After sifting through the spam filter, we found, hands down, ArcticInsider’s longest comment, left by an anonymous someone with the handle, “B-D”, which was intended to be left on the Arctic Cat Going Fishing? announcement.
We typically don’t share this type of thing in a Feature section, but this person, whom we don’t know, spent some considerable thought, and time, on their comment, and it was far too large to house in a comments section.
We welcome you to read the comment below. As a reminder, from the humble beginnings of this website, we’ve always welcomed opinions, so lets keep comments thoughtful, and civil, towards all parties. Thanks for being cool. -ArcticInsider
B_D Opinion for the New Year of 25.
Hello,
All here on this forum have good thoughts regarding the AC issue at hand. But there’s something much deeper going on. The whole industry AND press have a cancer that’s eating away at the sport of snowmobiling. And nobody wants to talk about it or even realize it. Let me explain. I affectionately call some of this the “Industry Wh#res” and “20,000 Press.” ($20,000)
The industry is dying right before our eyes. Sure some of it is weather/snow related but a lot is also a declining demand, shrinking real numbers, club participation and several other factors in maintaining the infrastructure of the sport. Rather than everyday folks supporting the snowmobile industry, what we now have is totally supported by “hard core” riders. You can’t sustain a manufacturing factory base, in real numbers, and all other aspects of a healthy industry with this sort of rider. Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for this and we should thank them but it will only slow the bleeding. The patient is still dying (i.e. Arctic Cat & Yamaha). And its definitely not because of a lack of product innovation. The sport has shrunk to the point in sheer numbers that it can only sustain maybe 1-2 manufacturers. In 10 years with sleds costing $25,000+ and declining participation maybe we’ll be at 1 sled company or 2 with a lot fewer models.
Case in point. Over the course of recent time the snowmobile media has lost Snow Week, Snowmobile, American Snowmobiler and so many others. The ones that remain are hanging on by a thread. Lose an ad or two (Yamaha) and they may be gone forever. Not a lot of new advertisers either. The aftermarket has lost Tucker Rocky (snowmobile), Marshall Distributing (bought out), Bell Industries (mostly), Western Powersports (new management) and a host of others including smaller players and including in Canada, Motovan (reorganization), Steen Hanson and so many more. PU is not what it used to be in the snowmobile business as well as are the so called “mail order” companies (Shade Tree comes to mind). The small aftermarket manufacturers that actually truly made stuff for the masses was the underpinning of a healthy network of support that are all now mostly gone as well. Some retired and others couldn’t justify the declining sales (plus competition from internet foreign sources like China).
The “Industry Wh#res” are sled manufacturers that continue pushing the envelope, partly they think, by the need to supply consumer demand, media wrath after Snow Shoot or perceived competition but also a lot of it is age old biblical greed. Just look at the current H-1B visa debate. Remember when you could buy an Indy 500 or XLT, anything pre-Rev, Phaser or ZL series sled and then load it up with customer specific aftermarket parts for whatever aspect you were trying to achieve. Be it suspension, motor or whatever. The money you spent, the O.E.’s figured was lost revenue to them so they simply started adding it themselves for increased margins. Sure the end product was better but at what cost to the industry players as a whole. Do the remaining “soft” riders (and the masses of those that left in droves) really need what the O.E.’s are peddling. The media loves it.
Then my friends we have the “20,000 Press” who right after Snow Shoot will comment that if an O.E. didn’t reinvent the wheel will tell their readers nothing new here, just “BNG” (bold new graphics) or that an O.E.’s product offering is getting long in the tooth. Or you need to sell your new snowmobile you just bought last season by way of a 2nd mortgage because its now obsolete. Sounds like the same mindset of people who want to rewrite the U.S. Constitution or the Holy Bible because its the same old thing. Nothing new here to report. It used to be a manufacturer would add a thrust washer here or strengthen a bolt over there from a Gr. 5 to an 8. Or maybe just an easy calibration update. Stamp out a tunnel, add a simple trailing arm bulkhead. Add a cool decal or two and shazam! A new model year sled of similar cost from last year. But the media would crucify a manufacturer for such a thought today. And if you think no one today would buy such a sled in that price range, then if true, the sport will unfortunately continue to decline due to high cost.
