[John Sandberg]

350 or so miles over the past few days, mostly riding with family but some fast/hard riding with the guys.

Thoughts:

- As a friend said to me... this thing is first and foremost a race sled. Yep.

- EFI is definitely fat on the bottom. First take-off of the day is smokey and burbling. Unnoticed after that, but reoccurs every time the engine is started cold.

- It may look cool, but the stock windshield does very little to protect the rider. I hope the new taller windshield is available in the next week, because we're in a cold snap I and want to be comfortable.

- A return to the Wilwood brake is wonderful, and a perfect answer to the aggressive track.

- I'm getting old... because this thing feels very fast on the midrange. To the point that -- for any type of twisty trail riding -- there's no way I could go faster with more power. It feels faster than what I remember of my '09 F5.

- There's an "active" quality to the sled that keeps you on your toes much more than the smooth-over-everything Twin Spar. Steering initiates quicker, accelerates harder. Great for hard riding, but not nearly as comfortable/relaxing as Twin Spar when it comes to riding with the family.

- I'm going to suck-up the front arm a bit. I think it needs more ski pressure.

- For hard riding I need to either use ONLY my snocross boots, or fabricate some toe-holds/foot stops for the running boards. With crummy/soft boots, my toes jam into the chaincase and it hurts.

- Again... I'm old. I want reverse.

- Feels lighter than I remembered it feeling in prototype form last spring. Very responsive to rider input, especially compared to Twin Spar.

- Vibration in the footwells. Yep, a race sled.

- We were riding in a remote area and refueling via gas cans, so I can't give mileage. But it didn't burn as much fuel as the Z 400 Sno Pro or my son's Enticer 340.

[Brian Manderscheid]

I agree with all of that.
My right foot hurts from the chaincase...
My wife rode it and said she can't keep her feet on the running boards, too much vibration...

[KDub]

Im adding adjustable toe hold plates from a twin spar sled. With a little modifying, they should fit. Ill post photos next week. We'll see how they work. Its worth a try, they are only $12 per side. (Part # 3606-921 and 3606-920)

[messed-up]

KDub, on 02 January 2010 - 05:05 PM, said:

Im adding adjustable toe hold plates from a twin spar sled. With a little modifying, they should fit. Ill post photos next week. We'll see how they work. Its worth a try, they are only $12 per side. (Part # 3606-921 and 3606-920)

KDub--- Team Arctic page says to use 3706-504/505. I think the only differece is that they may be black? I am also going to try them as I find it hard to keep my feet planted when riding in rough conditions. Hope it works for us!!!

[Brian Manderscheid]

sofast, on 02 January 2010 - 08:43 PM, said:

KDub--- Team Arctic page says to use 3706-504/505. I think the only differece is that they may be black? I am also going to try them as I find it hard to keep my feet planted when riding in rough conditions. Hope it works for us!!!

Yes those are black.

[CAT TRACKS]

I cant say I have any problem with vibration or toes touching the chain case....or foot board traction and I am size 12

mine is very smooth...I am wearing sno X boots though

The handling to me is very direct almost telepathic......I like the way it lifts the inside ski...yet hugs the inside line all around the way around the corner

my headlights were too high though and I did a mod....to get them a bit lower...did a night ride recently they were really good....

fuel gauge works good....the top half of tank is slow to read....bottom half drains quicker....

[Brian Manderscheid]

CAT TRACKS, on 02 January 2010 - 09:23 PM, said:

I cant say I have any problem with vibration or toes touching the chain case....or foot board traction and I am size 12

mine is very smooth...I am wearing sno X boots though

The handling to me is very direct almost telepathic......I like the way it lifts the inside ski...yet hugs the inside line all around the way around the corner

my headlights were too high though and I did a mod....to get them a bit lower...did a night ride recently they were really good....

fuel gauge works good....the top half of tank is slow to read....bottom half drains quicker....

I did two 200 mile days in a row. That's when I got the sore right foot. Also that's when the vibration got annoying. (Yes I know what it is designed for)
Care to elaborate on the headlight mod?? I would like mine a little lower, but they are out of adjustment already.

[CAT TRACKS]

Brian Manderscheid, on 02 January 2010 - 08:52 PM, said:

I did two 200 mile days in a row. That's when I got the sore right foot. Also that's when the vibration got annoying. (Yes I know what it is designed for)
Care to elaborate on the headlight mod?? I would like mine a little lower, but they are out of adjustment already.

200mi two days in a row.....thats a long couple of days !!!!!!! for me its the legs that get the beating...trails are too rough here I never get a chance to sit down....


If you measure the distance where the screw threads in(alum base where the clip nuts are) and the flat area where the thumb knob rests on.....mine was 2in from factory.....it was siliconed in place with two inches of distance on both sides......problem is they cant go any lower as the thread is close to already maxed.....so....


take an 1/8 in off the thumbscrew shoulder or find a longer screw.....install the screw with the spring....add a 3/4 inch piece of rubber fuel hose to act as a spacer to give the spring more tension....

