Information on 1995 Formula SL
Jean Menard
I am looking for information on the 1995 Ski-Doo Formula SL (pros, cons,
recalls, impressions, etc....)
Some of you are probably wondering: " What happened to the Grand Touring
SE?"
The triple/triple GTSE was a real nice sled. We logged about 4,000
miles. Nice performance and excellent on gas (barreryless DPM for all
models????) But when it came time for me to sit on the back, my wife
could not negotiate the corners. She's about 105 lbs! Trying to
convince a 628 lbs (dry, god knows what, when wet!) sled to turn the
corner is not obvious. Therefore, her instructions were: "two sleds
please."
We didn't want to spend more than 10K (Cdn). Therefore, we ended up
ordering a '98 Formula 500 and choosing a very nice used '95 Formula
SL. The SL only has 2,500 miles.
(considered low mileage around here!. The GTSE had 4,000 and it's only a
year old! Our club President logged 7,900 miles on his '97 Mach I!
It has a high windshield, mirrors, and electric start. Comes with a
full season warranty, plus new style slides and new 5" carbides. Paid
$3,200 (w/o electric) or $3,500 (w electric) Remember Cdn funds!
($2,300 or $2,500 US) Still haven't decided if I want to keep the
electric start. I have the whole summer to think about it. My wife
tried pulling the recoil when cold. Not the easiest recoil around!
Thoughts?
Regards,
Jean & Nadine Menard
1998 Formula 500
1995 Formula SL
AKA, on IRC #snowmobile, F500 (used to be GTSE)
Association motoneigistes Vallée de la Nation
MDMead
In article <33774E...@nrc.ca>, Jean Menard <jean....@nrc.ca>
writes:
>Thoughts?
This sled is very similar to my '95 Skandic 500, and overall I have
enjoyed it. My problems include two burnt out thumbwarmers (replaced
under warranty) and a crack in the expansion chamber (which I paid to have
welded). The third thumbwarmer seems to have been the charm, as it has
lasted more than two seasons now. I was a little disapointed with the
crack in the pipe, but that's life I guess. (This machine only has about
2K miles on it.) My complaints with this machine all relate around what
the sled was designed for vs what I do with it. Obviously a Skandic
wasn't designed to burn up the trails, and mine doesn't. The machine is
very tippy when pushed through the corners and tends corner wide. I
believe the SL has a sway bar (which mine doesn't) which should help the
tippy-ness. The SL also probably has carbides, which means it will bite
the corners better too. (Not to mention short track vs long.....) My
only other complaint is the top speed (65-70 mph indicated). Once again,
I think it is just me wanting more than the sled was designed for. The
gearing and clutching are different on the SL, and I'm sure it is more
than satisfactory. (In fact, I'm going to set mine up like the SL
someday.......) The 500 fan is always a tough pull. Mine is as bad today
as the day I brought it home. My wife can't begin to pull it over. (Yet
she was able to start my "new" V Max 600 ST (without using the electric
starter :))) I would definately go with the electric start if the sled is
for your wife. My Skandic has reverse, and I know you are already well
versed in it's operation. If you can swing it, you may want to add that
to both sleds. (It will be tough to go without after having had
it...........)
Matt
former Doo owner
mike_strukel
In article <33774E...@nrc.ca>, Jean says...
>
>I am looking for information on the 1995 Ski-Doo Formula SL (pros, cons,
>recalls, impressions, etc....)
>
Jean,
My wife has a 95 Formula SL. She has about 3,000 miles on it now. We have had
only one problem with it so far. The coil under the flywheel went out on it.
No spark when that happens. It cost me about $200 US to fix it. The dealer
said it was very rare that this coil fails. Otherwise, it has been a good sled
for her. Top speed is about 78mph under ideal conditions. It also gets about
16MPG. The sled is light,
easy to ride, and surprisingly responsive for a fan cooled sled. We also put
a tall winshield (97 style) on it to keep her warmer. Now, the one huge
drawback, It is a brute to pull over when it is warm let alone cold. What ever
you do, KEEP THE ELECTRIC START!!!! I checked into adding it on, and the
dealer quoted me $600 installed. I would have gladly spent $200 - $300 but not
$600. Now I have to start it for her almost every time.
Hope that helps.
Mike Strukel
98 MXZ 670
95 Formula SL
road...@worldnet.att.net
I was waiting for the Mother ship to come back when I saw Mike
Strukel wrote ,
Now, the one huge
>drawback, It is a brute to pull over when it is warm let alone cold.
Does any one know if thi improved on the 96 model?
I just got one and so far it has started on the first pull every time,
course it's summer now
Road.......................
http://users.aol.com/roadrnnr
"You know much that is hidden, O Tim"
"Quite"
MDMead
>> Now, the one huge
>>drawback, It is a brute to pull over when it is warm let alone cold.
>Does any one know if thi improved on the 96 model?
>I just got one and so far it has started on the first pull every time,
>course it's summer now
He means tough to pull do to compression. This engine fires with one or
two pulls, but you need a strong arm for the "yank". You probably already
know that by now......
Matt
Yamaha owner
also, wife's Doo starter :)
Jean Menard
Mike, Strukel wrote:
>It is a brute to pull over when it is warm let alone cold. What ever you do, KEEP THE ELECTRIC START!!!!
For some reason, the "KEEP THE ELECTRIC START", in caps, sounds quite
convincing. I guess the sled is light enough that the extra weight of
the battery, starter, and flywheel won't hurt!
This SL has the older style high windshield. I don't think my wife sees
over it! I would prefer to get a newer style high windshield, like the
one on the F500 deluxe.
My wife said that if she had to choose between getting electric or the
newer style windshield, she would prefer the windshield. Of course, as
long as I am nearby to start the "brute".
Should be an interesting debate over the summer months.
Thanks for responding Mike,
Jean Menard
1998 Formula 500
1995 Formula SL (electric? new style windshield?)
Jean Menard
Jean Menard
mike_strukel
In article <19970514105...@ladder02.news.aol.com>, mdm...@aol.com says...
>
>
>>> Now, the one huge
>>>drawback, It is a brute to pull over when it is warm let alone cold.
>>Does any one know if thi improved on the 96 model?
>
>>I just got one and so far it has started on the first pull every time,
>>course it's summer now
>
>He means tough to pull do to compression. This engine fires with one or
>two pulls, but you need a strong arm for the "yank". You probably already
>know that by now......
>
>Matt
>Yamaha owner
>also, wife's Doo starter :)
Just to clarify a little on the hard starting aspect I was refering to:
The SL still has the small recoil on it, making it difficult to pull over.
Yes, when you did pull it over, it would fire on one or two pulls.
I did check with my dealer this winter also about putting a new recoil on
it (97 version) He said that the 96 and 97 SL still did not get the new
larger recoil on it. So the low down is that for someone who is not real
strong( like my wife), this is a difficult sled to start.
Hope that helps
Mike Strukel