There is a certain snowmobile mentality promoted by the “20,000 Press” that looks down on anyone, especially seasoned riders, even thinking about a fan cooled or liquid 56HP class sled. Its not manly don’t you know. Here’s a novel idea… Don’t accept any press units from the OEM. If the “20,000 Press” wants a sled(s) to run, go buy it like we have to, then trade it in for another every year. Tell readership about your experience and if you lost money through depreciation on next year’s purchase. Try another manufacture the following year. Continue commenting on the others from press releases. Your doing it now anyway. Show us you’ve got skin in the game like the rest of us. Maybe with some enlightenment you’ll be known as the “10,000 Press” at some point.
Innovation breeds cost increases. And cost increases breed fewer units sold and less sport participation. Some of you will say, we had low cost type sleds like that and some mfg’s still do today and it didn’t do anything. True to a point but you fail to add into the equation the “20,000 Press” and their influence with so called manly images of the sport along with cleaver mid-air photos and slick copy verbiage and full page O.E. ads promoting the insane just to name a few. Remember we are trying to increase in numbers, retain what we’ve got and grow. Not sing to the choir.
How to make AC #1 again! Right after Textron bought Cat if you noticed the MSRP was quite attractive and down $1000’s less than the others. After noticing I figured they realized rather than compete tech for tech, they were going to flood the market with product that would reignite the masses back into the industry and buy an Arctic Cat. Sadly the “20,000 Press” fought against this with the above mentioned press coverage. Promoting instead Space X rocket equipped snowmobiles with horsepower exceeding your average automobile. And Textron I think got greedy and/or changed market strategy the following years and as such, MSRP was right back on top with the rest. Remember the Blast! Too high of a MSRP and decades old stigma of a one lunger. A small 292 or 340 twin calling it a Puma or Lynx may of been a better choice. And maybe a small Yamaha 4 stroke option. The Chinese would of sold them at or above cost as a leader just to gain market share and then migrate your growing base up to a higher margin choice later on. Cap the tech at a certain point to retain a less MSRP than the others. Don’t forget about the “20,000 Press.” They kept complaining about “better shocks with remote reservoirs or that the Blast was an entry sled or Woman’s sled or young teenager sled not for the real Man of the house. The “20,000 Press” wouldn’t be caught dead or seen running a Puma or Lynx all year long. Or even purchasing a few. Right?
Silicon Valley tech/cell phone companies practically give stuff away (apps or hardware) getting you hooked on their product similar to a drug dealer. Once your addicted, you migrate to something higher if you wish. Smart. But never do they, by way of press outlets, denigrate the masses or base. After all, who wants to buy a product, then read in the media, its for Children, Women or entry level only but definitely not for a real Man… “A real Man needs HP between his legs and arm straightening acceleration with his thumb on the loud handle cruising down the trail at 50 or 60 mph hitting the apex and launching his machine mid-air while taking a selfie for his social media page wearing chrome goggles.” What a mess we have become (adjectives taken from real past press conversations). No wonder we are experiencing near misses on the trail today and have contributed to the masses of abandonment. Who wants to risk it?
My perspective only. I’ve been in this industry for a number of years and have known a lot of the players. So yes, I have had and still do have some skin in the game (but have decided to remain anonymous). I live where there used to be constant snowmobile activity and trail usage but sadly now you seldom even hear a sled running a near by lake or down a corridor trail that has very little use as well. The industry knows this but won’t talk about it. Rather, they talk about turbo’s and led lighting and mogul bashing, etc. The “hard core” are keeping it alive, barely, but this will not grow the sport and why your seeing a slow decline. Did I mention it has also become a rich man’s sport or as some in the industry say HNWI (high net worth individual). Further alienating the masses who were the underpinning of support we had. I once spoke to a well known racer (in the Hall of Fame) everyone would recognize by his name and he talked about how snowmobiles needed to be more like modern day versions of trailing arm Jags, JD Spitfires, Citations, 440 Indy’s, Enticers, etc. Something like a commodity. Not a specialized Ferrari.
