I know this is a boating site but can we please get a good snowmobile thread going???

[RCDave]

Let the bashing begin!!! LOL The long and short of the Yami is that unless you are strictly a trail or lake rider, or you have a HP addiction, they aren't the sled for you..

I am a Yami fan boi, but I am also a HP addict. I still have my turbo/propane Nytro that if I want to go up hill fast, I will ride it for the day. I will say, after a day of riding it, I damn near have to take the next day off. As the 2S turbos have closed the gap on HP per pound, I find myself riding it less and less, but there is NO replacement for how hard a big turbo 4S pulls!

View attachment 1186256

I tried the CAT thing for a while as well but wasn't really my thing. Ran good just didn't pull as hard as the Nytro.

View attachment 1186258

What is the best brand in your opinion

 

[n2otoofast4u]

Ford/Chevy/Dodge debate.

I am a Skidoo guy. They certainly have their issues, but I think they are the best for good HP and maintaining good reliability without being total pigs. The Polaris are certainly lighter and nimbler, but we tow these back on probably a 10:1 ratio more than any other brand. In my mind the AC and Yami are 3 and 4 with Yami well back in the pack. I think AC and Yami have a larger following out East, but in the west Doo and Poo are certainly the lion's share of the sleds. I do think the AC are reliable but that's about where the interest stops for me.

 

[RCDave]

Ford/Chevy/Dodge debate.

I am a Skidoo guy. They certainly have their issues, but I think they are the best for good HP and maintaining good reliability without being total pigs. The Polaris are certainly lighter and nimbler, but we tow these back on probably a 10:1 ratio more than any other brand. In my mind the AC and Yami are 3 and 4 with Yami well back in the pack. I think AC and Yami have a larger following out East, but in the west Doo and Poo are certainly the lion's share of the sleds. I do think the AC are reliable but that's about where the interest stops for me.

Thanks!!!

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Anyone want to go riding in N.AZ in the next few weekends? Going to leave my shit in havasu if I'm not going again until mid-late February.. lol

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Thanks!!!

Ill echo what @n2otoofast4u said. A lot becomes personal preference though. My in-laws are Polaris people..I however prefer the skidoo platform. I like the switch placement, how they ride, and trail repair ease.... 2 weekends ago we were putting in the work to get my buddy's Polaris Khaos off the hill...but every platform will inevitably break at some point. I did an 18 mile round trip to get a tool out of my truck to avoid towing him down the hill.

It really depends on what you are after...for a trail sled I'd likely lean Polaris...but for what we do...im sticking with skidoo..

 

[TBulger]

Just got a 2023 Skidoo Summit Expert Turbo, 180 hp, goes like a scared cat.

 

[BIGRED9158]

 

[sml]

Just got a 2023 Skidoo Summit Expert Turbo, 180 hp, goes like a scared cat.

Holy shit Tom!! Love it!!!!

Hope you are doing good,

Brian

 

[sml]

Brand wise i feel the same as the majority here. If i still rode mountain sleds out west then without a doubt it would be a ski doo. I am in to arctic cats now really for the sole reason that a friend owns a cat dealer and i like to support him and their service is top notch. But I do have 6 arctic cats, one polaris and 2 ski doos.

One of my cats is an 2up 1100 turbo 4 stroke and it hurts a lot of peoples feelings out in the corn fields, lakes and on the groomers

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Avalanche bags....family aka my wife/mom have stated their desire for me to wear one going forward. Most of my gear is 509 or KLIM. I like the look & setup of the KLIM bag. One of the guys I ride with in WA has it, with a transponder/beacon on the shoulder strap. If you are in the mountains, which one are you using? Its obviously something I hope to never need but will spend the coin for the right one.

Atlas 26 Avalanche Airbag Pak

www.klim.com

 

[JD D05]

Avalanche bags....family aka my wife/mom have stated their desire for me to wear one going forward. Most of my gear is 509 or KLIM. I like the look & setup of the KLIM bag. One of the guys I ride with in WA has it, with a transponder/beacon on the shoulder strap. If you are in the mountains, which one are you using? Its obviously something I hope to never need but will spend the coin for the right one.

