Author Topic: Snowmobiles (Read 6007 times)

Fuzzball · « **on:** February 17, 2009, 01:47:08 PM »

Got a couple sleds this year to get us out of the house during our long winter. My last time before this year was 1972---things sure have changed.
I like it just fine, but I don't feel even a little of the passion for it as I do for my two wheeler.
Just curious to find out if anyone else amongst the brethren ride the winter crotch rocket. Votes and opinions: bring em on!

Blasbo · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2009, 02:31:34 PM »

Not much use for 'em 'round here.

gregk · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2009, 03:20:31 PM »

Seems to me that Harley made a snowmachine years ago.

I used snomobiles to survey in the winters for a geophysical crew. As soon as I got out of that business, I couldn't get rid of it fast enough. never been on one since.
i am however, impressed with the technology that the manufacturers are using these days. The suspensions appear to be great and like other pleasure craft, are all going to 4 stroke.
There is lots of interest in snomobiles around here ( interior BC). Unfortunately, the riders don't seem to be carefull enough about unstable areas (avalanche) and every year some die or if they are lucky, only get buried for a while. Same goes for the backcountry skiers.

Greg

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2009, 03:26:43 PM »

They sure did, never knew that.

1971 Harley Y398 X 3

fuzzybutt · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2009, 11:11:53 PM »

theyre a bunch of fun, the only problem is that snow is cold and wet. i dont deal with cold and damp real well anymore. an uncle reminded me this evening of the broken legs i got in 82 riding one of the things. dont know why i didnt remember that. as bad as it was maybe my mind blocked it..................who knows?

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2009, 08:47:41 AM »

I did a lot snowmobiling when I was in my teens back in the early 70's. We had a pair of 72 vintage Arctic Cats. I lived in a small town in central Minnesota then and there were few restrictions on where you could go and we drove the hell out of those Cats. The whole family was into it and I had to fight to get time on the machines between my parents and 4 brothers. I remember my parents and their friends would go out late at night and make the rounds of local country taverns or bring booze with them in wine flasks. They would come back pretty toasted on many occasions. Most of my childhood friends also had machines and I am surprised that no one was seriously hurt from all of our irresponsible antics. We would go through at least one windshield every winter from rolling the machine. Have you ever been towed behind on a small metal saucer at 20-40 miles an hour? Lucky for us these old machines were not as fast as the new ones. Good times.
Some makes I can remember from those days.
Arctic Cat
Mercury
Johnson
Evinrude
Ski Doo
Polaris
Yamaha
Harley Davidson
Scorpion
Rupp This one had an an engine without a shroud and the carb and its little oval air filter housing sat right at crotch level. We nicknamed them Ruptures. Something fairly common on some designs at the time. By todays standards some of these would be a lawyers wet dream.

gregk · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2009, 09:11:50 AM »

We used a Snowcruiser snowmibile in the winter to feed the old man's cattle. My brother and I found an old hood from a 50's oldsmobile and turned it over, hooked it on the the back of the snowmobile and hauled hay bales to the cows. The fun started on the way back from the feed area. One of us drove and the other got to try and stand on the hood. it was just about impossible to stay upright. The rider was airborne about half the time. Seemed like fun at the time.

Greg

cafe750 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2009, 09:15:04 AM »

I ride a Artic Cat 900, with suspension goodies, pipe, reeds, and a 175 inch track...fun times...

bradweingartner · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2009, 02:27:49 PM »

Quote from: cafe750 on February 22, 2009, 09:15:04 AM

I ride a Artic Cat 900, with suspension goodies, pipe, reeds, and a 175 inch track...fun times...

175?? I thought the longest was 174? My old man has a King Cat 162", that thing is too long for around here I'd say. Goes like hell though in the snow.

I run a few cats. 800 mountain cat 144, building a 700 ZR with a 153 and custom tunnel extension and cobbled together and half fabricated rear skid... Should be fun.

