Just what we need; 12 inch ruts down the middle of the trail.
Yamaha Dont Blink
- Thread starter gogebic_sledder
- Start date
Just what we need; 12 inch ruts down the middle of the trail.
snobuilder
Well-known member
[h=1]Yamaha Sled Talk[/h][h=2][/h][h=3]Bolt-on Smiles[/h]I awoke to minus 32C this morning, second day in a row of Arctic air at the cabin. On my second cup as the sun breaks through the trees, reading the comments, speculating on what would be our next big thing in snowmobiles.
Snow bikes seem to be getting a lot of traction in the rumour mill. Let’s
think about that one for a moment. Here’s a couple of facts you should know. The total market today is approximately 10K units sold. This is the entire history of SB sales. Timbersled is by far the largest player in the kit game, holding several key patents on the conversion. Polaris recently acquired Timbersled in what some consider a block play and now possess those patents. SB don’t work worth a damn on hard pack (current technology and design). SB kits require a host motorcycle on which to install them. In addition there will be political hurdles to overcome as they become more mainstream, definitions, compliance, regulations etc..
Now all that said, many guys are choosing Yamaha YZ’s as the bike of choice. One could say we are already in the SB business by Ascension. But if we really wanted in I suppose it would be best to build a complete SB just like our friends at AC have proposed. Nice way to skirt around the patents and save the consumer the cost of wheels and rear suspension they don’t require. That would require significant investment and if based on a YZ would open a Pandoras Box of liability and risk exposure in breaking new ground or snow as is the case.
End of the day, the SB market is currently planted firmly in the Rockies. It’s cool, it’s growing but its niche. If I had to draw sales projections over three years for a new SB project, it would be a single K digit (note: I’ve been wrong before!). We could build the best SB ever considering our wealth of MC and SMB engineering, or we could sit back and enjoy a few extra sales in the already very healthy off-road motorcycle world…. March 1 will tell all. cr
Snow bikes seem to be getting a lot of traction in the rumour mill. Let’s
think about that one for a moment. Here’s a couple of facts you should know. The total market today is approximately 10K units sold. This is the entire history of SB sales. Timbersled is by far the largest player in the kit game, holding several key patents on the conversion. Polaris recently acquired Timbersled in what some consider a block play and now possess those patents. SB don’t work worth a damn on hard pack (current technology and design). SB kits require a host motorcycle on which to install them. In addition there will be political hurdles to overcome as they become more mainstream, definitions, compliance, regulations etc..Now all that said, many guys are choosing Yamaha YZ’s as the bike of choice. One could say we are already in the SB business by Ascension. But if we really wanted in I suppose it would be best to build a complete SB just like our friends at AC have proposed. Nice way to skirt around the patents and save the consumer the cost of wheels and rear suspension they don’t require. That would require significant investment and if based on a YZ would open a Pandoras Box of liability and risk exposure in breaking new ground or snow as is the case.
End of the day, the SB market is currently planted firmly in the Rockies. It’s cool, it’s growing but its niche. If I had to draw sales projections over three years for a new SB project, it would be a single K digit (note: I’ve been wrong before!). We could build the best SB ever considering our wealth of MC and SMB engineering, or we could sit back and enjoy a few extra sales in the already very healthy off-road motorcycle world…. March 1 will tell all. cr
No idea of the author of that post, he does make sense, but if you look at the picture I posted, it is in my opinion undeniably a rider on a snowbike. Just look at the rider's head, shoulders and hands with relationship to the ground. If that rider is standing on a sled, then I guess Yamaha is unveiling a 3 ft set of ape hangers!?
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groomerdriver
New member
No idea of the author of that post, he does make sense, but if you look at the picture I posted, it is in my opinion undeniably a rider on a snowbike. Just look at the rider's head, shoulders and hands with relationship to the ground. If that rider is standing on a sled, then I guess Yamaha is unveiling a 3 ft set of ape hangers!?
"cr" is Chris Reid...he works for Yamaha Canada. He has his own website and blog where he posts stuff.
http://snowmobiles.yamahablogs.ca/about/
snobuilder
Well-known member
if the big reveal is a snobike I better get in on one a them $10k Apexs before they all disappear.
snobuilder
Well-known member
OH!...COOL is she showin a little more skin this time?....everyone loves a braaaaapteaser!
groomerdriver
New member
momoney2123
New member
no doubt a 4 stroke....
groomerdriver
New member
Sounds different than my 2 different Yamaha 3 cyl (973 and 1049cc) 4S'. Sure don't sound like a 2S to me either.
New engine maybe?
momoney2123
New member
Forced fed im guessing
groomerdriver
New member
Ahhh.....
momoney2123
New member
Just going by the video, it appears to be a hyper sled riding on groomed trails......and a turbo/super charger would make sense
Do other turbo'd or super charged motors sound that different than normal 4 strokes? I have buddies who are running the MPI turbo'd vipers and trubo'd cats. And don't think they sound that much different. Is it just me?
momoney2123
New member
No they dont sound much different usually just louder due to different exhaust, and the sound of the turbo when it spools up. We dont even know if thats a real sound clip of the engine that will be in their 2017 sleds. But just going by face value of the last video id bet its a hyper sled in a cat chassis. Basicaly the same as cats 1100 but with a yamaha engine.
joesnocruzer
New member
From the spindles and the headlight... this appears to be the same cat-based chassis. Perhaps a new motor?