quebec bob

Nice report, I too have done Gaspe 3 times, always amazing. You are so right about the little places, always welcoming. We stayed at Turquoise Cafe , a little B&B near the light house before Mt St. Piere a couple years ago, really great. We also have come to realize all plans on a trip like this are destined to be broken, go with the flow and always have a couple spare days in your pocket. Extending the trip by 2 or 3 days by crossing into New Brunswick is a great option. You do have to get another trail pass but it also is amazing, we usually go over at Cambleton and have always found great trails and backwoods outfitters that make for a memorable trip.After 25 years and 30k miles I still think The Gaspe is the best riding in Quebec.

For sure, car makers are out 4 to 5 years and these guys are too. Being half way through the decade lots of people had high hopes and they really kept quiet untill the end only to be bluffing. I think the 1200 has a great following and lots of those riders have been asking for more power. pumping up an existing platform is not to crazy on the cost side. Injectors are already out there, so is the exhaust pipe and it is bolt on and silent, you basically need 3 throttle bodies, an air cleaner, that is plastic molding, a regrind on the cams, very easy to do with computer maching that is already in house and will cost almost zero, and new software to the existing engine controll module, that is cheap. In reality they would easily be able to recoup costs on this quickly and it would have gotten a lot of Yamaha riders on Ski-Doo. When you look at 130 hp from a 1200 and 160 from a 1000 on the dyno chart you can see the fuel useage and power output from the 1200 is extremely conservative and this motor can very reliably put 175 tame hp on the table. You are right though, I am and was dreaming, they went after the 900 crowd last year, may next year we will get it, still dreaming that I will be able to buy one rather than build one, I have probably built 20 sleds in the last 30 years and I want to ride now.

Good point

Crazy snow, the color scheme is great...but that windshield does not look too warm in a winter like this one. I just do not get all the attention the real mountain sleds are getting from a Canadian company who surely knows the deal with going off of the groomed trail is a big deal breaker with landowners.

I have to agree, being the last ones to an otherwise boring line-up from the other 3 they had a golden opportunity and they blew it. Even if they just gave us another 25 hp from the 1200 everyone would have been happy and that motor has left a lot on the table, 3 injectors and 3 throttle bodies along with a triple tuned exhaust header, a little more cam timing and a little more ignition, presto, the most powerful, and reliable engine in a normally aspirated four stroke, and that would have raised the bar for Yamaha who basically just got handed a free pass from ski-doo. Very disappointing and we loose.

Mcstar, I own a foreign car shop, hope my guys are not getting free oil too!!

trail blazer, love that 10w 30 oil, I did that once on a pantera 800 triple, made it from Latuque to St Zenon with no trouble at all but worried all the way, funny thing it never caused any problem and was a lot cheaper.

Lots of really good responses and cost, thefts then border crossings are leading the way. One of the mentions is how disproportionally lodging went up in Quebec as the exchange rate evened out. I think that cost really put things over the top. We all know fuel is more, every where, and that has led to more grooming expense so higher trail passes, everyone gets that. But lodging really went up, like 250%, more than the exchange rate by far, for me that it what really changed the game. I am nearly 60 and have been riding Quebec since 1988 so have seen a lot of changes, but what has not changed is the product, still the best, incomparable, but a week on the trail saddle packing is 2500 on the stingy side for a round trip deal from Massachusetts, per sled. Anyone good with math can see for a family of 4 with 4 sleds this is real money by anyones standard. My real concern for the future is how do we get young people involved to keep this thing going, ultimately that will be the problem, cutting costs or dicounting product when things are tight is usually what they call a going out of business sale. Marketing has to be the first step and we need help from the manufactures too. Everyone needs to be involved in this effort, and I know once you get your feet wet in Quebec you always want more. Outside the sport public perception has probably hurt more than anything so it is our job to fix that.I once convinced my Jewish friend from downtown Boston to go Pheasant hunting with me . His whole live growing up in NY and Boston he was taught nothing good about guns, or hunting, strictly prohibited by his family, and sinagouge. Off we went in late October with my lab and a couple of side x side shot guns into the amazing New England foliage. He had the time of his life and it became one of his passions. He was angry that this had been denied him for 45 years. You know that feeling the first time you were doing the outter Gaspe, same thing for him the first time he shot a pheasant against that fall foliage. Thats what we have going for us, a truly wonderful outdoor expierence that you always want more of, we can do it together!!

