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Didn’t get a blog post done today because I was dealing with some WildSnow editorial issues — and doing a bit of shopping.
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Considering one of these for Christmas, more later. Everyone have a good evening!
11 Responses to “A Bit of Shopping Today”
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Aww, gee Lou, you shouldn’t have. An M8 with a 162, that’s exactly what I want for Christmas. If you want to spring for the M1000, though, that’s cool, too.
And if you haven’t gotten any stocking stuffers yet, a goldfinger lefthand throttle would go great with that sled, too
Get sleddin’. Oh, and then climb the last three miles to that elusive peak. That’s still earning ‘em, right?
I thought Arctic Cat was on the verge of being bankrupt in the US?
ACAT is not on the verge of being bankrupt. Lack of snowfall (low new sled demand) and core ATVs being down 10.4% YTD has certainly hurt them, but as an equity analyst that covers ACAT (and Polaris), assuming things dont get any worse than they currently are, bankruptcy should not be a concern. I would just look at specs, weight, etc., and talk to users and dealers about reliability, maintenance, and warranties.
The nice thing about the sled industry being so sucky is that it is a great time to buy a new sled, or even a MY-07 sled. There are great deals out there. There was a dealer in VT last year that had so much non-current inventory that he was having a 2 for 1 sale.
Lou, please email me if you have any questions.
Frank and all, I’m actually looking at the M800, but used that photo because it looked stunning… Why would I go for the 163 track instead of the 152? Seems like the slightly shorter track makes the sled lighter and easier to get turned around… but this is Colorado so flotation is everything, as when breaking trail up South Colony in the Sangrees?
I cut down 500 juvenal pine/spruce/balsam for research with a folding swede poclket saw … did you really need a chainsaw?
Al,
Anything to use a power tool — no, we don’t really need it. Other times we do, however, as when a 3-foot diameter log is blocking the road, exactly a situation we dealt with handily last spring. Trying to use a pocket saw for that would be like using a teaspoon to dig the foundation for a house.
Lou-
Yeah, the M8 is definitely plenty. Regarding track length, yes, a 153 is a tiny bit lighter and more maneuverable. Last year in BC, we were doing sled laps with 2 M8/162′s and a M7/153. When tandeming up steep hills with the shorter track, the sled was trying hard to wheelie and lots of times the skis weren’t even on the ground. It was much easier on the longer tracks.
If I found a nice 153, I would take it- but if I buy brand new, I’m spending the extra $300 for the 162. My $.02
PS- goldfingers are pretty sweet, get one as soon as you pick up a sled, if you do
A good choice in manufacturer Lou. I snowboard, so a sled is the easiest way for me to get into the backcountry and get around to access things once im out there.
Some things to note when making this purchase (IMHO) would be that motors lose 3% of their horsepower every 1000 foot gain from sea level. So already in CO, we are less roughly 30%. I advise to buy the M1000 model, another plus being that the bigger bore sleds have higher resale value than the 800s, 700s, or 600s.
In addition to the lefty throttle advised by Frank, you should check out these ski racks. They are definitely the cushiest way to lug your gear around in the back country. Ive had the same rack for over five years and just move it from sled to sled.
http://www.cheetahfactoryracing.com/dualskibracket.htm
Another great stocking stuffer is the hotdogger. It clips on to the exhaust and heats food up in a container. Ive had pizza, chimichangas, burritos, taquitos, and all sorts of stuff.
Let me know if you have any questions….
Lou,
glad to hear you’re springing for a sled, helps me justify my use of mine.
the approaches are longer in this part of utah, and I use the sled as an approach tool. while my setup is nowhere near an M800; (you can see it here: http://bcskiing.blogspot.com/2007/12/test-run-for-sav-ski-approach-vehicle.html) it gets me, my dog, a partner, and our gear deep into the mountains in a more reasonable time.
lou,
If you go with the longer track (yes), you must have the larger engine. It seems they make the bit shorter track for the guy or gal out there touring around. The “sportier” models are for single users, thus lighter. Trail breaking and towing require the right machine. You wont be disappointed with the larger machine. I would also suggest reverse.
Adds up huh?
Matt B, Where do I find the Hotdogger!! that sounds great.
ao