Such machines have carburetion systems and lighter, more-powerful engines that maintain high torque at altitude. Drive tracks are longer, with lugs that may be 2 inches deep, to keep the sled moving in the deep powder. Now, you go looking for it. The trend may be toward new, high-performance machines, but they're not essential for riding on maintained trails and many other applications. Most new snowmobiles are designed for comfort, as well as Alpine performance.
Some models easily accommodate two riders.
Even kids have their own scaled-down versions for learning the basics. By traditional standards, all new snowmobiles are fairly low-maintenance. They start up without the 30 minutes of cranking and adjusting often associated with early models, and they're not likely to break down during the day. Touring or playing, snowmobiles offer quick, comfortable access to the mountains in winter. More than 90 percent of snowmobiles in Colorado are used for recreation, but some sleds still serve as winter workhorses for ranchers, ski resorts and others.