Stealth Dinli 800 is a popular ATV developed by the Russian company Stels. Equipment from domestic manufacturers is famous for its availability, reliability and attractive design. It was the bright appearance and affordable price that appealed to the users of the Dinli 800. However, despite significant advantages, the machine is a budget vehicle and has a number of disadvantages.
For example, the predecessor of the 800th model had serious problems with handling, maintainability and protection from moisture and dirt. The air filter of the Dinley 700 model was constantly clogged with snow, sand and dirt, so riders had to change spark plugs and screens frequently. But the manufacturer tried to smooth out the rough edges in the new Stels 800 Dinli ATV.
The developer released several modifications of the device at once:
- Dingli 800. This is the basic version of the all-terrain vehicle, introduced in 2011. The car was equipped with a powerful engine with a displacement of 750 cc. cm, Mikuni carburetor, drive with differential lock, independent suspension and extended equipment. The cost of a new quad ranges from 290 to 320 thousand rubles.
- Dinli 800 EPS. In 2014, the domestic brand introduced an improved version of the model. The updated device received an injection system, electric power steering, a more powerful engine, as well as expanded equipment.
Taking into account the operating features and characteristics of the Stels 800 Dinli, the device turned out to be more functional and comfortable than its predecessor. Users noted that now Dinli can be used not only for work and leisure, but also for tourism or expeditions.
Technical characteristics of Stealth Dinli 800
The Russian ]Stels[/anchor] has a desire to create powerful utilitarian devices. At the same time, developers are trying to make their equipment affordable and reliable. This is exactly how you can characterize the Dinli 800. This is one of the cheapest 750 cc vehicles among Russian and even Chinese all-terrain vehicles. But the low cost had virtually no effect on the hardware and functionality of the quadric.
Characteristics of the basic modification produced in 2014:
- Four-stroke engine equipped with a liquid cooling system.
- Engine displacement – 750 cubic meters. cm. Inside the stylish all-terrain vehicle hides as much as 43 horsepower.
- Forced lubrication system.
- Mikuni carburetor.
- Starting system – kick starter and electric starter.
- Electronic ignition (CDI).
- All-wheel drive with differential lock.
- Transmission – variator (CVT) with low and high range.
- Suspension – independent with two aluminum wishbones (front and rear).
- Brakes – disc, hydraulic (front and rear).
- The maximum speed of the car is 110 km/h.
- Total weight – 348 kg. Thanks to the low weight, the handling and maneuverability of the ATV has improved.
- The model’s gas tank capacity is 22 liters.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to call the Dinli 800 economical. A full tank of the device lasts approximately 150-166 km, depending on the route, driving style and average speed. However, the spacious gas tank allows you to use the quad for tourism, long trips and expeditions.
ATV Stels 700 GT and 800D. Stealth hunting
This year began with an unusual presentation of two new ATVs from the STELS brand, combining a test drive with a real driven wild boar hunt.
Igor Vladimirov
The hunt itself was also very original, none of the hunters fired a single shot, all the work was done by the dogs. the huskies worked so well on the animal that they simply drove it, and the “yearling” could only surrender to man’s four-legged friends.
The main idea of the manufacturers is to invite journalists to a test hunt to show that these ATVs are not seasonal and can be used all year round, especially in winters with little snow. For hunters, they can become indispensable assistants. For example, they easily delivered us to our “rooms” along snow-covered forest roads, and then helped us take the hunted animal out of the impenetrable Bryansk forests. Two ATV models that are offered today took part in the wild boar hunt - Stels 700 GT and Stels 800D . Both models are new, although they took a lot from their predecessors.
Stels ATV 700 GT © Photo: Velomotors
It is no secret that Stels ATVs originate from Taiwan, or rather from the well-known company Dinli (Dinli Metal Industrial Co., Ltd.) in the southeast, which has been producing motorcycle equipment since 1983. Dinli's first attempts to produce ATVs can be dated back to 1996. So their experience is good, especially since the company has been in contact with such a well-known manufacturer of recreational equipment as Canondale (USA) since 2003.