Then again some will say well, we are just giving the consumer what he wants. So let’s analyze this… If the NFA law changed allowing full on AR-15 machine guns without any tax stamp and they were selling like hot cakes, the consumer would be getting what they want, right? Then with cooler minds the law changed back to non NFA regulated AR-15 semi automatics, the consumer would bitch and complain and stop buying firearms? The snowmobile industry needs to get back to semi automatics. A $20,000 sled sure is fun but so is an AR-15 full auto. Just because Smith & Wesson can make one doesn’t mean its especially good for your crazed neighbor to have one. Or for the sports survival in promoting a $20,000 snowmobile.
Can it change and survive? Yes. But only if we admit the damage, only then can we rebuild and prosper and bring back the patient from life support (weather permitting). The O.E.’s and media both have a huge responsibility in this. Will they? And also the State or Provincial snowmobile associations. They very simply could put their collective foot down and say enough. Or mandate a trail permit requiring machine insurance based on MSRP and not HP. Allow certain exceptions for older sleds or other criteria.
In closing, the snowmobile industry product line need to return to being a commodity again for the common man… Not a privilege for the few HNWI. Think long term. Not short term profit margins. Don’t be greedy or our grand children won’t have a sport. And the press needs to stop nursing on the OEM nipple. Nobody purchases a snowmobile on what the media says anyways. Just give us the specs and photo angles and we will decide. Like our fathers did before us. Buy the sleds you actually report on with a revolving bank credit line (like the rest of us) and acquire an attitude adjustment, setting your mind straight on the way things ought to be for the sports survival. AKA “financial skin in the game.”
B_D
Hit the nail on the head. The snowmobile press has in my opinion has controlled the industry for too many years. Spring shootouts are for the press to take pictures and gather information so they have something to write about in the off season to sell magazines. Sled OEMs simply forgot how to listen to their dealers and consumers.
110% accurate, you can not really make a snowmobile much better, to the average rider anything about 2008 and up. Snowmobiles far as comfort and handling to the average rider has not changed. To the aggressive rider, yes. You know how many snowmobiles come threw my shop and the owner knows nothing about adjustments. And they don’t go over 45mph
Using the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics inflation calculator:
1988 Wildcat 650 “possibly the fastest snowmobile on earth” – msrp $5,699
In December 2024, that same sled would cost $15,545
I honestly don’t think the prices are that far off. However, there were several points in this letter that make a lot of sense – I agree 100% that the industry is being sustained by the loyal few, not the general public, for example. Much of what this person said is based in some very valid logic.
However, when I scan online marketplaces for used sleds, there are some great values on late-model machines. Buying new is not the only option, and someone can get a lot of sled for their money right now. Focusing on new sleds doesn’t tell the whole story.
I think there are a lot of factors and few people within the industry can put them all together in a way that can make a manufacturer money and also attract new riders to the sport. But, someone will, I’m confidant of that.
Well my former A/C dealer told me this probably 20yrs ago. The writing was on the wall as he seen declining sales in the Power Sports Industry. Dads would come in and buy Junior a new sled, dirt bike or a 4-wheeler. Because that’s what he or the family did. Year or so later dad was in trying to get rid of a very hardly used unit. Because that all Junior cared about was video games and now its social media. As for me I don’t need a 20K sled or 800/858. I buy them for easier resale. I sold my kids RR4000 because she’s in collage. I’d take it out 1 or 2 times a season. My dad & I would argue on who’s driving the RR4000 because it was that must fun. And this a dad that always had ZRT800, CFR1000, ZR8000 & etc.
