As we spoke Rock I bought one of these new around January 1980, and it was my main rider for around 15 years. Super nice sled for the time, but there is not a lot of suspension travel. I definitely came back sore from every long trip I ever took on it. It had some minor breakdowns, but was super reliable for the era. I sold it in 1998 and the engine and carb had never been apart on it. At nearly 6000 miles it still ran like new. Your video brought back some good memories...:-)
6000 miles is very impressive for a sled of that year! I’m glad it brought back some good memories for you. I did end up selling the sled, but it was a fun old sled while I had it.
I wish somebody would bring back a simple sled like this rather than the Star Wars looking super expensive toys they sell now. Not everyone needs a foot of travel and a 100 mph car payment of a winter ride.
Good running sled! We need a lot more snow for the trails to be great but the trails are open, I just did 100 mile loop today from island pond to Canaan...not with this sled lol... Some trails are good and some not so much.
@@rockspowersports a hundred miles that's not bad. That's pretty good wasn't really expecting excellent conditions. But my son's going back to college soon. He's been wanting to go I heard Island Pond just got another for in this morning. Probably leave from the Essex House.
Oh darn....well..at least we got to enjoy watching you take it for a good ride! That thing is a beast and was very entertaining! Keep up the good work.."a guy needs good content" 😂
Kinda a pattern amongst all mechanical items seems like ... But anywho ..take it your from the frozen land of the vikings... You ever make it down to iowa? If so I'll hafta send ya my info cuz I got 2-4 cars n trucks that you would love and a deal on the one I really thinks right up your alley that I bet you'd love too...what's your email ?...I'll send you the info and pics and what I'm thinking on a deal on it...it really is worth it for ya and I hate to see the ole 460 powered girl go but due to recent events I kina gotta ...but yeah shoot me your email and we'll at least talk a lil 🦃 n see what we come up with
That’s about right what they did when new on an ideal day on hard pack. Bro had a 5000 El Tigre , a 1981 model, they were a free air hot rod that punched out about 14 more hp than these and that clocked in around 90 mph on a perfect day with skinny school boy me on it. The Pantera FC was rated at 48 hp. Tigger Five FA second generation was 62. Factory shop manual lists hp. Btw.
Sleds were so much lighter back then. You didn’t need a 150 hp to get to 90mph for the top sleds back then. I sit on a new machine and it just feels too big. They can talk all the advantages all they want. But if I don’t feel a connection , meh. I miss these days.
As we spoke Rock I bought one of these new around January 1980, and it was my main rider for around 15 years. Super nice sled for the time, but there is not a lot of suspension travel. I definitely came back sore from every long trip I ever took on it. It had some minor breakdowns, but was super reliable for the era. I sold it in 1998 and the engine and carb had never been apart on it. At nearly 6000 miles it still ran like new. Your video brought back some good memories...:-)
6000 miles is very impressive for a sled of that year!
I’m glad it brought back some good memories for you. I did end up selling the sled, but it was a fun old sled while I had it.
My Dad bought a 1980 Panther, new, it was a good sled, had years of fun, the oil injection was a bonus too
Mine was an 81. Needed recoil starter about every other year.
The 1st sled I ever owned with hand warmers
Yeah it seems like the Cat didn’t have a great recoil design on these older models.
I wish somebody would bring back a simple sled like this rather than the Star Wars looking super expensive toys they sell now. Not everyone needs a foot of travel and a 100 mph car payment of a winter ride.
Love those old cats.. Thinking of heading to IP this weekend..
Good running sled!
We need a lot more snow for the trails to be great but the trails are open, I just did 100 mile loop today from island pond to Canaan...not with this sled lol...
Some trails are good and some not so much.
@@rockspowersports a hundred miles that's not bad. That's pretty good wasn't really expecting excellent conditions. But my son's going back to college soon. He's been wanting to go I heard Island Pond just got another for in this morning. Probably leave from the Essex House.
Yes we did get some snow this morning. There calling for a bigger storm Saturday hopefully it comes.
Have fun riding!
@@rockspowersports thank you enjoy your new Snow Check can't wait to see the video. Keep it up.
Be careful when you're trying to turn around in deep snow.
For some reason, they like to tip right over at very low speed. (Under 5mph)
These are fairly tippy sleds.
The old sleds you have to use a lot of body English on. They aren’t just a sit on and ride kinda thing.
Hey still have that pantera?
No, I did end up selling it.
Oh darn....well..at least we got to enjoy watching you take it for a good ride! That thing is a beast and was very entertaining! Keep up the good work.."a guy needs good content" 😂
Thanks, those old sleds are hard to kill..
Kinda a pattern amongst all mechanical items seems like ... But anywho ..take it your from the frozen land of the vikings... You ever make it down to iowa? If so I'll hafta send ya my info cuz I got 2-4 cars n trucks that you would love and a deal on the one I really thinks right up your alley that I bet you'd love too...what's your email ?...I'll send you the info and pics and what I'm thinking on a deal on it...it really is worth it for ya and I hate to see the ole 460 powered girl go but due to recent events I kina gotta ...but yeah shoot me your email and we'll at least talk a lil 🦃 n see what we come up with
Unfortunately I have never been to Iowa.. I’m about a 1000 miles to the northeast of you.. my email is r.ovitt@outlook.com
for som reasomn my 81 goes like 75-80mph
Thats moving right along on an old fan cooled sled..
That’s about right what they did when new on an ideal day on hard pack. Bro had a 5000 El Tigre , a 1981 model, they were a free air hot rod that punched out about 14 more hp than these and that clocked in around 90 mph on a perfect day with skinny school boy me on it. The Pantera FC was rated at 48 hp. Tigger Five FA second generation was 62. Factory shop manual lists hp. Btw.
Sleds were so much lighter back then. You didn’t need a 150 hp to get to 90mph for the top sleds back then. I sit on a new machine and it just feels too big. They can talk all the advantages all they want. But if I don’t feel a connection , meh. I miss these days.
These arennice looking sleds.