Old guys on Winders

[maim]

good for you guys keeping the young ones interested. been mentoring 2 teenage girls of a freind on trail riding and keeping the old 340 enticer in shape for the 3 7 year old nephews and 2 neices. the younger girls are not too interested but the boys always want a ride when they are over. do have a 120 for them but it keeps messing up the carb on the dang (mini z) thing but they have almost out grown it anyways. heck the one nephew was racing me on the 340 when i was on my 410 as he did not want me to pass him on the old bush road we where on.

 

[SPM]

A year ago I sold my engine shop of 25yrs.
Having HP still in my veins I purchased a 18 SW holdover, tweaked n tuned it from the start. I'm 52 and have built and owned a plenty of high HP toys along the way but this SW is impressive.
I'm also lucky enough to have a wife and two daughters that love to ride and can definitely keep up with "the guys".
I enjoyed reading everyone's posts here and hope we all have a few more seasons left in us.

 

[Longtimesledder]

I too fit in to the category of old guys on sleds with 47 years of driving under my belt but not a winder as of yet. Do have a 2020 Red GT booked and really want to go for it, but a bit nervous it will do the things I still want to do on a sled, plus some of the long standing reliability issues I read on here? Currently have Ski-doo 1200's shorties and they have been next to perfect.
Oh well, few more months to decide for sure?

 

[Pstn head]

I too fit in to the category of old guys on sleds with 47 years of driving under my belt but not a winder as of yet. Do have a 2020 Red GT booked and really want to go for it, but a bit nervous it will do the things I still want to do on a sled, plus some of the long standing reliability issues I read on here? Currently have Ski-doo 1200's shorties and they have been next to perfect.
Oh well, few more months to decide for sure?

Box stock these sleds are pretty darn reliable... even tuned they hold the extra hp, but with a little more frequent inspection in certain areas.
I wouldn't worry one bit... there's nothing else right now available imo even box stock that performs like these Sidewinders. They are quite amazing and they look sexy too.
Enjoy your GT it'll also be next to perfect, but even more perfect.

 

[74Nitro]

Geez, I'm 47 and it looks like anytime I want to hang somewhere where I'll feel like a young fella - it's this thread.....haha!
I'm just a young guy on a Winder!

 

[PigeonLake]

With some of the recent banter on this thread about young kids and snowmobiling I thought that I'd chime in....

Every Christmas my sister in law and her boys stay with my wife and I for the week. They live in New Jersey and don't get a lot of snow, or know anyone who rides sleds back home. Each year we carve out one day to take the boys riding on some of our vintage sleds and boy oh boy do they have a ball.

We've given them some Yamaha swag to take home with them and they proudly wear their Yamaha caps, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets to school. The youngest even did a show and tell at school one year about his sledding experiences in MN.

I just chatted with the boys recently about our upcoming annual family summer trip to the Jersey shore and the first thing they asked about was if we're going to go "Beeling" again this year at Christmas.

Hopefully we've planted the seeds to keep their interest in "Beeling" alive and well as they grow up so they can keep the future of our sport going strong for the next generation.

View attachment 148919 View attachment 148920View attachment 148923 View attachment 148922

This last pic pretty much says it all with what we all should be doing when the opportunity is there....

View attachment 148924

Omg. Fantastic

 

[Sledroll]

I too fit in to the category of old guys on sleds with 47 years of driving under my belt but not a winder as of yet. Do have a 2020 Red GT booked and really want to go for it, but a bit nervous it will do the things I still want to do on a sled, plus some of the long standing reliability issues I read on here? Currently have Ski-doo 1200's shorties and they have been next to perfect.
Oh well, few more months to decide for sure?

Go for it !!!
I have been onboard since 17 , LTX LE 137 , and the sled is amazing .
Just this past year added the Stock muffler 24o quick spool Hurricane flash , and it is even funner !!!!!
My dealer has a 19 demo with the 280 flash , and I may trade up , even though I will lose the premo shock package .
I sled solo too much , and thinking a newer sled would be more reliable , although my 17 has been great.
It is also a great looking sled !

 

[stevewithOCD]

Born in '67
My first sled in '72
Still get morning wood in '19

 

[Sledroll]

Born in '67
My first sled in '72
Still get morning wood in '19

Every year I wonder how this forum is going to make it to the next snowmobile season , and keep guys posting thru the summer .
Nothing now surprises me .
As Pigeonlake started this thread , it is only appropriate that he clarifies what age he intended "old guys on Winders" to be.

P.S. StevewithOCD , would that be soft wood, hard wood , OR old growth forest ????

 

[ApexXTX/Viper]

Turned 59 on Friday. Rode first sled in 1967 (Skidoo Olympique) and have ridden steady since parent's bought first sled (71' Polaris Charger 294) in November 1970. Nothing relieves the stress of day to day problems better than a blast down Sturgeon Lake! (which just happens to be immediately adjacent to Pigeon Lake).

 

[VX1R]

Every year I wonder how this forum is going to make it to the next snowmobile season , and keep guys posting thru the summer .
Nothing now surprises me .
As Pigeonlake started this thread , it is only appropriate that he clarifies what age he intended "old guys on Winders" to be.

I'm pretty sure that by today's standards an "old guy on a Winder" would be defined as someone who shares their passion for the sport using a website such as TY and is willing and ready to help out their riding comrades.

The younger guys share their snowmobiling experiences on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media to prove to the world their self worth.

 

[krm]

I'm pretty sure that by today's standards an "old guy on a Winder" would be defined as someone who shares their passion for the sport using a website such as TY and is willing and ready to help out their riding comrades.

The younger guys share their snowmobiling experiences on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media to prove to the world their self worth.

Same People That want to do away with the Door Bell ?

 

[VX1R]

Born in '67
My first sled in '72
Still get morning wood in '19

Steve....If you make it back to Hay Days this year I'll buy you one of our local brews that I'm sure you would approve of........

By the way...I think the wording of your post sounds like it could be used as the opening lyrics of a new 12 bar blues song.

 

[PigeonLake]

Go for it !!!
I have been onboard since 17 , LTX LE 137 , and the sled is amazing .
Just this past year added the Stock muffler 24o quick spool Hurricane flash , and it is even funner !!!!!
My dealer has a 19 demo with the 280 flash , and I may trade up , even though I will lose the premo shock package .
I sled solo too much , and thinking a newer sled would be more reliable , although my 17 has been great.
It is also a great looking sled !

You will miss the suspension. 17 was a good year

 

[PigeonLake]

Turned 59 on Friday. Rode first sled in 1967 (Skidoo Olympique) and have ridden steady since parent's bought first sled (71' Polaris Charger 294) in November 1970. Nothing relieves the stress of day to day problems better than a blast down Sturgeon Lake! (which just happens to be immediately adjacent to Pigeon Lake).

Probably seen you out there. Lots of Sidewinders here