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Snowmobiles
 For
the new snowmobile rider, choosing the right snowmobile is not a
simple thing. With so many makers and models to choose from, it’s
important to identify your style of riding before making a purchase.
First of all, identify your riding style. Do you plan to ride alone
or with a passenger? Do you plan to ride on groomed trails or back
country? Will you be riding for recreation or is your snowmobile
purchase to be used for hauling supplies and equipment? Not every
snowmobile is designed for harsh conditions and it is important
to realize that some machines will outperform others.
Pay attention to the length and depth of track. The longer and
wider the track, the more weight it will carry without sinking into
soft snow. Shorter tracks will turn more quickly and will speed
up faster because they have less drag.
Most high performance snowmobiles will have short tracks, whereas
mountain sleds will have longer tracks for getting through deep
snow conditions. A utility snowmobile will have long tracks since
it is designed to carry more than one person at a time.
Ski stance is a measure of how wide the snowmobile is at the front
end. The wider the stance, the more stable your snowmobile will
be. If you are riding on flat, wide trails, a wide ski stance is
great.
The narrower the ski stance of your snowmobile, the more potential
in has to roll on its side, but it will also give you more maneuverability
where you can use your body weight to carve out turns. A narrow
ski stance is also good if you are riding through trees and obstacles.
If you plan to have more than one person on your snowmobile at
a time, you will need to select a machine that will allow them to
accompany you safely. Get a machine with two seats if you plan to
ride two at a time. You want to make sure your suspension supports
the number of riders the machine will be carrying.
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