Has anybody been out yet in MN, WI, MI or anywhere else?
Last year was such a bummer, but 2 years ago the riding didn’t start until Christmas and that was an epic winter so it’s not too late.
Man are there some deals if you’re buying new. I just sold off my 2-up machine as the kids want their own machines now and my youngest has his safety test just after New Years. Hopefully I can find him a sled soon.
I couldn’t pass up the current deals on sleds and bought a hold over new ’24 Switchback XC 850 for great price.
I’m in the Hayward area and we don’t have enough snow, but I’ve been up to the Western UP twice in the last week and a half. The trails were great as long as you pick the areas with a lot of snow. I’m not sure I’ve ever had more fun on a snowmobile with a new one to ride and great trails; especially after last years crappy snow conditions! I hope we get some good snow after this warm spell coming up the next few days….
I couldn’t pass up the current deals on sleds and bought a hold over new ’24 Switchback XC 850 for great price.
Terrific crossover machine. Wow, what a sled. Suspension looks amazing on those.
Mind sharing where in the western UP you had the best riding?
whats considered a good price? Just checked a couple and prices still seem nuts. I never check though.
whats considered a good price? Just checked a couple and prices still seem nuts. I never check though.
That switch back is normally 16k and can be bought for 12 right now. Just depends on your priorities if that’s a good deal or not.
My brother just picked up a 22 can am outlander 570 with 180 miles on it for 5100, I though that was a great deal for the wheeler. The majority of prices are still higher then I feel like good deals are.
I am currently up here in Itasca cty. I did see snowmobile tracks in the ditches but they were old. I personally don’t think there’s enough snow, especially with this weather to run sleds yet. There’s barely any snow on the lakes.
And with the temps forecasted the next few days there’s going to be less snow
Grouse- We stayed in Mass city and rode mainly east and north of there and all trails were excellent. When we rode too far west or south, they started to get a bit thin. Hopefully they can hold up during this warm spell. More cold weather after the weekend should turn the Lake Michigan snow machine back on and provide more snow for the UP.
Bearcat- Agree, they are usually 16K and advertised for 12-13K some places. I was able to talk a dealer into 11K out the door with no fees. Of course, even that’s not a good deal if we have another no snow year or two in a row! Fingers crossed. The used market is a bit of a mixed bag. There are a lot of 1-3 year old used sleds where people seem to either be underwater, or not willing to lose a big chunk of their investment and are asking more than I paid. It seems if anyone is in the market for a late model sled new is the way to go right now.
Has anybody been out yet in MN, WI, MI or anywhere else?
At least one a hole has been out. Crossed both my cement driveways with a studded track.
It must have rained all night in the Ottertail area. Snow was pretty much gone this morning from the yards. Groomed trails not on pavement might have some icy snow. Lakes could be fun with lots of water on top of 10-12″ of ice. Maybe a little less ice by the end of the day.
Grouse- We stayed in Mass city and rode mainly east and north of there and all trails were excellent. When we rode too far west or south, they started to get a bit thin. Hopefully they can hold up during this warm spell. More cold weather after the weekend should turn the Lake Michigan snow machine back on and provide more snow for the UP.
Bearcat- Agree, they are usually 16K and advertised for 12-13K some places. I was able to talk a dealer into 11K out the door with no fees. Of course, even that’s not a good deal if we have another no snow year or two in a row! Fingers crossed. The used market is a bit of a mixed bag. There are a lot of 1-3 year old used sleds where people seem to either be underwater, or not willing to lose a big chunk of their investment and are asking more than I paid. It seems if anyone is in the market for a late model sled new is the way to go right now.
Thanks. Looking at MI reports and even areas that usually have big snow by this time of year are touch and go and in need of more. Hopefully it cools off soon.
You got a terrific deal on that sled. I agree, the very late model used market has a lot overpriced machines and probably a lot of anxious sellers hoping to get out of their loan payments. On the new market, man there are some deals to be had out there. Despite lots of talk about 20k machines, there are some terrific deals on new.
It could be game over for 24-25. It doesn’t look like anywhere outside of a few small areas of the UP and the north shore have enough snow to really call it snow. The rest is just ice and crud.
I don’t put a lot of faith in the long term forecast, but the 14 day shows nothing as far as snowfall for most of MN and WI. Realistically now we need multiple 6-8 inch snows to get on track and that is hard to see happening.
The used sled market looks to me to have ground to a halt. Machines that are good deals are still available and sitting for weeks. I can’t imagine the dealers are doing any better with new inventory.
Ug.
Its too bad that market is so weather dependent.
Its too bad that market is so weather dependent.
It’s going to be really hard on businesses. There are a lot of resorts and lodges up north that really rely on the second season to keep the lights on.
I’m sure if the weather turns around we could still get in a partial season. But man this is getting old.
This is the reason my sleds are 2003. And I’ll happily keep it that way. They were cheap years ago and are still the best investment when I look at them and they haven’t moved in 2 or 3 seasons, doesn’t hurt knowing I don’t have a small fortune in to them.
Well, I sold my minty 1991 Yamaha Venture on 12/24. What a sled, I bought it off of a guy just down the street, it was a total garage queen. But the kids want their own machines now, so I put it up for sale and the intention was to replace it with 2 newer machines.
I could have sold 4 or 5 if I’d have had them, the demand was huge, I guess guys were still optimistic.
Anyway, fast forward to NYE and I don’t know what I’m going to do. Buy now while the market is low? Write off another winter? Hard to know what to do.
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Well, I sold my minty 1991 Yamaha Venture on 12/24. What a sled, I bought it off of a guy just down the street, it was a total garage queen. But the kids want their own machines now, so I put it up for sale and the intention was to replace it with 2 newer machines.
I could have sold 4 or 5 if I’d have had them, the demand was huge, I guess guys were still optimistic.
Anyway, fast forward to NYE and I don’t know what I’m going to do. Buy now while the market is low? Write off another winter? Hard to know what to do.
Let them decide with their own money if they want new. Otherwise they used market is killer and my kids would be getting used single owner machines.
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