Fuzzball · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2009, 05:34:59 AM »

Hey Brad--
Good riding there in the Western U.P.? We get some decent snow around here in the Eastern end, but not the steady lake effect that you probably get. Pretty flat here as well. No complaint though, the trail runs across the road a quarter mile from my house. Pretty much get on and go. Took a nice ride yesterday---200 miles---Sault to Paradise and back.. Very little traffic on the trails on a Sunday, lots of fluff off-trail. Sunshine. Life is good.

bradweingartner · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2009, 07:50:14 PM »

I'm in Ishpeming, more of a Central UP. The riding here hasn't been decent in years. Always lots of snow up in the Keweenaw though I hear. I've been meaning to trailer up and ride a day or two up there. Took a ride up to Baraga a week ago and was beaten to a pulp on the way... Ride back was actually pretty smooth though.

Snow was looking awesome through January and then the big melt came and took it all away.

Pretty much decided to put my long-track project on hold and start on my second CB. Just don't seem to have the desire to go riding unless there is a ton of snow in the boonies to play in.

Fuzzball · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2009, 06:14:14 AM »

I know what you mean about waiting for good conditions. In our early snowboarding days, we'd go out as soon as the mud was frozen. As time went by, we got more and more fussy about conditions. It's a standard progression I think. We get out your way pretty often. We've been snowboarding at Marquette Mt., Porcupine Mts., and Mt. Bohemia. We visit my brother in Escanaba several times a year.

A friend has trailered his snowmachines to the Keweenaw a couple times. Says I for sure need to do that sometime. I look forward to discovering a lot of great trips in the next few years. This summer, we're looking at a bike trip up in the Keweenaw, in July sometime.

The snowmobile trail system in the UP has been a real revelation to me. I was sort of aware of its existence, but until you start driving on it, you don't know how much care and planning, bridge building, signposting, brushing, clearing and grooming it takes to maintain.

Good luck on your new CB project. My 750-Four is good to go for this year, so my current is an 84 CB650sc Nighthawk. What's yours?

my78k · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2009, 07:03:35 AM »

I've owned several and riddens dozens over the years. Currently don't have any as I just don't have the time or money. The sled isn't the real issue but I would have to trailer it anywhere I wanted to go plus insurance plus trail pass etc etc etc all adds up. Now I just mooch off of my buddy's! I was out 2 weekends ago when I went to a buddy's cottage. He had 2 late 80's early 90's cats. One was a 440 and the other a 380. The 380 started and idled ok but the 440 just wouldn't run. I offered to spend a couple of beers uh I mean hours working on it for him if I could play with it once it was running. Well after pulling out a mouse nest out of the airbox and tearing apart the carbs and cleaning loads of gunk out it was running not bad (considering they hadn' been run since the late 90's).

Dennis

Jay B · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:29:03 AM »

I started riding sleds again 2 years ago, hadn't had one since the late 70's. I usually have to trailer 400 miles to good trails, so it's only a couple times a winter. But what a BLAST! Unless it's sub- zero out I have more fun on these than bikes anymore.

Fuzzball · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2009, 01:31:57 PM »

The more I ride my snowmobile, the more I understand the attraction to dirt bikes and the less structured off-road experience. But I'd probably just hurt myself...

bradweingartner · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2009, 05:19:33 AM »

Quote from: Fuzzball on February 24, 2009, 01:31:57 PM

The more I ride my snowmobile, the more I understand the attraction to dirt bikes and the less structured off-road experience. But I'd probably just hurt myself...

They definitely both have their place. Problem is I've gone down on my dirt bike more times than I can count. And while dirt doesn't hurt quite as bad as Pavement, it DEFINITELY hurts way more than snow.

As far as my CB projects. I have two 74 550s. One is largely stock. One is just a bare frame and a bare engine and I have a pile of late model sportbike parts to swap on. Going to be my toy, and the other is going to be my 'reliable' toy.

