Snow Goer back issues from January 2006:
Thumbs up to state associations: state snowmobile associations and clubs build and maintain our trails. Are you a member?(International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association)
Jan 01, 2006; ... One of the most startling facts in this industry is that according to the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA) there are 2.6 million registered snowmobiles world wide, but only 10 percent of the riding population are members of a club or a state association. ...
Mad cat fever.(Letter to the Editor)
Jan 01, 2006; ... When I go for a trail ride, I usually find some type of trash on the groomed trail and pick it up to dispose of it properly, such as this Arctic Cat snow flap. I thought if I took a picture of the snow flap, on fire in a burning barrel, it would make a good Christmas card to send to my ...
Let the critique begin.(Letter to the Editor)
Jan 01, 2006 ... I guess your article in the latest mag [Breaking Trail, November 2005] describes the whole "SOTY" process fairly well. I'm sure people will still bitch and think you're wrong, though. ...
Vintage perseverance.(Letter to the Editor)
Jan 01, 2006; ... I thought Snow Goer readers would like to see this latest project I'm working on. I'm not happy with the seat, so it's going to an upholstery shop to be finished. Then, the sled will be done. It's a 1971 Yamaha SS433 with the SR433 kit installed on it. I acquired an all-new, ...
Backyard riding.(Letter to the Editor)
Jan 01, 2006; ... In response to an article I recently read in the November 2005 issue "A Much Needed Escape", I'd like to convey my thoughts after reading about the snowmobiling venture to the U.P. I found this particular article significant because I got a chance to see my backyard, if you ...
Escape with us.(Letter to the Editor)
Jan 01, 2006 ... My fiance and I just got just finished reading the article on the first Great Escape Tour [Snow Goer, November 2005]. We thought that would be a great thing to do for our honeymoon. Could you please send more information on how we could be included on the next Great Escape? ...
Nitrous novelty.(Letter to the Editor)
Jan 01, 2006; ... I received your November issue of Snow Goer today and enjoyed the custom sled write-up of Terry Palese's snowmobile. He is a valued customer of ours and it was nice to see his sled featured in your magazine. I also was impressed by your article on nitrous oxide which included a ...
A one-stop super shop.(THE BUZZ)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Lovers of Minnesota's Iron Range have come together to build a launching point for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After five years of planning, the $2.3 million Mesabi Station will serve as a gateway for snowmobile, ATV and bicycle enthusiasts ...
What a concept.(Ski-Doo's Freestyle, concept vehicle )(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2006 ... The concept vehicle displayed by Ski-Doo at shows and events in 2005 likely wasn't what consumers expected. Instead of a souped-up Mach Z or a far-out MX Z, the company showed off its concept Freestyle--yes, the least expensive full-sized machine in its lineup. "We ...
Waterboy.(star snowmobiler Henrik Lodin of Nyland, Sweden)(Interview)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Kids, don't try this at home. Leave it to the professionals, or to Henrik Lodin of Nyland, Sweden. In late September, just after his 34th birthday, Lodin fired up his 2001 Polaris XC 600 and pulled onto the Angerman river in central Sweden. One hour, 38 minutes and 62 miles ...
Tale of three race sleds.(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2006 ... {ARCTIC CAT 440 SNO PRO (Coolest Feature) Revised muffler exhaust outlet that helps prevent engine bogging when landing in deep holes or riding through whoop sections. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (What May Transfer To The Trail) Engine plate brace. It reduces ...
8 ways to beat the gas pump.
Jan 01, 2006 ... 1. Smooth Operator, Driving like a jackrabbit is inefficient. Try for smooth stops and starts and steady acceleration. In your tow vehicle, use cruise control on the highway. 2. No idle behavior. Idling an engine gets 0 miles per gallon. Only idle when necessary and remember ...
Did you know?(INDUSTRY FACTS)(snowmobile safety)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2006 ... January 8-14, 2006 is International Snowmobile Safety Week. There are many simple steps that will give you the safety edge not only during safety week, but all season long. + Practice zero-tolerance, not moderation, with alcohol and drugs. + Know the terrain and ...
