Anyone into snowmobiling? 

"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud) 02/22/2019 at 12:00 • Filed to: None

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I spent many of my formative years cruising around the northwoods on a snowmobile, well before I had a driver’s license. College and moving to a bigger city got in the way though, and i wasn’t able to do it for probably 10+ years. Number of years back after my FIL bought a cabin, he got into it, which brought me back into it as well.

Which brings me to the point of this post. My daughter is 4.5 and has discovered that she loves snowmobiles. Considering she also begs for UTV rides, its not particularly surprising. Thankfully, she’s finally big enough to fit into a DOT helmet, which means she can go on trails. Up until now, shes just been able to do rides up and down the road.

What really grabbed her attention was the neighbor’s son driving around their yard on a little Ski Doo Mini Z 120. He’s a bit older than her, probably 6-8, but she was entranced. I told her this morning i wanted to take her to get fitted for a helmet this weekend, and she asked if I could buy her a little snowmobile like the kid had.

Ideally, I wish someone made a little 12v snowmobile, like a power wheel with a track, but I haven’t seen one. No one has made a really small snowmobile since the Arctic Cat Kitty Cat, which stopped production in 2000. I was able to find one on ebay with a really low starting bid and relatively close to us, so i put down a bid. No idea what’ll come of it, but based on what i’ve seen they can be flipped readily.

This one is the same year that i bid on. Its a ‘91, but didn’t materially change from ‘77. Came with a banging 60cc engine and 8mph top speed.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Anyone have any ideas on alternatives or just want to talk sleds? 

BaconSandwich is tasty. > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 12:28

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Say, a battery operated snowmobile for kids. That’s actually not a bad idea!

WilliamsSW > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 12:30

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  Funny thing - when I was kid, probably 10 -12, my dad took us snowmobiling with some friends who owned them. We were out on a frozen lake, and it was freaking glorious. But I’ve never done it since, and haven’t even really thought about it.

Hope you get it!

Wacko > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 12:30

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These are awesome, but not 3700.00 US$ awesome  

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 12:31

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Kinda, 1991 Arctic Cat long track Jag. It’s not fast with 440cc, but can pull most things. Today I’m of the 4 wheeled winter transportation.

As a 2016 BRP Outlander 600 MR. The mud tires work well in snow. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 12:32

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Used to ride a 92 Arctic Cat 550 special that was Black Magic modded. My lord was that thing fun.

shop-teacher > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 12:34

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I don’t know of any alternatives. I noticed a few of those Kitty-Cats pop up on FB Marketplace this fall, and they all sold within a day or so . If you don’t end up with the one you found on eBay, keep an eye on FB and Craigslist this spring, or next fall, and be ready to pounce when you find one.

functionoverfashion > shop-teacher 02/22/2019 at 12:59

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heh.

pounce

Pickup_man > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 13:03

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I’ve always liked them, and always wanted one but where I live it’s hit or miss on whether or not we’ll get enough snow to make it worth it. The last few years? I could have maybe ridden a half dozen times. This year? The ditches have basically been full all winter. There is a decent trail system near me, which is all highway ditches but they’re nice and wide and well maintained, and there’s a river a few miles up the road that provides good riding so long as the ice is good. The Black Hills have some excellent riding, but they’re just a bit out of range for a good weekend trip.

I have noticed a big increase in vintage snowmobile events around here though and have a few friends who have been getting into that so I’ve thought about picking one up on the cheap just for fun. For now though ATV’s are a great year round machine and do everything that I need. 

WiscoProud > BaconSandwich is tasty. 02/22/2019 at 13:08

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I thought so. The torque of an electric motor would be ideal for a tracked application. 

WiscoProud > shop-teacher 02/22/2019 at 13:10

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I monitor them both on occasion. The only ones that show up are the real old ones. Considering they didn’t really change any, that’s not a big deal, but when they also want $700 its a tough pill to swallow

WiscoProud > Pickup_man 02/22/2019 at 13:13

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There aren’t many trails by me in southern Wisconsin either, and most years there isn’t nearly enough snow to go. Thankfully, my in-laws cabin is about 3.5 hours north, and gets plenty of snow. I like ATVs too, but they’re not allowed on the trails this time of year. 

