How can skidoo and polaris compete?

[bigdaddy]

Let's assume for a minute that Yamaha has nailed the new era for snowmobiling. Not to tuff for them to accomplish right? They have been making 4 cylinder 4 stroke for decades and obviously have had plenty of time to optimze the powerplant - 5 valves per cylinder, light weight and production of who knows how many engines a year - dare I say - probably serveral times more than all the snowmobile engines combined.
Let's also assume that it won't be hard for Arctic to make it happen with the susuki partnership. Where does this leave the skidoo and polaris 4 strokes. I think one of them better get in bed with Honda and the other with kawasaki and fast. I don't believe there's any way in hell that the money or the production economies will ever be there for skidoo or Polaris to develop an engine comparable to the Japs Motorcycle engines. What do you guys think? Fitch to the rescue? Victory to the rescue???

[670HO]

Well Bombardier owns alot of companies and they make jets for christ's sake so I don't see how they couldn't put together a good 4 stroke engine. Plus they own about every company that is into the direct injection so they should be getting that out on a sled pretty soon and those are supposed to rip and have good emissions just like the 4 srotkers.

[Machzzzz1]

Simple. *Rotax or bombarider will just buy out there engineers. *But they dont even need to. *Rotax has been making bike engines for BMW and others and can whip somthing up in no time for a sled. *

Yamaha is always playing catch up with doo and cat and i cant see much changing. *As far as im concerned they took a step back. *4 stroke just arent for me. *

I dont see what all the celebration is about. *For months everyone has told me the mach z sucks at handling because its two heavy and such. *Now heres yamaha with a 4 cylinder and its all of a sudden the best and the mxz and other machines are forgotten.

[paul yarek]

bigdaddy,
some good ideas there and yes yamaha has the motorcycle experience same with suzuki so cat will benefit from that. polaris has the victory motorcycle, it is a four stroke and will come in handy as time goes on. ski-doo has been building motorcycle engines for bmw and along with their planes, trains and automobiles they have a huge corporate base.

so i think not one of them is going to fall from the view of the competitions taillights.

[bigdaddy]

i agree Bombardier has deep pockets, but they also need to make money. puting a BMW V twin or V4 in a sled? *When was the last time you saw a BMW motor cycle win any races - especially 1/4 mile ones. I am not rushing out to by a four stroke quite happy with my 2 strokes. Just food for thought.

[paul yarek]

bigdaddy,
have yourself a beer with that food too. *

[xsivhp]

Rotax makes excellent engines, unfortunately I think the biggest 4 stroke they make is a 650 single? *They could easily come up with a competetive 4 stroke, it's not like an inline 4 requires a magic spell to create or anything like that - that's the stuff engineers are paid to do!!

The new Yamaha looks pretty cool, but there's always room for improvement. *I know tat it'd have to be pretty darn good to plop down $9000 for the right to own it.

[bigdaddy]

It's ALL Good Paul

[dooittoit]

I don't think any of the four would have a problem with building a 4 stroke to match what yamaha has built. *The question is will they build one??? *I would say that Polaris would have the most work ahead of them as the only 4 stroke they produce right now are low revving V-twins for their Victory motorcycles(I think). *I don't think they would have a problem building one, but they have the least experience to go on. *KEEP THE TWO STROKES!!!

[Machzzzz1]

I can almost garentee you that Cat, Bombarider and polaris has a highpowered 4 stroke sitting on a work bench or already in the machine. *There not stupid. *I just hope none of them build them. *

2 strokes are still the way to run.