What were the old Skidoo Formula MX sleds like?

My dad couldn’t stop himself and bought a 1991 Skidoo Formula MX at a garage sale for $500. The thing is actually in really, really good condition and 3900 miles on it, which seems low considering the age, but the speedo works and the milage matches the condition. Engine runs good, starts easy, no cracks in the hood, seat, or anywhere else, alwasy stored in the back of a residential garage, owner now in his 70s and a lot of mileage done pulling the grandkids around the yard.

The question: Were these sleds any good or is this going to produce constant problems such that he should dump it quick?

He thought it would be decent for keeping trails packed down where we coyote hunt, going in to fetch dead yotes, and just fooling around on our deer hunting properties after season. I’m sure he’d also love to give the grandkids rides.

But I don’t want it if it’s basically the Yugo of sleds. Do these things have a good reputation from back in the day or were they a total POS?

Keep it, or drop it like a bad habbit?

Grouse

I don’t remember anything bad about them. Buddy had one and I drove it but that was too long ago to remember any details.

they were heavy beasts and didn’t jump picnic tables well!

I had an ’87 Formula plus. Was an awesome sled and pretty fast in it’s day. Can’t remember when Ski-Doo changed their tracks but if it has metal track clips watch those. They like to break off.

I had a 87 formula plus. I’m not sure by 91 but in 87 the tracks had some issues. I switched mine to a yamaha track and that cured the ill’s. They are heavy and not great in deep snow, but a fun sled on the trails. That I believe has the 470 motor, and that is a bulletproof motor. For $500 you can’t go wrong.

They are heavy and fast. Not good for kids. If it is to be used for fishing, there are better sleds out there. Sell it, take the profit and buy a late 80’s early 90’s wedge style chassis Polaris.

Profit?! Better keep it for a while.

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They are heavy and fast. Not good for kids. If it is to be used for fishing, there are better sleds out there. Sell it, take the profit and buy a late 80’s early 90’s wedge style chassis Polaris.

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I traded an old canoe for a 1988 Polaris Indy 400, with 4k miles, and it has performed flawlessly for the past 5 years! Tows fishing sleds, serves as kids learning and beating machine, and even still hits the trails for the guy with the youngest kidney It ain’t smooth, but starts great, runs, great, nice and light and even still pretty durned fast! 70+ on the speedo with a fat guy, but gets pretty bumpy, haha!

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They are heavy and fast. Not good for kids. If it is to be used for fishing, there are better sleds out there. Sell it, take the profit and buy a late 80’s early 90’s wedge style chassis Polaris.

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I traded an old canoe for a 1988 Polaris Indy 400, with 4k miles, and it has performed flawlessly for the past 5 years! Tows fishing sleds, serves as kids learning and beating machine, and even still hits the trails for the guy with the youngest kidney It ain’t smooth, but starts great, runs, great, nice and light and even still pretty durned fast! 70+ on the speedo with a fat guy, but gets pretty bumpy, haha!

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There are times we trade in the new technology for the ’81 indy trail. Like you said, it is fast, squirrely and rough. But a heck of a lot of fun to ride.

slow and tippy bad center of gravity.

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They are heavy and fast. Not good for kids. If it is to be used for fishing, there are better sleds out there. Sell it, take the profit and buy a late 80’s early 90’s wedge style chassis Polaris.

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About a week after I posted this thread, my dad decided to see if he could flip the sled for a quick profit.

So he kicked it to the curb and, as is typical of the luck of anyone except me, he barely had the sign taped to it when a guy in a pickup truck braked to a halt on the street behind him.

He made $100 on the deal. I never even saw the thing or heard it run.

Grouse