Gonna miss this sled!

mountain_man

mountain_man

New member
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
78
Age
42
Location
Indiana
Hey guys, I just wanted to tell everyone how much I have appreciated the advice on my SRX. This weekend a friend and I headed to Cadillac, MI for the season start and to break-in my refreshed engine. Day one went very well, to motor started great and ran strong all day long. We did 118 miles and I did my best to baby her for the break-in. Got back to the cabin, pulled the plugs and everything looked great, no weird noises, no leaks, everything dialed in just right. Day 2 we were the first ones out, left early for breakfast, temps in the high teens low 20's, let her warm up really good, we left the cabin, ran to breakfast, on the way felt really confident in the motor so I let her rip... hit 90 mph like it was nothing and would have broken 100 but ran out of room lol... after breakfast we were headed back enjoying the twisties through the woods, buddy was in front with his nytro, maybe 50mph at first, but I was gaining ground on him so i backed off to 30 through some tight turns when all hell broke loose, I hit an iced corner. The base was decent, a little snirt but not bad. I did everything I could to turn but the sled pushed through the turn, right over the side into a tree I went. It happened so fast I am still trying to sort the mess out. I hit left ski first, and was thrown over the bars into the tree. My helmet saved my life. The left ski was pushed into the left belly side, bent the radius arms, steering arm, sway bar, left shock, trailing arm, ruined the belly pan, cracked the hood, the tunnel is tweaked bad, the ski was curled back like a "c" pushing the belly pan into the primary stalling the motor. Went headfirst into the tree, knocked me on my back. Outside of being sore, I am alive Thank God! It took my buddy a minute to figure out something was wrong, and he came right back. I pulled the ski out from the side pan and miraculously the motor fired right back up like nothing happened. we pulled it to the road with his nytro, looked at the gps, lucky us, 2 miles from the cabin. The steering was hung up really bad, but with a helluva lot of manhandling I was able to turn the skis. That SRX has never stuck me anywhere guys, I rode that sled sled back, and back up onto the trailer. We thought about screwing the transfer rods so it would pull the skis and just ride a wheelie back lol... Riding it back put a lot of pressure on the right track rail, destroyed the hyfax and cut into the track. The sled is pretty well totalled. Thought I would mention that 2 cats rode past us while we pulled it away from the tree and didn't bother to stop to help, they did slow down to get a good look though. Anyway, after 4 years on this sled I don't have it in me to fix it up again. Going to get a brand new sled. I want to thank everyone for the help and advice over the years, and I hope that what I have learned I will be able to pass on to fellow riders. Here are a few pics of the sled...

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144 studs down the center, I run dooly carbides (ran) for less darting, maybe if i still had my singles on i would have had a better bite on the ice. My bud went back through that trail later in the day on his nytro and at the same turn he slowed down to 30 and almost did the same thing I did, but he was lucky.
 
I have been riding over 4 years now, and this is the first time ever any sled of mine completely pushed through a turn like that.
 
glad your ok, that was a good looking ride, part it out still worth good money
 
mountain_man said:
I have been riding over 4 years now, and this is the first time ever any sled of mine completely pushed through a turn like that.
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Glad you are ok. I know a guy that was going about 30mph and did the same thing as you and is now paralysed from the waist down.
Did you have insurance? Or are you going to part it out to recoup some money? if you are going to part it out I would be interested in the front and rear bumpers plus the handlebar pad if it is nice. PM me if you are parting it out
 
Good thing you are ok, I had a very similar problem last year......Good luck on your next project...Nick
 
Wow! Sounds like you were very lucky not to be seriously hurt. Sorry bout your sled... I am sure parts of it will live to see another day.
 
sorry to hear of this and by the way..typical with the Arctic Cat riders..I am in AC territory myself,you would never get a nodd or wave from them clowns.But last year I stopped to ask an AC guy if he needed help..but he blew a piston that day..lol
Give the SRX a good burial..it deserves it.Any any sled Cat or Doo for sure would have folded in half.
 
Sorry to hear about your sled. Just be glad you were not hurt...I wrecked my Viper 18.3 miles after I got it...Hit a curb and went flying...Trailing arm was bent like yours But I rode it home with a BROKEN right collar bone...Had to pick up my arm with my left hand just to get it on the bars to use the gas...Not a fun day,so I feel your pain...But it's fixed and ready to go...Good luck with your replacement...
 
hey man this is chris i was up north you showed me the sled i had the srx that was having problems it ended up being a loose chain but glad your okay that was a very nice sled
 
Man that sucks, glad your ok, could have been alot worse. she looked like a real gem of a sled. Good luck with your new purchase.
 
Glad you didnt get hurt.. Thats a nice looking sled, hate to see such beauty in such a mess.. May she rest in peace... Good luck on finding a new ride..
 
thanks for the support everyone! There is a reason why my blood runs blue... you guys are some of the best out there, glad to hear you had an easy fix chris, keep up with those yammies, they won't let you down! Proud to own a yamaha, Proud to have had the privilege of owning a 2001 SRX 700. Started the ball rolling tonight guys, 2011 Yamaha Vector LTX GT is gonna be underneath the Christmas tree this year :-) Merry Christmas everyone, and a safe riding season to all!
 
Like others have said...man glad you are ok! Glad you are getting back on the horse. Enjoy the new ride, and make sure you get a new lid too. They are only designed to take one impact. It saved you once, get a new one.

Meat
 
sorry to hear that. that is why when it starts pushing in the corner, i look for the soft spot i want to hit with the sled. enjoy the new ride.
 
Mountain man, glad you are ok, you are one of the lucky ones. Get a lottery ticket because you have it going your way right now, it could have been a lot worse. Hey, if you decide to get rid of anything off the sled, I would be interested in the hand guards for my 02 SRX, LET ME KNOW.

Glad you are still able to ride.... ;)!
 
meat12 said:
Like others have said...man glad you are ok! Glad you are getting back on the horse. Enjoy the new ride, and make sure you get a new lid too. They are only designed to take one impact. It saved you once, get a new one.

Meat
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good advise, x2 on new skid lid ;)!
 
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