Motor Mouths

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Racing Never Stops

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

It seems to be race season everywhere we look. The drag season is coming down the home stretch, the AmSnow Racing forums are blowing up with results, tips and updates, and the AMSOIL ISOC snocross series has more Facebook posts than a Kardashian. We’re certainly not complaining. In fact, we might be more excited for the upcoming snow race season than ever! The crew at D&D racing certainly seems to be rounding into form at the right time, taking home wins in the 800 stock, 1000 stock ...

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Inside Info - 2015 Yamaha RTX LE Changes

Posted 5 years ago by mboncher

For the production models of the 2015 Yamaha Viper RTX LE you may notice a small change from some of the photos in all the snowmobile media publications, websites and social media pages. In the press release AND pre-production photos taken of the RTX LE there were the Kashima Coated shocks on this particular Viper. This is incongruent with the specs that are in all of the material and not the same shocks that come on the production models. The shocks that come on the new Viper RTX LE...

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Yamaha Snowmobile Race Team pairs with Elka Suspension

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

The Yamaha Snowmobile Race Team announced it will be sponsored by Elka Suspensions for the upcoming cross country and hillclimb race seasons. The team will be using Elka’s ultra-lightweight Stage 5 coilover shocks on both the cross country and hillclimb circuits. “What we are most impressed with is the Elka team’s level of commitment in helping our racers get on the podium,” said Yamaha Snowmobile Product Manager, Rob Powers. “Our goal in working with the Yamaha ...

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Snowmobile Women Wanted

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

By: Jessica Kline If you are an avid snowmobiler, chances are you’ve been to a snowmobile show or two to check out the latest sleds, gear and accessories. I’m sure you’ve also stumbled on a booth with promo models, typically used to hand out information and greet people at the show. When I attended many of these shows, I found that a lot of the promo models had never snowmobiled before and didn’t know much about the products they were promoting or selling. That led me to...

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BRP Releases 4-Stroke Turbo

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

OK, so it’s in a Can-Am side-by-side. Not nearly as exciting as you probably thought, but since we hooked you, you might as well keep reading and jump on the rumor wagon! BRP announced today that it is the first manufacturer to produce a factory-installed turbocharged 4-stroke in the side-by-side industry. The new Can-Am Maverick X ds boasts 121hp from a Rotax 1000R turbocharged engine. That’s 10 percent more than anyone in the industry. Why does this matter to snowmobilers? Becaus...

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Cat’s ZR 6000 XC R Breakdown!

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

You’ve heard us snowmobile media types brag on behalf of Arctic Cat that their RR sleds are as close as you can get to the Race Day experience. And that still holds true, but with the recent release of Arctic Cat’s new 2015 ZR 6000 R XC there are a few interesting differences. Let’s take a look! Both the ZR 6000 RR and the 6000 R XC still sit in the same Procross chassis and are powered by the C-TEC2 600 engine, but there are now plenty of differences from skis to seat. Chass...

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Commence Winter: Hay Days 2014

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

AmSnow is en route to Hay Days 2014 in North Branch, Minn. Will we see you there? The "official start of winter" is less than 48 hours away. In case you’re in need of some motivation, here are 10 reasons to attend this year’s event. 10. Ideal weather. We don’t want to jinx it, but the weatherman is calling for sunny skies and highs in the low-to-mid 70s. It doesn’t get much better than that! 9. Fair fare. In case you didn’t get your fill of cheese curd...

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AmSnow Adding More Race Coverage!

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

American Snowmobiler magazine is pleased to announce we will be doing even more race coverage this year. A new correspondent, Todd Myers, will be bringing our race fans even more in depth snowmobile racing coverage this season with blogs, articles and insights. “We’re very excited to have Todd as our eyes and ears on the race track this season,” said Ross Halvorson, AmSnow’s associate editor, “His experience and behind-the-scenes knowledge of various racing d...

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Polaris 800 H.O. Engine Update

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

It’s rare for us to test a product in pre-production stages and have it hit the consumer market without any type of update or last minute tweak. So when we were summoned with the rest of the snowmobile media world to a conference call with Polaris engineers on Monday regarding the new 800 power plant. We were armed with pens in hand anxiously awaiting some juicy updates. We waited to hear the ‘big’ news, like new fuel mapping or perhaps even more weight savings, but the bi...

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Arctic Cat Recalls 2014 and 2015 Snowmobiles

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

Arctic Cat has recalled model year 2014 Arctic Cat XF 7000 and ZR 7000 and model year 2015 XF 7000 and ZR 7000 snowmobiles. They were sold in a variety of green, black, orange and white color combinations. All XF and ZR 2014 models are included in this recall. Recalled 2015 model vehicles have the last six digits of the vehicle identification number (VIN) in the following ranges: 100920 through 100993 for the XF 7000 models and 100792 through 100919 for the ZR 7000. The fourth and fifth dig...