You can buy a 600 catylyst with reasonable shox for short money brand new, why does everybody need a 858 with atac or they quit the sport
2 things… Youngins now days just dont have the time to go snowmobiling, or ice fishing, or even play outside in the winter. Stick and ball sports have become year round money sucking industries that get in the way of kids being kids. This began after about 2005ish. Second, i feel the snowmobile rags have killed the sport by putting thoughts of off trail and boondocking etc. into peoples heads, creating pissed off landowners, who, rightly so, have quit letting snowmobiles across their property, killing trail systems. Without the trails, and volunteers to maintain them, the sport is dying from within. There are other factors, many mentioned above, which i whole heartedly agree with. I have 2 snopro 600s, and will not buy a new sled again as the sport is basically dead already. Prices killed it for me. When these sleds die for good, i will be done. At least without some sort of revival between now and then.
Well said Green !
I believe Arctic Cat made a big mistake in 2012 and 13 by halting production of the 600 class sled. They waited until 14 when they then came out with their own 600cc in the EL- Tigre and it sold well. So anyone looking for a 600 in 12 or 13 had to bump up to an 800, or switch brands to stay in the 600 class. I was not switching brands, so I bumped up to the 800, but I know friends that rode a Cat and wanted to stay with the 600, so they ended up with one of the other brands. When that happens, it can be hard to get that rider back to the brand.
If someone is to purchase Arctic Cat (I’m still cautiously optimistic it’ll happen) they really just need to make Arctic Cat the value brand. CFMOTO would probably be best equipped to do this, but others could. Trying to compete against BRP or Polaris for the premium market is basically a no win situation at this point. Offer a nice selection of value based sleds even if some of the most inexpensive models have to be imported. I honestly think that’s the only way they can find a market at this point. Do for sleds what CFMOTO has done for the dirt market.
that’s a lot of words without mentioning freestyle, bar riser height or dangling
Textron has been an awful steward of a once great brand and two horrible winters in a row is apparently all it took to literally kill Arctic Cat under their ownership?
the underpowered unmanly wife and kids sled many seem to keep talking about in regards to the demise of the sport and possibly the greatest sled ever sold to the public in the history of Arctic Cat was the Sno Pro 500. race chassis, cheap fit and finish, 85hp, and likely the most bare bones/basic sled offered in the past few decades.
in fairness to the 20K media and the manufacturers that sled had an MSRP of $8,300 in 2010. using a CPI inflation calculator brings that sled to $12,130 today. MSRP on a brand spanking new 2025 ZR 600 129 (the base model) was $13,800ish which has 14 years of advancement and 125-ish hp… right? one can purchase these for $12k or less, right now… today. SkiDoo and Polaris also offer basic 600 class sleds that people aren’t buying. see latest Snow Trax 600cc shootout as an example.
in addition, precisely when did 125hp class sleds become ‘women and kids sleds’? did the 20k media do that or did we snowmobilers do it ourselves? a 600 is now a 340 and an 850 is a 440, I reckon.
ramble, ramble, blah blah blah… good luck
Thanks crnr for bringing up the snopro 500, bought mine new in 2012, also bought a procross which I didnt own long. The procross was like riding a craftsman lawnmower compared to the snopro. The snopro chassis was the best sled they ever built. Maybe some diehard cat engineers could make the latest snocross chassis trail friendly and could finally order a new one again.
no problem
something I was trying to point out though is that a brand new 125hp ZR 600 129 with IFP’s that to an extent is basically and has been compared to the SP5 can be inflation adjusted purchased for the same price… or much less if one shops around. don’t like the shocks? upgrade them. don’t like the skis? upgrade those as well.
as much as I find $16-20k sleds silly they are what sells and they are also the biggest profit center for these manufacturers.
to the point others have addressed… does anyone really ‘need’ a snowmobile, especially one for $12-22k that the average person will be fortunate to utilize for 90 days each winter?
Arctic Cat is the canary in the coal mine for the entire industry and likely the long term direction of the sport as most of us know it.
