viper2
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Posts posted by viper2
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I completely understand your point about the Yam engines being so reliable. But 17K for a sled! come on get real. My 2 Polaris's are not perfect they are both going for minor engine repairs on Thursday. But again 17K that is what I paid for BOTH of my sleds back in 07. I can do quite a few rebuilds for that and I have also never had one of them let me sit on the trail. I have only ever had minor problems that I found after I returned home. Also most people do not put more than 10K miles on there sled then they upgrade every 2 to 4 years. Well those that actually live up there in paradise probably do put a lot more miles on, but the rest of us? I know this is my 4th season on my sleds and I am ready for something new. I do not need something new, I am just ready for a new sled.
I have a feeling the 17,000 is sticker price, if so no one pays sticker. But yea prices turning this into a rich man's sport.
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X2 vt_bluyamaha54
I agree with alot of what is posted by the others, but they are grasping at straws when they try to cite reliability issues with Yamaha. Grumpy, I agree 100% that the prices are getting out of control but we the riders are partly to blame for demanding better performance in all area's with lighter weight to boot and now all this for the same money? Just can't add up. I for one am most concerned with durability/reliability. This is #1 for me it doesn't have to be the fastest or most rear travel and I don't have to lay over the handlebars or want to ride standing up all day. I am aggravated myself that manufacturers feel pressured to keep making everything lighter (junkier) They either save weight by using inferior materals (plastic) making existing materials too thin or using strong but lightweight (expensive) components. I also feel this is why trade in and resell prices are poor. There is a glut on the market because everyone wants a new and improved sled every year. As far as the slides go I have not experienced any of this. I have noticed that a new set will drag and wear quick for the first 1/3 of wear but my experience is it really doesn't even matter if you are in good lubrication or not this occurs. After that the wear was very slow. I was up at St. Zenon the week before the rain and I was on hyfax from last year yet. Gizz, I saw you were making snow last weekend in Haneyville 
that was pretty cool! Hey I know you don't really like Yammy's and hey normally I try to buy American, but when I only get to ride something maybe 20 days a year I want the best LOL. As far as the sleds go I have said this before a good dealer is the first step. You need an aggressive dealer that keeps their mechanics educated and keeps up with the tech bulletins. A problem has to be fixed before you go out. As far as the relays go I haven't heard of that maybe my dealer took care of it I don't know but I have ove 3500 miles on my Apex with no problems so far. My first day of my first trip last year it was -35F in the morning and 4 Apex's and a vector all with no miles and none would start without a jump. But there were about 50 sleds in the corral that morning all brands were covered and none started. It was so cold you couldn't even pull the ropes on the sleds that had them without taking the plugs out. Nothing is 100% troublefree, but there are few people that would argue that Yamaha is the best in this category. My last sled was a 2002 Viper. I still have it and it has 14,000 miles on it. I have never even had the head off. Back in the early 90's we had the Vmax 4's when we sold them they both had ove 16,000 on them without tearing into the engine. I always make sure and have my sled serviced by my dealer and they know that I am going on a big trip not just a 200mi. weekend to Tug Hill. I am not going to sit here and pick apart other brands because everyone has to ride what they like and to tell you the truth I think it's good for us in a way when the man. have to compete for our business. I have ridden for a long time though and with friend riding all brands and can honestly say I have seen some crazy s@$t fail over the years. Ride safe ..........P.S. Gizz when you heading up to Quebec and where are you guys going? -
Hello everyone. I dont come on much. so little i forgot my login. But i just wanted to tell everyone to ride safe and save the drinking until the hotel. Tomorrow is the 3 year anniversary of the death of my riding partner and best friend on the way back to the HI. Would never of made it through the days to pass with out Sag Bill JD and greta and Doc. Love you guys. So please ride safe and have fun.
Mike Chudzik
Sorry for your loss. A friend of mine also lost his life due to an accident on the trail. Alcohol did not play a part but we still must all be safe on the trail. One area I think is a problem is over aggressive riders. I like to ride fast where I feel safe like a nice wide and straight trail or even on a smooth lake, I like to open it up and see what it will do. But the last few years I seem to see more and more guys on my side in the twistys, passing at unsafe places sometimes while they are STANDING UP! Get real. I call these guys the "Rippers" they can turn a perfectly good trail into mogels in no time flat and seem to have no respect for life or limb.
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My husband said the Dennis Kirk catalog has it. I imagine there'e a website for that company
Thanks naruss,I looked online on Dennis Kirk but it either wasn't there or I couldn't find it. Maybe it's just me but their site is not the easiest to navigate unless you the exactly who makes it and what it is called.
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Thanks groomer!! You are a wealth of knowledge.
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Does anyone know where to get the harness I have seen families in Quebec use. It straps to the kid and I think also the adult and the one I saw had handles for the kid to hold onto.
