Good or bad, and comments for twin-track Raider snowmobiles go both ways, it’s hard to argue with their uniqueness for traveling across the snow. This 1972 Raider 400 twin-track snowmobile is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Pulaski, Wisconsin and they’re asking $1,800 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the great tip! Stay warm, Lothar.
I hate to jinx it, but the recent half-inch of snow that we got in Minnesota has melted already and we’re down to bare grass again. Temperatures are in the mid-30s, this is a 180-degree change from when I grew up, and I don’t mean 180 temperature degrees, although it almost seems like it to have it this warm in December in a state that usually has two feet of snow on the ground by Thanksgiving. Or it did, back in the 60s and 70s when I was a kid roaming around on our ancient snowmobiles.
We never had anything as cool as a twin-track Raider back then but we knew about them. We had old Ski-Doos, Moto-Skis, and Arctic Cats and some of the Arctic Cats were so old they were white and red rather than black and purple with leopard pattern seats. Ours were usually rebuilt and the seats were covered by a single piece of heavy vinyl, done in our one-car unheated garage. I don’t want to get into a debate about people being tougher in those days, so I won’t say that they were… (how’s that for a leading thought?)
This is a great photo showing the cockpit of a Raider, a 1972 400 in this case. In 1972, Raider offered 290, 340, 400, and 440 engines and I’m very surprised to not see a tachometer on this one, I thought they were standard on the 400 models in 1972. The ’72 Raiders, like almost every updated vehicle today, were bigger, wider, and longer. Most snowmobiles relied on color but the Raider was instantly recognizable by shape, especially in profile. This example has NOS seats for both “driver” and passenger and a new windshield.
The engine is a 398-cc Canadian Curtiss-Wright (CCW) twin-cylinder with 30 horsepower. The seller says this one has new points and condensers, new fuel lines, a clean gas tank, and there are also new drivers for the eight-inch-wide tracks. They say the electric start works but it needs a new battery, and it isn’t a museum piece but appears to be a nice, very unique snowmobile. Let’s hear those twin-track Raider stories!
In some parts of Canada the snowmobile is the only way to get around in winter. Was a real game changer for alot of people.
My snowmobile experience is very limited. Usually stayed at the cabin because that’s where the cold beer 🍺, warm fire 🔥🪵, and the music was. Sleds and drinking don’t mix. Especially at nightime, but we’d see plenty of sleds at the bar always.
Rode a nice working/trail duty machine, a few times… Ski-Doo Skandic long track model.
Buddies usually liked used Yamahas back in the day. Reliable, like their motorcycles.
Now w Fuel Injection even turbos, and some serious suspension work, the big Alpine mountain sleds we see out here on the West Coast are something else. People launch them now lol. Huge air time. Really wild stuff.🤙
And Howard go!!
Hey Scotty, being a fellow Minnesotan from the Iron Range, don’t forget Polaris. My cousin had a Bombadier Ski-Doo with either a wide track or double track, can’t remember which. I wasn’t interested in snowmobiles or if you’re in Alaska, snowmachines.
This is kind of a slick looking ride what with the rakish front end. Primitive by todays standards, I guess, but then again, I’ve not been around them much.
Hang in there, maybe some snow coming Thurs.