A much more mild ride...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH3RuMrWWkM

Here's another video, a bit longer and more of a tour of the property- it's a shame it was so overcast and late in the day when I was able to take this.


At 3:04 there were two deer, at 4:34 I point out four. At that point I was on the East end of our property (38.3 acres) butting up against the neighbor's 50, there is about 15 acres of slough/wetland that divide the two, that's where I was.   At 3:20 I go on to the edge of the neighbor's field, the edge of which is the groomed trail (impossible to see in this lighting) had I gone to the right I would head south to the town of Grey Eagle MN (pop 335) and had I gone to the left I would have headed to a local watering hole a couple miles away, and eventually to a tee which leads to another town or two.

Thus if there is good snow and the trails open, I can ride from the back door to a labrynth going all over the state. I am sure there are places that don't connect- Minnesota allows riding on the road right of ways as long as it is not an interstate or otherwise prohibited.

I haven't ever had a problem with a 299, 318 or 320 myself.

The stock 12 is great for what I am using it for, but I wouldn't want to go on a long trail ride with it, tops out at maybe 35 on the hard pack.

  71 was the first year but they made them a bit too light, this one had been broken and buckled at the bulkhead in the past (note the big, riveted patches and inside there was some brazing) - 72 up they added bracing to the front of the tunnel and stampings in the sides of the belly pan to stiffen it up.  Uses the same track as any 15" wide by 114" bogie wheel Oly or TNT.

Great machine to go exploring with, I can load in the van myself with no ramp easy.


I still want to get some wider bars than the 71's and made the post about 4" longer for riding standing without having to bend over.