What Do You Like About Your 4s Sled?

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Guest
craze1cars said:
I agree with you entirely on your fuel mileage comments. When sleds are beat on, the fuel mileage difference all but disappears. Heck, I ran 150 HARD miles with a buddy on a Phazer this past trip...both 4 strokes, but his 500 cc sled vs my 1200 cc sled. He used more gas than I did. Of course he was FORCED to cram it to the bars just about everywhere, while I could run the twisties as hard as I wanted to while rarely exceeding 1/2 throttle. And last year after an unfortunate "unexpected closed gas station" incident, my brother and I actually completely ran out of gas after about 140 miles of HARD riding together. Him on a 500SS 2 stroke Doo, me on a 1200 4 stroke ski-doo, both with identical tanks, same fill-up time, and ridden at the same blistering pace all day. I went about 4 miles farther than he did...which is meaningless. When pushed hard, fuel mileage between most sleds gets almost entirely erased. When put-putting and cruising, that's the only time some shine over the others. And that's how many ride, even if you and I don't, so it is a valid concern for many buyers and rightly so.

But I feel the need to quote myself from earlier regarding your grossly exaggerated and sweeping 150 lb comment, similar to what Ezra stated earlier:

"Directly from Doo specs:

1200 Gade: 532
900 Ace Gade: 503
ETEC 600 Gade: 481

The weight penalty of a 4 stroke can be as small as 24 lbs...or as much as 51 lbs...depending on your engine choice."

And I'll refer back to the same post, and the absolute fact, that I personally weighed my wet-ready-to-ride 2008 Switchback 700 against my wet-ready-to-ride 2010 Renegade 1200, and the 4 stroke was LIGHTER by just a few pounds. I assure you this shocked me more than anybody...and I was the one running the scales LOL...

Now...throw a Yamaha Apex into the mix and compare it to a brand new lightweight 2 stroke? Then I think your 150 lb difference may be getting closer to correct. Those are portly suckers. And I owned one, and like it....so this is not a bash.

My main point is that the weight difference varies WIDELY by which exact sleds and models you are comparing. It is FAR from an automatic 150 pound weight penalty. And depending on riding style, any weight penalty may mean absolutely nothing to some people...

But I don't give a flying crap what anyone chooses to ride. If you want a brand new ZR800 cuz you know that's what you like, just build one up and enjoy it! That would be cool!

Another senseless yet interesting comparo (and one heck of a coincidence) that made me laugh when I looked it up: Claimed dry weight of 2002 ZR800: 507 lbs. Claimed dry weight of 2013 MXZ 1200 TNT: 507 lbs.

Zero pounds difference is a long ways from 150 lbs LOL...
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"Directly from SkiDoo specs" Time to be scared. I am very paranoid about skidoo longevity. SkiDoo has pushed the boundaries ever since 2003. The SDIs were the avenue to the current E-Tecs and Aces. Nobody has spent the money on R and D that SkiDoo has. However ... it has happened in a hurry. I owned a 2007 Renegade 1000. I bought it in May from a guy that needed the cash. I got on the websites and read nothing but horror stories about the dry cranks and the absolute and total failure should your crank stick. Many documented cases. Sold it befor the snow flew. Unlike a minor piston failure of old where you usually can ride it home after a short time a crank failure involves destroyed crank and case and you don't get to ride it home. Doo learned enough from those early SDIs to go ahead and build the new stuff. But it is all too new to trust. When an E-Tec gets 6 years on and there is no more warranty what fool would buy it? Time is a bigger enemy than miles for this new stuff. Give me an old 2002 ZR and you take your 6 year old E-Tec and see how much the next 5000 miles costs for each. And I will kick you in the twisties and be a good race on the lake. Also I would have to be there when you weighed the sleds. Claimed dry weights by any manufacturer are fantasy.
 
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craze1cars

New member
I have never said one word about Doo 2 strokes, positive or negative (other than referencing weight specs for comparo) This is a thread about 4 strokes.

I don't bleed Yellow. Like you, I have little faith in a new Doo 2 stroke for longevity. Last one I owned was a 1998 model. I'm only saying Doo has 4 strokes figured out. Own a new one and you'll see.
 
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Attak man

New member
I don't want you to get the wrong idea...I really like my Attak ..its just to heavy for some of the riding I like to do.....some of you don't know what you are talking about....I have never gotten less than 14 mpg with the Attak...wether its 20 below or 40 above...it runs the same...and yes...its fast....faster than some of you think...don't under estimate the 4 cylinder yami.
The mono works good on groomed trails...but thats about it.
The stock skis suck...but you already knew that.
I personally want something lighter...but confuse that with me saying its a bad sled.
I have 13,400 miles on her...and she runs awesome
Yamaha motors are top notch....this new viper might be great...but I want to wait and see...I will never buy a first year sled from anybody.
BTW...I just read that the triple yami motor is 12 lbs lighter than the twin 4 stroke Suzuki...that surprised me.
Also...rumor says New Sr viper is 25 lbs lighter than the nitro...if thats true...it would be around 515 dry....thats light for a four stroke.
Also...I have never believed ski doos weight claims...they always lie...they claimed 507....supertrax had em at 530 dry....
 
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harvest1121

Well-known member
I did have a Skidoo 800 xp had 7500 miles on it. I did not have any motor issues but the only reason I sold it it was because it was out of warranty. I am riding a Yamaha Nytro and do like it on the trails but it is heavy. I do not have a problem riding in the UP but it can get heavy riding in the North Woods of Wi. I think there is a trade off for the 2s and 4s. The season is too short so want all the riding time I can get.
 
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Attak man

New member
Like I said...this new SR Viper (and it's cousin's the ZR 7000, and XF 7000)....might just be the perfect trail sled for the average joe...Cat's excellent chassis, married with a bullet proof yamaha motor...anybody with an open mind can see that this will be a VERY GOOD sled.

As of right now...if I only ran groomed trails...the Vector LTX would be my sled of choice...good fuel economy, strong performance (better than any 600 two stroke)..and EPS (power steering)....that power steering makes those sleds feel 100 lbs lighter...it works, very well...add dual tuner skis, and you would have very little darting, and a less tiring ride. IMO..it is one of the best trail sleds made...so...if the SR Viper is lighter, and has a more performance type suspension...it can only be better...I guess we will see.
 
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jojo69

New member
I seem to be one of the few on this discusion with a FST. I have been in the moutains with this sled and did just fine because if you know anything about altitude you would know the loss in horse power in which the turbo will shine. Maybe it's time to man up and beable to handle a sled. It's called being in shape.
 
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Attak man

New member
jojo69 said:
I seem to be one of the few on this discusion with a FST. I have been in the moutains with this sled and did just fine because if you know anything about altitude you would know the loss in horse power in which the turbo will shine. Maybe it's time to man up and beable to handle a sled. It's called being in shape.
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I will freely admit I am not in the shape I once was...we get older..it happens. And I am sure you did fine in the mountains with your turbo...now since you are so in shape, and such a great rider...what would your riding experience be like if you were riding a sled that weighed 150 lbs lighter?? I mean ...if you had no problem throwing that turbo around...how much fun would you have on an RMK??

4 strokes devinately have their place in the sport...and they do have their pluses. BUT light weight does matter when it's steep and deep...unless you are pushing 200 HP (Turbo/Supercharger)..power to weight is huge in the mountains...power can overcome weight.
BUt a stock FST??? I would have problems with that in deep snow (over 2 ft)
 
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