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Is it too early to talk snowmobiles?

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Posted by: ws6transam---------------------

I have a couple of old Yamahas: A 1980 Enticer 340 Deluxe, and a 1980 Excel V (EC540). Both have been restored & run as well as one can expect from a vintage machine.

However I have stumbled across a deal on a dusty & forgotten 1998 Arctic Cat Thundercat 1000. With nearly fourteen inches of suspension travel and independent wishbone front suspension, it promises to be a smoother ride on the trails than my old school machines. The engine has zero miles on it since rebuild, and the price is "best offer". The rest of it looks to be in fine shape.

I'm told it's a heavy beast that makes up for it's mass with horsepower. What do you think? An OK sled for Michigan ORV trails, or should I pass and get something lighter?


Posted by: 2TrakR---------------------

No sled is good for ORV trails. The Thundercat is a handful on the Snowmobile trails (except for the RR Grade-based trails). The ZRT line was built as lake racing beasts. My 600ZRT was great for power and speed - bumps and turns were not good compared to other sleds aimed at the trails.

http://vvmapping.com/snap/d/1809-4/IMG_1652.JPG


Posted by: dnrtheil---------------------

I grew up riding Enticers, later I had a 1996 ZRT 600, have since gone back to Yamaha's 2002 SX600R. You'll enjoy the heck out of the Thundercat in the open, but might find it too much weight for trail riding. It al depends on the kind of riding you like to do. I prefer the tight twisty trails to the open fields or lakes. In my opinion, the Sx-R handles much better than the ZRT did. My brother has a 1996 V-Max 600 for sale $800.00 if you might be interested. It'll ride better than your Enticers, but not on par with anything between 2000 and now. If I were to buy a new sled I would be looking at the Polaris Rush or a Ski-Doo with the Rev II chassis.

Good luck- Derek


Posted by: 09oneL---------------------

Snowmobiles suck


Posted by: 2TrakR---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by dnrtheil
If I were to buy a new sled I would be looking at the Polaris Rush or a Ski-Doo with the Rev II chassis.


I've moved to the REV platform myself (GSX trail models). All my Cats are going down the road. Such a huge difference in comfort - much more like riding a bike, you can actually stand up on 'em and take the whoops. 200-mile days feel like a warm up.

Back to the original post - you'll like the TCat a lot over your classic sleds if you are doing any kind of open riding. Ride will be much plusher and the performance will be significantly increased. Tryin' to snake it through tighter trees or around the yard will be not so fun.

We keep a 97 Polaris 340 Lite around for yard duty, kind of a cross between the old and new, but small like the older sleds. Works great to pull the kids through the woods.


Posted by: nickolino---------------------

Whats the difference between a snomobiler and a quad rider? Answer the is'nt any.


Posted by: Bradtwocreeks---------------------

Never too early to talk about sledding!!!

The handling of the new sleds (any mfg) with the rider forward positioning has me willing the spend some money and upgrade sleds. I just makes the rough trails more enjoyable for family outings.

I dipped into my new cycle funds and bought a really nice GTX for the wife. Now I am trying to get a Renagade for myself.

No new KTM for me. I'll keep the 10 year old one going for a few more years. Sorry Nick!!! Think Ski-doo Dealership!!!


Posted by: Wolverine423---------------------

Dirt Rider.Net!!

By the way I bought the wife a new set of pots & pans for the winter.


Posted by: _JOE_---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolverine423
Dirt Rider.Net!!

By the way I bought the wife a new set of pots & pans for the winter.

How did you forget cake pans and pie tins?


Posted by: ws6transam---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolverine423
Dirt Rider.Net!!

By the way I bought the wife a new set of pots & pans for the winter.


Ha ha ha, point taken!
Oh, pots & pans: Good one, but it sounds vaguely like a hazardous thing to try, especially if you try & pass them off as a gift.

Oh, and a MEANT Snowmobile trails, not ORV trails, so sorry! It's just it seems kind of, sort of, related, especially when the dirt freezes solid, and I want to get outside & do something fun other than shovel slush.

p.s. I took another look at that sled, and realized it had some kind of semi-rusty aftermarket pipes and turndowns with virtually NO mufflers. I don't want to mess with trying to track down a stock exhaust system, so I left it where I found it. I *like* twisty stuff and cannot see myself using the Thundercat at speeds for which it was designed, except maybe once or twice per season.

Now I'm off to wash the dirt of my WR500.


Posted by: Wolverine423---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by ws6transam
Ha ha ha, point taken!
Oh, pots & pans: Good one, but it sounds vaguely like a hazardous thing to try, especially if you try & pass them off as a gift.

Oh, and a MEANT Snowmobile trails, not ORV trails, so sorry! It's just it seems kind of, sort of, related, especially when the dirt freezes solid, and I want to get outside & do something fun other than shovel slush.

Well thats why we have strip clubs and studded tires. Ice bikes too! No need to sit inside and spank the monkey


Posted by: Yam7M---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolverine423
Well thats why we have strip clubs and studded tires. Ice bikes too! No need to sit inside and spank the monkey


This from a guy with your profile pic??


Posted by: Bradtwocreeks---------------------

I know it is Dirtrider.net and there is dirt under the snow. Besides, I really don't care!!!!!

So what do you die hard dirt bikers do in the winter besides the titty bars?

I honestly would expect a lot more of you to be snowmobilers too. Oh well, more snow for me!!


Posted by: nickolino---------------------

So fellow sandstormer you like to degrade this honerable site with talk of brain dead snomobileing. Well I'am sure you would be more of a 2 wheeler if your wife could ride a dirtbike and you could take her with you but since she cannot you are forced to snomo and to make matters worst she only lets you have
a 200 mile territory. Which doesnt leave many options since you live in the commy state of Wisconsin!


Posted by: fatherandson---------------------

Sounds like Nick knows Brad pretty well..


Posted by: Bradtwocreeks---------------------

Yup

"degrade this honerable site" Not to sure about that!

Nick, you have seen me ride, I am sure my wife can do better!!

"commy state of Wisconsin!" Very true!!!! Not a fun state at all.

I am still trying to figure out what you got against sleds??

Lastly, I am sorry for leading this thread a stray.


Posted by: nickolino---------------------

I do'nt have any more against sleds than I do quads. I think if you were to drain all the fluids park them on the ice then in the spring the ice melts they sink to the bottom they would be great fish structre. Your forgiven


Posted by: Wolverine423---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bradtwocreeks

So what do you die hard dirt bikers do in the winter besides the titty bars?

Black powder - Ice fish ect...


Posted by: katoom125---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bradtwocreeks

So what do you die hard dirt bikers do in the winter besides the titty bars?



Brad, some of us ride all winter - On the bikes - in the woods - studded up of course.
and if you're the same guy from twocreeks that was at Moss Lake this past saturday, you met 3 of us that ride all winter - one was the gray haired guy you "pointed" the right direction to get back to staging and I'm the one that told you not to rev your bike once it FINALLY started. (laugh). the 3rd was the guy with the big Ford diesel.


Posted by: Bradtwocreeks---------------------

Hey guys, I trust the rest of your trip was good.
I have heard of guys riding/racing on the ice but not much in the woods. Thats cool. Actually I imagine that is really cold.

I'll ride the bike for three seasons but the fourth is sledding (windshield & handwarmers).

Good luck riding this winter and I'll see you in the spring.



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