Atlas 26 Avalanche Airbag Pak

www.klim.com

I have the Klim bag. Most of the safety comes form knowledge though. Been through a couple L1 avy trainings. Reading and understanding the report is also very important.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

I have the Klim bag. Most of the safety comes form knowledge though. Been through a couple L1 avy trainings. Reading and understanding the report is also very important.

I am planning to take one of the three day courses. You are 100% correct.

 

[JD D05]

I am planning to take one of the three day courses. You are 100% correct.

It is by far the best money you can spend. Than you get into who you ride with and what type of terrain you ride.

 

[Hoodoo]

Brand wise i feel the same as the majority here. If i still rode mountain sleds out west then without a doubt it would be a ski doo.


What about the Polaris Matrix for mountain trails? I put 4 hrs on one today, seemed pretty nimble to me but I don’t have much seat time.

 

[sml]

Avalanche bags....family aka my wife/mom have stated their desire for me to wear one going forward. Most of my gear is 509 or KLIM. I like the look & setup of the KLIM bag. One of the guys I ride with in WA has it, with a transponder/beacon on the shoulder strap. If you are in the mountains, which one are you using? Its obviously something I hope to never need but will spend the coin for the right one.

Atlas 26 Avalanche Airbag Pak

www.klim.com

I’ve been through avalanche training. You definitely learn a lot. We would go out before the resort would open to mitigate. Rope training was also a plus. I’ve carried black diamond products(float bags, shovel, probes, beacon) and also had 2 RECCO devices on me when not working.

 

[Track Man]

Out here in California we don’t have avalanches like they have an Idaho Colorado and Montana. With our temperatures out here the snow set up pretty fast. My best advice is stay out of the avalanche zone when there is high avalanche danger. I belong to the Snowmobile club out here and I’m hosting a barbecue party in two weeks. We do avalanche safety at the party also have a beacon park where we play with are beacons. Somebody brought up a good point know where you’re going and who you are riding with. Earlier this year a guy was following somebody that he thought they knew where they were going. Guess what they went straight across the lake it was not frozen over. The guy playing follow the Leader went and 30 feet of water. He got lucky and was able to crawl a long ways across thin ice to safety. He got very cold and almost died. The next day they went out and rescued the snowmobile. I’ll have to say they did a pretty good job getting all this together all in one night.

 

[sml]

Happy to see the western riders are getting pounded. Got 2 days in so far this season and then the rains blew it all out. Unless we go head up to see some youper relatives, we have nothing rideable here and theres nothing ridable yet even in upstate NY. Should be getting something ridable this week here in north central PA. Till then i’m loaded up ready to go wherever possible, making brap brap noises in the trailer….

 

[Fulldeck]

Pics from yesterday riding in British Columbia about 20 mins from where we boat on Shuswap Lake.

Great day other than a few epic stucks !!

 

[Fulldeck]

View attachment 1191175 View attachment 1191176 View attachment 1191177 View attachment 1191178 View attachment 1191179


Pics from yesterday riding in British Columbia about 20 mins from where we boat on Shuswap Lake.

Great day other than a few epic stucks !!

View attachment 1191175 View attachment 1191176 View attachment 1191177 View attachment 1191178 View attachment 1191179


Pics from yesterday riding in British Columbia about 20 mins from where we boat on Shuswap Lake.

Great day other than a few epic stucks !!

And now 1 of the stucks

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

And now 1 of the stucks

Whoops. Sled OK?

 

[Track Man]

I hosted the Lake Tahoe Snowmobiler club party today. It’s been snowing every day for 3 to 4 weeks.Today we check all the boxes perfect weather and snow. I built a drag strip,and some jumps. I had a big barbecue for everybody. You have to ride 9 miles to get to my house. This is my son on his brand new $25,000 turbo Ski Doo free ride.

