While looking to see if anyone has tried to put a sportbike engine in a snowmobile (i have weird ideas) I stumble upon this...

In the 70s Honda made this snowmobile looking thing... definately one of the weirder sleds I've seen... very interesting
Just thought I'd share

 

well... the prototype never made it in to production because of the oil embargo... most of them were destroyed... but the few for sale are upwards of $5,000

 

I've not seen a snowmobile with a sports bike engine (we don't get much snow here in the tropics)
BUT I have seen any number of GoKarts with engines up to 1000RR engines, and there are many cars around used mainly on the track that have Blackbird engines.

That's an interesting idea - I wonder why they don't revive it now ?- perhaps with a bit more modern styling.......and a 4 stroke engine - something from an outboard boat engine comes to mind - that one looks somewhat "rustic" LOL

 

snowmobiles/UTVs/ATVs/Jetskis are an odd market... the majority of the owners have disposable income to spend on a $10k sled, $2k trailer, and a $30k lifted deisel to pull them with... the people that buy vintage are either collectors, restorers or mechanics(where i fall in)...
the main issues i can see with this one would be the driver's position... no real leg protection and the track is short and wide probably only fitting on the WF

 

The Yamaha RX1 has the engine out of an R1 if I'm not mistaken. It's also very heavy though so most people don't like it. I personally prefer a two stroke in my snowmobiles.