SLED-jack'd

[erkoehler]

I have a new XP 800 Renegade with about 400 miles on it. So far, not a single problem and haven't blown a belt. KNOCK ON WOOD!

[bigmac]

Originally Posted by Carbon Dreams

Thanks, I posted a request for info on the Snowest forum. Hopefully, someone with an unbiased opinion will chime in over there.

Heh...Good luck with that - there are darned few unbiased opinions on snowmobiles, especially on the internet. People spend that much money on a toy, they tend to get their ego all wrapped up in their choice. You end up getting a lot of one-off anecdotes that prove nothing ("I ride with a guy that owns a..(brand X)..and his machine broke its blah blah blah").

In deciding between SkiDoo and Yamaha this year, I spent a LOT of time looking at brand-specific forums and tried to get a sense of what the general run of complaints were, and balance them against the general run of reported good points. My dealer sells both brands and I trust his opinions, and I also talked to his service manager. So far so good, but if it turns out later that I made a mistake, I'll just sell/buy. I don't think I've ever kept a sled more than 3000 miles anyway.

[Maristar210]

Originally Posted by bigmac

Heh...Good luck with that - there are darned few unbiased opinions on snowmobiles, especially on the internet. People spend that much money on a toy, they tend to get their ego all wrapped up in their choice. You end up getting a lot of one-off anecdotes that prove nothing ("I ride with a guy that owns a..(brand X)..and his machine broke its blah blah blah").

In deciding between SkiDoo and Yamaha this year, I spent a LOT of time looking at brand-specific forums and tried to get a sense of what the general run of complaints were, and balance them against the general run of reported good points. My dealer sells both brands and I trust his opinions, and I also talked to his service manager. So far so good, but if it turns out later that I made a mistake, I'll just sell/buy. I don't think I've ever kept a sled more than 3000 miles anyway.

I agree, can I have the one on the left?

[erkoehler]

Since 2003 I've ridden all brands except Yamaha. Only reason for that is the weight of the sled, and I don't want to deal with digging out that heavy of a sled. I realize I am not the best rider out there, and thus will get stuck often and deep! No need to have extra weight on a sled.

Is anyone considering the E-TEC sled for next year? I am thinking about spring ordering a 600 E-TEC Renegade X for 2009.

[bigmac]

Originally Posted by Maristar210

I agree, can I have the one on the left?

Sure. I'll bet you're dealer would sell you one, and I'll bet you'd get a good price. My limited seat time on the Renegade indicates that it's a great sled.

[bigmac]

Originally Posted by erkoehler

Since 2003 I've ridden all brands except Yamaha. Only reason for that is the weight of the sled, and I don't want to deal with digging out that heavy of a sled. I realize I am not the best rider out there, and thus will get stuck often and deep! No need to have extra weight on a sled.

The Apex is indeed a heavy sled by comparison, although you don't feel it on the trail and its power/torque makes up for a lot. I only got it stuck twice out west - the Powderhounds did a good job of keeping it up, but that Ripsaw track and its steeper-than-optimal skid approach angle does cause it to tend to trench. Getting it unstuck wasn't a problem, but the more people the merrier and Snowbunje's are a great tool for that kind of riding with that kind of sled.

[erkoehler]

Where do you order the snowbunje's from?

[bigmac]

Originally Posted by erkoehler

Where do you order the snowbunje's from?

When I first saw them a few years ago, I thought they were a dumb idea. They aren't, they are amazing. My son and I have both a Cobra and Rattler as well as a couple of the 20 ft slick tapes. In our group, out west in deep snow, those things have saved us a ton of work. This year, no one even had to get their shovels out, but we used the snobunjes about a dozen times.

Most places sell them Dennis Kirk or you can buy them directly from Snobunje.

[Roonie's]

I second the snobunje. I have two and we rarely use the shovels anymore. Get two guys on the front with two of them and the sled almost pops right out of a trench. However with the current deep snow conditions my brothers Nytro requires shovels when trenched. The doo and my polaris usually can get out with just the bunje. Everyone I ride with carries one almost like a beacon.

[erkoehler]

CBS 2 Chicago is airing a story called "The Culture of Snowmobiling" tonight at 10pm in response to the death of one of the news anchors who lost his life in a snowmobile accident.