Stels ATV 800D © Photo: Velomotors
What changed? Using experience from operating previous models, the manufacturer has changed the engine lubrication system, which will have a beneficial effect on the service life and allow the engines to easily withstand heavy loads. The suspension features new forged aluminum arms, as well as new gas-filled shock absorbers with the ability to pre-adjust them. The new models use a different, clearer and more error-free algorithm for switching transmission modes (2WD-4WD and 4WD with front differential lock).
The suspension is equipped with reinforced levers © Photo: Velomotors
The 700 GT can be classified as a utilitarian model, i.e. it is closer to “workhorses”, offers a quiet ride and has an extended wheelbase. Due to its greater length, this quad behaves more confidently on the highway, allows two people to sit comfortably - a passenger and a driver, but at the same time its turning radius is larger than that of the 800D.
Even the appearance of the 800 suggests that this is an “aggressor”, ready for active driving. The engine displacement has been increased, compared to the 700 model, by 56 cubic meters (750 cm3 versus 694 cm3). Power, respectively, is 36.7 hp. for the “utilitarian” and 43.5 for the “athlete”. Due to the fact that the 800D has a shorter wheelbase than the 700 GT, by almost 18 cm, it can be ridden by two people, but not as comfortable. When driving in snow, both on the highway and on virgin soil, the standard Maxxis BigHorn tires turn out to be quite comfortable due to the developed tread and large profile.
The new control element eliminated accidental transition from one transmission mode to another © Photo: Velomotors
The manufacturer does not hide the fact that the appearance of the 800D is “copied” from the Can-Am Renegade. However, he immediately notes that the 800 is superior to the Canadian original in ergonomics, has powerful luggage racks and can carry two people. Initially, the 800D's underbody is completely covered with a protective plate made of hard plastic, which can be appreciated when driving in winter (and not only in winter) on ruts or on outright off-road conditions. Reinforcement from steel arches located in the area of the footrests is very useful for a fast and nimble device. A remote-controlled winch is included as standard, which is nice.
During the hunt, we were able to try out both devices. Both of them turned out to be excellent. Confident control even in emergency situations, the steering wheel does not rip your arms out of your shoulder joints, the suspension, if properly configured, works correctly and helps with steering. But there is also a small drawback: when passing virgin soil, snow cover of 30-40 cm, snow suspension from under the wheels is sucked into the carburetor along with air. The result: the exhaust turns black, and the engine begins to idle unsteadily. Manufacturers know about this and promise to eliminate it in the next batches.
What's the result? Decent quads, especially considering their cost. Moreover, as this test showed, they can be successfully used in winter. It would be interesting to try them with tracked drives, but everything has its time...
“Snow and swamp-going vehicle” - don’t think that this is the name given to the ATV by the people. In fact, this is a vehicle class for which all off-road motor vehicles are certified, which, like snowmobiles, can be driven with the license of a “tractor driver” of category “A”.
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Comparison with competitors
Considering the characteristics, equipment and cost of the new Dinli 800, it has practically no competitors. This is the cheapest 750 cc ATV that can compete even with equipment from famous brands.
An alternative to the Stealth device could be:
- RM 650-2. The two-seater ATV, developed by the Russian Mechanics company, is excellent for agriculture and tourism. The car is slightly inferior in power to the Stealth, but significantly superior to it in comfort. The only drawback of the PM 650-2 model, in comparison with Dinli, is the cost. The new RM will cost the buyer 400 thousand rubles.
- CFmoto X This is an expensive, but more functional ATV that can be used for transporting cargo, tourism, racing, etc. The cost of the new CFmoto X8 ranges from 700 to 780 thousand rubles, depending on the modification.
- Leopard 650. This is another development of the Stels company. The all-terrain vehicle is distinguished by high power, safety and comfort. The new Leopard 650 will cost the rider 429-469 thousand rubles.
As you can see, in terms of price, Dinli 800 has no competitors. But the cost of the device implies average quality of the body and parts.
