This video may have been posted before, sorry if it has but I don't have the time to go through everything. This guy has some interesting points. I agree with most of what he says.

 

 

 

 

He makes a lot of good points. It’s now become a rich man’s sport. Hopefully other areas of the recreational motorsports scene will take notice. Like the SxS market. 

47 minutes ago, spin_dry said:

He makes a lot of good points. It’s now become a rich man’s sport. Hopefully other areas of the recreational motorsports scene will take notice. Like the SxS market. 

It's certainly not for the poors, that's for sure.  I waited until we had a house and all stuent loans paid off before jumping back in.  Tough to justify what this sport costs unless you have disposable cash, especially in the post covid era.  I've been getting more use out of the wheeler and jet ski the past couple years.

Maybe not dead, but definitely on life support.  Really sad to see.  Can’t ignore the biggest factor of short seasons with no rideable snow. Almost mid January and a total of 3” so far.  
Back in the late seventies snowmobiles were like lawn mowers, everyone had one.  They were cheap, easy to work on,  indestructible, and you could throw open your garage and ride.  Even the resurgence in the 90’s with better suspension, faster, more dependable, having 2-3 sleds was in reach of most families.  Now owning a sled around here with no trailer, truck, is as useless as having a jet ski or boat with no trailer or lake to use it. 

At first I thought you were talking about NASCAR.

It died at least 10 years ago.

3 hours ago, spin_dry said:

He makes a lot of good points. It’s now become a rich man’s sport. Hopefully other areas of the recreational motorsports scene will take notice. Like the SxS market. 

Those things are obscenely expensive!

Brand new is very expensive, but used can be very affordable.

I don't care what anyone says....but I can clearly see the difference in winters now compared to 40+ years ago.   If it weren't for some lake effect snow, it would also be a terrible year in the Northeast so far.     Will this upcoming weekend change things?.... with a possible major storm...it has been a fairly cold January...just need a good storm. And for these temps to stick around for awhile to maintain any snow.

Keep up the hope....

 

2 hours ago, ViperGTS/Z1 said:

I don't care what anyone says....but I can clearly see the difference in winters now compared to 40+ years ago.   If it weren't for some lake effect snow, it would also be a terrible year in the Northeast so far.     Will this upcoming weekend change things?.... with a possible major storm...it has been a fairly cold January...just need a good storm. And for these temps to stick around for awhile to maintain any snow.

Yep. Good snow years are going to be the abnormal. It’s pretty much done in the Midwest unless you want to trailer up to the Keweenaw. And even that’s become a crapshoot. I heard this right wing scientist on the radio make the claim that the world is getting colder. I’m thinking…..

 

It was only 2 years ago I put over 7500 miles on in MN and western Sconnie and 1500+ was SOUTH of the Twin Cities - yeah, last year sucked, this year is not off to a good start, but I’m not throwing in the towel yet FFS.

Oh by the way, like some have already said (eastern UP and I’m sure there are many more) I’m north of a 1000 miles on January 11th.  

Edited January 12Jan 12 by Mag6240

Not sure if it was covered in video, didn't watch it, but here in central Ontario not only does the weather suck but

Snowmobile Clubs have their hands full between MTO paperwork, land-owner agreements and the local municipalities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I live in the circled area, have been sledding from the door for 30 years. This year, no trails, weather doesn't matter,

all legalities. Groomer is fueled and service, volunteers ready but doesn't matter

I rode on a budget for years with cheap $2500 sleds . I believe weather is the main problem unfortunately  

2 hours ago, ViperGTS/Z1 said:

I don't care what anyone says....but I can clearly see the difference in winters now compared to 40+ years ago.   If it weren't for some lake effect snow, it would also be a terrible year in the Northeast so far.     Will this upcoming weekend change things?.... with a possible major storm...it has been a fairly cold January...just need a good storm. And for these temps to stick around for awhile to maintain any snow.

Not even debatable.  We used to have rideable snow and ice for 4 months.  Trucks and trailers lined up on the ice. Haven’t been able to get a sled out on the ice for two weeks in the last 4 years. 
I have to get over to my folks and get some of the pictures of the winters we used to have.  Six foot snow banks over the top of mailboxes. 

 

Given how billionaires are snagging up massive chunks of land in the western US, the steep and deep will be going bye bye too. I think this administration is probably going to sell off a lot of federal BLM land to private corps and billionaires. Seems to be the direction things are heading. 

10 minutes ago, EvilBird said:

I rode on a budget for years with cheap $2500 sleds . I believe weather is the main problem unfortunately  

My buddies keep trying to talk me into getting something newer, can't bring myself to do it seems like a waste of money.

