signfan

The question now is 137 or 146. You won’t notice much difference going to a 137. If you’re going to a newer chassis chances are it will handle better with a 137 than your old 129 did. 137 is today’s trail sled. They work well.

Just curious if anything interesting was brought forward or decided this year?

There was an official announcement from them in the last couple days. I’d argue not as good of a location as gateway, but still pretty decent. I’m happy to see a dealer opening up in the city. It was going to be terrible commute to any of the other dealers that already exist. Can’t wait to visit when they open. Wonder what lines they will carry. Just sled, watercraft, side by side and atv’s like gateway? Or will they carry the switch boats and can-am trikes as well.

Other thing worth trying is let the limiter strap out a bolt hole. That and / or increase the pre-load on the front shock in the rear skid.

Have you done anything to try and fix it? I hear this a lot about the Mach’s. It shouldn’t be. You have all of the components to make a great ride. Maybe try loosening the front springs off, put a set of snow trackers on it and maybe adjust the limiter strap setting. Also get the rear sag set for your weight. What about it is it that you hate? Heavy steering? Rough ride? Inside ski lift? Does seem like ski doo missed the mark on factory settings on this model.

Maybe it’s just me, but seems like the 7 day has increased a lot in Quebec vs the others. Season pass is nice. Can go when and where you want be it a day or a week. One more winter with Quebec passes here. When the young lad turns 12 I’ll have 4 years to focus on Northern Ontario. Might skip the Quebec passes until he’s 16. It’s nice to have options. Still lots of trail to explore that I haven’t seen before.

Everyone has their own preferences and it’s good we have choices. Here’s my take. - I buy for dependability and reliability. There is no comparison here. I hear of blown up 2 strokes all the time. Few and far between to find 4 strokes with motor issues - I had the chance to jump between my 2019 900 T and a 2024 850 etec last week. I felt the turbo has more low end torque where I needed it. The 850 was sluggish until you got it over 50 and got the exhaust valves opened up - handling has so much to do with setup. In this instance my 900 handled better than the 850 despite the weight. Could that be changed with some setup on the 850? Yes. But so many ppl don’t spend the time or get the knowledge to make things handle at their capability Reduced smells and noise are a bonus as well. Lots of opinions on both sides. 4 stroke is the sled for me.

Acceptable would probably be the best way to describe it. There is stretches of access rd in there that we ran along at 80 - 100 km/h with no real problems. That said it’s only beat down 6’ wide. Hasn’t been touched since the last big storm meaning the snow is a foot deep if you get off the beaten path. That in itself slows you down for every corner you can’t see around hoping you don’t meet someone. Some moguls starting and some corners bermed up, but not brutal yet. Was the worst we saw in 4 days of riding. But that doesn’t say much when everything else was so good. If you can avoid it do so. But not sure I’d go 200 kms out of my way to skip it.

Wednesday was a cold one. -28 to start. Had fresh grooming for 85% of the day and what was left was very good too. Spent last night at Marina Chibougamau. Back west on 93 today with a couple inches of fresh snow. Ran it as far as Senneterre. Conditions were great. Not enough snow to make things push so all good. With the snow came warmer temps which were appreciated. Headed east from Senneterre on 83 to the local trail that cuts back to louvincourt. Man is there ever a pile of clear cutting in that neck of the woods (former woods). Thousands of acres of open area. Don’t go there in a blizzard. Trail into louvincourt was great. 386 south is closed, but that wasn’t our plan. Caught back up to 83 and finished up in Val D’or. Little choppy coming into town. But still very manageable. Back to the truck in the am. Has been a fun trip. Just shy of 1500 km so far. Figure we will finish around 1750 kms in 4 days. Getting my kms in to close the season out. Gotta be 6’ of snow in Chibougamau and in Matagamy. Spring hasn’t arrived yet up here.

Motel Louise was the solution in Ville Marie. Not fancy, but nothing wrong with it. Found out the hard way that TQ83 is closed south of Notre Dame du Nord. Not sure why I didn’t check the app, but we survived. 506 kms later we’re in Matagamy. 32 liters to get the 183 kms from the gas station on the reserve in Amos to the gas station in Matagamy. You definitely burn through the fuel coming up the west side. Onto Chibougamau tomorrow. -28 tonight here. Definitely still winter. Snow banks in town are easily 6’ tall. Trails have been good to absolutely f’in fantastic today. If you are in anyway questioning it just get in the truck and head north. You won’t regret it.

Chibougamau was on our list which is why we figured we needed to make Matagami on day one.

Yeah that's probably good advise. We're trying to make Matagami the first night. Didn't know if it would be too much to bite off coming from Temiscaming. Would run through Royun Noranda. My first trip in the area. I've heard it is fast, but don't want to ride like an idiot either.

Where is the best place to stay and stage from in the Ville Marie area for a 3 - 4 day sadllebag trip? Looking to head north tomorrow night. Was going to Sainte Anne du Lac and doing a loop, but TQ93 was recently closed south of Chibougamau which has us changing plans last minute.

I had the privilege of joining a group to go sledding on the rock in 2008. The group trailered down. I flew one way and drove the truck and sleds back coming home. Absolutely epic trip. We saw the Lewis Hills, Gros Morne riding to Western Brook Gorge and my favourite day was a trail ride from Steadybrook, to Deer Lake, to jack ladder, then inland into the long range mountains that brought us back out near corner brook and then a final return to Steady brook. The access roads in the long range mountains near cornerbrook were phenomenal. The scenery is to die for and you will never find nicer people. Will definitely go again some day. It’s a long drive / ferry ride, but was worth the investment. It is definitely beautiful, but also an area to be respected. There is stories of guys mistakingly riding off of massive cliffs hundreds of feet high. It is most definitely avalanche country and a lot gets covered up by the massive snow falls. When it melts in the spring lots of hazards begin to appear. We were there in April and had good weather, but I’m sure “you can’t see your nose” whiteout conditions do occur. Your right on the coast with ever changing weather.

Any idea how late the restaurant is open?