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A side-by-side all-terrain vehicle is a reasonable compromise for those hunters who believe that “there is not a car between your legs,” but are already tired of wandering waist-deep in snow with a shovel, winch cable and sand trucks for their SUV.
A side-by-side all-terrain vehicle is a reasonable compromise for those hunters who believe that “there is not a car between your legs,” but are already tired of wandering waist-deep in snow with a shovel, winch cable and sand trucks for their SUV.
Operating experience
In reviews of the Stels 800 Dinli, users noted a number of advantages:
- Affordable price. The popularity of the ATV is due to its low price.
- Design. The manufacturer did a great job on the appearance of the device. The design of the domestic all-terrain vehicle is reminiscent of BRP equipment.
- Versatility. The powerful engine significantly expands the scope of use of the ATV. The car is suitable for work, towing cargo, tourism and even racing.
- Equipment. The budget model is equipped with a winch, two luggage racks, a comfortable seat, turn signals, brake lights, LED lighting and a bump stop.
- High quality suspension. Hydraulic shock absorbers and independent suspension make off-road driving a pleasant experience.
Of course, the car also has its drawbacks, for example, low-quality plastic, slippery running boards, etc. However, the advantages compensate for all the shortcomings.
Key advantages of Stels 800D:
- Lensed headlights of a modern design provide bright light and safety when driving at night.
- Gas-filled shock absorbers with adjustable stiffness allow you to fine-tune the type of behavior of the Stels 800D.
- Aluminum wheels and MAXXIS Bighorn mud tires give you confidence when driving off-road.
- Informative display with main sensors.
- Exhaust system with nozzle down, made of stainless steel.
- Energy-intensive suspension with adjustable stiffness.
- Backrest for the passenger.
- The CVT transmission allows you to instantly respond to the throttle trigger.
Repair and tuning
Users noted that the basic version of the device is not as convenient as the EPS model. Therefore, it is advisable for the rider to install a seat with a backrest, reinforced luggage racks, mirrors, hand protection and underbody protection. It also does not fit to bleed the brakes and change the wiring. You shouldn’t invest too much in a budget utility vehicle, since the approximate “life” of the machine is 3-4 years.
Repairs are also simple, despite the fact that minor breakdowns often occur in the all-terrain vehicle, spare parts are inexpensive. There will also be no problems finding parts. The necessary spare parts for domestic equipment can be ordered from a dealer, purchased at a service center or online store.
Semi-professional – Stels ATV800D EFI
January 22, 2014
Winter in the 2013-2014 season continues to linger and linger, depriving us of such familiar winter pleasures as snowmobiles, skis, skates and other snowboards. Therefore, we decided not to try to pretend that winter does not exist, and took countermeasures. We went to celebrate the New Year in warmer climes - on the shores of the Black Sea. And at the same time, take one of the most interesting vehicles from Zhukovka for a ride through the mountains.
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Utilitarian ATV/2013/342 kg/750 cm³/46 hp/56 Nm/265,000 rub.
Winter in the 2013-2014 season continues to linger and linger, depriving us of such familiar winter pleasures as snowmobiles, skis, skates and other snowboards. Therefore, we decided not to try to pretend that winter does not exist, and took countermeasures. We went to celebrate the New Year in warmer climes - on the shores of the Black Sea. And at the same time, take one of the most interesting vehicles from Zhukovka for a ride through the mountains.
Strangely, this quadric, although we were in our hands, never made it to the pages of the portal. There were many reasons for this: from a lack of photographic material to a sudden belt break during the Util Show race last year. Why are we publishing a test of a rather old quad model? Recently she invited motorcycle journalists to her main plant in the city of Zhukovka, Bryansk region. In addition to the now traditional annual tour of the plant, two prototypes of completely new ATVs were presented to journalists. One of them is an 800 cc machine of our own design, which does not use Chinese components. The appearance of the new product is still kept strictly secret, so we had to settle for a “naked” quad with Gazelle fender liners instead of plastic. However, the ATV performed very, very positively. However, we will tell you more about the new product in the coming weeks. Now let’s take a closer look at the old “800” so that later we have something to compare with.
