I work right across the street from Kawasaki's former research and developement test center in Shakopee,Mn. They had a bunch of acreage behind the plant for testing machines and supposedly 2 lead lined engine testing chambers. They buried all their machines behind the building when they vacated it in 1982. They later had to come back and dig them all up when a chemical company bought the building and dispose of them properly. The green Shark oval racing sleds are extinct. They originally built the engine test center in the early '70's when they were supply engines to Arctic Cat and continued there after buying out Sno Jet up until the last day when everyone got a pink slip. Too bad, I think they would have been a force in the sled biz.
@midori9566
2 жыл бұрын
I grew up in Upstate NY, and the winters are tough here especially by Lake Ontario. My dad taught me to ride one of these when I was really young since we were out in the sticks. He was a hunter and farmer who raised chickens and ducks to eat and I helped. Reminds me of my childhood and all the fun times I had blowing through all the snowdrifts.
@dodgeguyz
4 жыл бұрын
OMG, I feel my spine being compressed from here!
@Hockeyfan9884
2 жыл бұрын
oh my gosh, i hear you. lol
@georgecarafa5208
2 жыл бұрын
I think these are why my spine is shot today.
@bangun172
6 жыл бұрын
they were the nicest designed machines at the time
@curtekstrom9531
Жыл бұрын
Dad started out as an Arctic Cat dealer in 1969. Later added Yamaha in 1973 and Kawasaki and John Deere in 1978. I got to ride the Best sleds built.
@gman77gas
4 жыл бұрын
I had a 79 Invader 340. I was the king off the line ….440 where known to burn pistons. I was 21, single, a pocket full of money, great starting job, living at home, no kids, a new motorcycle, a 76 Scirocco, banging chicks, my best friend owned a bar on a lake......snowmobiling a d water skiing......oh baby !???
@claudehebert5078
4 жыл бұрын
Didn't get any better than that.
@jeffmoleskivintageiceracin5935
4 жыл бұрын
Sounds like a made up story
@gman77gas
4 жыл бұрын
That's ok by me if you think that.......OH ya, I forgot to add that I was Thin and had Hair!....and I still have my bar jacket!
@dandezorzi9541
4 жыл бұрын
You the GMAN........ Gman ........rock that town...........
@gman77gas
4 жыл бұрын
@@dandezorzi9541 and now i am 64 retired,married 34 years. Lots of motor toys and pockets full of money. Happy as a pig in shit..Guess i did someting right!
@curtekstrom6600
4 жыл бұрын
I still own a '78, '79 and '80 Kawasaki 440 Invaders. Still in near new condition. Still refuse offers to sell them.
@justinmyslive4108
4 жыл бұрын
Don't know that much about snowmobiles but I'll bet any sled Kawasaki is collectable just for the fact they're not made anymore
@curtekstrom6600
4 жыл бұрын
@@justinmyslive4108 My Dad Owned a Dealership that he Sold Arctic Cat, Kawasaki, Yamaha and John Deere Snowmobiles from 1968 to 1986. He sold the business when Kawasaki and John Deere stopped building sleds.
@ethics3
4 жыл бұрын
I have a Kawasaki invader LTD for sale on kijiji Ontario. 3500 $ 2019-12-17
@normanchristin1923
3 жыл бұрын
I used to have a 1980 440 invader. Loved it! Very fast! modified the clutch so that it engaged at a higher rpm to match the torque curve and boy did it jump off of the line! Rode it for several years before selling it to buy a hopped up 1990 Polaris Indy 500. Later sold that as I moved to a more southern state that did not get enough snow to warrant a snow machine.
@waltwynn-sandiegonorthcoun8475
5 жыл бұрын
I remember KAWASAKI-SNOWJET being on display at The Erie County Fair!...
