2020 Release

[ClutchMaster]

Polaris, Arctic Cat & Ski-doo triples died because it’s cheaper to make a two cylinder opposed to a three cylinder. All this malarkey that twins make more torque back in the day is Hog Wash. Horsepower is king in the snowmobile world.
Yamaha only quit making them because they went to the super reliable 4 stroke motors, back when they actually cared.

 

[Sasquatch]

Four strokes are lighter?

Yep then the big triple 1000 136 by 15 pds and more reliable as well.

 

[ClutchMaster]

The VK 54o? Only sled Yamaha builds. Cat builds a wicked 9,000 though

VK540 was a bada$$ sled for its time, twin pipes and super lightweight.
I had one in an SRV, could smoke Indy 650’s at will.

 

[ClutchMaster]

Yep then the big triple 1000 136 by 15 pds and more reliable as well.

Don’t know about the cats weights but my 2002 viper is lighter than 2015 viper.

 

[ClutchMaster]

Yep then the big triple 1000 136 by 15 pds and more reliable as well.

There’s no way a 1000 t-cat weights more than an RX1 of the same era

 

[Sasquatch]

Polaris, Arctic Cat & Ski-doo triples died because it’s cheaper to make a two cylinder opposed to a three cylinder. All this malarkey that twins make more torque back in the day is Hog Wash. Horsepower is king in the snowmobile world.
Yamaha only quit making them because they went to the super reliable 4 stroke motors, back when they actually cared.

Twins where cheaper to build and warranty. They where also lighter and narrower ( albeit harder on belts) so they took over the steep and deep. We go in circles Lake racer get, then mountain climbers get, right now the push is on mountain climbers. Yamaha went to four strokes for emissions, and reliability was later proven but an unknown in 2003. If hp is king then why is the 998 turbo not the preferred mountain sled? Why is it not the top sled sled beating out sales of all brands in all other classes? Torque is the only value produced by a Dyno, hp is a mathematical figure produced by calculating torque and rpm to give you hp numbers. So torque is important at different rpms based on the use and design of the engine.

 

[Sasquatch]

There’s no way a 1000 t-cat weights more than an RX1 of the same era

I had a 136 two up touring T-Cat triple triple Pantera and I bought a 136 RX warrior. Both had 998 engines both had electric start both had reverse both had 136 inch tracks. The Cat had a foot 8 inch longer seat. RX was 142hp Cat was 172hp. RX hit 105 gps. Cat 106 gps. Thunder Cat 1,000 hit 110, earlier 900 Thunder Cat hit 116 gps. Pantera did 96mph 1/4 mile radar, T-Cat did 104 1/4 mile radar with reeds and 3 degree key.

RX Warrior was claimed to be 620 wet , RX1 was lighter with the mono shock, 121 track and Pantera was 635 pds, Short track T-Cat no electric start or reverse was about 595 wet, add reverse and say now 605 or 15 pds lighter then the RX. Add longer track and suspension about the same weight as an RX1. Thunder Cat was not light. I would love to have a 1998 T-Cat. Fastest quickest sled from that era and maybe even this one!

 

[Sasquatch]

Don't know what to make of the whole "Global warming " thing,where i live it rarely gets past 20-25 below but when i was a teenager i remember seeing 30-40 below frequently....As far as snow we get more now then when i was in my teens.

Next week here is -30 all week. Burn more firewood!

 

[Sasquatch]

Obviously I am no scientist but I do know one that is a professor from Princeton University who has studied the subject for many years. He is a wealth of knowledge, that's all I'll say. The one thing that I have always felt made a change in jet streams is the cutting of the rain forests in South America. Another thing we cannot dispute is the world population keeps doubling in less and less time . There are just so many natural resources to go around.

OK that's enough on that........back on track. Let's say Yamaha takes over the Cat sled portion. They would have to take on the St. Cloud engine plant and the main plant IMHO. As Don said.....what happens to the other mfg of ATV, UTV's...etc...?

Does Textron move out and go to another facility elsewhere? Maybe it's the other way around but IMHO I think the sled portion needs to stay in a northern located area where the chance of snow is better for testing.

I think that Yamaha will not buy Arctic Cat, If Textron closes it then fine its gone. Yamaha already has a patent on the twin spar chassis. They just build their own twin spar's in their own plant with all new manufacturing.

 

[Sasquatch]

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[Sasquatch]

OK here is my guess for the future. I do not see both companies going there separate ways. Instead I think it may be possible for Cat and Yamaha to not only share the same product but also start sharing the same trade name assuming the new name has greater value. A example might be dropping the slow selling Thundercat and replacing it with the Sidewinder. In Northern Europe a Bearcat could be replaced with the VK540. As far as new designs go how about a $20,000 high end machine with Yamaha trade name and design standard. At the other end of the spectrum a new affordable entry level machine with Arctic Cat trade name and design standard.
This should stir the pot! What say you?

Right that made no sense.

 

[Sasquatch]

The only two stroke I would consider going back to is a triple...…….
Big twins are NOT very impressive in my mind.

And triples are heavy.

 

[74Nitro]

Twins where cheaper to build and warranty. They where also lighter and narrower ( albeit harder on belts) so they took over the steep and deep. We go in circles Lake racer get, then mountain climbers get, right now the push is on mountain climbers. Yamaha went to four strokes for emissions, and reliability was later proven but an unknown in 2003. If hp is king then why is the 998 turbo not the preferred mountain sled? Why is it not the top sled sled beating out sales of all brands in all other classes? Torque is the only value produced by a Dyno, hp is a mathematical figure produced by calculating torque and rpm to give you hp numbers. So torque is important at different rpms based on the use and design of the engine.

Good to see that someone understands tq and hp. Most don't, especially the relics that write for supertrax magazine.

 

[74Nitro]

The disadvantage of a triple two stroke compared to a twin two stroke is that, considering they are both single piped, the twin will make way more horsepower.
The single pipe just doesn't work properly on a triple.

 

[ClutchMaster]

Knee deep snow here again this year, winter snow is far from over.

Wishing I could say the same!

And triples are heavy.

3 cylinder 4 stroke compared to a 3 cylinder two smoke of comparable size, it’s not even debatable. The 4 stroke is much heavier.

Good to see that someone understands tq and hp. Most don't, especially the relics that write for supertrax magazine.

Torque is an measurement of force at a particular rpm.
Horsepower is the amount of work done.
You can manufacture torque through gearing.

If you have a sled that has 30 more horsepower than another, but they have the same acceleration/top speed, your not geared/clutched properly.

Theres definitely snow deprivation issues going on here.

The disadvantage of a triple two stroke compared to a twin two stroke is that, considering they are both single piped, the twin will make way more horsepower.
The single pipe just doesn't work properly on a triple.

Totally agree^^^^just make three pipes then.
Dam they sound good!