Our test subject was developed by the Taiwanese company Dinli; the main components and assemblies were produced there. The frame of the “eight hundred” was welded at the plant in Zhukovka, and final assembly was carried out there. The scenario is quite common for Russian-Taiwanese technology.
The quadric, unlike most of its “eastern” brothers, has a rather noticeable bias towards sports and active drive, rather than towards utilitarianism. This is evidenced by everything from the rather aggressive design and short wheelbase to adjustable shock absorbers and 26-inch tires with the “evil” Maxxis Bighorn tread. The seat, which hints at the possibility of carrying a passenger, together with the backrest and rudiments of passenger footrests, is really unable to provide the passenger with even a minimum level of comfort. Unless you can “give” a colleague a ride to a neighboring camp at some regular competition. The seat is clearly designed for only one rider - flat (in the sense of no profiling of the pilot and passenger areas) and quite hard. The passenger backrest, by the way, is attached with four bolts to the rear trunk, so removing it is not difficult. Naturally, our copy did not have it - in off-road conditions it only gets in the way.
The shock absorbers were pleasantly surprised: the rebound hydraulic adjustment wheels are not fake and actually work. Of course, the Taiwanese brothers are still far from being like some kind of FOX Racing, but they work noticeably better than the usual “crowbars” that are used on Chinese scraps. Their energy capacity is sufficient in almost all on-road and off-road situations. They only start passing on the cross-country course. When jumping with a gap of half a meter upward, the suspension begins to pierce. I guess I could have tinkered with the spring preload and compression settings, but it certainly wouldn't have changed the situation dramatically. So you need to jump on the “800” carefully. By the way, among the suspension “goodies” there are also aluminum forged suspension arms, which are so atypical for the “Chinese”. They are much lighter than steel ones, and a reduction in unsprung masses always affects the performance of the suspension only in a positive way.
But there were questions regarding the steering adjustment. Over the years of testing various types of ATVs, I came to the conclusion that fine-tuning the steering is, perhaps, one of the main differences between cheap ATVs and branded equipment. Well, the Chinese will never learn to calculate all sorts of castors, offsets and other wheel alignments. The quadric is hard to steer. Even on flat ground, you have to put in too much effort to turn the wheels, and in order to keep the quad in a straight line, you have to constantly keep your arms tense, constantly adjusting the position of the wheels.
But if the “heavy” steering wheel is a “trademark” feature of almost all “stealth” vehicles, then the 800D’s oversteer came as a surprise. I can only assume that in an attempt to make the oak steering wheel at least a little sharper, the engineers used the simplest possible method - they reduced the castor (the angle of the axis around which the steering knuckles “rotate”). So now, if you have already managed to turn the wheels from a straight position, they independently strive to turn to the maximum angle, and you have to hold the steering wheel, resisting this desire of the car.
In some cases, this behavior is only beneficial - for example, on a closed country cross track, when the steering wheel has to be worked constantly and at maximum amplitudes, the instant “square” reactions to steering wheel turns are only beneficial. But on long off-road runs it gets tiring. The only solution to this problem was proposed by Stealth itself. They launched the ATV800D with electric power steering. With it, the problem of wayward steering goes away. In any case, it does not require such physical effort.
The 750 cc fuel-injected engine did not present any surprises. As is the case with “eastern” devices, the output of the power unit turns out to be lower than what you expect from a particular cubic capacity. Although, it’s worth paying tribute to the Taiwanese, the quad’s traction is enough for the eyes.
While riding along the Caucasian foothills in the Gedendzhik area, I remembered that I was once part of a team under the unspoken name “Dementia and Courage”, and decided to storm one of the ridges not along a well-worn serpentine road, but directly. Moreover, right along the spur that I chose to climb, there was an obvious white path, “trodden down” to bare stone. After just a couple of tens of meters, I realized that I had seriously underestimated the steepness of the slope, and realized that the “path” that gave me hope for ease of ascent was the bed of a rain stream, which, traditionally, takes the most direct path down. Chances are no half-wit has attempted to climb this slope on anything.