@justinmyslive4108
4 жыл бұрын
My dad had an 82 550 interceptor. That was the thing to beat at that time
@gumbosavage1
4 жыл бұрын
Justin Myslive ive been looking for one of interceptors but im always a day late when i find one
@justinmyslive4108
4 жыл бұрын
@@gumbosavage1 good luck trying to find one. I wish dad still had his
@prylosecorsomething3194
7 жыл бұрын
It's funny just how far we've come, back then a 440 was a big sled, nowadays my neighbors seven year old kid rides a 440
@claudehebert5078
7 жыл бұрын
How true, back in those early days, I had a 634cc racing sled (not kawi) and we thought we had all the power one would ever need. At that time it was, narrow ski stance, leaf springs and poor clutching.
@user-cc4vo6bd4p
7 ай бұрын
@@claudehebert5078 In the early 1980's, a classmate had an Arctic Cat 634 ( is that correct on the size?) without a back flap, so the snow flew straight up in the air. I had a '72 Massey 440 and he could blow right by me. Mine was really nice for a 10 yr old sled, it had low miles when I bought it, I think around 500, and I paid $500 for it. Had it about 3 winters then sold it to pursue vintage cars and trucks. I haven't owned a sled since then.
@claudehebert5078
7 ай бұрын
Arctic Cat went bankrupt in 1980 and was purchased by a group of investors and employees. I can not answer your question on no flap 634cc in the early 80's next generation cats. @@user-cc4vo6bd4p
@curtekstrom9531
3 ай бұрын
@@claudehebert5078 It was 1981, 1982 produced only a handful of Sleds as Cat closed down before Production.
@claudehebert5078
3 ай бұрын
@@curtekstrom9531 Sorry, but I was employed by an Arctic cat owned distribution ctr when the bankruptcy was announced to us while at Scarborough Downs in Feb 1980.
@keirhe9593
4 жыл бұрын
I had the Ltd and 440 invader love and miss them always wanted the 440 fa
@ethics3
4 жыл бұрын
I can sell you an LTD for 3400$
@MarkBoese
6 жыл бұрын
Still my favourite machines.
@quentinraffensperger1699
9 жыл бұрын
Invader and interceptors were nice looking sleds.
@claudehebert5078
5 жыл бұрын
One always wonders what todays Kawi would look like. Hopefully it would of kept its identity and not looks like todays sleds which all look alike.
@justinmyslive4108
4 жыл бұрын
My dad had an 82 Interceptor 550. That sled was the fastest thing in our neck of the woods. Sadly I never got to ride it because he sold it before I was old enough to and it was probably for the best since I've heard stories about it and seen how fast it was and probably would have got my dumbass hurt or killed on that thing
@quincee3376
4 жыл бұрын
@@justinmyslive4108 omg.. sweet !! 550 liquid . They must have moved !
@justinmyslive4108
4 жыл бұрын
@@quincee3376 it was a beast. From Dad's stories Iv"e heard when that power band kicked in you better be hanging on
@quincee3376
4 жыл бұрын
@@justinmyslive4108 i can imagine. The 440 Invader's were very fast . 550 must have flown .
@chrismartin6062
6 жыл бұрын
Love these sleds!
@curlybrownk9
4 жыл бұрын
Had a 1980 440 invader and an 80 john deere liquifire 440, with the same kawi liquid motor in each. The liqufire was quicker off the line and faster top end by a good margine. We fooled with the clutches and jets and new belt to even things in the in the kawi, but bone stock the JD would pull it every time. They were fun, the colder it got the faster they were.
@chimrichalds1422
3 жыл бұрын
The 80's were the best
@FSEVENMAN
7 ай бұрын
We had a 1979 trailcat and like A72 Ski doo blizzard both of which kicked ass but when I rode our invader 440 it blew my mind😮😊
@ericwilson2186
4 жыл бұрын
I love my 1978 Kawasaki snow jet
@brentcichy8134
7 жыл бұрын
Had a few Invaders ,loved them ,wish i had one now , that 440 would kick some serious ass . i would eat polaris 500 for breakfast lunch and dinner
@lucasechenique39
5 жыл бұрын
Now... I wouldn't go that far as to say it could beat a Polaris 500, but the Invader is definitely very fasr
@user-gv1xq5rh4p
4 жыл бұрын
Kawasaki best snowmobile 1980!!!
