Why Are We Brand Loyal With Snowmobiles?

[Running Bear]

Interesting......I've rode a lot of different brands before a stuck with one, scorpions, ski-doo, kawasaki and then my first new was a Polaris. And I think thats what started it for me, poo was the sled to have when I bought that first one. I've have had good luck with them, even the RXL with its issues never left me stranded. I think dependability is what has kept me loyal. I do have to say haven’t bought new in awhile (bought a resort instead) and will look long and hard at all options when I'm ready….but I'm thinking I’ll end up with a poo again I like where their going with the 4s and they should be good when I'm ready to buy....kinda like dcsnomo said knowing 1 brand well increases the comfort level when shopping. And it is funny I am really only brand specific about my sled, truck and football team...lol

 

[StreetnSnow]

For me, reliability is a huge part of which brand(s) I consider when ready for a purchase.

I ride both motorcycles & sleds. It's often frustrating how much more maintenance a sled needs than bikes do, so whoever has the best reliability at the time is who I lean towards.

In the 80's & 90's that was Poo. In the last decade, it's probably Yamaha. Moving forward, who knows. It could be any of them.

That's one nice thing about the internet era. It's easy to quickly figure out who's having issues!

 

[sledhd1]

Funny

X2 on the Yamaha bad decade. I had an '89 Exciter. 2 blown engines in the first 1700 miles. Didn't even fix it the second time. Traded it on a '91 EXT Special and never looked back.

I purchased a 89 Exciter also it had 400 mile on it was like brand new I put 3500 miles on it in in 1 season not a single issue. paid 2900.00 for it sold it for 2800.00 still looked brand new. it was the best sled for me considering the money it did not cost me to own.

 

[eagle1]

Basically people are just defending their purchase. You wouldn't want to admit to buying a inferior product would you?
Oh and it's just plain fun telling your buddies mine is better than yours.

 

[favoritos]

More like brand passive here. I ride the same thing as the other guys so we can share parts.

 

[hoffmansledder]

I grew up riding Cat and stuck with it until last year when I got my first skidoo. I love my skidoo but wouldn't be opposed to going back to Cat for a mountain sled or trying a Polaris. I like the technology of teh E-tec so I tried it. Plus the sled was cost effective when I bought it. If yamaha could put their sleds on a diet, I might (a big might) look at them. I'm leaning toward a Summit 800 E-tec next but it may be a little to hard on the wallet. Who know's maybe a M8 or RMK.

 

[lotoftoys]

Most of us are somewhat brand loyal. I have owned all of the remaining four manufacturers products and have had good luck. Started riding on an early 70s Chaparral. I think it all comes down to preventative maintenance. I like the idea of being loyal to the sport at a time when we really need it. Please do not forget the guys in the groomers, they make it all possible. Throw a couple $ in the jar. Thanks guys!

 

[bigvin]

Love This Thread!

GREAT responses!
Reading through them,... just brought back TONS of memories.
Wouldn't it be something though,.. if there were at least 4 MORE brands
out there today to choose from? With all of todays technology available?

Color? With all the NOS graphics available and custom body shop painters out
there,...You can get your sled "looking" however ya want it these days.

Brand: I like 'em all. But being a little over 6'5" and weighing more than your average
side by side refrigerator,.... I'm currently on the REV and dreaming about the XP 1200
4-stroke.
NOW at this stage of life,... I look at the sleds that I can actually get up and walk away
from after a couple hundred miles,... without having to take medications to make me walk
upright! LOL! Sure would be nice to afford a sled for ALL riding situations. But
that isn't going to happen anytime soon (unless I get an inside on the lottery numbers?)

Our first sled was a '67 Fox Trac that my dad traded his '58 Ford pick up for. (wish I had them BOTH today!),... And since my mom wanted to ride,... the next was a '71 ski-roule.
Ahhh,....The old green bubble-nose!
Then, His buddy was a polaris dealer! So, a '69 and '70 Mustang was the thing!
Along the way, owned 'em all,... Loved them all.

Today, I love looking at some of the OLD vintage stuff that people have UPDATED with the techology of today. I saw a '73 Silver Bullet with NEW front IFS and Rear suspension,.. a '71 Chaparral with the same,... Ahh,.... just think if they were that advanced BACK then!

Now,.... If I could have a '69 Mustang and putt putt through the woods at 20mph,... I'd be in heaven.
I still laugh at the memory of my dad taking a spin on my new sled. He gave it a handfull of throttle,.... went around the house a couple of times,... then pulled the sled up next to me, shut it off,...got off,... and walked away shaking his head,..
Mumbling,.. (That's Enough!) and never rode since. LOL!

As SAMC said in an earlier post here,... Maybe our "loyalty" should be focussed on the
SPORT! Thank God we still have the places to Ride today. Isn't it GREAT?

 

[dooeragain]

I buy a brand that has the best dealer in the area for parts that are in stock, so when you need them you can get them today not in 3 weeks. back in the 70's this was very important. You also accumulate a lot of stuff which can be used if needed. You also know how to work on a sled if it is the same brand.

 

[indy_500]

only way i'd switch brands is if i had money to buy a brand new sled, ain't buying a sled as old as mine in another brand. just because i don't know much about that era cats doos and yamis

 

[polarisrider1]

It's because Arctic Cat is the BEST! and all others are junk!