 

[Fulldeck]

P

Whoops. Sled OK?

yes … off camber hill and slid in to the trees , took 4 of us an hr to get it out , steep hole to push and pull it back up the hill and get the skis and sled on the same side of the trees ,

 

[Track Man]

My backyard Today.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

I hosted the Lake Tahoe Snowmobiler club party today. It’s been snowing every day for 3 to 4 weeks.Today we check all the boxes perfect weather and snow. I built a drag strip,and some jumps. I had a big barbecue for everybody. You have to ride 9 miles to get to my house. This is my son on his brand new $25,000 turbo Ski Doo free ride.
View attachment 1191249

Won’t get my new turbo sled until November (I’m confident in that because** skidoo delivers ) but damn that makes me excited!!!!!

 

[Shlbyntro]

Won’t get my new turbo sled until November (I’m confident in that bench skidoo delivers ) but damn that makes me excited!!!!!

Speed-Doo??

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Speed-Doo??

It autocorrected Because to bench...but yes lol....

 

[Mcob25rg]

My experience is they weigh 600#’s on the trail, 6,000#’s off the trail. I’ve been down to my tee shirt, shorts, and boots at 10* below digging a buddies sled out!

 

[JDKRXW]

My experience is they weigh 600#’s on the trail, 6,000#’s off the trail. I’ve been down to my tee shirt, shorts, and boots at 10* below digging a buddies sled out!

That's an excellent way to describe it. And of course the really awesome stucks are when the sled's in a hole and has to be pulled out backwards AND up-hill.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Dealer called me for snow check today. Doing my order tomorrow with the GM. I think I've settled on a 2024 Summit X Turbo 165. I've gotta decide whether I want the expert package or not by then.

Loading up Friday to go ride near flag if the forecast stays good.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Dealer called me for snow check today. Doing my order tomorrow with the GM. I think I've settled on a 2024 Summit X Turbo 165. I've gotta decide whether I want the expert package or not by then.

Loading up Friday to go ride near flag if the forecast stays good.

Thanks for digging this up. I could not find it last week…

 

[HNL2LHC]

One of our friends decided that he’d try to climb a Tree. The tree won….He ended up getting one ski on either side of the trunk. It was a nice brake watching him get up stuck…

We found a cool single track that went out by the lake…

Some of our favorite runs had a lot of bumps and it made it not so much fun after a few days on the trails.

The wildlife were all out this year unlike any other…

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Riding based out of AZ presents some challenges...loading/moving sleds being one. I researched a number of sled wheels... I settled on SkiPex out of Finland as the winner...these things are freaking awesome and easy to clip in and out for use. https://skipex.fi I think I spent around 194 euro's including shipping to the US, got them in a week via fed-ex. Several of my friends have since ordered them.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Thanks for digging this up. I could not find it last week…

View attachment 1202083 View attachment 1202084 View attachment 1202085 View attachment 1202086

They gave you guys some deeper paddle sleds, wasn't expecting that with a rental co. Looks like a good time.

 

[TBulger]

Dealer called me for snow check today. Doing my order tomorrow with the GM. I think I've settled on a 2024 Summit X Turbo 165. I've gotta decide whether I want the expert package or not by then.

Loading up Friday to go ride near flag if the forecast stays good.

I like mine with the expert package, but being of a somewhat conservative driver the sled will tend to heat up quick if on a groomed trail or hard-packed deep powder caused by the warmer days and cold nights. You’ve got to be on it pretty good most of the time. Good luck.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

I like mine with the expert package, but being of a somewhat conservative driver the sled will tend to heat up quick if on a groomed trail or hard-packed deep powder caused by the warmer days and cold nights. You’ve got to be on it pretty good most of the time. Good luck.

I deal with heat up on my current summit (which will become my wife’s sled), scratchers help with that. When we are in Washington we have about 9 miles to get to deeper stuff at a rapid elevation climb..it’s groomed and often my friends and I pile snow on the exchanger then take off. Seems to work.