@johnpetersen8238
4 жыл бұрын
Someone just gave me a 1980 Drifter 340 F/A🙂
@turbodiesel4709
3 жыл бұрын
@@johnpetersen8238 : The 1980 Kawasaki Drifter 340 F/A was a super fun little sled. On a normal day, it would average a top speed of about 60 mph. When the barometric pressure & temperature conditions were just right (on a nice, dry, crisp, & cool day), I had it up to 70 mph on the flat straight-away a time or two. It was my very first sled, when I was 12 yrs old. I'm 45 y/o now, and I wish I still had it to play with. But alas, all I have left is a spare hood/cowl from a parted out one. Enjoy it, because they're becoming more and more rare as the years go by.
@johnpetersen8238
3 жыл бұрын
@@turbodiesel4709 Wow, My friend gave me one last spring. I puttzed with it a little. Cleaned up the corrosion in the carb from the mouse nest in the air box. Put oil in the cylinders , had spark, got it fire and run just briefly on spray snowmobile gas.l took off the seat and gas tank and cleaned it out. Next time l looked at it the engine was locked up got it to turn again and put more oil in the cylinders. Now it's locked up again.😥 I was working on another sled all summer. So I didn't get back to it. I assume the engine got mouse pee in it and needs rebuilding. For now she sits down in the barn. Needs a windshield also. 1980 Drifter 340 F/A.
@SchneiderClassics
2 жыл бұрын
so cool to see. i love my 440, love making videos on it and having fun in the snow
@stevereiner7543
9 жыл бұрын
i had an 81 ltd,fast sled for what it was,it was just 1 pinch slower than a 94 xlt polaris(579 tripple) a really bullet proof sled
@mikeskidmore6754
5 жыл бұрын
Snow Jet was one of the more advanced and better sleds of the time and Kawasaki bought them
@claudehebert5078
5 жыл бұрын
Snow Jet had a great tunnel design, great sled in the snow, breaking trail, etc. Now, the Thunder Jet was a different animal, I saw Jim Adema race Thunder Jets, not only was the sled great, it was piloted by a super racer.
@randallburgess46
Жыл бұрын
I remember when the Kawasaki sleds came out and that they looked fast just sitting still! Never got to ride one, what a shame!
@MiK3Y13
4 жыл бұрын
Leaf spring front suspension... mint!
@tomascharles5080
5 жыл бұрын
Kawasaki should build a new sled today just for the fun of it see what they build.
@mikeskidmore6754
5 жыл бұрын
I read the total volume of sled sales per year is 1 million .. divide that by 3.5 Companies snowmobile sales are very low volume
@chefderappa4838
5 жыл бұрын
Mike Skidmore 3.5 lol.
@curtekstrom9531
3 ай бұрын
They would look just like the Cats, ski Doos, and Polaris. You can't tell the difference anymore. They all look alike.
@MrDjh66
4 жыл бұрын
I had a 74 Polaris TX 250 in 1980
@user-cc4vo6bd4p
7 ай бұрын
Nice! My uncle bought one of those brand new. He also bought a 340 tx around that same year, I think. Used to give us kids rides back then. The 250 was super loud and I didn't like it as good as the 340.
@johnungate1782
5 жыл бұрын
I own a 772 TNT, worked to the hilt. Own it since new
@agnegustafsson9589
8 жыл бұрын
my father owned a intruder440 i had a drifter 340. they where not too bad.
@angelaanthony7283
3 жыл бұрын
restored my 81 ltd to mint condition...stored it at my brothers barn...called today to say i was coming to get it....he says ,we had a lil mishap.....OH ?....ya nephew got on it, laid on the throttle and wheelied into the front of the durango!?!?! ...kids ok..... sled, not so much!!!!!! now you know why i found this vid
@claudehebert5078
3 жыл бұрын
OMG, thats a heck of a way to start your day.