However, the quad, in a low gear, with a locked front differential, steadily puffing from the exhaust and periodically trying to somersault over the rear axle, took me to the top, from where my friends, who had climbed up along the “human” road, watched me with interest and some apprehension. .
The slope, three hundred meters long and 45 degrees steep, was beyond my control. The last twenty meters of the climb had a very “impossible” angle. The quad continued to turn all four wheels, but, bouncing on the rocks, it did not move a centimeter forward. I had to unwind the winch and tighten the device onto the plane. This episode clearly illustrates not only the author’s dementia, but also the traction capabilities of the power unit. Five stars!
But on the plane, where you need not so much maximum speed (by the way, everything is fine with it - over 90 km/h), but acceleration dynamics, things are not very good. The variator just begs for centrifugal weights of greater mass than those installed. They “spread” reluctantly, not allowing the engine to spin up to higher speeds. In a word, there is a “sharpening” of the variator for traction, and not for power.
By the way, the injection engine, with all its characteristics, is quite economical. After several tens of kilometers of ascents, descents, poking around in tasty logging ruts and thirty “keme” on a public road, the quadric used only four and a half liters of “ninety-second”. The device “sniffs” gasoline, but does not drink it!
In a word, the quadric turned out to be a strong middle peasant. It is noticeably more alert, more composed and sportier than most competitors, although it requires a little more physical effort to drive. At the same time, it has quite a sufficient arsenal of torque and power not only for picking in the Central Russian mud, but also in the mountains. Of course, it will be futile to take it to serious competitions without additional modification with a file; you need to at least change the shock absorbers and reconfigure the variator, but for the amateur level the device is more than suitable. This is a kind of advanced option for those who are already bored of just driving around the garage.
I don’t want to spoil the intrigue, but the management of Velomotors promised that the new “eight hundred”, which we will see at the Moscow Motor Show at Crocus Expo next spring, will not be more expensive than this device. And, by the way, it will be two-cylinder.
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First test of STELS S800 Wolverine
Snowmobiling in the mountains is always extreme. Utilitarian cars have a particularly hard time there. Therefore, the idea of trying the updated Wolverine in Khakassia, in the vicinity of the village of Priiskovoe, seemed to me a desperate gamble. Not all cars usually manage to survive such an adventure.
Desperate gentlemen
The mountains around Priiskovoye are, I tell you, worth a pound! We say about such places: “the devil’s horns.” Not like a heavy utilitarian snowmobile, often in those places even heavy-duty modern “mountain snowmobiles” bend and do not return to base. Difficult terrain, outright wilderness. To civilization with airports – 400–500 versts. The nearest Ministry of Emergency Situations point is a hundred kilometers away. No prepared routes, no rescuers and doctors on duty. There are only four hotels - for the most unpretentious guests who do not disdain Spartan life. Toilet in the hallway, shared showers, bunk beds.
But among snowboarders, skiers and snowmobilers, “Pri” (as the village is called for short by regular guests) has become famous for the good snow that falls already at the end of October. And the mountains immediately become suitable for extreme, ultimate freeride. So, do these gentlemen from Velomotors really want us to go to the mountains on their “walking excavators”? After all, the likelihood that not all snowmobiles will return is very high. The gentlemen answered with dignity: “If our new “Wolverines” survive in these conditions, then we will be confident that we have managed to correct, improve and bring to mind a lot.”
Work on mistakes
In fact, just a little over three years ago, most specialists from the quad-snow industry perceived the talk about Velomotors starting production of a snowmobile of its own design as nothing other than Napoleonic nonsense of the high authorities of this company. There was also a version that loud statements about such large-scale production ambitions (you must agree, to develop and produce your own snowmobile - not to promote nanotechnology in our government) is such a cunning preparation of public opinion for the next “shamanic dances” with a screwdriver around the conveyor belt under the sign “our own production "
Stels S800 “Wolverine”
Engine 4-stroke, 2-cylinder, V-shaped | |
Engine capacity, cm | 800 |
Power, hp | 67 |
Max. torque, Nm/rpm | 73/5000 |
Fuel system | injection EFI, gasoline 92 |
Transmission | CVT, LH NR |
Tank, l | 45 |
Tank, l | 20,5 |
Dimensions, mm | 3150x1160x1470/800 |
Ski track, mm | 920 |
Curb weight, kg | 370 |
Turning radius, m no more | 3,5 |
There may be a snowmobile, but it will be a purely Chinese “spill”; in Russia, only skis will be attached to it. But the status of “own production” will allow you to technically avoid extortionate customs duties.