Johnie · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2009, 05:30:26 AM »

Did not start until around 1998 getting a used Polaris for the boys to use. The next year I bought a new AC Pantera for 2 years. Sold that and bought a new AC T600 Turbo and that is a nice sled. Rode that a couple years, but we just were not getting much snow here in WI. Could only ride on the lake as the trails were always closed. Had to drive 5+ hours north to find open trails. So with the lack of snow I sold everything to the same guy that bought my Pantera. Sold it all in October 2007...then the snow was great the last 2 years. I have enough to do in the winter with the bikes and the wife was not real crazy about sledding anyway. So I do not miss it.

noflipside · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2009, 09:02:21 AM »

Been into sleds since early 70's along with my SL 100 back then. After getting out of the Army in late 70's started collecting vintage. My ride now is a 2007 Yamaha Vector 4 stroke ( what a sound) and my wife has a Ski-Doo legend. We have a place in Northern NY so we try and ride as much as we can. Restoring a 1973 K3 so getting back into the First big bike I had in a long time. Love to ride both season's.

Fuzzball · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17, 2009, 11:28:01 AM »

Welcome to the forum "flip".
Yah, those Yammy 4 strokes sound good. A friend of mine drives one. Took my machines in for summerizing last week. Back on the two wheeler now. We still have lotsa dirty snow banks but the roads are dry if not free of salt and sand (yikes!). I'll be ready to hit the snowmobile trails again next December---but that's a long way away, and I hope, many miles on the CB750 in between

bender01 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 19, 2009, 07:47:06 PM »

Have you ever been towed behind on a small metal saucer at 20-40 miles an hour?
Yes. My friends and i would try to whip it like a water skier and hit woodchuck holes in fields sending whoever was on the saucer flailing through the air. I cant say that we ever rode one out. Ist sled was a 73 moto-ski futura 340. Second and last was an 85 yamaha excel 3? An enticer with electric start. I totaled that one. My friends had SRVs V- max and such. I couldnt keep up most of the time. I did enjoy night riding in the woods. Thought a water craft could sastisfy that urge here where I live now but they are no fun compared to a sled. I also remember an early 70s red AMF sled that was in a garage that didnt run. Sure that got tossed in a landfill somewhere.

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #20 on:** May 08, 2009, 11:54:19 AM »

While I like them and love working on them.... I have never ridden one. Not once. Even to test it out.

Sad right?

my78k · « **Reply #21 on:** May 08, 2009, 05:25:27 PM »

Yes it is!

You are missin gout...they are a ton of fun!

Dennis

cbr-eric · « **Reply #22 on:** May 14, 2009, 06:04:44 PM »

they are a ton of fun, much easier to screw around on than a bike, and I think they are a lot quicker, just nothing really for top end. fun to catch air off knolls in the trails. just a lot of fun all around, been riding since I was about 8 years old, and I am 28 now. you do the math

only rode a bike for the last 3 years, but man it is nice to not have to wait for the trails, wait for snow, wait for the water bars to freeze up, etc. nice to just see if it is raining, and gear up and head out! a LOT less fuss, and therefore a lot less aggravating. nothing like spending a lot of $$ and waiting all spring/summer/fall to have a season that is already short (here where I am in NH I am lucky when I can start riding the end of december and real lucky if it lasts all the way into april) so a few weeks in the middle with warm weather can ruin the trails and really piss you off. when it all works out though, it really is amazing fun!

my78k · « **Reply #23 on:** May 15, 2009, 09:51:45 AM »

Did you just say no top end??? Ridden a decent sled lately? Even my buddies Ski doo GSX 600 will do over 100mp/h

Dennis

cbr-eric · « **Reply #24 on:** May 15, 2009, 11:22:52 AM »

ridden a bike recently?? 100 mph is barely getting going on a new sport bike. thats what I meant by top end, I was comparing it to a new sportbike. and yes, I have ridden new sleds. friend has an apex, I have an 03 viper. seen 118-119 on the viper. and you are not trusting the stock speedo are you???

those things are WAAAAAYYYY off

News:

Poll

How many of us ride?

Author Topic: Snowmobiles (Read 6007 times)

fuzzybutt

noflipside