Oh, wait a minute, I have owned Yamaha and Polaris too and enjoyed them too.

Seriously though I have seen some folks that actually seem to base part of their personal identity on the brand of snowmobile they ride, as in if something negative is said about that brand, it is like saying something negative about them. A little freaky if you ask me, but have noticed this in more than just a handful of cases.

-John

Hey! you talking about me? lol It's what you started with or your best early memories are made from riding maybe. I have had many brands except Cat. The colors are not for me. I like the red, white and blue theme Pol. uses in alot of sleds.

 

[polarisrider1]

Polaris IS the way out! lol

I Prefer them dis color or dis color !!!

makes sense to me!

 

[buddah2]

I haven't been riding all that long.......first ride was in '95. In my case I spent the last almost 20 yrs. before I retired working for a Japanese auto manufacturer who emphasized quality, reliability, and fit & finish. SO naturally I gravitated to the manufacturer that seemed to most closely meet those values, at least in my opinion. And that was Yamaha. Since I owned my first sled in '97 and the 9 others in between, I have not had any experience that's caused me to change. I have seriously evaluated Doo in the past what with a number of riding buds going yellow, but the rev riding position was too hard on my bad knees.

Never really considered Cat because of their former f & f issues and the Polaris mileage, or lack thereof, just plain turned me off. So there we are.........

 

[anonomoose]

Now who in the heck would want to switch brands if they have to lay out a grand buying new threads???

Geez that was easy!

Actually the Makers work really hard at brand identification. Think of all the hype they put out about leaping thru the air, powering thru 10 foot snowdrifts, and carving in mountain scape that makes the sled look like a dream!

When in actuality, they throw those sleds away (ever see some "slightly" used sleds sold inconspicuously on ebay) after the photo shoots.......and YOUR sled will see most of it's miles in a cornfield, or riding in some ditch somewhere.

Truck companies do some of this too.

Like it or not just like a boat, when you get down to it, you really don't want to sit down and figure out how much it costs you to own and operate and maintain a sled(s) and trailers or your wife will find out the REAL truth and you will be taking up something goofy like golf, or darts.

One thing is for sure, tho...if you have half a brain, and your momma didn't drop you on your head, testing other equipment out after doing some major research on the puter...is the only sane way to buy a sled these days and you should NEVER buy yellow, blue, green outerwear because they might clash with your next sled. Life is short, and sleds are heavy....stay in shape in the off season, or buy and carry a very long rope to pull out everyone when they do get stuck. And beeeeeelieve me...they all get stuck eventually.

 

[beebird]

The decision for me to ride the "bees" came from past experiences and buddies suggestions. Grew up riding JD 400 s and at the end when I grew tired of wrenching for 3 hours to ride 20 minutes, it was time for them to go. Sold them to a local JD mechanic and bought my first used 2000 Ski-doo 700 ext. track. Buddy had a 600 and really liked it. Cousin had a Yami 700 triple and I didn't like the ride on that as much. Had a Polaris 4-wheeler at the time and that only lasted 4 years before the engine blew up...so I wasn't interested in the sleds either. After buying the 700, wife wanted to go along, so I got her a 500 Doo.
Rode the 700 up till 2008 and after test riding a 600 xp, I was sold. Traded the 700 in. Being 6' 5" and 250, the xp fit my posture MUCH better. I didn't feel like a circus bear riding a mini bike anymore. Had the Cats had something like the xp, I would have given them a look at the time.

Dad bought chevy pickups when I was growing up until his '87 's engine went to heck at 30,000 miles, and he traded for a ford diesel. Whole family has been ford dedicated ever since.

Not that there is anything wrong with any brands, ( they all have their good and bad years), But the past experiences are what decide for alot of people.

 

[coldbear]

YammyDoo...

I started with Doo's, then bought a Yammy that needed a set of pistons and rings. The Yammy beat all comers and for a measely 600.00 investment. But went back to Doo's simply because of my dealer. He always made me appreciate his services,prices.
My take on this is the final four that made it through the lean years all deserve a applause for building strong, good looking sleds!

 

[Skidooski]

I've always ridden Skidoo. My wife and I have so much Skidoo "stuff" that I can't afford to switch brands. Skidoo helmets, leather suits, key chains, picture fames, skidoo underware, shirts, vests, coffee mugs, etc. etc. etc.

 

[tpski]

My first sled was a '73 Ski Doo silver bullet. I bought a brand new '95 Polaris 500 as a graduation present to myself.........3 years and 3 motors later....went back to Ski Doo. Have had 4 Ski Doos since with NO PROBLEMS!!!!

My $.02

 

[indy_500]

My first sled was a '73 Ski Doo silver bullet. I bought a brand new '95 Polaris 500 as a graduation present to myself.........3 years and 3 motors later....went back to Ski Doo. Have had 4 Ski Doos since with NO PROBLEMS!!!!

My $.02

wow sounds like bad luck. was it a 1995 Indy 500? what exactly kept going wrong with the motor?

 

[indy_500]

I've always ridden Skidoo. My wife and I have so much Skidoo "stuff" that I can't afford to switch brands. Skidoo helmets, leather suits, key chains, picture fames, skidoo underware, shirts, vests, coffee mugs, etc. etc. etc.

x2 cept for me it's poo