Just got back from MN where my kids rode 76 miles on the lakes with the new Sportsman. The snow was 13 inches deep in the wide open areas and deeper in alot of other spots. When we got back home, the engine was an ice cube. The heat from the engine melted the snow that it was constantly sprayed with, thus encasing it self in ice. The foot brake was in-operable because of the ice. Never had any sign of the belt slipping. From what I have read, some of the older Sportsmans would get the belt wet in these conditions and start slipping. Seems to me, that what ever the engineers changed, solved the problem.

One observation, the three and a half wheel drive Hondas don't do to well in these conditions (note to self: DON'T BUY A HONDA IF YOU WANT TRACTION). I helped a guy with a Rincon get back to the road after he got stuck trying to get to his fishing shack. True 4WD does make a difference!

I didn't see any other ATV's out there besides the Honda, but it was very easy to see that any straight axle machines would not have been able to move in these conditions.

 

sounds like fun sure miss the snow , i'm sitting over here in iraq