I like speed and having the front end off the ground lol

Thanks for your real world thoughts on it. I wouldn’t do the turbo but we do enough 7k+ elevation that I think I’ll be happier with it.

I need to decide by Friday since allocations are limited…but I’m considering one of these for MaK to grow up with

 

[sml]

Riding based out of AZ presents some challenges...loading/moving sleds being one. I researched a number of sled wheels... I settled on SkiPex out of Finland as the winner...these things are freaking awesome and easy to clip in and out for use. https://skipex.fi I think I spent around 194 euro's including shipping to the US, got them in a week via fed-ex. Several of my friends have since ordered them.


View attachment 1202101

View attachment 1202102
View attachment 1202103

I use Rouski’s. They aren’t ascetically pleasing but serve a real purpose. Around here you can burn skags for a bit to get to gas stations. Easy to flip down and you don’t need to get off the machine to get them back up. They will go up themselves as soon as you are in good snow or just lean side to side.

 

[sml]

Absolute shit season here in the north east. It was looking real promising before xmas but all went to shit. Got some miles on though so it’s all good…. Heading to Munising, Mi in a couple weeks

 

[sml]

I deal with heat up on my current summit (which will become my wife’s sled), scratchers help with that. When we are in Washington we have about 9 miles to get to deeper stuff at a rapid elevation climb..it’s groomed and often my friends and I pile snow on the exchanger then take off. Seems to work.

I like speed and having the front end off the ground lol

Thanks for your real world thoughts on it. I wouldn’t do the turbo but we do enough 7k+ elevation that I think I’ll be happier with it.

I need to decide by Friday since allocations are limited…but I’m considering one of these for MaK to grow up with View attachment 1202110

Pre ordered a zr 200. My oldest daughter just turned 6 a couple weeks ago and she has quickly outgrown the 120 already this season. She still has fun on it (and the kitty cat) but it looks like she will be ready next year to step up.

My other one is 3 so i don’t mine getting one since she’ll be using it next!

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Pre ordered a zr 200. My oldest daughter just turned 6 a couple weeks ago and she has quickly outgrown the 120 already this season. She still has fun on it (and the kitty cat) but it looks like she will be ready next year to step up.

My other one is 3 so i don’t mine getting one since she’ll be using it next!

Mak is about to turn 3, so that's why I'm looking now. If you didn't have the next rider lined up Id be a buyer lol. Im on the fence of whether to pull the trigger or wait until she is 4. The new 120's are right at $4k.

I'm going to head up to flagstaff this weekend with the family. They are going to do Snowbowl Saturday, im going to hit the sled trails on Sunday if anyone is in the area. Supposed to have some new snowfall!

 

[sml]

Mak is about to turn 3, so that's why I'm looking now. If you didn't have the next rider lined up Id be a buyer lol. Im on the fence of whether to pull the trigger or wait until she is 4. The new 120's are right at $4k.

I'm going to head up to flagstaff this weekend with the family. They are going to do Snowbowl Saturday, im going to hit the sled trails on Sunday if anyone is in the area. Supposed to have some new snowfall!

I’d get one now because they aren’t getting any cheaper and who knows of availability either, i know in our area it is still hard to even get new machines. Partly why i’m just ordering the 200 now. If there is any delays it won’t be a problem for me.

I wish i was still living in Pinetop because i’d get you out up that way. Right here is the snowmobile parking on 273, right past the sunrise ski area turn off, where they close the road for winter. There are Snowmobile access gates

 

[sml]

I’ve never ridden sleds in flag. I spent most of my time there going to the cinder hills ohv area.

A couple guys i know would always talk about using sleds to get to some back country skiing.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Settled on a 165 Turbo Skidoo Summit X expert. They had an option for a rear heated seat which I opted for MaK to have. I got a number of accessories and options, but mainly the large LED display, shot start, at the tie in for my helmet heater (I currently run that off a battery pack). Looking forward to getting it before our annual xmas trip to Washington. Fun Center in Durango has been a great company to deal with. This is my second major purchase from them. The GM (who I deal directly with) is as straight of a shooter as they come. Handshake/phone deals mean something to them still which is refreshing. I'm going to hold off on the 120 until next year I think..

