2-stroke vs. 4-stroke

I am going to be purchasing a new/different sled. I have no experience with the new 4 strokes. I have heard that they are hard staring in the cold, and very expensive to maintain? Anybody have any experience with them? Pros, cons, opinions, etc.

Thanks

I have owned two stroke sleds for years. My wife just purchased a four stroke (Yamaha Vector) and I couldn’t be more impressed with the power and it is pretty quiet, and no fumes. We have not had it long enough to comment on the cost of maintenance, but really the difference comes down to burning expensive two stroke oil or doing an oil change once a season. The rest of the maintenance is pretty much the same for any sled.

In my opinion the durability, reliability, and longevity of a four stroke far exceeds two stroke. The power is a bit different with boat motors, but as far as snowmobiles, the power in the four stroke pulls hard throughout the entire rpm range and the fuel economy is much higher compared to my two stroke sled.

Fourstrokes run a much lighter oil, and while some of the first four strokes may have had issues, the newer versions I am told will start in very cold temps.

if your just using the sled for ice fishing, you should be happy with either. If you trail ride I would reccomend the four stroke. I would love to make the switch myself and have a feeling the wife may be riding my two stroke because I am going to be stealing hers

Three of my buddies ride Yamaha 4-strokes and by next season I plan on buying one. The only maintenance they do is a yearly oil change. That is much less expensive than what I pay for oil. Good 2-stroke oil is not cheap. The gas mileage is incredible, twice what my 2-stroke gets! Last year, one morning in Cook,MN, it was -25 degrees when we got up. The 4-strokes were the first sleds going. They all have electric start and most are fuel injected now. We had to take turns pulling over the couple of 2-strokes that morning. The 4-strokes can be clutched to feel just like a 2-stroke, and the extra weight just gives a better ride. For trail riding, I don’t think you can beat these 4-strokes.

Where are you going to ride, how are you going to ride? If you plan to ride on trails in the flat land over here I don’t think either way you could go wrong. If you plan to ride in any amount of powder such as Wyoming, Colorado or Montana you are going to want to stay away from the 4 strokes completely. They sink like a rock in the deep stuff.
If it was me I would be buying a 2 stroke. But that is because I ride like it is a race and would not want a heavy 4 stroke.

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I am going to be purchasing a new/different sled. I have no experience with the new 4 strokes. I have heard that they are hard staring in the cold, and very expensive to maintain? Anybody have any experience with them? Pros, cons, opinions, etc.

Thanks

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Low cost of maintence is a major benifit of a 4 stoke.
Yamaha for example. Yearly oil change, change oil filter at 600 miles, than every 12,000 miles, valve adjustment at 25,000 miles.
If you purchase a yami from me I’ll pay for your oil filters and valve adjustments!
Hows that for low cost of maintence. Two stroke oil runs about $30 a gallon and last about 250 miles!

Thanks for the input. Don’t think I listened to anybody but myself!! Just bought a 2010 Arctic Cat T570, its a 2 stroke. I just can’t imagine riding a sled and not smelling the oil burning?? Gotta love the 2 stroke!!