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New Lightweight Scale Rack and Ramps from Intercomp

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

Intercomp Racing announces the release of their all new Quik Rack! This lightweight scale rack system is precision machined out of solid, super-dense foam and holds up to a 6,000 lbs. vehicle. It provides a lower-cost alternative to metal rack systems. The high grip, rugged exoskeleton provides additional reinforcement, won’t slip or slide out, and won’t mark-up or scratch floors. The system’s modular design makes it easy to set-up anywhere providing you with enhanced fl...

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Problem Solved! TurboSiphon Gets it Done

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

Easy, safe and environmentally friendly are not typically associated with powersports, especially when we talk about fueling our sleds. The new TurboSiphon is about to change that! I’m sure 99 percent of you will agree the new gas cans we have these days are horrible. I’m not willing to rule out my own user error, but I have yet to find a new gas can with its fancy safety mechanism that actually makes fueling anything easier and safer. Lake, garage, yard, driveway, trailer, I’...

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Shape Up for the Season

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

Being the best rider you can be is a year-round task for snowmobilers. Click here to find out how Klim riders Cole Wilford and Jared Sessions stay in peak riding condition so they’re ready to conquer the mountains when RMSHA season finally arrives!...

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AmSnow's Must-See Midwest Summer Snowmobile Events

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

Searching for a cure for your summertime blues? Check out these must-see summer snowmobile events from the heart of the Midwest! First, I have to apologize as we’re a bit late on the uptake for this one. But the Three Lakes Shootout held in Three Lakes, Wis. (10 miles south of Eagle River) is just too much fun not to mention. Held in late June, it’s got almost anything a motor-head could want – planes, powerboats and sleds on a drag strip of some high quality H2O! There’...

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Canadian Snowmobile Trails Get a Boost

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) announced a portion of the $10 million trail funding investment from the Canadian Government will be used to improve infrastructure of Ontario’s more than 30,000 km of Snowmobile Trails. “By investing in trail infrastructure, the Government of Canada is encouraging job creation, linking communities and increasing recreational opportunities for Canadians. Through this agreement, the Government of Canada continues to support economic g...

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AmSnow’s Top Summer Snowmobile Mods

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

3 shop sessions to get you ready for winterBy now you’ve undoubtedly taken all the steps to properly store you sled through the summer. So, are you just going to sit around waiting for snow? Heck, no! Read on to find out what AmSnow’s editors recently debated as their top three summer shop sessions to install new mods!What to do, what to doThe winter goes by in a blur, and all the while you’re thinking, ‘I’m going to do this, that and the other to my ride.’ Bu...

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When does snowmobile season start?

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

Have you ever wondered why snowmobile trails open when they do? Here are a few factors you might not know about that influence the start of the snowmobile season.As snowmobilers go, we’re ready to rip the pull cord at the first sight of flakes. (No that’s not snow in June, it’s the cottonwood trees seeding.) But hold your horses! Are your trails open yet? As the calendar reads, snowmobile season typically runs from December through the end of March. Weather permitting, of cours...

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Signs it’s Time to Replace your Track

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

Like the tires of a car, your snowmobiles track is what makes it go… and stop, turn, etc. And like a car’s tires, your track will eventually need to be replaced. Here’s how you’ll know when! It’s summer, unfortunately, but it’s a great time to check on pesky maintenance items like track-wear. Over the course of many seasons, tracks will eventually degrade… they just do. Being proactive about maintaining them will help prevent damage to your sled and p...

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Are 4-Strokes Really Closing the Gap?

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

Many of the snowmobile industry’s biggest accomplishments in the consumer market can be traced back to the race tracks. We once again look to the track to see if there’s evidence of what all the media outlets (including AmSnow) have been saying recently. Are 4-stroke sleds really closing in on 2-stroke machines? Many of the consumers’ favorite snowmobile innovations have migrated from the track to the showroom. Much of our modern chassis, engines, suspensions and more started ...

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Snowmobile Trailer Maintenance

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

Once the snow is gone, it’s time to take inventory of all your equipment. There’s one very important piece that’s often overlooked by snowmobilers. What is it?Snowmobile trailers are often an afterthought! We go through sleds with a fine tooth comb changing oils, inspecting clutches, etc. I used to be a part of the group that paid no attention to trailers. It makes no sense when you think about it. Without our trailer, many of us don’t ride. It’s as essential to the...