SuperBeast unleashed.(HOT MODS)
Jan 01, 2006; ... It seems fitting that a guy who lives on Minnesota's Iron Range works with metal all day. But Hibbing, Minnesota's Mike Jondreau plays with metal, too. Four years ago, the 35-year-old built a 1200cc engine out of a 1200 Polaris watercraft crankcase, crankshafts from Polaris 800 ...
8 services you must do: snowmobilers don't seem to have enough time to stick to a routine maintenance schedule.(HOW TO)
Jan 01, 2006; ... If it weren't for those pesky day jobs, Cub Scout meetings with the kids and a dog who won't sit still, fewer sleds would need to be towed back to the park-n-ride lot. But service work needs to be performed on snowmobiles. Whether it's a loose bolt, glazed clutch sheaves or a ...
Arctic Cat's latest 4-strokes are a new snowmobiling experience.(TECHnOLOgy)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Innovations like this don't come along too often. Nor do they change the snowmobiling category completely like the new gem Arctic Cat[R] has conjured up. Cat Comm,[TM] a 2-way communication system for snowmobiling, is Arctic Cat's latest and greatest innovation that will give snowmobilers ...
Smokeless two-strokes: the evolution of two-stroke engines involves innovative designs to make them burn cleaner.(TECH PROFESSOR)
Jan 01, 2006; ... Dave, a Snow Goer reader from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, recently sent me an article that piqued my interest about what's going on with the latest two-stroke engines. The article was in Performance Bikes, a British motorcycle magazine, and discussed a prototype engine developed by Lotus ...
Trails to tracks: NASCAR's Ryan Newman talks about cars, racing, fishing and sleds.(Interview)
Jan 01, 2006; ... I arrived at Penske Racing-South right on time. Ryan Newman and I agreed to meet at the 420,000 square-foot shop in Mooresville, North Carolina, at 10 a.m. I checked in at the front desk, took a seat in one of the lobby's black leather chairs and waited. The lobby was much like ...
The Suzuki Fury: Cat's bridge from Kawasaki to Suzuki engines.(TIME LINE)
Jan 01, 2006; ... Suzuki Motor Corp. entered the snowmobile business in 1971, just prior to the industry's all-time sales peak. Unfortunately, the reliable but homely Suzuki sleds failed to generate much interest. Hiring hockey star Bobby Hull as a spokesman didn't help much, either. Only the high ...
Suddenly outdated.(staff sled review)(Yamaha RX-1 ER)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Jan 01, 2006; ... STATS: Sled: 2005 Yamaha RX-1 ER MSRP: $9,399 Modification: Camoplast Ice Claw track During the season, our RX-1 ER didn't accumulate as many miles as it should have. Our interest in the sled waned after we experienced the potential ...
Cross-dressed Cat.(staff sled review)(Arctic Cat Crossfire 7)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Jan 01, 2006; ... STATS: Sled: 2006 Arctic Cat Crossfire 7 MSRP: $9,199 Modifications: D&D Powersports 36-degree helix; Bikeman Performance 65-gram weights; Fox FLOAT shocks It's difficult not to compare Arctic Cat's ...
Snow Goer clinic.
Jan 01, 2006 ... NOT ENOUGH REVS Q: I have a 2003 Arctic Cat ZR 800. The first ride out last fall, my sled did not pull the same RPM that it had in previous years. It revs about 1500 RPM below what it should at wide open throttle. The engine seems to sound fine, and comes out of the hole pretty ...
Luxury performance.(Arctic Cat Sabercat 600 EFI LX)(Polaris FST Classic)(Ski-Doo GSX 600 H.O. SDI Limited)(Yamaha RS Vector ER)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Jan 01, 2006; ... Luxury. What exactly is luxury? That's the question every manufacturer tries to answer for customers in the performance luxury class. These riders likely come from a high-performance sled but are moving into a stage of their riding careers in which they want more cush with their vroom ....
Emissions and the 2006 snowmobiles.
Jan 01, 2006; ... Let's review the compounds of concern that come out of the exhaust pipe of internal combustion engines. Those compounds, measured by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are unburned hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (C[O.sub.2]), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter ...