WiscoProud > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 02/22/2019 at 13:14

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I bet they do. I love the old sleds, but that’s also the vintage I had when i was riding in middle and high school. 

WiscoProud > Wacko 02/22/2019 at 13:15

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No kidding. I can buy a decent used adult sled for that. 

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 13:27

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I had a 79 Yamaha Enticer 34o growing up age  13 or so. Lots of fun was had on that sled. 

functionoverfashion > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 13:28

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I grew up with lots of friends who had them, but was never that into it. I always liked it, but skiing came first. Then I had this beast for a few years:

Polaris 700 touring. A co-worker bought it in 2004, babied it and used it to get out to his ice-fishing spots, a few trail rides. 700 miles and looked new. Several mediocre winters prompted his sale. I paid half what he paid new, about $8k down to about $4k (his price, I didn’t even haggle).

I bought it in October and that winter it snowed a ton. I rode it to work every day for a while across a lake, basically drove it every chance I got. Put over 1,000 miles on it without going more than 25 miles from home in any direction.

We also used it to tow each other up into the sky on a paraglider, out on a lake. 400' of climbing rope with a release on each end.

That thing was a blast, but also a big heavy lump to get stuck with, riding in the “back country” (not on trails). I kept a come-a-long on it with a cable and a few straps. What a blast, though.

functionoverfashion > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 02/22/2019 at 13:32

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I assume you’re familiar with Larry Enticer

WiscoProud > functionoverfashion 02/22/2019 at 13:34

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Great use of a sled. When i lived in northern Wisconsin it wasn’t uncommon to see people take their snowmobiles to work or school. Our high school tried to ban them, but since a main trail went through the property, we just parked them just off site.

I’ve been riding two ups since getting back into it. My FIL has a Yamaha Venture GT which he rides, I take a Polaris IQ Touring turbo, and there’s another Polaris Indy touring like yours thats “overflow”. They’re very nice on trail, but certainly heavy. I miss riding a single seater at times. 

functionoverfashion > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 13:45

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It’s funny that I almost did no trail riding with my touring sled. We do have lots of trails around here and a corridor trail went right by (on the lake) where I lived at the time. But I had more fun just exploring places I couldn’t otherwise get to except on much slower transportation methods in the summer (like on foot).

A friend has to have taken the cake for ‘best use of a snowmobile’ when he barefoot-waterskied behind one a few years ago. Fully documented, had safety precautions in place, was wearing a full drysuit and everything. But still. He started on ice with one ski, then dropped it out in the open, then let go of the rope to swim to shore (which was quite close) before the sled got back on the ice.

Here it is:

shop-teacher > functionoverfashion 02/22/2019 at 13:52

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MEOW!!!

WiscoProud > functionoverfashion 02/22/2019 at 14:15

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Very cool. There are a number of small towns in Wisconsin that have contests to drive snowmobiles across lakes. I’ve crossed open water myself, but usually out of necessity. 

Pickup_man > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 14:15

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South East South Dakota, ATV’s aren’t allowed on the trails during the winter either, but you can license them for street use here. I’ve just got 3 wheelers which can’t be licensed, but since we usually don’t get a ton of snow they still work great for river riding or ice fishing. Plus my parents have a small acreage that I play on every once in a while as well. 

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > functionoverfashion 02/22/2019 at 14:16

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That’s my hero.

WiscoProud > Pickup_man 02/22/2019 at 14:23

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Nice. We don’t have the option of licensing ATVs for street use here unfortunately. 

Darkbrador > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 14:26

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I’ve seen it before but I’m curious ... what’s the right way to do that ... ?

WiscoProud > Darkbrador 02/22/2019 at 14:45

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Go fast and don’t let up on the throttle. The flotation from the skis and tracks works well in water as long as you keep your speed up. The track is basically a weird looking paddle wheel. 

shop-teacher > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 15:12

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It is, but when you’re done with it, selling it for the same kind of money will be no problem.

WiscoProud > shop-teacher 02/22/2019 at 15:38

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That’s very true and something i’m banking on. 

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > WiscoProud 02/22/2019 at 16:02

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Feel ass drop, pin it & it goes. I did drop the tire pressure lots too.