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Another New Affordable BRP product - Outlander L

Posted 5 years ago by mboncher

In case some of you are keeping tabs, BRP has started getting serious about affordability. I know, I know, sleds are still expensive, but we all know that we have to pay to play. However, if the moves BRP is making in its other segments are any indication of what is coming next for Snowmobiles we might all have something to get excited about. Recently BRP introduced the new Spark watercraft, which for all of us that live on water and love recreate in the summer, this was an...

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Frozen MOTO Brings Fresh Faces to Snow Industry

Posted 5 years ago by Ross Halvorson

As media types, we’re always on the lookout for the ‘next big thing.’ Snow bikes certainly aren’t anything we haven’t seen before, but one company is making big waves and credits the snowmobile industry for their success (or at least part of it). Founded in 2010, Frozen MOTO is owned and operated by Dan Shanahan in Lewiston, Idaho. The company manufactures and sells conversion kits to turn your dirt bike into a snow bike. AmSnow had the chance to catch up with Dan ...

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Snowmobile Club Fundraising Season

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

Just because the snow is gone doesn’t mean you’re done with snowmobiling! Here’s how the AmSnow staff stays involved with the sport we love year-round. You can too!Associate Editor Ross Halvorson joined the Menomonee Falls SnoBirds Snowmobile Club in southeastern Wisconsin on Friday, April 25 for their 45th annual Smelt Fry fundraiser. (If you’re unsure of what a smelt is, think big minnow.) Each year the club serves up around 600 lbs. of breaded fish to nearly 700 hungry...

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EPA Acknowledges ethanol damages engines

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

On Friday, April 18, 2014 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publicly acknowledged the using ethanol in gasoline can damage internal combustion engines. The use of ethanol gasoline increases exhaust temperatures, thus indirectly causing component failure. According to a statement released by the EPA, “Ethanol impacts motor vehicles in two primary ways. First, ethanol enleans the [air/fuel] ratio (increases the proportion of oxygen relative to hydrocarbons) which can lead to increased...

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Summer snowmobile storage 101

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

Run it dry, or not? That is the question. There are many schools of thought on this most common end-of-season maintenance question.Let’s start with why you would consider doing this. If I don’t leave a full tank of gas in my fuel tank during storage, water may condensate on the inside of the tank causing a myriad of possible issues. Also, I actually have to run it dry and that isn’t always easy. If I leave a full tank of gas in there I may end up having a bunch of bad gas when...

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Cheers! To a Great Season

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

As the snowmobiling season winds to a close for most of us, American Snowmobiler magazine would like to say THANK YOU!We’d like to say thank you to the entire snowmobiling community for an unforgettable season. Each year is unique, and they all offer their own set of challenges (this year’s primarily being frigid temperatures and unstable snowpack out West). But each year is also full of unique accomplishments or events that make every season one to remember all on its own.Our thanks...

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Engine Tuner Programming 101

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

Editor's Note: This article was given to AmSnow from Bull Dog. Given today’s price of gas and the escalation of “car wars” power supremacy, vehicle owners are searching for even the slightest of improvements. So, do engine programmers really deliver the goods?1. What exactly are these things and how do they work?Whether known as programmers, engine performance tuners, chips, or gauge tuners, these small electronic devices are used to manage and optimize engine performance...

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Advantage of Spring snowmobile buying

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

It’s the time of year for last rides, cleaning up the sled and… don’t say it… summer-izing! But OEMs are already teasing us about next season with Sneak Peeks of 2015 sleds and demo rides. Each sled maker has special offers to try and convince consumers that the time is now to buy your new ride. So, why buy spring? Besides being on the shiniest new sled come the start of next season, we thought we’d put all the benefits in one spot for you to compare. Here’s...

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Real World Powder Eval Correction

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

In the “2014 Powder Eval” story (Spring 2014, p. 25) American Snowmobiler rated five 2014 mountain sleds in the areas of weight, handling and hillclimb ability. Ski-Doo’s Summit 800 SP 154 was incorrectly credited with fourth place in both weight and handling. The Summit ranks third in both categories with a weight of 551.8 lbs. and an average handling course time of 31.51 seconds. The change in scoring for weight and handling places the 2014 Summit 800 SP 154 in a tie for sec...

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Smooth Sailing: Yamaha’s Performance Damper

Posted 5 years ago by AmSnow

More control, precise handling and a smoother ride. Yes, I’ll take all of that! Find out just how one manufacturer is trying to deliver it right here!There’s been no lack of techy innovations for MY2015. We’ve got new suspensions, chassis, engines, etc. and while Yamaha’s chassis performance damper hasn’t gotten the flashy fanfare of any of those, it is meant to improve ride quality for some of its longtime leading sleds in the lineup.In a nutshell, the Performanc...

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