In The Next Few Days And Weeks I Have Reason To Believe Changes Will Both Shock And Awe All Who Believe In "the Futrue Of Snowmobiling". I Have Not Lost The Faith , But I Have Become Confused As To The Path That A Company Will Invest Its Future In. I Know The Sale Of A New Hawk To A New Individual Is A Hard Sale, But The Alternative "2 Ski " Or "kit" Seems Impossible. I Would Like To Know How Long A Kit Bike With 50-60hp (tops) Will Live In Deep Snow When It Is Pushed Wide Open Trying To Struggle Through Powder When A 121 In Snowhawk With A 115 Hp Has A Hard Time. The Limited Time That I Do Have Working With The Next Generation Of Four Stroke Scares Me As To The Longevity Of The New 450 And Up Four Strokes. Valve Adjustment Intervals, Crankshaft Duration, Piston Life And All Around Cold Weather Drivability Leave Me With Major Concern. I Come From A Lifelong Background Of Riding/ Racing Bikes, This Is Why The Snowhawk Made So Much Sense To Me. I Spent A Number Of Years Racing "AA" Enduros In The Midwest And Would Not Ever Trade My Snowhawk For My Race Bike In The Winter. I Would Like To Hear OtherS Thought On This Subject.
"our Future ????"
- Thread starter JAYHAWK
- Start date
I agree, the conversion kit is a great idea, but will the bike itself handle it?
The average bike was not designed to run in the environments that we put the snow hawks through.
I like the idea as a cost effective alternative, or even an entry level option to the hawk, but in the long run it will most likely produce a market that will graduate into a snow hawk. I will be very interested to see how the kits do, and to see them as more than just a novelty.
I dont see ad boivin going down hill, but rather expanding. This year was the first for options (as few as they were), and I will look for even more options next year.
The average bike was not designed to run in the environments that we put the snow hawks through.
I like the idea as a cost effective alternative, or even an entry level option to the hawk, but in the long run it will most likely produce a market that will graduate into a snow hawk. I will be very interested to see how the kits do, and to see them as more than just a novelty.
I dont see ad boivin going down hill, but rather expanding. This year was the first for options (as few as they were), and I will look for even more options next year.
Options
I don't know what AD. has told you but I have been buggin kim for the last week about what is coming for 09. He is pretty tight lipped but did agree when I asked him if they were making a kit for bikes. Also a production run of snowhawks may not develop this year unless enough are preordered. There was talk about engine options from arctic cat and also a choise of skids aka zx2. We as dealers need to do everything we can to keep the hawk alive. With my little time on them I still believe they are the best thing on snow.
I don't know what AD. has told you but I have been buggin kim for the last week about what is coming for 09. He is pretty tight lipped but did agree when I asked him if they were making a kit for bikes. Also a production run of snowhawks may not develop this year unless enough are preordered. There was talk about engine options from arctic cat and also a choise of skids aka zx2. We as dealers need to do everything we can to keep the hawk alive. With my little time on them I still believe they are the best thing on snow.
Still haven't had a chance to get out and ride my SnowHawk but you raise some of the same questions about the conversions for modern four stroke dirt bikes that I had when I first saw the kits.
I own an '06 Husqvarna SM510R that I road race and let me tell you when you subject those smaller, high horsepower (50-60 hp) motors to the type of abuse that they get when running wide open throttle for extended periods of time the maintenance schedule is ridiculous. Oil changes every time you ride them, roughly 4-8 hours. Valve checks every couple of rides with the potential adjustments associated. Recommended tear downs of the motor at 40 hours, both top and bottom end, for inspection and potential replacement of parts. Parts that get really expensive really quickly( I know, twice this season had to put in a good chunk of money to put the motor back together because it wasn't designed to be held wide open for long periods of time but more for the point and shoot type riding of the woods and trails where you are on and off the throttle and bringing it up and down through the rev range instead of holding it at almost redline )
With the type of throttle application I am used to on my snowmobile (2ski) I can see the typical rpm range that one of the kits would make a dirt bike run in to be fairly high. With extended high rpm not what those four stroke motors were designed for, I can see blown engines left and right, many guys on different makes and models have blown their motors up running their bikes as supermoto bikes on road courses. Now if something a little more tame were to be used like a big XR dirtbike or something of that nature, whose motor isn't quite tuned for the most horsepower but more for longevity, the kit may not put too much stress on the motor. Of course with lower power comes lower over all fun factor I would assume.