Agree with most of this,especially ‘I bleeds’ comments about the back country riders. Every swinging Richard has to have a 153+ inch track and drive anywhere and everywhere they want. They don’t own land and don’t care about anyone who does. Locally, many trails that have been around for decades have been closed due to this, and the narcissistic riders that just have to have that can on their sled. They have the right to modify their exhaust and annoy the landowners that have tracks all over their property from the back country clowns even further. How many of these riders, even belong to a club? I bet, not many. They are the’ Freeriders’. They’re a special breed of overly entitled people, who only care about themselves. It’s just another nail in the snowmobile coffin. So you may say, I’m a bitter old dude. Maybe so. I’ve been in the sport since the mid seventies, over 100,000 miles, have seen the glory days, and the current decline. I may age out soon anyway, before it hits the fan completely. If so, good luck to all of you who really care.
Many things I agree with there and many things I don’t (guy sound’s anti 2a, the government taxing new machines will not help anything but to grow government, and most importantly, there’s never been a trailing arm Jag)
I agree the media puts so much focus on the latest and greatest. Why not just focus on SNOWMOBILING? Snowmobiling to me, is so much more than the latest and greatest. The idea of the media not accepting sleds from an OEM is great, but it’s cheap advertising for the manufacturer and someone will always accept the new sled. The oem’s would have to get together and agree to a pact to not give any out to media.. but they also want to sell them. Ultimately, just like the fake news of today, it’s up to the consumer to wade through propaganda and the various information that’s trying to sway you.
I do find it odd the people who like to complain about 20k sleds. Nobody is forcing anyone to buy a 20k sled. You can have a $1,000 sled and have just as much fun… Actually MORE fun on the 90’s sled. And they’re just as reliable and you can pass plenty of 20k sleds on the trail with one.
I think the elephant in the room is $, and not just talking about the machine price. People can extrapolate sled costs of years gone to show new sleds are on oar with inflation and feel better about it and say that $$ isn’t the problem. I think these people are so very insulated to the issues. The snowmobiler average age goes up every year. Young people aren’t getting into it.. not because the new generation sucks, because they can’t afford it. Before any boomers spit out their coffee in their million dollar home that they bought for 10k.. you don’t seem to understand the predicament that young people are in. Imagine being in your early 20’s and thinking of buying your first house for 300k. And you have nothing, maybe you’re out of school or working a respectable blue collar job. Paying rent, just trying to keep your car or truck on the road. Snowmobiling just doesn’t fit in with that. A gallon of oil is $50. Gas is expensive, in the sled and truck. Trailers are expensive. Also have to store it all somewhere? Registration is expensive. It’s a very expensive sport, and people don’t have the disposable income to be lighting money on fire for a little joy for 2 months a year, IF that. By the time people start making better money, they probably got that starter home and have kids, IF they’re lucky, but again no fun money.
None of this is the fault of the OEM or the industry, it’s just the way things are. More people today are renting instead of owning. When I was 25 in the 2000’s, I was buying my first brand new snowmobile. I was an auto mechanic. I’m still an auto mechanic and the younger guys today don’t have it as easy as I did 20 years ago. Everything costs more and people don’t have the disposable income, not the common man anyway. This is the elephant in the room that nobody talks about. If younger people can’t get into the sport, there’s no future.
Offer the 600 Catalyst with regular IFP shocks, 1.00″ track, std Tach/speedo with trip/temp, decent windshield for $9,499 and a Blast for $6,995. Cat offered a ZR600 back in 2019 (maybe it was ’20) for $9,995, and the ZR800 was about $1000 more. I do blame the press partially. The poor reports given to a sled because it doesn’t have high end shocks, automatic hand warmers or GPS as standard equipment. Consumers are told you gotta have it, then “we” bitch when the prices go thru the roof.
I totally agree! It’s such a shame how sledders view 600’s as chick sleds, kids sleds, wife sleds. WTF? They produce more power than ever and are more reliable than the throw away big bore twin 850’s. Fan cooled sleds are only available from Polaris and they are asking $2000 too much for them. They are such morons they don’t include them in the current 0% incentive and wonder why they aren’t selling. With the small number of sleds being sold each year and it continuing to decline, sled line ups should look like the 80’s with only 7 to 9 different sleds available, that’s it. No color options, no fancy gauges, no pick and choose your options during snowcheck. Way simpler to manufacture 7-9 different models and then let the dealers add the options.