I adjusted mine to get the distance to 2 1/4 to 2 5/16 measure this on both lights...once you get it....then

use rtv silicone on the threads and the screw head to lock it....

this worked ok for me

check this.....

http://s861.photobuc...=sp500night.flv

[messed-up]

What are you seeing for peak rpm/what should it be?

[CAT TRACKS]

sofast, on 04 January 2010 - 12:03 PM, said:

What are you seeing for peak rpm/what should it be?

Thats a good question.....next time I ride I will definitely check

All I know is that roughly 5800RPM is take off...I have only looked at the speedo at the higher speeds...

[711X]

sofast, on 04 January 2010 - 01:03 PM, said:

What are you seeing for peak rpm/what should it be?

We have been seeing just short of 8000 rpm.

I also noticed that the headlight is aimed way to high.

[messed-up]

I'm always over 8000---when selecting the max rpm setting on guage it reads 8350.

[Nhuskys]

I've decided to put the SP 500 on temporary hold.... I would need to finance some of the purchase price, so rather than take a loan, I'm going to save up the cash I need. I'll either pick up a left over at end of season or Snow Check a 2011 (I hope they make it next year!) I've got "Cat Fever", so I'll be sticking around here! Thanks John!
Norman

[messed-up]

KDub, on 02 January 2010 - 05:05 PM, said:

Im adding adjustable toe hold plates from a twin spar sled. With a little modifying, they should fit. Ill post photos next week. We'll see how they work. Its worth a try, they are only $12 per side. (Part # 3606-921 and 3606-920)

KDub ----- Did you put your toe holds in yet- I have mine and am not sure which would be the best way to install - any ideas?

[CAT TRACKS]

sofast, on 04 January 2010 - 12:03 PM, said:

What are you seeing for peak rpm/what should it be?

I had a chance to check.....and its 8100-8300....roughly in the room I had to do it 120kmh

[John Sandberg]

When I have decent traction, mine's at 7950 ALL THE TIME. It can pop to 8100 for a split second if the track breaks loose.

[711X]

John Sandberg, on 02 January 2010 - 11:30 AM, said:

350 or so miles over the past few days, mostly riding with family but some fast/hard riding with the guys.

Thoughts:

- As a friend said to me... this thing is first and foremost a race sled. Yep.

- EFI is definitely fat on the bottom. First take-off of the day is smokey and burbling. Unnoticed after that, but reoccurs every time the engine is started cold.

- It may look cool, but the stock windshield does very little to protect the rider. I hope the new taller windshield is available in the next week, because we're in a cold snap I and want to be comfortable.

- A return to the Wilwood brake is wonderful, and a perfect answer to the aggressive track.

- I'm getting old... because this thing feels very fast on the midrange. To the point that -- for any type of twisty trail riding -- there's no way I could go faster with more power. It feels faster than what I remember of my '09 F5.

- There's an "active" quality to the sled that keeps you on your toes much more than the smooth-over-everything Twin Spar. Steering initiates quicker, accelerates harder. Great for hard riding, but not nearly as comfortable/relaxing as Twin Spar when it comes to riding with the family.

- I'm going to suck-up the front arm a bit. I think it needs more ski pressure.

- For hard riding I need to either use ONLY my snocross boots, or fabricate some toe-holds/foot stops for the running boards. With crummy/soft boots, my toes jam into the chaincase and it hurts.

- Again... I'm old. I want reverse.

- Feels lighter than I remembered it feeling in prototype form last spring. Very responsive to rider input, especially compared to Twin Spar.

- Vibration in the footwells. Yep, a race sled.

- We were riding in a remote area and refueling via gas cans, so I can't give mileage. But it didn't burn as much fuel as the Z 400 Sno Pro or my son's Enticer 340.

I agree with most of what you said.

The only time I wish it had more power is when I ride it out on the wide open lake runs.

Ours does not have any vibration in the running boards.

The EFI is very fat on the bottom end when first started, hopefully we can get the ECU reprogramed this week. Other than a cold start it is not noticeable.

A taller windshield would help on those -20 days. Last weekend the boys used the hand guard Pro Muffs.

After I have ridden this sled all day and them hop on another type sled for the ride home, the "other" sled just does not feel like as much fun to ride.

[snopro]

the sled is awesome plain and simple , i was riding with bigger motor sleds this weekend and they could not lose me in the trails . in the rough i could have easily passed my friends xp800 , he stated his suspension was done at that speed and could not go any faster , lol . i let him try the snopro and he said the same as the others that ride it , best chassis that he has ever been on and coming from the xp guy that is big, he hates cats......lol .

[KDub]

sofast, on 09 January 2010 - 12:32 PM, said:

KDub ----- Did you put your toe holds in yet- I have mine and am not sure which would be the best way to install - any ideas?

I have mine, and have them installed using the existing holes that are in the chassis. I ended up getting the black ones suggested on the Race website. Ill post photos today. I love them. Made a huge difference!

[Nhuskys]

I just put another $100 in the sock draw! Maybe I can get this sled bought before the end of the season!