Snowmobiling
 

Just wondering if anybody other than Nash and I snowmobile on a regular basis. I plan on doing a bunch of local rides by my house and the surrounding metro areas as well as some trips to Hayward, Mighigan, and surrounding areas.

We already went up to Hinkley for a ride from there to Duluth (75 miles each way) since my parents live in Duluth. We also went to Hastings to Nash's buddies house and rode out to Farmington and Lakeville areas (about 104 mile round trip). I am assuming the trails are groomed by now, when we went it was bumpy as hell but the ditchs were pretty decent.

I am planning on going this weekend from my house up to Cambridge.

Let here who has them, maybe we can get together and go and rip around. Also what kind of sled or sleds do you have with pictures if you have them.

I currenly have a 1999 Ski Doo MXZ HO Toni Haikonen Edition and a 1998 Polaris XC 600.

Heres the Polaris I am riding this year mostly.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

I was a HUGE snowmobiler up until about the years we had to worry about whether we'd get snow at all. My record year for snowmobile mileage was 3,400 miles. I went 5-6 days a week. I still have my Mach Z 800. Looks like I probably won't be able to ride it this year again. We have probably around 6" of snow here in central Wis. They groomed the trails last week but that was just to make a packed base. By no means are they trailable. Probably need another 8-10". Generally back in the day, trails were open around Dec. 15th. I think last year was around Jan 15th.

I'm the type of guy who if, you can't just open the garage door and drive the sled to the trails then screw it. Piss on trailering it around to ride it.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

We, we, we... are you two married? ;) :D

Actually, we don't own any, but we were thinking of going up north sometime and renting. I've never been a big fan, but maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I was the one controlling how fast (or slow) I go. lol

Re: Snowmobiling
 

Riding 2-up sucks :D

Re: Snowmobiling
 

Which we made all of two miles before my sled blew up.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

Since when did sleds wear DMS badges? :confused:

I owned a sled for a few years between 1997 and 1999 until it blew up and I moved to the Cities. If I lived in a more rural area I'd definitely have a snowmobile, but the fact that I have no where to store it keeps me from buying another. I'd hate to own a sled again if I couldn't just hop on it in the yard and ride it straight out of town.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

Since I'm the one that owns it? It just give me a reason to buy a new one.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

We keep ours up north near Hayward, so we usually dont trailer them around. We just like to go riding around on the lake and local trails, never been on a super long ride, just a few hours here and there.

Cant really bring them in MN because they are both studded, one for trails and mine has 60 degree daggers. They do Ice runs on our lake so we get a nice path every winter ;)


Dads- 95 Yamaha VMAX 600
Mine- 97 Yamaha 600SX

Heres a pic I guess...

Re: Snowmobiling
 

You can use studs in MN, just gotta get the little badge. I am still kind of looking for a sled, but I just bought a new car. Hmmm... more toys!

Re: Snowmobiling
 

You can only use studs on certain trails. For example the Willard Munger State you cannont use studs no matter what sticker you have. They use to have a stud endorsment where you would pay 15 dollars more to have them and you could use them on any trails you want. I don't think they do that anymore though.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

I have an 00 polaris xc sp 700 and my brother has a 95 skidoo formula z 583. We haven't been able to ride them yet this year. We don't really know where to ride and I am still looking for a ski for my polaris. My ski was cracked on the top so I had someone weld it, but since it is alumimum, he doesn't trust his weld and says I should get another. Our truck is always broken anyhow.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

Id love to get a set for Jana and I but we'd have to store them in IA at my parents. We would have so much damn room to ride them though so maybe in a few years. I'd probably want some jet skis first. :)

Re: Snowmobiling
 

I would say that snowmobiling is much more fun than Jet skiing, but you can use a jet ski alot more during the year than a snowmobile. Jet skis are very limited because you just drive around and thats it... Snowmobiles can go pretty much anywhere, you get more scenery, but jet skis are easier to load/unload.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

I disagree. It hass to be a really nice warm day to enjoy jet skis and I loading and unloading a jet ski is not always easy. dockings are busy as hell on certain lakes, damn near worthless trying to get one in the water off a trailor by yourself and then get it out. You can drop a sled anywhere or just drive it out the garage and go. YOu can see much better secery (chicks on boats) in the summer anyway ;)

Re: Snowmobiling
 

Jet skis suck compared to snowmobiles, they use way more gas, and like Peter said you can only do so many circles before it gets boring. The only way jet skis are fun is if you are riding them on a river.

I just got back from a 60 mile ride on the sled, went around Woodbury and Cottage Grove it was pretty fun. The trails here are pretty decent with hardly any dirt showing. Now I have to rest, hard packed trails make my sled get too much traction and it almost rips my arms off when I bar it.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

That's your opinion. I'd much rather be cruising around the lakes, in warm weather on a sunny day, being able to be in the water, and people watch. It never gets boring when I have been out there.

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Move to a warmer state, then it would be ok to have one, but for the one or two weeks of nice weather we get around here it is hardly worth it to me. Jet skis are something that you rent for a day or two and then give them back.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

Craig, I like the 98 xc 600, I also own one. :D

Put 150 miles on the sled this past weekend up in the Outing/Hill city area. Great riding except I tore up a belt at 80 MPH on the Soo Line trail. Can't wait to get back up there.

I put around 1500 miles on my sled every season. I'll probably put on a little more this year as we got an early start.

Jim

Re: Snowmobiling
 

Ive never had a problem loading or unloading our jet ski, I go to minnetonka usually on weeknights a few times during the summer, its fun but you just cruise around and thats it. On that lake its fun because of the enormous waves and how big the lake is... but any other lake you just ride around in circles and it gets old. Launching a snowmobile is just too fun, a dsm doesnt even compare.

I dunno, they are both fun but I think the summer weather is longer than the winter weather. Weve had hardly any snow the past 3 years so this year is really different.

Craig- is there really enough snow to go riding around here already? Seems like youd be riding on alot of bare patches and gravel in places.

Re: Snowmobiling
 

The DNR is more of prick with jet skis that snowmobiles. At least around here they are. My brother got a ticket for unloading his jet ski without a life jacket on. All he did was unload it. It was maybe 10 feet from the shoreline. I'm not so sure if it was even running.... Yet, you can unload a boat without a life jacket on. WTF?!?!?