I'm ready for summer, but Im also excited as shit about having a turbo sled at high altitudes.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

I’d get one now because they aren’t getting any cheaper and who knows of availability either, i know in our area it is still hard to even get new machines. Partly why i’m just ordering the 200 now. If there is any delays it won’t be a problem for me.

I wish i was still living in Pinetop because i’d get you out up that way. Right here is the snowmobile parking on 273, right past the sunrise ski area turn off, where they close the road for winter. There are Snowmobile access gates

I may hit you up next week about some advice on access points etc. I held off on the 120, we have a Polaris mini sled already, but I Think I want to wait until she's 4 before dropping that kind of cash for one.

 

[JD D05]

Settled on a 165 Turbo Skidoo Summit X expert. They had an option for a rear heated seat which I opted for MaK to have. I got a number or accessories and options, but mainly the large LED display, shot start, at the tie in for my helmet heater (I currently run that off a battery pack). Looking forward to getting it before our annual xmas trip to Washington. Fun Center in Durango has been a great company to deal with. This is my second major purchase from them. The GM (who I deal directly with) is as straight of a shooter as they come. Handshake/phone deals mean something to them still which is refreshing. I'm going to hold off on the 120 until next year I think..

I'm ready for summer, but Im also excited as shit about having a turbo sled at high altitudes.

Did you order a 24?

 

[Ace in the Hole]

Did you order a 24?

Yep, snow check opened yesterday or the day before I believe. Dave Norona did a couple good videos about the changes to the 24's on instagram

 

[Track Man]

My son just picked up this 23 ski Doo turbo free ride. He has a 2011, 800 free ride that he’s still riding. It’s mainly a commuter sled to get up to the house. He’s very hard on his sleds. He has a 2016 Polaris 800 which he put a Boondocker turbo on. That sled has been a big pain in the ass. He just spent a lot of money on it putting an inner cooler and now it doesn’t even run. That’s why I told him just go buy a factory turbo with the warranty. Being a lifelong Polaris guy I do think the Rotax is a much better motor. This thing rips. I was riding it the other day, and when I hit the throttle the front and came up and I was pulling a wheelie. I’ve never done that on a snowmobile.

 

[JD D05]

Yep, snow check opened yesterday or the day before I believe. Dave Norona did a couple good videos about the changes to the 24's on instagram

OK ya. I ended up going with the freeride. But I prefer the 36 inch front end. I hate the maroon but I will put a completely different skid in like my 22 Freeride and also spindles.

 

[Ace in the Hole]

My experience is they weigh 600#’s on the trail, 6,000#’s off the trail. I’ve been down to my tee shirt, shorts, and boots at 10* below digging a buddies sled out!

I tried to find the photo but I guess I didn’t save it… I buried mine in about 4 feet of powder against a chunk of rock and ice a couple days before New Year’s at over 7kft…temps in the 20s. I probably could’ve rung out my clothes after I finally got it out lol. I rode back down the mountain with nothing more than my shell/bibs on and everything else in the bag

I keep a couple trail beers for this reason lol it’s the most satisfying beer you ever drink

 

[HNL2LHC]

I tried to find the photo but I guess I didn’t save it… I buried mine in about 4 feet of powder against a chunk of rock and ice a couple days before New Year’s at over 7kft…temps in the 20s. I probably could’ve rung out my clothes after I finally got it out lol. I rode back down the mountain with nothing more than my shell/bibs on and everything else in the bag

I keep a couple trail beers for this reason lol it’s the most satisfying beer you ever drink

Things were a little soft out in the middle of the hillside. Got a little stuck but nothing like you Joel. There was another one of our guys that was stuck. Then 5 other guys went back for about 30 minutes to help dig him out. Then you have Rick last year that always stuck. We lot him for about 45 minutes. LOL

 

[buck35]

We called those big holes bomb craters,after a bad stuck.