That’s why no one expected the emergence of a new snowmobile manufacturer; there are only a few of them left all over the world – you can count them on the fingers of one hand. The Chinese have been trying to make something for the last five years, but no one needs all their snowdroplets even in Children’s World, they are so wretched. So when the first prototypes of the Stealth snowmobiles went out for testing in 2013, most of the spiteful critics had to hide under a bench. True, not for long. At the beginning of last year, reviews began to arrive from happy owners of serial “Stealth 800 Wolverine” from the first batch. By the way, it was not that large - more than a hundred, maybe two hundred, pieces.
Reviews of the first “Wolverines” were, to put it mildly, not very positive. Here is a short list of “childhood diseases”:
- The rear suspension rollers quickly broke down and the rubber “tires” flew off;
- the expansion pads of the skis were destroyed almost on the first ride;
- the lower protrusion of the hood was fraying the wires in the engine compartment;
- plastic tees of the cooling and fuel supply systems burst in the cold;
- the rear suspension shock absorber could not withstand the normal load;
- the slimes “burned out” indecently quickly;
- Strong vibration caused the engine to fly off its mounts.
Naturally, the scoffers made fun of these flaws and shortcomings with all their might. To the credit of the guys from Velomotors, they did not deny their mistakes: faulty parts were replaced under warranty; in special cases, a special repair team went to clients’ homes, where they repaired snowmobiles promptly and free of charge. Almost every case was taken into account, analyzed and then algorithms were developed.
No cracks or damage
The Wolverine windshield is criticized by many for excessive vibrations, an unpleasant bend at the top and a very strange appearance.
I liked the “windbreaker”. It reliably protects the pilot from snow and oncoming headwinds, and its “survivability” has no equal. No matter how much the snowmobiles were turned through their “ears” on the slopes, the windshields of all snowmobiles remained intact and undamaged. Already the second batch of Wolverines at the beginning of 2014 received a number of improvements, and some suppliers of low-quality components forever lost lucrative contracts with Velomotors. Work on bugs continued throughout the year. And here you are - the radically modernized Stealth 800 Wolverine of 2015.
She has a motor!
On the first day, for warm-up, we went to Mount Semeinaya - more precisely, to that part of it that is called Meteo - as you might guess, there is a weather station located there. In principle, nothing complicated: an ordinary mountain serpentine road with long, gentle climbs. There was only one problem - that day the heavenly office ordered another multi-ton portion of fresh powder for “Pri”, covering the road with a thick white blanket. During the first 100–200 meters of the climb, our cavalcade seriously slowed down, but after a while the pace returned to normal. The first “Wolverine” confidently, without cursing or skidding, made its way up the untouched virgin soil of loose “powder” about a meter deep.
Start-up guarantee.
The standard equipment includes underbody protection, a power bumper and a crankcase oil heating system - if you have to start the engine at low temperatures. Two batteries are standardly installed on a snowmobile - a regular one and a so-called “gel” one, another insurance for guaranteed engine starting in any conditions.
Light on the road
. Due to frequent rollovers, jumps and fast driving over potholes, the fasteners fail and the headlights fall inward. The designers of Velomotors promised to overcome this problem. And at the same time, improve the headlight adjustment system so that the headlights shine not only into the sky, but they can also be directed at the road.
Having cheerfully climbed to the top, we figured that going down the road was somehow not comme il faut. We are in Pri, the Mecca of freeriders! May the snowboarders forgive us, for whom we slightly “saved” their favorite slope: the outrage was committed only for the sake of art. To be honest, it was scary at first. Launching a 370 kg snowmobile down a steep slope with very dense vegetation is quite a trick. Naturally, there was no question of any proper backcountry with the Wolverine. Nevertheless, on the descent, everyone appreciated the good connection between the driver and the snowmobile through the throttle trigger: there were no jerks or dips, the machine was controlled with micron precision, successfully maneuvering between the trees.