Keystone kaptivation.(snowmobiling experience over Rocky Mountains )
Jan 01, 2006; ... The Hyner Mountain Snowmobile Club members hosted and guided us through a maze of forest-road trails. "Wow," I thought to myself. "I haven't seen a view like this since sitting in the Red Rocks outdoor amphitheater at the edge of the Rocky Mountains high above Denver. And I've ...
Suspension mods made our Firecat work: Fett Brothers Performance Ride Tech Kit No. 2.
Jan 01, 2006; ... Firecats are lightweight, nimble sleds that handle well on smooth trails. Their performance in moguls, however, leaves something to be desired because they aren't very stable in rough conditions. To make our 2005 F6 Firecat Sno Pro work better in those conditions, we brought it ...
Ultimate aggressive-steering ski: USI's SS Railers.(PRODUCT TEST)
Jan 01, 2006; ... It's no secret that the Snow Goer staff isn't a fan of Ski-Doo's Precision skis on REV-chassis machines. While our 2005 Mach Z worked better with the Precision skis than anything on a rider-forward chassis, we still wanted to eliminate the corner push that we experienced. We sought an ...
Inject less fuel: D&D Powersports Power Authority Controller.(PRODUCT TEST)(Product/Service Evaluation)
Jan 01, 2006; ... Word on the street is that Arctic Cat fuel-injected snowmobiles are rich at wide-open throttle. Engines are fed extra fuel at high RPM to help keep them cool and protect from a lean burn down. Hmm. Makes sense, but what fun is it to be so conservative? D&D Powersports ...
Engineious application: 2005 Yamaha RS Vector owners love four-stroke fuel economy.
Jan 01, 2006; ... When Tim Engle bought his 2005 Yamaha RS Vector, it probably wasn't with the intention of making himself a popular guy. That is exactly what it did. "It was always a conversation-maker at stops," said Engle of Annandale, Minnesota. "Many people wanted to ride it." ...
It's REAction time.(Bender Racing REAction suspension system for Yamaha snowmobiles)(Brief Article)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Bender Racing brings the ride quality of the Mono Shock RA suspension to Yamaha SX, XTC, SX-R, SRX, Viper or SXViper and 2003-04 RX-1 and Warrior owners with its new suspension system. The REAction suspension was developed to bring the late model machines the comparable ride ...
Hoyt's pyromania.(SPEED GEAR)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Light it up with one of Hoyt Electrical Instruments' new gauge kits. The recently expanded Pyro Series Gauge line welcomes three new dash-mountable performance gauge kits: the Blaze, the Inferno and the Boost FX. The Blaze and the Inferno gauge ...
Dual runners.(SPEED GEAR)
Jan 01, 2006 ... A goal of snowmobilers is to load and unload their sleds without damaging their trailers or their bodies. Redtail International's new 8-inch wide runners for snowmobile trailers are designed to help accomplish this simple goal. These ribbed trailer ski guides ...
Firecat Adjustable Limiter Strap Kit.(SPEED GEAR)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Grip-N-Rip Racing Products' new limiter strap kit lets riders easily adjust their sleds' limiter straps on the trail to improve handling in all types of snow conditions. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Firecat Adjustable Limiter ...
Stud Boy's "Fatty".(SPEED GEAR)
Jan 01, 2006 ... There's a new stud on the block. Stud Boy has a new stud called the "Fatty" Catapult stud. The stud has a wider tip than standard catapults and is intended for competition use only, the company said. "Fatty" studs are available in 1.080-inch length only ...
Comp-X.(SPEED GEAR)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Brand X-treme introduces its limited edition +2 Long Arm Billet Suspension System called Comp-X. The suspension fits all 2003-2005 Yamaha Deltabox models. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fitments for new 2006 Apex, Attak and Nytro models are coming soon. The Comp-X suspension ...
M7/F7 to M/F900 Billet big-bore kit.(SPEED GEAR)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Engine-Tech offers a new 900 Billet Cylinder Top-end kit for the Arctic Cat M-and F-Series. It offers horsepower in the mid 180s and torque in the mid 120s for the mountain twin-pipe setup, and just under 170 HP on pump gas with a single pipe. No crankcase modification is needed. The ...
