Tim1,
Thats just it though. It is inevitable that all 2 strokes will be phased out over the coming years. Unless someone can design a 2 stroke with emmisions as low, or lower then the current 4 strokes that is.
Honda has a 2 stroke that is supposed to be very low emmision, but they have not put it in anything just yet.

Now on a different note. Why is this 780cc engine only putting out 48hp? Heck the 600cc street bikes push out over twice that. Sure the bikes are a 4 cylinder design, but surely the sled developers can squeeze more out of a 780 twin.

Then again, this is only the begining.

 

Also, for those that do not know, Polaris and Artic Cat both have 4 strokes now. But niether of them are the first. Redline Sleds are the first to have 4 strokes in thier sleds. And they are definitly one of the better looking sleds I have ever see too. Here is a link.

www.redlinesnowmobiles.com/

 

i think the more important think to consider rather than just horsepower is how much torque that thing will make.

according to the authors of the article in maximumsled. they thought that the engine was "detuned" a little. and that production models might have more hp.
im assuming it has a deep stroke, so it wont rev as fast but will give u lots of torque.

later
jon

 

Lurch,

I remember reading in the newspaper, that (I think the year was for 2005) all the 2 strokes sleds would be done away with, and replaced with 4 strokes. The paper said that so far Polaris and Arctic Cat were the only ones to really fool around with the idea so far. It said that right now, the average speed of a snowmobile is 90 mph. It said that after all of the engines are replaced with 4 strokes, the average speed is expected to drop down to 60 mph It said that most people do not need their sled to go 90 mph, so they don't think too many people will mind only being able to go 60 mph. Myself, I think this is BS. I think, they need to first concentrate on cars, houses, etc. I think that they should take advantage of solar power. I think that right now, just about all of the energy the sun releases is wasted. If they would use the solar power, the natural resources would be able to withstand use by only recreational vehicles.

 

My 00 powerstroke with my 800twin in the back.

 

As an owner of 2 "mountain sleds" I know that 4-stroke technology in a sled is not here yet for serious mtn riding. I enjoy "boondocking" cross country (i.e. not follow trails when sledding).

They are too heavy, and dont deliver the necessary power to go thru deep mtn snow. A current 4-stroke sled would simply bog down and get stuck.

I believe a 4-stroke sled does have its place though. There are alot of folks that would be more than happy to own a 4-stroke. If you are the type of person that stays on trails and does not care if you have breakneck acceleration, than 4-strokes are for you. Personally I like to get away from the crowds and enjoy the mountain to myself, and I wouldnt be able to do that as easy on a 4-stroke sled. My two cents.

 

One thing to remember though, the original polaris 500, still in the mag, doesn't produce as many horses as the new h.o., and the h.o produces a lot of power for a 500, so what I am trying to say is that maybe they will use the 780 but it could turn out to be a 780 h.o.
I don't really think that they are going to bring out a 780 with 48hp when kawi has a 650 with 46, that would be an embarrasment and Polaris is not one that takes that easily, so don't expect them to bring out a weak quad( for the size of it).

 

"I don't really think that they are going to bring out a 780 with 48hp when kawi has a 650 with 46, that would be an embarrasment and Polaris is not one that takes that easily, so don't expect them to bring out a weak quad."

Sorry, but I would have to disagree with that after Polaris' lack of improvements in the sport ATV market. They are a company that hasn't changed the design of their sport machine in 6 years(besides concentric drive). Polaris is an embarrasment now with their sport machines. They removed 4 wheel drive and added fancy graphics and marketed the machine as a sport machine. They are quickly losing ground in the Sport market and I too, just like JACK, would not consider Polaris now in buying a new sport machine.

 

WIscrambler,
One thing that you failed to state though is that everyone says that the scrambler is not a sport quad and not exaclty a utility, a combo of the two. And also, the polaris rep said they are coming out with a quad to run the the 660 and 650, so don't say they are embarrasing. Another thing is that there are very few weak polaris motors, I think you have to have a lot of power to run with a quad the same size when you are 100lbs heavier, think about it, polaris doesn't make a weak motor. And updates? yamaha hasn't updated the warrior, blaster or banshee ever. and honda hasn't updated for years, so don't say six years is a long time, cause it isn't compared to 8-12.

 

Polarisman3210~
I agree with you that the Scrambler is a sport/utility quad instead of a strictly sport quad. It just appears to me that Polaris intended to make the 500 Scrambler into a strictly sport machine by removing 4 wheel drive. Yamaha hasn't updated their sport machines, but they have a new machine that is one of the best. Same with Honda...they now have a machine that's had a few years of production already. The machine give up 200+ cc's to it's rivals, but still is very competitive with them. I too have heard from a Polaris rep of a brand new sport machine coming out. But until that is released, Polaris is falling even further behind in the Sport market. Maybe not so much of an embarrassment, but more of a disappointment.