The sled market is broken. Sleds are way too expensive and I won’t be buying anything new until prices come back down. The last new sled I bought was in ‘22 and they’ve lost me as a customer.
My last 2 comments on the 21st. were never posted for some reason.
Cheap snowmobile options have always been available. The current sleds on the market, adjusted for inflation, are in-line with 20 years ago when unit sales were exponentially more than they are now.
Less than desirable and unpredictable winters have destroyed the mass appeal of a snowmobile and left what I see as 3 types of riders supporting the industry- (1) The enthusiast die-hard (2) The guy who lives in an area that gets reliably consistent and rideable snow without having to trailer (3) the rich guy with money to blow and not much else to do in the winter. There’s often overlap in those three. This is why innovation has driven the industry and why Cat/Textron got buried in a hole quite possibly too deep to climb out of. I have an 858 btw and love it, but I very nearly jumped ship for this exact reason and many already had.
The cheap sleds are out there, but there’s no mass market to sell to. The only things that would change that is consistent winters and less constraints on discretionary incomes.
Mostly right, but with no snow in a lot of the midwest over the years, that is a major factor of sales and interest these days. Not to mention, in reality, like cell phones, there isn’t that much difference in models year to year so the need to upgrade frequently is not necessary. Plus throw in interest rates.
But yes, I agree, flood the damn market with sleds that you may not make a lot on so that they become loyal customers and upgrade to your higher end models. Unfortunately, Textron has proven not to be the answer. I don’t think any Cat loyalist thought they would be. Maybe they did a favor, buying them and keeping them alive, but maybe not. Maybe someone else better might have bought them. They destroyed their dealer network which is the key to selling sleds.
Textron has no business in the Powersports industry, let’s hope for Cat’s sake a competent buyer in the space steps up and does what’s necessary to keep the Cat brand in tact.
I live in the Black Hills and we pretty much always get enough snow to at least have good trail riding. Except for last year. Last year was a disaster. This year is shaping up nicely for us with excellent snowfall. I’m not rich and if I didn’t live where I can basically ride from my house or trailer at most 10 miles to ride I’d spend my money on a different powersports product. Yes, I’m one of those strange “I only have a snowmobile” guys.
With that said, I really hope someone buys Arctic Cat because my new Catalyst Riot 600 is an excellent sled and I think they finally have a competitive product. However, with so much of the country having a brown winter again, I’m worried that Textron will choose liquidation if it brings them a penny more then selling it as an ongoing concern. I guess time will tell. I’m hoping for the best.
I live in Northern Minnesota and another item sledders are buying are Ice Castles fish houses there not cheap either how many sled owners have them now instead of upgrading sleds. They might have some sleds to use when it does snow but investing into updating them is not happening and they can use the Ice Castles year around … for the family budget.
I live in Northern Minnesota and another item sledders are buying are Ice Castles fish houses there not cheap either how many sled owners have them now instead of upgrading sleds. They might have some sleds to use when it does snow but investing into updating them is not happening and they can use the Ice Castles year around … for the family budget.
the sno pro 500 comments are interesting as I also have one in the fleet along with a couple procross. I agree, hands down the best chassis to come out of TRF. Maybe this catalyst will outperform, time will tell. But with no rear spars(tunnel supports) and no ETT(dual angle tunnel) , the lack there of both seem to be steps backwards. Can this chassis take the extreme abuse and high jumps of the sno pro!!
Amen! For 2025 I went back to a standard ZR 6OO. I ride for the REAL reason which is to explore the back country and enjoy the scenery. We stop often to take pictures and while riding we just cruise along at a reasonable speed. If the sport is to survive, the manufacturers will have to get away from the high performance mentality!
Manufactures make what sells for a profit. High performance is what sells
Greg Hallstroms comment is right on for many of us. I have a Norseman 6000 (sadly…starter died at 1100 miles) which is generally a great sled. I also picked up a 22 Blast LT with 80 demo miles for $4999 two months ago. At 6′ 4″ and 230 lbs., so why would I buy that sled? Easy. Simple, theoretically reliable, not thirsty, long track, room for storage, and fun to ride. I live in Brewerton NY, the lower end of the Lake Ontario snowbelt, and have property north of Lake Placid, NY. If I can ride that all day, which I have, and find the sled acceptable, and if your goal is to just get out there and enjoy the winter, who needs the 20K widow maker? The points here are well taken…the manufacturers accountants need the 20K sled. Volume down…profits need to be up to sustain operations.