Ultra, super quiet.(SPEED GEAR)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Skinz Protective Gear's new Ultra-Q pipe saves weight and adds horsepower. The pipe will also give sleds a modified, full sound that will not be offensive, the company claims. The Ultra-Q, which stands for "ultra ...
Dutiful driver: Ford's F-250 Super Duty is a heavy duty hauler.(TOW GOER)
Jan 01, 2006; ... Manufacturers of full-size trucks have taken towing more seriously in recent years. Most trucks come with towing packages and leave the factory tow-ready, often with transmission coolers, upper-class receiver hitches and seven-pole connectors ready for use. Recently, most fuse panels on ...
Editor's column: what's new?
Jan 01, 2006; ... As part of my job, I spend a fair amount of time perusing new things. It's the second most-fun aspect of this job, behind riding. Buyers beware: this new stuff is addicting. The 2006 Ultimate Snowmobile Buyers' Guide isn't just a guide to the latest snowmobile gear, ...
Trail performance: the most exhilaration, pound for pound.
Jan 01, 2006 ... ZR 900 The ZR 900 returns with few changes. For 2006, it's only available with electronic fuel injection. Cat claims the 862cc, twin-cylinder engine puts out 150 HP. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Instead of a chaincase, power is fed through the ACT Diamond drive ...
On-trail/off-trail: machines that cater to the rider's pleasure.(2006 SNOWMOBILES)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... POLARIS SWITCHBACK Polaris' crossover sled line for 2006 has been moved from its EDGE-chassis home to the revised IQ chassis. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This means the new lineup has the host of IQ features from both the mountain and trail machines. It uses ...
Trail comfort: for riders who demand performance and comfort.(2006 SNOWMOBILES)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... ARCTIC CAT T660 TURBO SERIES Arctic Cat's answer to the four-stroke performance equation is turbo power. Solo-touring customers have three options: T660 Turbo, T660 Turbo LE and T660 Turbo ST. These machines are powered by a turbo-equipped, electronic fuel-injected, C Tech 4 ...
2-up touring: double the features, double the riders, for twice the experience.(2006 SNOWMOBILES)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... T660 TOURING/PANTHER SERIES Touring riders like the peace and quiet of a four-stroke engine. Arctic Cat offers three models to suit their needs: the T660 Touring, T660 Turbo Touring and the T660 Turbo Touring LE. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each of the machines ...
Mountain: ride high and go deep on long-track, extreme machines.(2006 SNOWMOBILES)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... ARCTIC CAT KING CAT 900 EFI Arctic Cat's King Cat 900 EFI is built on the famed ZR chassis. The sled returns for 2006 without significant changes. Available only with electronic fuel injection, the 862cc twin puts out about 150 HP. It rides on the FasTrack Long Travel rear ...
Sport: low displacement, low cost, high fun.(2006 SNOWMOBILES)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Z SERIES Economy sleds from Arctic Cat wear the "Z" nameplate. Available with a 370, 440 or 570cc engine, these full-sized sleds, built on the ZR chassis, offer plenty of features to provide a fun day on the trails. The Z 570 is equipped with a hydraulic disc brake ...
Utility: the 4x4s of the snowmobile world.
Jan 01, 2006 ... BEARCAT SERIES If there's work to be done, Arctic Cat's Bearcat lineup is equipped to get'er done. Available with three engine configurations, Bearcats have wide tracks and plenty of storage space. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Bearcat WideTrack Turbo is the ...
Fresh style.(snowmobile jackets)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... TRENDY. THAT'S WHAT SNOWMOBILE JACKETS HAVE BECOME. High-tech jackets are uninsulated, highly breathable garments. They have venting zippers and are for riders who actively work the snowmobile. Zip-in liners typically come separately. Trail/touring jackets are for ...
Leg warmers.(PANTS/BIBS)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... JUST ABOUT ANY COMPANY THAT MAKES SNOWMOBILE BIBS ALSO MAKES PANTS, OR A HYBRID COMBINATION OF PANTS WITH A ZIP-OFF BIB. Riders in the "bibs" camp typically like this style for its added warmth--bibs are generally more insulated than pants and add an extra layer of insulation up ...