@dustinpollard6237
3 жыл бұрын
Nice of him to wait until your ready to go riding to tell you. It sucks, but it's family. It will repair.
@markoberer1158
5 жыл бұрын
I'd love to see a version of the classic Snow-Jet as a 2020 anniversary limited edition model made available.
@claudehebert5078
5 жыл бұрын
I always thought that the Late model Sno-Jets were good handling, light footed sleds. I can only imagine what an IFS Thunderjet would of been like, maybe thats what the Kawasaki Shark Sno Pro sled was.
@robertmason62
8 ай бұрын
@@claudehebert5078I believe the sharks used the thunder jet track tunnels possibly more from them so It definitely was the closest they got. One can only wish Kawasaki didn’t close down business in the racing department we would likely have them.
@mikejones-qk2ou
6 жыл бұрын
BREAKDOWNS awaiting there!
@Serveck
4 жыл бұрын
I lost it when they showed scarborough downs in portland thats my backyard
@claudehebert5078
4 жыл бұрын
I know what you mean, we were living in Freeport before I was transferred to Michigan.
@curtekstrom6600
5 жыл бұрын
I owned several 440 Invaders 1978-1980 and a couple LTD 500:s
back in the day these were the cats ass when it came to snowmobiles
@quincee3376
4 жыл бұрын
Kawi's were sexy sleds. Would love an Invader ... or the 550 Interceptor .
@thomasnikkola5600
Жыл бұрын
A new Kawasaki/Sno-Jet in old time livery would be awesome, I bet they could build a real contender for today. Come on Kawasaki lets come back to the snow ❄️❄️!
@MrThenry1988
4 жыл бұрын
No powder rides? Lol. We had all of them. Drifts we pip out of today, we got stuck in in the 80s. John Deere and artic cat was more popular around here because we had dealers around.
@claudehebert5078
4 жыл бұрын
Your right, dealers made the difference. You bought what you could readily get serviced.
@cnh3203
3 жыл бұрын
had a 80' Invader 440 probably ran around 70 mph but it felt like 100
@Hockeyfan9884
2 жыл бұрын
Don't feel so decompressed, the Kawaski Intruder will lift your spirits.
@gregbrown3967
Жыл бұрын
I picked up another one of these back around 2000, I'd run it sometimes with the guys lol at first they're saying bring your new sled as they didn't think I'd keep up. 😅 ya more like the opposite, light as a feather and just scream lol fun
@claudegreenwood1379
5 жыл бұрын
De la super de belle machines sa jamais construit!
@mikeskidmore6754
4 жыл бұрын
Sno Jets were good sleds ..!!
@198634
6 жыл бұрын
i was like 10 when these came out and my uncles had a pair - they were constantly broke down on the trail....
@karltauschen9561
4 жыл бұрын
First had a RUPP '76 340 Liquid-cooled sled. After warping the U-shpaed frame because of flying off snow banks, I got a '80 KAWI INVADER 340. Nice looking sled, but it was built for ONLY one reason .... snow highway traveling. "Off-highway' in back woods trails the engine would constantly overheat because the liquid cooling radiator built into the tunnel was insufficiently sized to dissipate the waste heat from the engine. Repeated calls to the Kawasaki Engineering Dept. went unanswered, even while sled was still under warranty. On lake riding or snow hwy riding, it was fine since the forward mounted radiator transferred the waste heat to the atmosphere as the sled was moving along at decent speed, but in the winding trails, not so good! VERY disappointed ... only kept it for a few years, then sold it outright, and never looked back.
@claudehebert5078
4 жыл бұрын
I know exactly what you are saying. Not every sled was made to boondoggle off trail. I loved to ride through the woods without trails, that however was not the Invaders strong trait.
