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sled weights

STAIN

Lifetime Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2004
Messages
4,159
Location
Vermont
Country
USA
Snowmobile
2022 SIDEWINDER LTX GT
LOCATION
Vermont
I am not a huge fan of Snow Trax but kudos for them for putting this out.
I guess our Sidewinders are not all that much heavier than the two strokes.
So much for the "dont get them stuck " argument.
 

It is about time someone did this. The Doo sleds have gotten porky since the 08 XP.
 

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Only thing that makes them feel that way is its balance. You can see from strapping points it is nose heavy. But it’s def the heaviest version of a trail sidewinder so I’m glad it’s finally pointed out that magazines are just bashing them on weight and destroying a brand and a whole motor line with a false narrative. Only took 20 years to decide to do it again.
 
Love it. I weighed my 15 Viper xtx the same way and it was 575lbs wet with an Antigravity battery and a carbon fiber muffler
 
Just staring at that slide for a second, something doesn't seem right. So I grabbed the slide, ocr'd it, converted it into a table in a spreadsheet and looked up the published fuel capacity (single biggest contributor to wet weight) for each sled model. 'Other' in this case is the remaining weight from oil and coolant if it exists and... what else? Of these what stands out is the ski-doo

ModelWet WeightDifferenceDry WeightFuel CapFuel WtOther
Polaris PROSTAR S4 TITAN ADV 155837.0115.0722.013.685.6829.3
Ski-Doo Expedition SE790.5136.5654.011.169.9366.6
Polaris PROSTAR S4 INDY XC 137681.587.5594.011.572.4515.1
Ski-Doo Renegade XRS 850 137651.0155.0496.09.559.8595.2
Ski-Doo MXZ Blizzard 850 129627.0147.0480.09.559.8587.2
Polaris Boost 850 INDY VR1 137604.5113.5491.011.572.4541.1
Polaris 650 Indy SP 137573.565.5508.011.572.45-7.0
Polaris Switchback Assault 146584.5108.5476.011.572.4536.1
Polaris 850 INDY XCR 129582.0117.0465.011.572.4544.6
Polaris BR RMK KHAOS 146 SLASH514.088.0426.01169.318.7
Ski-Doo MXZ Neo PLUS 600 120495.083.0412.09.559.8523.2
Yamaha Sidewinder LTX LE EPS667.080.00587.009.962.3717.6

Here is the same table sorted by the biggest discrepancy for 'other'. For what it is worth, the Yamaha is spot on at 17.1 pounds of combined coolant and oil, etc.

The doo's are way off, I suspect this is due to Snowtrax not actually weighing empty sleds (why would they drain everything) and using the published numbers instead. I also suspect that the expeditions are not publishing numbers with all of the gear in place. But that renegade XRS 850 is WAAAYYY off, as is the blizzard. The polaris 650 indy SP below is also curious as it had the lowest difference in weight, and it comes out negative for 'other' so I suspect that the tank was not full (1 gallon of gas is 6.3lbs).

Dry weight is just wet weight - difference. And Other is just difference - fuel weight.

ModelWet WeightDifferenceDry WeightFuel CapFuel WtOther
Ski-Doo Renegade XRS 850 137651.0155.0496.09.559.8595.2
Ski-Doo MXZ Blizzard 850 129627.0147.0480.09.559.8587.2
Ski-Doo Expedition SE790.5136.5654.011.169.9366.6
Polaris 850 INDY XCR 129582.0117.0465.011.572.4544.6
Polaris Boost 850 INDY VR1 137604.5113.5491.011.572.4541.1
Polaris Switchback Assault 146584.5108.5476.011.572.4536.1
Polaris PROSTAR S4 TITAN ADV 155837.0115.0722.013.685.6829.3
Ski-Doo MXZ Neo PLUS 600 120495.083.0412.09.559.8523.2
Polaris BR RMK KHAOS 146 SLASH514.088.0426.01169.318.7
Yamaha Sidewinder LTX LE EPS667.080.00587.009.962.3717.6
Polaris PROSTAR S4 INDY XC 137681.587.5594.011.572.4515.1
Polaris 650 Indy SP 137573.565.5508.011.572.45-7.0
 
Only thing that makes them feel that way is its balance. You can see from strapping points it is nose heavy. But it’s def the heaviest version of a trail sidewinder so I’m glad it’s finally pointed out that magazines are just bashing them on weight and destroying a brand and a whole motor line with a false narrative. Only took 20 years to decide to do it again.

