Recommend a snowmobile

Grouse Man

Grouse Man

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I guess this is the closest Topic where I can put this, as I may use it while deer hunting.

Anyway, I'm keeping an eye open for a cheap, older, reliable snowmobile that will only see occassional and light use. I won't be racing it anywhere, but it may get a little trail use. Mostly putting around the cottage. So the simpler the better so I can fix it myself, cheap, reliable, plenty of parts available, etc. Kind of a 'beater' if you will.

What can people recommend to look for / stay away from? This will be my first real foray into snowmobile ownership.

Thanks.

Grouse Man
 
I like light long track snowmobiles for the bush. I've got a Skidoo Tundra II and this is my second. I've even used it hunting and therefore this topic is not off-topic!!! Another good dependable and simple machine is the Yamaha Bravo. Neither one is very fast though! These machines can go off the trails in deep snow that most trail machines couldn't get through.
 
Mike said:
I like light long track snowmobiles for the bush. I've got a Skidoo Tundra II and this is my second. I've even used it hunting and therefore this topic is not off-topic!!! Another good dependable and simple machine is the Yamaha Bravo. Neither one is very fast though! These machines can go off the trails in deep snow that most trail machines couldn't get through.
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We use the Tundras and bravos on the trapline, also.
Fantastic sleds, light , will pull a great load, and will run forever.

No need to have a 60MPH snowmobile for a traplins, our trails are way too narrow and tight for one of those.

The guys with the new sleds can't make it on my brothewr's trails, that is why
he makes them as gnarly as he can!
Cat
 
Have to second the vote for the Yamaha Bravo, we used one of there all winter and forun we could go places some of the newer(faster) sleds couldn't go or just got stuck off the groomed trails , and you should see that little Yammie climb hills
 
I am a SKIDOO man but would recommend the Yamaha Bravo as it's lightweight, cheap, parts available everywhere and get a long track version ... great wee sleds they are ... :wink:

Otokiak ... 8)
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
I have an Indy Lite 340 long track...its a great machine...if you can find a mint 340 yamaha enticer buy it ..had one of those wished I never sold it.
 
What part of CHEAP and OLD are you guys missing? :lol: I'm thinking of something from the '80s or earlier. Carburetors, man, that's what life is all about! I'm looking to keep the tab under $500 if I can, if at all possible. I can repair whatever (I don't really care to rebuild an engine right off the bat) as my project.

Skidoo, Polaris, 340, 440, etc. air cooled, Yamaha, stuff like that there. :D

Any more?

Grouse man
 
anything with the word "MOUNTAIN" in the title or description will cast you your marridge, your house and probably your dog to keep running :lol:


tundras are great sleds , low maintenance, parts are cheap and rarly blow up

example, my brother has a tundra for the trapline, its 7 or 8 years old and had a $40 repair to the carb once

my buddies 2003 rev800 mountain sled is on engine #4 and my 1999 800 arctic cat was on about its 4th set of jugs and pistons before I sold it.....stay fan cooled or forced air cooled and small and you will have fun.
 
Go get yourself an Elan or TNT, Alpines are harder to find mind you a late 70's or early 80's machines are not easy to find. The 340 Rotax is a great engine and the sleds are usually light, just watch the weather on warm days at slow speeds the free air engines heat up quick, if you feel it start to lose power shut her down.
 
Grouse Man said:
What part of CHEAP and OLD are you guys missing? :lol: I'm thinking of something from the '80s or earlier. Carburetors, man, that's what life is all about! I'm looking to keep the tab under $500 if I can, if at all possible. I can repair whatever (I don't really care to rebuild an engine right off the bat) as my project.

Skidoo, Polaris, 340, 440, etc. air cooled, Yamaha, stuff like that there. :D

Any more?

Grouse man
Click to expand...

Bravos and Tundras can be had cheap , old , and pretty reliable.
Carbs, single cylinders, bogey wheels if you can find them.
Bought one for the kid brother last year for $275, (bravo) runs great!
cat
 
I am an old Ski-Doo man as well, and I would recommend the Ski-doo Elite!

elites.jpg
 
My 88 Skandic has been everywhere, lakes, mountains, swamps and bogs.

It has pulled out huge woods bison at -30 degrees and is my fishin' machine all winter long.

Never had a single repair other than those I have inflicted upon it. :shock:

Ted
 
It partly depends upon what type of terrain you putter around the cottage in, and where you hunt.

Around my area it is reasonably flat, with some rolling hills and a couple little "mountains"

I've got an arctic cat 680 long track, polaris 500, all the way down to a little 1986 480cc shorty yamaha. Those yammies are cheap to buy and run, and cheap and easy to fix. They seem to last forever.

I paid well under 2000 for that one 4 years ago, and it is pretty quick and nimble for a fairly old machine. Good enough for puttering around the chateau, and I would guess maybe good enough for scouting on. In steeper terrain, deeper snow, or if you want to haul your catch, you might be better off with a bigger machine with a longer track.

As soon as you say "cheap", you are already accepting compromises to the utility of the machine, to say nothing of safety. You have to remember that in a half-hour you can ride further than you can walk out in 3 days, in freezing temps. Prepare for that!

I don't know what machines are best to "stay away from", but I hear that a lot of people aren't fond of Arctic Cat (even though I own one).
 
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