TK4
Well-known member
But Yamaha is still supplying powerplants to Cat aren't they ?
More trouble in snowmobile land
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TK4
Well-known member
Hmm - where's Cat going to get motors ?
TK4
Well-known member
I'd be betting on a Chinese partner if Trump doesn't get in the way.
I don't know how much AC exported but snowmobiling is still quite big in parts of Europe and Japan. Canada's mountain segment is still doing well also as far as I know. I see a lot of the trail market getting smaller though and I think that's what most of us see.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
I still use a sled when I'm in the North. North of New Liskard has about 6", they're grooming trails this week around Timmins.
The north is looking good much better this season -- the ground and lakes froze before snow started accumulating so the trails won't be muddy and the lakes won't be slushy this season.
It got worse. AC is suspending production indefinitely of snowmobiles, utv and atv and conducting a strategic review.
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Textron To Indefinitely Pause Production at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls & St. Cloud - KVRR Local News
THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. (KVRR) — A major blow for workers at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls and St. Cloud as the company announces layoffs and the suspension of snowmobile, ATV and UTV production. According to a Securities and Exchange filing, Textron, the Cessna jet maker that owns the...
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I’ve been out of the loop in snowmobile land for a decade or two now, however whilr delivering some motorcycles to a dealer in Stouffville earlier this week I took a look at some Polaris models on the floor.
What struck me first was how different they appear from the snowmobiles I remember of the 90s and early 2000s. They’re narrower. They’re higher, there is some weird trend with insanely long tunnels with tiny little seats on top and a bunch of apparent dead space? The handlebars are stuck up in the air. Air management (ie Rider Comfort) seems to have taken second place to styling. Things like heated floorboards don’t seem to be a thing anymore, heck a few that I saw literally had stamped “open-hole” floorboards.
And then there was the price. You’d be pushing $30K (+) for some of these machines after taxes. Wtf?
It’s no wonder that coupled with crappier winters, the industry is struggling now.
What struck me first was how different they appear from the snowmobiles I remember of the 90s and early 2000s. They’re narrower. They’re higher, there is some weird trend with insanely long tunnels with tiny little seats on top and a bunch of apparent dead space? The handlebars are stuck up in the air. Air management (ie Rider Comfort) seems to have taken second place to styling. Things like heated floorboards don’t seem to be a thing anymore, heck a few that I saw literally had stamped “open-hole” floorboards.
And then there was the price. You’d be pushing $30K (+) for some of these machines after taxes. Wtf?
It’s no wonder that coupled with crappier winters, the industry is struggling now.
Tracks got a lot longer. To keep weight down, they don't run the subframe and seat over the longer track. Riding stance is closer to adv bike now and old school was closer to cruiser.
It doesn’t appeal to me. Can’t imagine it appeals to a lot of the 50+ crowd with the most disposable income available to spend on them, either.
Eventually the 20-30-somethings “financed to the hilt to have all the toys in the garage and towed around by the bro-dozer pickup that’s also financed to the hilt, all parked in the driveway of the house mortagaed to the hilt” house of cards seems like it may come falling down. Probably it’s already started which is why we’re seeing multiple toy manufacturers failing, or flailing.
Eventually the 20-30-somethings “financed to the hilt to have all the toys in the garage and towed around by the bro-dozer pickup that’s also financed to the hilt, all parked in the driveway of the house mortagaed to the hilt” house of cards seems like it may come falling down. Probably it’s already started which is why we’re seeing multiple toy manufacturers failing, or flailing.
The new ones are way more comfortable than the old style despite looking funny they have much more travel and much more compliance
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Mad Mike
Well-known member
I have an entry level Polaris Indy 550. Stupid simple 550cc air cooled 2t, OI, Twin. It has a reverse, electric and pull start, simple CDI ignition, and they are still Carbed. The only niceties are reverse and electric start. 1 pull at any temp and she fires right up. Parts are cheap, but in 5000km we haven't needed any (except a windshield).
It's more comfortable to ride and has better manners and dependability than my old MachZ 800. But it's not hitting 200kmh across the ice -- top speed is a scary 115KMH, but I can go 250km on a 40l fillup.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
Ride one, you'll be surprised.
I think the toy makers are failing for a few reasons:
1) Climate. 20 years ago I lived on the Holland River, I used an ATV from March to Christmas, and a sled from Christmas to March. Last year I don't think there was any sledding on the Holland river.
2) Bubble wrapped young men. The current generation of young men are not pounding dirtbikes, ATVs and sleds they farm fields at 12 years old. Too dangerous, and too few places where it's permitted.
3) Toys are too expensive. 13K for an entry level ATV or sled that might go 10K KM before a major OH is a lot of money. Add in insurance, storage space, and a tow vehicle and it's become insanely expensive to play. Bring back the Yamaha Bravos and Skidoo Elans for $<5K and maybe you'll see an uptick in interest.
GP_RZ
Well-known member
Imho they dont have the grunt like the older triples and sound less appealing as well. But I am considering trying out a newer Polaris for the comfort and long track and lighter. But still smile when my 95 v4 800 and 2001 srx 700 embarrass some of the newer iron on the lake.
The modern sleds that look uncomfortable are so much more comfortable and forgiving than anything 2002 and older. Old sleds put you on your tailbone and with ~3-4” of suspension travel every bump gets put through your back. New sleds put you forward, on the rotating axis of the sled so you can steer effortlessly and also take advantage of the 8-12”+ of suspension travel that soaks up every bump.
3hrs will beat me up on an old style sled. I can rail 8+hr days on a modern aggressive sled and be golden to ride the following day.
3hrs will beat me up on an old style sled. I can rail 8+hr days on a modern aggressive sled and be golden to ride the following day.
TK4
Well-known member
The SRX700 was scary fast but not much of a ditch banger.
I think you'll be surprised. The 1L four cylinders pull like the hand of god is on your ass. It's a very different experience to the 2T triples. I haven't ridden any of the turbo sleds. The longer tracks definitely float better too. The fastest I've ever gone on a sled was a 700 triple though. We had a buddies up to a little over 200 kph running a toluene mix. He's since turned it back down as refueling with toluene was expensive and a pain.
Nothing will sound as good as a triple but they also drink fuel like crazy and a decent twin of the same size will kill them now. Power valves and clutching have greatly improved. I have a pair of Polaris available if interested pm me.
GP_RZ
Well-known member
Yeah I here yeah, I dont trail ride with my old Yamaha's strictly playing on lakes I would gladly put my vmax 4 800 or SRX against a brand new twin 800 for top end rights. Your getting out of sleds of just upgrading?
