Will the Sidewinder ever have competition?

[cannondale27]

I like the 7500rpm peak. Should be very easy on belts and easy to clutch.

 

[cannondale27]

Yamaha needs a gear reduction Turbo motor.

 

[Mototown]

Went riding in haliburton forest today , the sled set at 240 is a handful( couldn’t ride it at 270 ) , and no 2 stroke will touch these sleds . Only 6 sleds up there 4 sidewinders , 1 skidoo, 1 Polaris.

 

[number1kyster]

Did you get a chance to throw a leg over that indy?

 

[stevewithOCD]

I have to disagree with some of the previous sentiments regarding this 900T motor & tune.
I don't think the ACE will compete against the 'Winder in a HP war, but does it even need to?
Mototown even says the 270 tune is a "handful" in the trails.
195 HP in a lighter chassis running 1500 rpm's lower is going to be a fun sled.
How many times can you actually USE 200 HP plus.
YES i'm at 240ish myself now, but i was happy at 200 or even 150 on my APE.

This thread is about "competition" with the Sidewinder so horsepower wise the answer is NO.
BUT, and a HUGE but, 195 HP in one of the best chassis ever, with the BEST accessories ever, throw in no stupid TORX bolts & gasket-less oil tanks & possibly a clutch that works & a suspension that doesn't break & dipsticks in the chain case & skis that turn........etc.....etc.....

YES, the 'Winder as a WHOLE sled has some competition NOW!

 

[stevewithOCD]

The 998 has NO competition!

Different thread!

 

[number1kyster]

I have to disagree with some of the previous sentiments regarding this 900T motor & tune.
I don't think the ACE will compete against the 'Winder in a HP war, but does it even need to?
Mototown even says the 270 tune is a "handful" in the trails.
195 HP in a lighter chassis running 1500 rpm's lower is going to be a fun sled.
How many times can you actually USE 200 HP plus.
YES i'm at 240ish myself now, but i was happy at 200 or even 150 on my APE.

This thread is about "competition" with the Sidewinder so horsepower wise the answer is NO.
BUT, and a HUGE but, 195 HP in one of the best chassis ever, with the BEST accessories ever, throw in no stupid TORX bolts & gasket-less oil tanks & possibly a clutch that works & a suspension that doesn't break & dipsticks in the chain case & skis that turn........etc.....etc.....

YES, the 'Winder as a WHOLE sled has some competition NOW!

I completely agree. The 998T will likely have no competition in terms of horsepower.

The 900T that Doo has will be a lighter sled with better ergonomics, better fit and finish, and a nice ride. It may be stupid fast with a 195HP tune. We will know for sure soon.

 

[WVTurboLTX]

I have to disagree with some of the previous sentiments regarding this 900T motor & tune.
I don't think the ACE will compete against the 'Winder in a HP war, but does it even need to?
Mototown even says the 270 tune is a "handful" in the trails.
195 HP in a lighter chassis running 1500 rpm's lower is going to be a fun sled.
How many times can you actually USE 200 HP plus.
YES i'm at 240ish myself now, but i was happy at 200 or even 150 on my APE.

This thread is about "competition" with the Sidewinder so horsepower wise the answer is NO.
BUT, and a HUGE but, 195 HP in one of the best chassis ever, with the BEST accessories ever, throw in no stupid TORX bolts & gasket-less oil tanks & possibly a clutch that works & a suspension that doesn't break & dipsticks in the chain case & skis that turn........etc.....etc.....

YES, the 'Winder as a WHOLE sled has some competition NOW!

I don't know about "Best chassis ever". Their front suspension is beyond dated and the r motion is mostly hype. Not to mention, every doo I've ever owned folded up like a tin can within 6000 miles and needed band aided and braced back together. Good for them to build a good 4 stroke. Still isn't enough to get me to ever consider one again. I used to see the world through yellow goggles and listen to all the rags talk about how great they were. One day I guess I just came to my senses.

 

[74Nitro]

I'm blessed with mostly open farmland trails where I ride, so 270 is not too much around here. If I was able to have over 300 hp on 91, it would be set there all the time.

 

[SumpBuster]

I don't know about "Best chassis ever". Their front suspension is beyond dated and the r motion is mostly hype. Not to mention, every doo I've ever owned folded up like a tin can within 6000 miles and needed band aided and braced back together. Good for them to build a good 4 stroke. Still isn't enough to get me to ever consider one again. I used to see the world through yellow goggles and listen to all the rags talk about how great they were. One day I guess I just came to my senses.

With few doos left with anyone I ride with (2 still in the shop, both bent up chassis...granted, pipes don't move...but it was slow...should have just destroyed the arms...the other is just cracking at the shock mounts up front...but older, not gen 4. And yeah a friend broke the rx1 bulkhead on a guardrail, but fixed it with a homemade metal kit up front...still going strong).
But aesthetically? Time for this again....Lol

 

[SumpBuster]

I'm blessed with mostly open farmland trails where I ride, so 270 is not too much around here. If I was able to have over 300 hp on 91, it would be set there all the time.