4 minutes ago, Stephen Hawking said:

My buddies keep trying to talk me into getting something newer, can't bring myself to do it seems like a waste of money.

If you aren’t going to ride, yeah, it would be.  If you do though, 2015 up will be plenty.

Really???
Three inches is a snow storm?? 
Shut it down!!! 

I dunno ... I remember plenty of winters over my 50+ years where we had marginal, at best, snow conditions & that includes seasons in the 80's and 90's.  Annual snowmobile trips I used to look forward to with my dad & his buddies being in jeopardy of not happening due to low snow conditions weren't uncommon.  These comments about, "I remember all the snow we used to get" ... well hell, I remember that just two years ago.  I remember it also happening in 2019 when they had to shut down major roads around here.  Last year was an extreme ... like none I've ever seen before, but this year isn't that abnormal.  It's January 11th - and it's been cold at least.  There's still 2+ months left to see how it all shakes out.

im sure many here have much bigger budgets then i do.

 

I'll likely not buy anything with skis north of 3 grand again for the 200 mile if im lucky seasons we are getting here last few years.

price of gas, oil, a lunch , and good forbid a few other enjoyables and a full day of just back country trails is a 200 a day thing now.

theres so many 15 plus year old sleds with no miles rotting in sheds here locally i could never justify 20-30 gs cad for new.Honestly, that would be a total waste of money today.

i will likely go with whats cheap , reliable and easy to work on. probably another edge chassis 600. good enough for me.

this winter like last, ill just run my quad the whole winter.

 

 

Edited January 12Jan 12 by ZR800efi

This is shaping up to be the fifth lousy winter in a row in Central Maine, an area of the state that used to consistently provide months of good riding.

Last year we had a little over two weeks of decent riding. Two WEEKS, not months. If this winter doesn't start producing snow soon, I'll consider abandoning the sport, but as with the previous four winters, I probably won't follow through.

1 hour ago, Bontz said:

I dunno ... I remember plenty of winters over my 50+ years where we had marginal, at best, snow conditions & that includes seasons in the 80's and 90's.  Annual snowmobile trips I used to look forward to with my dad & his buddies being in jeopardy of not happening due to low snow conditions weren't uncommon.  These comments about, "I remember all the snow we used to get" ... well hell, I remember that just two years ago.  I remember it also happening in 2019 when they had to shut down major roads around here.  Last year was an extreme ... like none I've ever seen before, but this year isn't that abnormal.  It's January 11th - and it's been cold at least.  There's still 2+ months left to see how it all shakes out.

I remember the same thing. Always trailered from mpls to bayfield co, iron range or north shore. Very rarely did I ride locally. In the late 90s early 2000s we'd go to iron river every new years weekend and several times there was no snow at all 

6 hours ago, ViperGTS/Z1 said:

I don't care what anyone says....but I can clearly see the difference in winters now compared to 40+ years ago.  

I dont know how anyone can deny that fact. 

17 hours ago, ZR800efi said:

im sure many here have much bigger budgets then i do.

 

I'll likely not buy anything with skis north of 3 grand again for the 200 mile if im lucky seasons we are getting here last few years.

price of gas, oil, a lunch , and good forbid a few other enjoyables and a full day of just back country trails is a 200 a day thing now.

theres so many 15 plus year old sleds with no miles rotting in sheds here locally i could never justify 20-30 gs cad for new.Honestly, that would be a total waste of money today.

i will likely go with whats cheap , reliable and easy to work on. probably another edge chassis 600. good enough for me.

this winter like last, ill just run my quad the whole winter.

 

 

We got +/- 6" snow last night and today, still snowing a little now.

1 hour ago, XCR1250 said:

We got +/- 6" snow last night and today, still snowing a little now.

some of you guys got tons of expendable income and get better seasons then what we are having currently. I get why its worth it in that scenario.

For me, at the current pricing of a new sled id actually want enough to make that commitment of a new purchase, the juice is no where near worth the squeeze locally and im amazed the local shops are even staying open.its grass out there.its january 12th.what would i be getting for my 25 grand investment right now? something to wax and stare at and that be about it.

 

I'd like to support the sport i grew up loving, but its priced people like me well out the market for a modern sled.As a kid who used to drool and run and get every brochure from the shops on the latest flagship muscle sled, i'd dream of the day i could afford one of those. 

That day finally came and weighing the cost vs the usage, i came home with a new quad instead.A descision ive regretted zero times.

its sad, but if it dies, it largely done it to itself. The terrible winters just confirms its not worth it anymore for me personally.

When theres actually snow, The fun per dollar spent is a ratio that clearly favours cheap used. 80-90 percent of the fun , 1/10th the cost.

Edited January 12Jan 12 by ZR800efi

Can get in a new 24 Sidewinder for under $14k....