The strapping points are inconsistent, I wouldn't draw too much from that as I don't think he was trying at all to find the balance point. I noticed he had the winder set further back on the strap than the others.
 
The strapping points are inconsistent, I wouldn't draw too much from that as I don't think he was trying at all to find the balance point. I noticed he had the winder set further back on the strap than the others.
Handlebars are further back on the winder and that front end is certainly heavier than my 800 procross when I lift the bumper.
 
Handlebars are further back on the winder and that front end is certainly heavier than my 800 procross when I lift the bumper.
Correct, it’s an issue we know is there. It’s just inherited trait, and honestly I’ve felt just revising current chassis/bulkhead to address balance is 90% of what is needed. Also an se model could subtract 15-20lbs with non resivoir electronic shocks and non power steering.
 
Handlebars are further back on the winder and that front end is certainly heavier than my 800 procross when I lift the bumper.

Of course, my point is that the balance point along the strap s a LOT different for the winder which exacerbates how front end heavy it looks in the video. I agree its front end heavy. If he had decided to balance the sled he certainly could have moved the hook forward on the strap.

Close to the bars

1683726110608.png


Indy S4 below is the closest directly comparable sled to the winder (4s, similar displacement) look how close to the bars the hook is, and I am surprised how heavy it is considering it doesn't have a turbo or intercooler (yet). This is basically the 850 VR1 with the S4 powerplant


1683726424177.png


Zoomed in
1683726502866.png



With the handlebars further back on the winder, the strap is even further back as the distance between the strap and bars is greater in the below.
All 4s sleds are front end heavy.

1683726197296.png


When you adjust the wet weights by putting the same amount of fuel in each (10 gals) the difference looks like this.
Delta is the difference in weight compared to the winder. The S4 is heavier (very comparable sled except HP) and since the difference between it and the Indy VR1 is the motor and some cooling, the S4 is 77lbs more nose heavy than the Indy VR1.

1683727529458.png
 
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I wonder if the Doo published dry weights don’t include E-start? Or perhaps the marketing department publishes the dry weights.
 
Personally I'm just glad they weighed them.
I remember when they did this in the late 90's in their rag. We would all argue at high school about weights and hp.


But yeah that NA s4, oof. My neighbor got one and said it's a dog compared to his old Weber turbo 2up.
 
Of course, my point is that the balance point along the strap s a LOT different for the winder which exacerbates how front end heavy it looks in the video. I agree its front end heavy. If he had decided to balance the sled he certainly could have moved the hook forward on the strap.

Close to the bars

View attachment 172635

Indy S4 below is the closest directly comparable sled to the winder (4s, similar displacement) look how close to the bars the hook is, and I am surprised how heavy it is considering it doesn't have a turbo or intercooler (yet). This is basically the 850 VR1 with the S4 powerplant


View attachment 172637

Zoomed in
View attachment 172638


With the handlebars further back on the winder, the strap is even further back as the distance between the strap and bars is greater in the below.
All 4s sleds are front end heavy.

View attachment 172636

When you adjust the wet weights by putting the same amount of fuel in each (10 gals) the difference looks like this.
Delta is the difference in weight compared to the winder. The S4 is heavier (very comparable sled except HP) and since the difference between it and the Indy VR1 is the motor and some cooling, the S4 is 77lbs more nose heavy than the Indy VR1.

View attachment 172639
Oh not saying that they are nose heavy based on them picking in same exact spot. Just saying in general the balance of the sleds are more nose heavy than other brands from a rider stand point. That just made it noticeable.
 


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