool....drool....

One of the first sleds I was considering was a newer Yammie four-stroke but after driving these two-strokes I don't think the fun factor would be equal. I mean, that ski-doo is like riding a chainsaw, it really is insane. Braaaaaaaaaaaaap!