@karltauschen9561
4 жыл бұрын
@@claudehebert5078 It wasn't always about seeing how fast one could get across a frozen lake of to the other side of a farmer's large field. Many times it was a bunch of us getting together for a wonderful ride to a town several miles away, stopping at a restaurant / bar for a hamburger, pizza, etc. and then returning back home. A great way to spend with family members & friends in companionship .... all BEFORE the invention of cellphones & other modern devices to bring us farther apart on a human level. Those WERE the best of times!! Two things killed this fun for me .... the cooling problem with the INVADER, which KAWASAKI would not address, and the changing weather patterns of winter, where the snowfall totals per season just slacked off considerably. What I should have done is to press KAWASAKI with a legal challenge,, using my state's or their state's AG office, since this was an obvious technical & design issue, but I didn't. Now, at 75 & retired in FLA, it's only memories of a previous time.
@claudehebert5078
4 жыл бұрын
@@karltauschen9561 Your're right, riding in the early days was very different than today's riding, at least in Northern New England. It was all about getting together to break trail to a new place or destination. So many enjoyable trips, regardless of the sleds color.
@HeyDude93gt
4 жыл бұрын
Reminds me of an old electric razor. It's the all new KAWASAKI EL 440 BuzzCut
@ethics3
4 жыл бұрын
1980 Kawasaki LTD for sale in Ontario Canada 3400 $
@sleds7283
8 жыл бұрын
Id love to see these in 250 form! to bad they were all twin engines
@claudehebert5078
4 жыл бұрын
I would of liked to seen a 250 twin on the Drifter chassis. Light weight and nimble off trail.
@billtoal7740
Жыл бұрын
Love it
@bryankean2216
2 ай бұрын
Nice looking machine for the day but I highly doubt that thing would take a blizzard 9500 of the same vintage
@naomipettigrew465
Жыл бұрын
My father's got a Kawasaki Intruder 440 1978 I think they are getting very hard to get parts for now
@shaneroper477
7 жыл бұрын
Wonder what Kawasaki would be producing today...?
@prylosecorsomething3194
7 жыл бұрын
Probably something pretty good, I know I'd ride one
@davidabbott4782
6 жыл бұрын
Shane Roper prolly look a lot like arctic cat
@mufozomby7637
6 жыл бұрын
yamahas... yamahas have kawasaki engins...
@chefderappa4838
5 жыл бұрын
mufo zomby no they don’t
@jeffmoleskivintageiceracin5935
4 жыл бұрын
Dirt bikes and atvs 🤷♂️😂
@stenny1970
4 жыл бұрын
First scene guy comes down and bends the tunnel.
@claudehebert5078
4 жыл бұрын
Fortunately the tunnel was not bent.
@denmoer
Жыл бұрын
High Tech leaf spring front suspension LOL
@hellounknown2274
6 жыл бұрын
I bet my 1980 eltigre 6000 was really the fastest sled that year..
@curtekstrom6600
5 жыл бұрын
My Father's Dealership Sold Arctic Cat, Yamaha, Kawsaki, and John Deere Sleds. In 1978 I ran a Stock straight from the Crate El Tigre' 6000,band was clocked at 106.4 Mph at Camp Hale Colorado.
@Hewardrv8
4 жыл бұрын
I wonder if bd turbos were available for it!!! :p
@claudehebert5078
4 жыл бұрын
Good question, I don't remember any talk about turbos back then, but on the other hand, all of the back room development was being conducted in Shakopee MN.
@turbodiesel4709
3 жыл бұрын
@@claudehebert5078 Turbos were/are unnecessary on 2-strokes.
@uthermaceanruig5098
3 жыл бұрын
I had a 1980 invader it was definitely cringe worthy.
@sheddski2942
6 жыл бұрын
back in the day Kawasaki was the prime engine builder for arcticat after skidoo bought rotax I think 1970 71 then when Kawasaki was winding down production arcticat took over production of Kawasaki and Suzuki and snojet till they met quotas after that Suzuki came to be the only engine builder for cat till now when arcticat builds their own
@claudehebert5078
6 жыл бұрын
Ski Doo purchased Rotax around 1970, but were using Rotax engines since mid 60's or earlier. As for Kawasaki, they purchased Sno-Jet around 1976, which were produced as Kawasaki Sno-Jets on the arctic production line for 2 years before being moved to the Lincoln, NE Kawasaki Production line. The first Kawasaki Sno-Jets used a Yamaha 340 oil injection engine in one of the models. This was a carry over from Sno-Jet days. Non of the pure Kawasaki sleds were produced by Arctic.