I hear you! Huge fields that make lesser sled owners think! Not because everyone wants to go fast all the time, but really, who doesn't like a nice easy 100+ (ok, even 90..lol) mph with ZERO effort and strain across some big expanse after a bunch of regular trail speed stuff? How many sleds are happy with that for other than short bursts? My rx1's, apex and the sw love it and beg for more. Year after year.

 

[XP123]

I have to disagree with some of the previous sentiments regarding this 900T motor & tune.
I don't think the ACE will compete against the 'Winder in a HP war, but does it even need to?
Mototown even says the 270 tune is a "handful" in the trails.
195 HP in a lighter chassis running 1500 rpm's lower is going to be a fun sled.
How many times can you actually USE 200 HP plus.
YES i'm at 240ish myself now, but i was happy at 200 or even 150 on my APE.

This thread is about "competition" with the Sidewinder so horsepower wise the answer is NO.
BUT, and a HUGE but, 195 HP in one of the best chassis ever, with the BEST accessories ever, throw in no stupid TORX bolts & gasket-less oil tanks & possibly a clutch that works & a suspension that doesn't break & dipsticks in the chain case & skis that turn........etc.....etc.....

YES, the 'Winder as a WHOLE sled has some competition NOW!

I have to agree with Steve on all counts.

When you say "will the Sidewinder have competition" there are different ways to look at it.

When it comes to HP then the answer is no. Now if you tune the 900 up to around the same HP as a stock Winder they will be about equal in cost and I would say the 900 @ 190-200 hp will be very competitive with the stock Winder. Now tune the Winder and it's lights out for the Doo.

As far as will the Sidewinder have competition as far as sales go then I would rephrase that question to will the 900T have competition? I had a Winder and I just bought two 900 turbo's. I know I'm a small example but I know of several Winder owners from last year who frequent this site who also bought 900 Turbos. The 900 Turbo I'm sure has outsold all the sleds with the Yamaha 998 Turbo and I'm betting by a large margin. How many Sidewinders and SRX's were sold this year? Two years ago the Winder was very exciting and many of us bought them. How many kept them or moved on and bought new ones? I'll bet that mini Z as some of you guys call it will outsell anything with the 998 turbo buy huge numbers and for years to come.

 

[XP123]

With few doos left with anyone I ride with (2 still in the shop, both bent up chassis...granted, pipes don't move...but it was slow...should have just destroyed the arms...the other is just cracking at the shock mounts up front...but older, not gen 4. And yeah a friend broke the rx1 bulkhead on a guardrail, but fixed it with a homemade metal kit up front...still going strong).
But aesthetically? Time for this again....Lol
View attachment 143522

This is funny but I'm liking the look of my Ducks.

 

[XP123]

I don't know about "Best chassis ever". Their front suspension is beyond dated and the r motion is mostly hype. Not to mention, every doo I've ever owned folded up like a tin can within 6000 miles and needed band aided and braced back together. Good for them to build a good 4 stroke. Still isn't enough to get me to ever consider one again. I used to see the world through yellow goggles and listen to all the rags talk about how great they were. One day I guess I just came to my senses.

This post is so wrong I have no idea why I'm responding.

 

[SumpBuster]

I have to agree with Steve on all counts.

When you say "will the Sidewinder have competition" there are different ways to look at it.

When it comes to HP then the answer is no. Now if you tune the 900 up to around the same HP as a stock Winder they will be about equal in cost and I would say the 900 @ 190-200 hp will be very competitive with the stock Winder. Now tune the Winder and it's lights out for the Doo.

As far as will the Sidewinder have competition as far as sales go then I would rephrase that question to will the 900T have competition? I had a Winder and I just bought two 900 turbo's. I know I'm a small example but I know of several Winder owners from last year who frequent this site who also bought 900 Turbos. The 900 Turbo I'm sure has outsold all the sleds with the Yamaha 998 Turbo and I'm betting by a large margin. How many Sidewinders and SRX's were sold this year? Two years ago the Winder was very exciting and many of us bought them. How many kept them or moved on and bought new ones? I'll bet that mini Z as some of you guys call it will outsell anything with the 998 turbo buy huge numbers and for years to come.

I don't disagree with you. But I never look at sales numbers. I rode ski doo for 20 years when they were last in sales. Because I liked them! I certainly change things to my liking, but back then the rotary valvers outperformed much bigger sleds while the suspensions sucked. But a durable sled. We have an older Lexus. It is awesome even without some of today's fancy kid stuff electronic big screen on dash tv..lol....so I ain't buying another one....no need to. Same with the sw....once the way I like it, I don't need a new one. Nothing anyone makes will be that much better. The suspensions are all similar enough...except poo....shocks inside, shocks outside,...etc..lol. But that's just my opinion....I like my sw, and like 4 strokes from yamaha, especially overachievers, and am OK with the cat chassis...