Happy feet.(boots)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... YOU COULD HAVE THE BEST SLED, THE NEWEST JACKET AND THE SLICKEST HELMET, BUT NONE OF IT WOULD MATTER IF YOUR TOES ARE COLD AND WET. Boots can make or break a riding experience. From the fit to the warmth to the lacing system, all facets must be considered in order to find a boot ...
Hand warmers.(gloves)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... WHEN IT COMES TO SNOWMOBILE CLOTHES, RIDERS ARE PERHAPS MOST PARTICULAR ABOUT THEIR GLOVES. Depending on riding style, some want a lot of grip or a specific fabric. Some riders require enormous flexibility whereas others are most concerned with warmth. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
Head gear.(snowmobile helmets)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... SAFETY HELMETS PROVIDE WARMTH, PROTECTION AND A PLATFORM FOR EYE PROTECTION. Some of the newest snowmobile helmet models go far beyond that by providing additional convenience features like integral sun shades, built-in lighting and even radio capability. The two ...
Easy steer.(skis)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... SNOWMOBILE SKIS ARE AN EASY PLACE TO UPGRADE WHEN SEEKING IMPROVED PERFORMANCE. The stock skis on a machine may work fine in about every condition--just as designed. However, because manufacturers have to choose a ski that performs adequately in all conditions, it's a compromise. ...
Revolution calling.(automotive clutches)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... CLUTCH PRODUCTS ARGUABLY PACK THE MOST BANG FOR A SLEDDER'S AFTERMARKET BUCK. Manufacturers often boast better acceleration, a quicker backshift and more top-end speed. Modifications to the clutches don't affect engine horsepower, but they affect how much makes its way to the ...
Control freak.(TRACTION)
Jan 01, 2006 ... TRACTION EQUIPMENT, CONSISTING OF CARBIDE SKI RUNNERS AND TRACK STUDS, IS THE STARTING POINT FOR BETTER AND SAFER SNOWMOBILING. Ski runners with sharpened carbide inserts improve steering response on ice and hardpack snow. They eliminate the side slip that is characteristic of round, steel ...
Smooth operator.(SHOCKS)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... NEW SHOCKS CAN MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT ON A SNOWMOBILE. A new or rebuilt set of shock absorbers can restore the ride quality that is lost if shocks are sacked out. Older sleds will notice an immediate upgrade if they get the right shocks for their application, and newer machines with ...
Free flowing.(REEDS)(Buyers Guide)
Jan 01, 2006 ... REED VALVE INDUCTION IS A TWO-STROKE PERFORMANCE STAPLE. It provides the good low-end and mid-range torque needed for trail performance, and contemporary designs can also boost top-end power. Reeds improve the dynamic control of the air/fuel mixture, which permits more radical porting ...
Strapped.(sled accessories)
Jan 01, 2006 ... DOES YOUR ARM GET WORN OUT FROM ENDLESSLY TURNING THREADED CRANKS TO LOAD AND UNLOAD SLEDS? Have you ruined new jackets by coating them with road slush as you make that long reach to the cranks? Are you tired of chipping ice out of the stock tie-downs in the dark after a long day's ride ...
In tow.(trailers)
Jan 01, 2006 ... WE ALL NEED A TRAILER AT SOME POINT, EVEN IF IT'S JUST TO TAKE THE SLEDS TO THE CAMP AND BACK. Buying a trailer is one of the biggest and most important investments that a snowmobiler makes. It is a complex investment because there are so many options in format, materials and equipment ....
Lockdown.(snowmobile lock)
Jan 01, 2006 ... THERE ARE BAD GUYS OUT THERE WHO WANT TO STEAL SLEDS--AND TRAILERS, TOO. So smart snowmobilers should take precautions to prevent sled and trailer theft. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The harder thieves have to work to steal equipment, the more likely it is that they will ...
What's hot what's not.(Cartoon)
Jan 01, 2006 ... Takin' It Off Trail (Submitted by Kevin Munn of central New York) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Got Snow? Hope So! (Submitted by Carter and Charlie Colby of Somers, Connecticut) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I Should Have Brought The Mountain Cat (Submitted ...