2002 ad boivin snow hawk
Amsnow
Two years have passed since we twisted the throttle on the 440 fan-cooled motor and learned to steer with the ol' bod. In that two years' time, the team at AD Boivin has been refining and redesigning the Snow Hawk, making it ready for full production and sales. Some of those changes have been small, some major.
The big change for the Snow Hawk is the engine. Our first run-in with the prototype used a 440 engine. The production unit will run on a 500cc fan-cooled Rotax mill and tuned pipe. Its power output is claimed to be 60 horsepower.
The Expert X rear suspension is a modified version of AD Boivin's aftermarket snowmobile rear skid. It delivers 15 inches of travel, much like a dirt bike's suspension.
Camoplast made a special track for the Snow Hawk, with 2.25-inch lugs at the center, and shorter lugs toward the outside. This allows the Hawk to maintain its bite in the snow while rolling through a corner.
Up front, the Boivin brothers opted to use an inverted Paioli fork, offering 12 inches of travel.
The body work has been resculpted, giving the Snow Hawk a sleeker appearance than the prototype. As part of the redesign, the short windshield has been totally eliminated, giving the Snow Hawk a more Scandinavian look.
Early plans called for the Hawks to be sold as kits. However, AD Boivin officials explained that they will actually be delivered fully assembled and ready for the snow.
AD Boivin plans to build 100 units for this season, splitting them between Iceland, Japan, Scandinavia, Russia, Canada and the US. There are dealers in place in those countries, and units will be shipped in the fall. The base model retails for $8,699, with a 136-inch long track option for an additional $599.