Gas is up 25 cents a gallon in the last 2 weeks, beef is up 20% last week, Milk and dairy is up 20% this week, diesel fuel is 425 a gallon, Walmart posted 4th quarter earnings down 22% less than they forcast, existing home sales last month were lowest in last 2 years, and the 154 exchange rate is probably gone forever. IT IS ECONOMIC REALITY. Nothing we can do about it . Quebec offers the very best trails, accomodations and people , most can no longer afford it and the die hards are getting older.

Glad you had a great trip. Yes some of the trails on the Norht shore require an exceptional groomer operator, no room for any mistakes that you will live to tell about. Most folks who have never been there really do not understand what these guys do for us, there simply would be no riding without them. I am hoping to do the Gaspe end of next week. You can't stop thinking about the trip you just had and I cannot wait to get there!!

Business wise snowmobiles are a tiny part of Yamaha, probably 1% on their balance sheet, no doubt they are the strongest company finacially, taking over AC....who knows...but for sure they have way more to offer AC than AC has to offer them. I know the best part of the Viper is the engine and clutching .I am sure Yamaha will help AC with all their fit, finish, and Quality controll issues.Then the big question is why strengthen you competitor? Maybe Yamaha has something more going on than we know.

Definately not a good business decision, With all the belt and clutching issues you would think they would be doing everything they possibly can to promote their brand and mend the wounds, hiding will not make it better, how are they going to get spring orders if they are a no show.They have a lot of die hard fans who will be disappointed, when you go to the show you look at everyones iron no matter what you currently ride.I bet they change their mind on this one.

Now that both Yamaha and Cat have released their 2015 models with no big news I bet it is a real safe bet that we will see nothing big from Ski-Doo either. I think their big move was the 900 ace. The economy is still poor and they went after a safe middle class trail/touring dollar and business wise that was probably the right move, just not as exciting for us as a turbo 1200 or a 1330 four stroke Mach-z . If something like that happens it is a really big secret that would be great timing with everyone else doing nothing. I was hoping the year 2015 would be big but I think reality has a real grip on things right now.

Tthere is a little garage in Mt St pierre that has Yamaha , I have run 0w20 Mobil 1 in my supercharged 2005 Vector for 10 thousand miles, uses none and never a problem.

Mike, how long are you up there for, I am looking for someone to do the Gaspe and a loop thru New Brunswick, Point Crossing down thru Kedgewick and Moose Valley, up thru Cabano. Maybe start Around Cabano or Riviera Du looplast week of Febuary. Bob

You better plan on 9 or 10 days or move your trip. There will be major drifting that can take a couple of days to clear. There is a recent quote from a guy that said he was stuck in Mt St Piere one day for 3 days, that is a good statement. Always plan to need 2 to 3 extra days when doing the Gaspe, any way it goes down will be a great adventure, no doubt it is the best tour you will ever go on.

the fuel injected 130 hp engine actually gets a little less mileage than the original 120 hp carbed engine. I think the injected engine is closer to 135 hp. I always here 20 mpg but you would really have to be steady and gentle on the throttle to get there. In 10 thousand miles my real world mpg is 15 to 16mpg on a 2005 vector. My 2005 Warrior is about 14 mpg actuall mpg. We ride 50 to 60mph and take off easy. Riding conditions and throttle controll will have guys reporting numbers all over the board but I think 20 is kind of high.

I too was hoping for something new and better but sure do not want to give up the very best fit, finish and reliability the sport has ever seen. That delta box chasis is rigid, no torsional flex eating belts, they use ntn bearings on the drive shafts, the chain cases are rock solid and we all know the engines are the best without compare. Yes they are a little heavy and the skis suck, first thing you do to a Yamaha is change the skis to Simmons, then it is on rails. For trail riding it is about as good as it gets, I really doubt the Viper will long term be this good. I am happy to wait for something that will truly be better. I think a lot of sleds got to light and it compromised longetivity, Yamaha may not be state of the art technology, but what they have works and lasts.