@claudehebert5078
4 жыл бұрын
@John Seba That wasn't what was stated.
@quincee3376
4 жыл бұрын
Yes Sheddski . I think in 71 40 or 50% of Cat's had Kawasaki engines . Man Cat used so many suppliers . Hirth, Kohler, Sachs, JLO , Kawi, Suzuki .... now they make their own 2 strokes. Not positive but i think Yamaha supply their 4 strokes now.
@quincee3376
4 жыл бұрын
@@claudehebert5078 exactly.
@snazzyanimal2012
4 жыл бұрын
That's when Canada had lots of snow 2019 not worth having one
@danahodge7467
4 жыл бұрын
Depending on where you live
@Flaaaaanders
5 жыл бұрын
Get high on a kawasaki. Lolzzzzz
@joecobra1234
10 жыл бұрын
no way it beat the indy 3 cylinder in 1980 or any other year for that matter
@claudehebert5078
7 жыл бұрын
The mind set in those days, "what will they think of next". I know Kawasaki's Shakopee MN R&D were always tweeking engines. I'm sure that Kawi would of been playing the HP game had they stayed in the sled business. Prototypes in Shakopee indicated that they had no plans to just lay back and let the industry pass on by. The Indy was a great sled with durability.
@curtekstrom6600
5 жыл бұрын
The 440 Invader was named the fastest Production Snowmobile in 1979 with Arctic Cat El Tigre Series 6000 in Second.
@curtekstrom6600
5 жыл бұрын
It's pretty sad that Polaris had to use 3 Cylinders to get the same results as everyone else's 2 Cylinders.
@TheTcat1000
5 жыл бұрын
@@curtekstrom6600 I've owned both and the cat was no match for the invader...and the 600 Indy destroyed the invader and the thundercat destroyed that!...get it...always getting faster
@curtekstrom6600
5 жыл бұрын
@@TheTcat1000 Again it takes Polaris 3 Cylinders and 600cc to keep up or pass a 440cc Cat or Invader.
@MrJeffyb69
4 жыл бұрын
Fake news! The El Tigre 6000 was the fastest sled for 1980!!
@bradspatz7690
4 жыл бұрын
Seen alot of merc sno twisters beat el Tigres.
@MrJeffyb69
4 жыл бұрын
@@bradspatz7690 . Yeah. El Tigre 4000 and 5000 , not the 6000's .
@bobo44donemilking51
4 жыл бұрын
Nope my 77 rupp magnum was the fastest
@bradspatz7690
4 жыл бұрын
@@bobo44donemilking51 rupps were fast, so were sno twisters, both seem to blow engines though,...but they are nothing compared to todays top sleds.
@lottsalasagna431
6 жыл бұрын
Worst machine I ever owned
@quincee3376
4 жыл бұрын
For real ? Too unreliable ? What model did u have ?
@claudehebert5078
4 жыл бұрын
We've all had one of those over the years, regardless of color.
@hitemup6455
3 жыл бұрын
@@quincee3376 cats were the worst sleds at the time !
@quincee3376
3 жыл бұрын
@@hitemup6455 ya but the El Tigre was awesome.
@fordfreak9456
6 жыл бұрын
They sucked bottom line
@mufozomby7637
6 жыл бұрын
look at the yamahas, kawy makes engins for them...
@curtekstrom6600
5 жыл бұрын
When I was Racing Semi Pro back in 1978-1980 my Invaders always performed well and held up great. Unlike the Yamahas and Skidoos back then.
@quincee3376
4 жыл бұрын
@@mufozomby7637 no they dont .
@brianmcdowell7377
Жыл бұрын
Dad and mom had invaders 440 and 340. The 440 had pipes and was fun just to look at. The throttle would make your thumb tired in a hurry though
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