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Sounds like your back in business Mikerider. 600 IQHO I am in the same boat as you if someone had told me you will have to sit in the hotel 3 days then it will be good again I would have come home anyway. I can pretty much get off in the winter whenever I want but I do have a business to attend to so I really don't like to be away more than a week at a time.
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It has snowed here most of the night. Hard to tell how much as the wind has kicked up big time. Suppose to snow all day.
Bill
Thanks Bill, seems like the prognosis is much better than just a couple days ago.
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Hi guys :D
Last news from the Cabanon at St-Zenon today 28, they post on Passion yamaha this evening. Here a traduction of their message:
Hi everybody
Here in St-Zenon, we received 6" of new snow since yesterday and they preview some more this night. The trails are frozen back, have been regroomed and are in many places better than before the rain of Monday
It's very good news
As a write before, conditions change fast in either side and it seems that it goes on our side now. Wheater preview deep cold for the next and with new snow, it is very promising !!!I will be out for few days and come back propably at the beginning of the next week...
Take care guys
Alain
Thanks for the report Alain.
Sounds like the trails may recover faster than expected and we both know the excellent work the groomers do up there. Hopefully it will be good for anyone coming upthis week. I am planning on coming up near the end of feb. keep the reports coming. -
Let me get this straight! You pay 10 to 11 grand for a new sled, then you have to buy an aftermarket kit to cool the engine! What is up with that! Ski Doo should pay for it NOT YOU!
X2 600IQHO that is unacceptable to me. :wacko: Maybe we are the minority or maybe you only get what you are willing to accept. Cornbinder, maybe if you had a set of those ice scratchers it would help? I have never used them but they sound like they really work.
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Bill we had the same problem, we stopped at the power dam to cool the sleds down. I was also melting my sliders down, so we decided to turn back, that is when we passed you. I did not fair to well as I pulled into the HI my sliders where gone I could here metal on metal. So we loaded and headed home . I just pulled in 20 min. ago. The trails where not that bad, just need a little powder on them. Maybe I will make it back up in Feb. and fair a little better.
Did you have to cut your trip short? By how many days? Man that sucks hopefully your next trip will be alot better. Check out the link on the ice scratchers I was considering it myself.
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Quebec saddlebag trip from the perspective of a first-timer
Thanks to the the riders that we met here, we had a great time. The photo and narrative content is much too long to post here so I have created a link. Includes pix of Saguenay Bill and a host of other characters.
Just be aware that it may take as long as 30-minutes to see the whole thing.
http://www.snodeo2go.com/quebec2010/
This is not a commercial web site... it is just my personal space.
Excellent report Rick! I am almost ashamed at my reports after checking out your link.
Welcome to Quebec saddlebagging. I think by now you have found you are hooked. 
I have been saddlebagging since the early 90's although back then we called it "cross country trips" Also after a few trips you will get your gear down to the essentials, I travel on my Apex GT with just the deluxe saddlebags and a tank bag. -
Nice pics, looks like you had an excellent trip. I am sure glad I didn't wait till this week to go.
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Suppose to go to Ste. michel on Wednesday morning not sure what to expect. I have seen on some posts that there is snow in HI not sure where they are referring too??We'll see what tomorrow brings....
The forcast for up there was for a very light snowfall after the rain ? couple inches. I would call up there and ask. I am not sure where you are staying but I always stay at LeCabanon and I trust them very much with thei report, they have told me in the past not to come so enough said there. If you call there ask for one of these people. Denis,Diane,Isabelle or Lynn. Hope this helps
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Thank you guys
Alot of rain today here like the rest of the Quebec. Not too warm, 3C the higher we seen... let's wait a little bit more to see if we can get some snow to topped that...
Hope the best for you actionjack.... I hope you have scratchers on your sled, icy conditions expected...
I would bet for the Bailey bridge crossing but the failed bridge isn't there ???? maybe it was removed this summer???
This bridge had been partially burn by vandals around 1995. The trail was crossing there before... It is around 25 miles from the dam on #360 trail.
I know that there are plan on table to replace this bridge to link the #360 with the Mastigouche reserve on the other side of the Mattawin river. It is part of the plans for replacing the trails we will loose in Mt-Tremblant park in the next seasons... There is alot of potential trails in Mastigouche reserve, would be great to have this bridge back.
Does i'm right or wrong with your pic ????
Alain
You are right on Alain
I knew you would know this spot. Yes you will have to check it out the bridge is gone. I always wondered what happened to that bridge, that would be great if they would replace it I always liked that ride on that side. -
Great report Alain, I sure hope the trails hold up well monday. I am planning on coming up near the end of feb. for a saddlebag trip. I don't know where we will go yet it depends on the snow cover. Unless we do the Gaspe we will probably leave from St. Zenon. Did you recognize the picture in my post with the small building on it? Here is a hint, if you were familiar with the trail to River Mattawin say 15-16 years ago from St. Zenon you will know it.