I get the thrill. My third sled is a 17′ Expedition Extreme. don’t get me wrong.. fantastic sled machine save for the consistent battery issues/lack of manual start. (skidoo, the industry leader, should put manual starts on ALL sleds)
I just saw a 4 year cost increase table from a local accounting firm. It reads like this: Cars-plus 19’%, food plus 23%, electricity-plus 38%, home cost-plus 37%, auto insurance- plus 59%. Jus a sampling and variable depending on where you live. Most people are lucky to get 3% raises every year, so quite simply, the consumer is getting crushed. The manufacturers that are left suffer the same type of cost increases. So what do you do? Build to the market. Fewer people can afford the high end techno glitz, but still may want to ride a new sled. The notion that a 600 is for kids or women, mind blowing. Just wrong.
In conclusion…build for the market, which has drastically changed. Value engineer some of your product for the masses. Put an old Fuji 500 in an Axys chassis, buy a 600 efi, pick up a blast 400, or buy used, save money for retirement, and live a better life all around. You can have toys. Just buy smart.
I worked at Arctco in the mid-80’s to mid-90’s, also worked for PU, Tucker Rocky and Castle X. After 27 years in the business, I walked away in 2013 for all the reasons B_D comments on, and then some. It’s no surprise to me what’s happened to the snowmobile business, saw this coming a long time ago. Happy to see Tom pick up the pieces of what Pat left of ArcticInsider.
Artdcat,
We may have crossed paths over the years and if so, hope all is well.
I am glad that Arctic Insider looked into their spam folder and also for all the comments here. My goal was to make us “think” about what’s happening around us and to put our family of minds together for a common solution. Maybe then action can be taken for future riders. Everyone knows club participation is also declining and its all related.
Some of the comments simply amused me like claiming that I am anti 2nd Amendment. Being a concealed carry and license holder my point was to illustrate the insanity of $20,000+ snowmobiles to grow an industry. And the trailing arm Jag’s comment… Again, my point was to have a trailing arm Jag, Enticer, etc. “like” snowmobile commodity. Not a Z06 Corvette. Or that they (manufacturers) make what sells. True, but we’re talking about the sports survival and future growth. Not turning a profit only for today. The press also needs to cooperate as do the OEM future planners.
And then I just knew someone would bring up the “government inflation adjustment trick” to justify sled costs. We all know this. Has your income gone up equally the same? The masses don’t care about “what it would cost.” We as consumers in this industry, need to have a commodity mindset as do the snowmobile press and OEM. Make snowmobiling fun and great again! Not having to sell your soul just to beat thy neighbor on Kevlar Lake.
A well known Wall Street Trader once told me the cure for high stock prices are high prices. In other words, there comes a point where the market becomes over priced then crash and burns bringing down prices. This scenario isn’t exactly what’s going on here but we are near a point where the snowmobile industry is in deep trouble.
Most people who want to be or continue to be snowmobilers, like in the auto industry, want to buy a brand new machine, their pride and joy. Not someone else’s used sled that may of been mistreated while being cold allowing excessive piston wall clearance, scuffing or ring land damage. Something you can’t easily check. Or a PTO bearing that may of run dry while ditch banging on an empty or low oil reservoir.
Thanks to all who commented and have opened your mind to the big picture. Good Riding! And let’s hope AC will make a comeback…Soon!
B_D
All I know is the fan cooled sport sleds of the 90s to 2000s are popular project machines. Vintage guys are buying good used examples and using common mods of the day to make them into their daily riders. You hang around the vintage sites and see what gets positive reaction comments. We can justify inflation by creative apps but the psychological impact of anything over ten grand just falls flat on most folks I know.