87 Inviter - Good Buy?

[IceStriker]

So, I've been wanting to buy a gold Inviter for some time. Just a fun sled for the kids or a lazy ride. The one I found is only $450 but is rough looking. Everything functions mechanically but at 7k miles...who knows for how long??? The guy would deliver to me and comes with a new track. Good deal? Too many miles? Thanks!

 

[maim]

at that price with a title, you have a deal. seat cover and some pant and bodywork it should look good.

 

[IceStriker]

at that price with a title, you have a deal. seat cover and some pant and bodywork it should look good.

Yes, it comes with the title. These things are pretty easy to work on. And although its a good runner, you know there is always something hiding. Just found out the track will need replacing, so that's a bit of a pain. But might as well go through the whole skid anyways. The whole sled for that matter. Like you say, a couple hundred in cosmetics improvements and it's "golden."

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

Yes, it comes with the title. These things are pretty easy to work on. And although its a good runner, you know there is always something hiding. Just found out the track will need replacing, so that's a bit of a pain. But might as well go through the whole skid anyways. The whole sled for that matter. Like you say, a couple hundred in cosmetics improvements and it's "golden."

You might check the compression and if low might get it at an even lower price. If you don't have one handy slowly pull the rope, you can feel if both cylinders have compression by the thump thump of each cylinder on the slow pull.

 

[IceStriker]

The Inviter is actually a single cylinder. I may just pick up a compression tool anyway since 7k miles on one lung is a bit concerning. I think testers are $25 at Fleet Farm.

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

The Inviter is actually a single cylinder. I may just pick up a compression tool anyway since 7k miles on one lung is a bit concerning. I think testers are $25 at Fleet Farm.

Guess I did not think they were one lungers, my Bravo 250 fan for the Grandkids is but I always thought the Inviter was a 300 liquid twin. Might have confused with the Ovation which I know is a twin.

 

[IceStriker]

Yeah, they are pretty unique that way. The 300 liquid cooled single was designed for "quicker" acceleration to 30mph but topping out at 60mph. Built for comfort and reliability.

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

These three look like ready to go, no seat or track issues. Lower miles.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/snw/d/hastings-yamaha-inviter/6780106436.html

 

[4strokes]

I am a yamaha guy and have never even seen one of those, they weren't very popular for some reason. yes, they had a special engine. I would guess that the way more popular enticer was more practical. just another odd duck from yamaha that was built to last and didn't sell

 

[IceStriker]

These three look like ready to go, no seat or track issues. Lower miles.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/snw/d/hastings-yamaha-inviter/6780106436.html

Those are nice ones for sure!

 

[IceStriker]

I am a yamaha guy and have never even seen one of those, they weren't very popular for some reason. yes, they had a special engine. I would guess that the way more popular enticer was more practical. just another odd duck from yamaha that was built to last and didn't sell

I like that they tried to answer the riding style people "wanted" in an outside the box design. People just didn't buy it because it wasn't versatile enough. You basically had to be on groomed trails. Like you say, the enticer was just more practical for varied riding and changing trail conditions.

 

[Mileage Quest]

My grandpa had the exact same sled when I was growing up!!! I thought it looked so weird... I did love my 250 entice tho... with the decompression function I could start it like a real man LOL... Man I loved that sled!!!

 

[cannondale27]

I rode one new back in day. It was unbelievably comfortable at least compared to my SkiRoule RTX I had at time! Definitly a collectable.

 

[Fro-1]

I like that they tried to answer the riding style people "wanted" in an outside the box design. People just didn't buy it because it wasn't versatile enough. You basically had to be on groomed trails. Like you say, the enticer was just more practical for varied riding and changing trail conditions.

It was designed with the intention to appeal to women drivers. The abnormal sitting position mixed with the “steering wheel feel” handlebars and the fact you actually sat with your head below the top of the windshield was all to give the rider the safe natural feeling that they were inside a snowmobile more so than riding on top of one. To give that feeling like you are safely inside a car.
We called them Grasshopper’s in my hometown growing up and their weren't many. What ones you did see, you knew who owned them.
I always agreed they were certainly odd looking, maybe even ugly almost in the same class as the Ski-Doo Stratos (anyone remember those?) but having said that I often wish I had an engine out of one along with the heat exchangers to try its liquid cooled single cylinder inside a Bravo body lol.
Also, awkward looking aside, when it comes to the big 4, it’s definitely another piece of Yamaha history that shows they tried and tried hard and it’s sleds like this I think that makes the manufacture a leader in the industry and the rest try and fallow or keep up in their own way.
Best of luck with your project.

 

[IceStriker]

There's just something about the vintage odd balls that are so intriguing. If nothing else, they are fun to drink a beer and marvel at during snowmobile shows.