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Really nice to see that you had a good trip
I was i little worried about the conditions you had encounter because just before you arrivied there, the conditions back off after two very warm days with alot of traffic. The conditons i had seen on last saturday when it was unfrozen scared me a little bit. After seeing your report and riding the #345 trail yesterday, I am convinced, grommers do miracles there!!!
By what i seen here, seems you had very great time with your family !!!
Nice pics !!!!
Alain
Yes Alain, we had a good time and thanks for your reports, they have helped us decide to make the trip. The groomers were out every night and I think that is what sets the Lanaudiere region apart from the rest, they groom before it really needs it to stay on top of the trails. I have ridden all over Quebec and I really don't think any other region could keep up with the traffic especially given all the miles of trails they maintain.
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Day 5 leave at 8:30 me, mom and dad take 360/345 down over barrage very good shape...............by the way still using only one trail back and forth to barrage, I myself prefer it this way much nicer trail. Took 360 (first left after barrage) to 33 then went north to Repos trail was excellent.
Gas up sleds and fill up belly at Repos
New owners 2 weeks ago but still leave my marker there
we returned by same trail to barrage and still good
One of the most photographed landmarks in Quebec every winter, but today I figured I would give you the view from the north side.
Going to be back early so we took a little side trip looking for wildlife, took a left on zec road 31 approx 8 miles to intersection with zec rd. 311 which is groomed as 318 this pic is the 31/311 intersection. No wildlife but many track and beautiful scenery.
we ended the week with approx 940 miles and alot of time with family good trip good conditions hopefully the weather on monday does not hurt too much. :D
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Day 4 went to bank in St. Zenon trail down there was very good a big improvment the last 2 years, clean snow and no rocks. After the bank we crossed 131 at LuLu's and came down to La Glaciere and crossed 131 again onto 350. Took all the way to Lac Blanc and had a nice lunch then continued on 350 east till St. Paulin then realized we better head back as we did not want to return by Grand Mere, as we try to be back for dinner every night with the little guy. Took 349 north at Lac Blanc and then 318 west all the way to Le Cabanon all trails very nice although a little twisty down by Lac Blanc but plenty of snow.
My buddy wants a ride
So a ride he gets
He didn't want to get off oh well we leave at 9:30 againone more day to go
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Day 3 left about 9:30 again headed down to St. Michel DS and over through Zec Collin to Parc Tremblant, as reported before trails smooth but snirty and then first 20 miles in parc very good to groomer turn around then BAD for 8 miles then a little bumpy but ok to Macaza. Much more snow in the center of the parc I think that is why there was the 8 mile bad section. The whole 2nd half hadn't been groomed for awile but the deeper snow got much rougher.
Frosty morning makes for nice sights
Hard to get going in the morning,but I have my little buddy helping me
Gassed up on railbed-----Petite train du Nord at A'nnunction ?spelling then back to Le Cabanon basically the same route 192 miles.
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All should be advised it is getting sketchy for sure
need snow badly lots of trails just not enough snow and too much traffic from the weekend
Not sure what Monday will bring but definitly not sketchy just don't go too far south, did almost 1000mi. easily last week and plan to use same hyfax next trip.
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Ok, I think I got the picture thing figured out, let's try again.
Day 2 left about 9:30 headed down across barrage and again up 345 about 10-11 miles this time making the right on local mauricie 33 down through burn.
Intersection of 345/33 (local) toward River Mattawin
on way back up from Mattawin took 360 all the way, anyone know this next landmark?
360 nice all the way
about 185 for this day all smooth nice lunch at Mattawin, more to come
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First day went to Repos, like a said a family trip me, my wife and 14 month old son and my mom and dad so every day only 3 of us riding and usually late start, mon. we left at 10:00 am. Went down across barriage and up 345 was all good until intersection of 345/33 (local)then 20 miles of stutter bumps until past dam Gilardo then very good to Repos and down 33 very good got on Lac Toro at Canadventure to other end at campground into St. Michel then back to Le Cabanon about 213mi. for the day.
can only take this picture in morning as they are all out at night
Repos
Corral at dusk basically the scene all week, we had the trails to ourselves and we loved it!
This is my first time with pics so lets see how it goes?
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Great! Thanks for the report. Hopefully the trails will survive the rain!
yea, if they get much rain it will def. hurt some of the trails, last night they said one forcast is rain and another says 6-8 in. of snow. Lets hope it is snow.
Trail Conditions 2010
in Saguenay-Lac St-Jean
Posted
Nice pics, 182ray good luck to you and mikerider on your saddlebag trip...........wish I was there right now.