Great move to table de roland, very good food, rooms are ok and owners are great, also located right next to gas station, fill up the night you arrive as they do not open early. You will want to be up early to see the sun rise over THE ROCK!!! BRING YOUR CAMERA FOR SUN RISE. Vt Blue, great quote about our sport and trails, I do not nead to know anymore about you after reading that, you are one of the guys who cares deeply about the outdoors, many thanks for your efforts and appreciation. Bob.

Got to love it, I've seen a lot out on the trail in 25 years, but I cannot top this one.I guess he may have taken a wrong turn somewhere. Good luck trying to turn around. I bet he will be looking for a new job soon!!!

That is a nice trip and it looks like you have the mileage worked out well each day. How many are on this trip, that can make a big difference if you have a break down out there, can tie you up for a couple of days easy, so can a good snow storm. Make sure you really have a few spare days. This is a great ride and you will love this place they call GASPE!!! Be safe and do not forget your camera!! Bob.

Linda, everyone is anxious to see what new sleds are coming our way for 2015. A 1330 4-stroke from rotax??, a totally new Yamaha, an arctic cat with a yamaha turbo?? Who knows but one thing is for sure, everyone is looking for long term reliability. There are all the clutch/ belt troubles at cat, rear idler wheeel falling apart when you only have 2 rather than 3 or 4, skidoo had all the bad clutches in their 4-strokes and the sdi 1000 blowing up all over the place, and even though sdi and etech are pretty darn good, they do vibrate and it is not uncommon for them to blow up either. I hate to bash any sled but the truth is the Yamaha 4 stroke have been near bullet proof all the while being a little too heavy with terrible skis. I started riding in 1966 so I have been on a lot of 2strokes, and still own 3 of them, but my go to traveling sleds are a supercharged 2005 vector with simmons skis and a 2005 yamaha warrior with the same. Big piece of mind when you are on a 1500 mile ride. They still need to be looked after but not anything major. I think the future will bring us even better 4 strokes and hopefully more reliability. I would love to see a 1200 skidoo gtx with a turbo now that the clutching issue is solved.

I have been riding Yamaha since the mid eighties when 440 air cooled exciters were their go to sleds. I blew a belt on a 600 vmax twin at 12000 miles in 1990 and went 10, 500 miles on a belt on my 2005 supercharged vector with 195 hp. I changed that belt because it was old, but it still looked good. Yamahas are extremely good on belts, we raced a 99 srx for 3 sesons, never any problems, there is certainly something wrong with that sled. I too have been on the short end of a few deals in 30,000 miles of Quebec trails but it is certainly the exception, mostly we have met a lot of really nice people and made a lot of good friends.Hope your next trip works out better, happy trails, Bob.

I talked to Mac Randolp who owns Mountain Performance a few days ago and they currently supply Yamaha with the supercharger that is optional equipment for Nitros. I put one on my 2005 Vector in 2005 and have ridden it nearly 20k miles...trouble free at 16 mpg. Power is about 180hp on pump gas and clutch engagement is set at 2650rpm. This sled is so nice to ride with torque available at that low rpm it is so easy on the sleds clutches, belts and track and if you want to push the throttle anywhere it is seemless.Any how they are currently working for Yamaha to supply turbos and superchargers for the new Arctic Cat /Yamaha chassis with the 3 cylinder Yamaha engine. This sled uses Yamaha clutches so all those belt troubles should disappear, the turbo will be available soon with the supercharger to follow available from Yamaha dealers. The 141 xtx viper with a high windshield should be a wonderful touring sled with great mpg and the most reliable engine in the industry and finally some cargo space from Yamaha as these sleds have front exhaust. Mac said both the turbo and supercharger models continue to use the stock exhaust and are even quieter than stock. I believe him , I cannot even hear my Vector engine running on the trail, just the track in the tunnel.