Now I just have to make the time to get out and try the SnowHawk so I can formulate an opinion it as a snow toy.
Joel
I own an '06 Husqvarna SM510R that I road race and let me tell you when you subject those smaller, high horsepower (50-60 hp) motors to the type of abuse that they get when running wide open throttle for extended periods of time the maintenance schedule is ridiculous. Oil changes every time you ride them, roughly 4-8 hours. Valve checks every couple of rides with the potential adjustments associated. Recommended tear downs of the motor at 40 hours, both top and bottom end, for inspection and potential replacement of parts. Parts that get really expensive really quickly( I know, twice this season had to put in a good chunk of money to put the motor back together because it wasn't designed to be held wide open for long periods of time but more for the point and shoot type riding of the woods and trails where you are on and off the throttle and bringing it up and down through the rev range instead of holding it at almost redline )
With the type of throttle application I am used to on my snowmobile (2ski) I can see the typical rpm range that one of the kits would make a dirt bike run in to be fairly high. With extended high rpm not what those four stroke motors were designed for, I can see blown engines left and right, many guys on different makes and models have blown their motors up running their bikes as supermoto bikes on road courses. Now if something a little more tame were to be used like a big XR dirtbike or something of that nature, whose motor isn't quite tuned for the most horsepower but more for longevity, the kit may not put too much stress on the motor. Of course with lower power comes lower over all fun factor I would assume.
Now I just have to make the time to get out and try the SnowHawk so I can formulate an opinion it as a snow toy.
Joel
Kit???
I just got off the phone with AD and "the kit" is going to be the big thing for next year. everything else sounds like it will be the same as this year with the exception on the X2 being in there and things being more custom built to suit. I'm sure most of you die hards have heard all this already. I'm not sure I agree that this is the way to get new riders in when they are still going to have to fork over another $6000, but I'm not a moto guy either. Curious to hear what everyone thinks.
I just got off the phone with AD and "the kit" is going to be the big thing for next year. everything else sounds like it will be the same as this year with the exception on the X2 being in there and things being more custom built to suit. I'm sure most of you die hards have heard all this already. I'm not sure I agree that this is the way to get new riders in when they are still going to have to fork over another $6000, but I'm not a moto guy either. Curious to hear what everyone thinks.
no worries!! be happy!!!
the hawk's future is FINE! i hope all you worry warts are ready for the snow check , and will be ordering 09's otherwise why would we be worried unless you were not able to get an 09,,,, call me with your preorder!!
1 877 snowhawk
877snowhawk.com
Mike
the hawk's future is FINE! i hope all you worry warts are ready for the snow check , and will be ordering 09's otherwise why would we be worried unless you were not able to get an 09,,,, call me with your preorder!!
1 877 snowhawk
877snowhawk.com
Mike
my future...
i know my 09 future isnt looking good for a new machine unless i win the lottery or have a banner year at my shop. or if they offer a smaller less priced machine than the 800. i would love an 800 but its heavier than a 2 ski and i know 410 dry would be a wrestling match in the tight woods on a hardpack trail. maybe ill just have to keep my 503 for life... or buy all the used ones for myself....i DO think the hawks future is looking good since most people are using them in the mountains or mainly groomed highway trails that i dont have around here... maybe i can get an 800 and keep it out west at a friends house and fly back and forth for some powder ridin!!!
i know my 09 future isnt looking good for a new machine unless i win the lottery or have a banner year at my shop. or if they offer a smaller less priced machine than the 800. i would love an 800 but its heavier than a 2 ski and i know 410 dry would be a wrestling match in the tight woods on a hardpack trail. maybe ill just have to keep my 503 for life... or buy all the used ones for myself....i DO think the hawks future is looking good since most people are using them in the mountains or mainly groomed highway trails that i dont have around here... maybe i can get an 800 and keep it out west at a friends house and fly back and forth for some powder ridin!!!
what size motors/motor will be avalible next year?
Snow check? what is that all about?
preorders only, limited extra hawks will be built in 09, so if you want one, figure out how u want it built .
2009 hawk
what track sizes, engines and other features will be available in 2009 and what is the deadline for pre order?
what track sizes, engines and other features will be available in 2009 and what is the deadline for pre order?
