Claude this is awesome! I was part of the R&D team that tested both snowmobile and Jet ski. Worked with all these guys testing both and it was a great time. Thanks for the memories.
thanks for posting - i just picked up an '81 invader (free) yesteday and plan on restoring it. i've already restored a couple of '79 Drifters. i collect and race vintage snowmobiles - the snoJets and the Kawasakis are the ones that i like to collect and race.
Hey Marco👊. You said a mouthful ..my pop had a `79 440 invader ...at the time it was def in the top 3 fastest stock sleds around .. 👊👊.. Happy newyears brother🎉🎇!
In 1979 when Kawasaki introduced the new Drifter F/A, I loved it. It was light weight, agile and great to break trails. Our type of riding back then was different then what I hear today. I can just imagine putting a larger F/A engine in it and widening the skis a little to stabilize. It would of been a super sled off trail.
I believe that Kawasaki could have been a major player if only they had stayed in the business when the industry had a major downturn. It was very costly maintaining the snowmobile infrastructure they had put in place. Kawasaki management were not in the business of losing $$$.
@@quincee3376 Sleds are a lot like the cars of yesterday, when one could tell the year of each by seeing the grill and back end. Sled brands were easily ID by color and style for the year.
I was so disappointed when the decision was made to drop out of the business. They just needed to hang in there and continue to develop new machines. I know the R&D budget was very high and Kawasaki needed to see some returns from these expenses.
Not quite sure how throwing snow out into the ice would have improved traction.. My guess would have been the snow was for lubricating the sliders.. and for the heat exchangers.
@@quincee3376 Yes. The air enters through the large vents in the hood and is directed upwards through the rad which then exits through the top of the hood behind the windshield . This is very ingenious as it also serves the purpose of keeping the operator warm too. The sled will probably sell to an American as they seem to value the rare iron more … In my experience .
@@ethics3 ok .. i sincerely thank u. Ive asked that q before and got no replies, lol. But alot of these vids are old and most people dont respond. But thanks. Always found it weird but its def more aerodynamic than say the Yamaha SRX rad .
Yeah haha you all think I'm full of s*** but been there done that still doing it love it. I have three vintage and an 800 Kick-Ass some of that X 2013. If you know what I mean.😎
I still own my '78 and '79 440 Invaders since new. Dad being a Cat, Kawasaki, Dealer allowed my to try out countless sleds.
Claude this is awesome! I was part of the R&D team that tested both snowmobile and Jet ski. Worked with all these guys testing both and it was a great time. Thanks for the memories.
I see Bob Rauch every once I awhile here in southern MN when he stays here from up north.
I remember going to Scarborough Downs to watch the Sno Pro races when I was a kid!!
thanks for posting - i just picked up an '81 invader (free) yesteday and plan on restoring it. i've already restored a couple of '79 Drifters. i collect and race vintage snowmobiles - the snoJets and the Kawasakis are the ones that i like to collect and race.
Bob Rauch is a good friend and a great guy...with a lot of stories from his R&D days at Kawasaki.
Great video! Thanks for posting.
Back in the day Kawasaki snowmobiles where no joke. The 440 and 550 where hammers
Hey Marco👊. You said a mouthful ..my pop had a `79 440 invader ...at the time it was def in the top 3 fastest stock sleds around .. 👊👊.. Happy newyears brother🎉🎇!
In 1979 when Kawasaki introduced the new Drifter F/A, I loved it. It was light weight, agile and great to break trails. Our type of riding back then was different then what I hear today. I can just imagine putting a larger F/A engine in it and widening the skis a little to stabilize. It would of been a super sled off trail.
God i miss my first one
True heroes =) Really nice to see.
Very cool video! I wish Kawasaki would have stayed in the industry. The R & D building in Shakopee is one block away from where I work now.
I believe that Kawasaki could have been a major player if only they had stayed in the business when the industry had a major downturn. It was very costly maintaining the snowmobile infrastructure they had put in place. Kawasaki management were not in the business of losing $$$.
Very cool !!!
It was a great time to be in the snowmobile industry, always looking forward to new developments coming out of R&D.
@@claudehebert5078 ya love the 70's sleds. So many companies, so many choices. The sleds all looked different compared to today .
@@quincee3376 Sleds are a lot like the cars of yesterday, when one could tell the year of each by seeing the grill and back end. Sled brands were easily ID by color and style for the year.
@@claudehebert5078 yes sir. I miss the days of John Deere, Mercury, Massey Ferguson etc .
cool they hummed and quick a contender to the blizzard although the blizzard was fast also and the cat 5000 had power air cooled it was nice machine
8 minute track change ? wow.
I was thinking the same thing.
right.. thats a half day job for me lol
Let's get Kawasaki back into making snowmobiles.
I was so disappointed when the decision was made to drop out of the business. They just needed to hang in there and continue to develop new machines. I know the R&D budget was very high and Kawasaki needed to see some returns from these expenses.
Grew up in Saco Me..15,20 MI. south...the BLIZZARD OF '78.....just around the corner!ha!ha!...⏳
vintage!!!!!!!!!!
I got 4 and mabey enough parts to make two more
Those tracks were excellent for speed but dont last long
What happened to the tracks? Under what conditions didn't they last long? I rode many miles on the Intruder and Invader without any problems.
@@claudehebert6125 A recall on the 340 440 1977.
@@crushthis123 That's possible, but I didn't recall that. Someone like the xservice manager could answer that.
It was
Not quite sure how throwing snow out into the ice would have improved traction..
My guess would have been the snow was for lubricating the sliders.. and for the heat exchangers.
why did'nt the hyfax burn up on the ice ?........
I believe they did and were changed with the track. Someone like Gary Herzog or Mike Vaughan would have better input on this.
first 10 secs all you need to watch
I have the 440 invader.
I have the invader LTD 4/6 . Its listed for sale on kijiji Ontario for 3500 $
Nice !!
@@ethics3 very cool . Hope u get the $$$$ . Btw, how do those rads work ? I noticed it faces up ...Does air get in there through the hood ?
@@quincee3376 Yes. The air enters through the large vents in the hood and is directed upwards through the rad which then exits through the top of the hood behind the windshield .
This is very ingenious as it also serves the purpose of keeping the operator warm too.
The sled will probably sell to an American as they seem to value the rare iron more … In my experience .
@@ethics3 ok .. i sincerely thank u. Ive asked that q before and got no replies, lol. But alot of these vids are old and most people dont respond. But thanks. Always found it weird but its def more aerodynamic than say the Yamaha SRX rad .
Yeah haha you all think I'm full of s*** but been there done that still doing it love it. I have three vintage and an 800 Kick-Ass some of that X 2013. If you know what I mean.😎