deep snow crushers

The record plays over again, as this is still the fastest, heaviest, most adrenaline pumping, smile-making, coolest sounding stock sled ever. Seriously, I know I have said it a million times but if you have never ridden a Sidewinder you are doing yourself a disservice. When Yamaha came out with the stock turbo Sidewinder in 2017 I don’t think anyone was prepared for how incredibly powerful and fun the sled would be.

The first time I rode it I was grinning from ear to ear and had tears running out of the corners of my eyes. It was so dang fast! Two years later I am still smiling ear to ear when I ride it. Oh, just a word to the wise - when you get on this crotch rocket, make sure your visor is tight and make sure you don’t tilt your head up enough for wind to get under it, because at triple digits (I know a guy who once went that fast) you will be staring out the bottom of the helmet before you even know what happened. Yes it is exhilarating to say the least.

Being a 4-stroke certainly has its advantages when it comes to engine life, torque and oh yes a triple throttle body and turbo with zero lag at your thumb. Everyone talks about the weight of the Yamaha, and yes it is heavy. However, many people don’t realize it has a stock 36-inch front end and is capable of holding long steep side-hills and going places other stock sleds can’t. The turbo makes this sled feel much lighter than it is by creating lift when you are on the throttle. It eats deep snow and steep hills for snacks. The Power Claw track has to withstand some incredible force from the power this 998cc engine puts to it. The track speed is so insane I was actually surprised after the first full day of riding that there were no missing lugs.

While the 153 is even faster with less mass to turn, it is not nearly as fun as the 162. The 162 seems to be the ideal length for the Sidewinder.