oldguy
Member
Edmarino
The 2 stroke 4 stroke debate will never have a final solution. It’s kind of like the type of oil you prefer or the truck you should own. The question was asked, why even consider 2 strokes. For me the main reason is weight, lugging them around in the garage, on tight winding trails or the occasional trips off the trail in deep snow to check out a new vista or explore some new path.
I have friends with 4 strokes that we have to keep in the garage at night so they will start up in the morning after one of those cold northern MN nights. My 2 stroke starts with or without electric start, even when it’s 20 plus below. The gas mileage on some of the new 2 strokes surpasses the mileage on the 4 strokes or come very close. You are correct about the oil, but now it is getting common to have a 2 stroker that pulls 200 miles per quart. The cost of that oil is kind of insignificant when looking at the entire expenses involved in snowmobiling. The average rider that puts on 1500 miles will only use a couple of gallons per year. That would be about the cost of an oil change with the filter.
I have a limited amount of seat time on a 4 stroke, but the experience I have had was I did not like the power band. To me, they seemed a bit sluggish to start, but got real fast when I was past my skill level in the upper 60 mph and beyond. I also did not like they way they slowed down when you let off the throttle.
I will agree that the 4 strokes engines will no doubt out last the 2’s. But my experience it’s not just the engines that could leave you on the side of the trail on a high mileage sled.
These are just some of my reasons why I haven’t made the switch yet.
XC600 sorry about the thread hijack
The 2 stroke 4 stroke debate will never have a final solution. It’s kind of like the type of oil you prefer or the truck you should own. The question was asked, why even consider 2 strokes. For me the main reason is weight, lugging them around in the garage, on tight winding trails or the occasional trips off the trail in deep snow to check out a new vista or explore some new path.
I have friends with 4 strokes that we have to keep in the garage at night so they will start up in the morning after one of those cold northern MN nights. My 2 stroke starts with or without electric start, even when it’s 20 plus below. The gas mileage on some of the new 2 strokes surpasses the mileage on the 4 strokes or come very close. You are correct about the oil, but now it is getting common to have a 2 stroker that pulls 200 miles per quart. The cost of that oil is kind of insignificant when looking at the entire expenses involved in snowmobiling. The average rider that puts on 1500 miles will only use a couple of gallons per year. That would be about the cost of an oil change with the filter.
I have a limited amount of seat time on a 4 stroke, but the experience I have had was I did not like the power band. To me, they seemed a bit sluggish to start, but got real fast when I was past my skill level in the upper 60 mph and beyond. I also did not like they way they slowed down when you let off the throttle.
I will agree that the 4 strokes engines will no doubt out last the 2’s. But my experience it’s not just the engines that could leave you on the side of the trail on a high mileage sled.
These are just some of my reasons why I haven’t made the switch yet.
XC600 sorry about the thread hijack