Four colors
For 2015, hoods are available in black, yellow, blue and white. Camouflage - only in the form of a special cape.
Reincarnation
Outwardly remaining the same, in 2015 the Wolverine was reincarnated as a completely different device. New engine, new suspension and gearbox. Operating modes of the “box”: L – low gear, H – high gear, R – reverse and N – neutral. The gearshift lever moves with light effort, and not with the blow of a duty sledgehammer.
In general, they did the right thing by replacing the old Chinese ODES engine with a motor of their own design. Yes, yes, don’t be surprised – your own! And although the new engine is still being produced outside of Russia (where exactly is not officially specified), Velomotors speaks with full responsibility about it exclusively as its brainchild. Well, it’s their right, in my humble opinion, when the engine begins to be manufactured in Russia (which I am 90 percent sure of), then this will truly become another grandiose achievement of Velomotors.
In the front and rear suspensions
New gas shock absorbers were installed.
The snowmobile now has the concepts of softness and comfort. The front travel is 150 mm, the rear suspension travel is 170 mm. Now, the new “heart” of the Wolverine, in my opinion, is very similar to the similar V-shaped Rotax “eight hundred”. Naturally, I could be wrong, but what there is definitely no doubt about is that the Wolverine has acquired a really good engine. There are practically no vibrations, dynamics and traction characteristics have noticeably improved. This is understandable: 67 “horses” versus the previous 59. There were no problems with overheating, the tees of the cooling system and fuel lines did not burst, and the engine mounts did not break. In addition, the rubber elements did not fly off the rear suspension rollers, and the rear suspension itself withstood the toughest jumps and rapid drives along the “comb”.
We traveled far and wide around Priiskovoye - Bald Mountain, Secret Valley, Transvaal and Ivanovskaya mountains. For religious reasons, only GUS (“Mountain of the Killed Snowmobile”) was avoided - why tease a sleeping dog? Our mini-trips on the Wolverines already had enough exciting activities. For example, we experimented, trying to find the limit of maneuverability of a 60 cm wide track. Naturally, taking into account the large snow, the terrain and the location of the devil on the horns, we damn well wanted to climb to the very tips of these horns, which is why we had to dig out endlessly.
One competitor
In the budget equipment segment, Wolverine has the only competitor - Taiga Bars 850 from Russian Mechanics.
And although at retail the Rybinsk snowmobile is about 3000–3500 dollars more expensive than the Wolverine, it also found its customers. The current crisis will force many models to be removed from the market or their prices to be radically changed. But one cannot blame the Wolverine for its weak off-road properties - these machines fully correspond to the level of a modern utilitarian SWT class snowmobile. Although if you add a little more power to the engine and install a caterpillar with a toe larger than its 20 mm, then this device will become many times more attractive to potential customers.
You could also play with the CVT settings. On some copies - in my impressions, obviously due to the variator - sometimes on hills there was a deficit of traction during acceleration. If we imagine that we would have loaded drags on the “tail”, we would have to look for detours.
Strong - that's a fact!
Of course, Wolverine also had problems. More precisely, problems. Here are some minor troubles from the series “do not affect the speed”: plastic button covers were “lost” on the steering control units; A couple of snowmobiles had their seat covers burst along a seam; The heating of the steering wheel grips turned out to be catastrophically weak. And when driving fast on a rough road, the rear plastic case regularly left its normal place. Unfortunately, the expansion pads on the skis of three snowmobiles, unable to withstand the loads, began to collapse on the sides.
Because of this, the Velomotors engineers were seriously upset, but we, on the contrary, were happy: without extensions, it is easier and more convenient to drive a snowmobile, and the “snowball” rolls over on its side much more willingly. It is clear that all sorts of boondocking for hunters and fishermen (to whom, in fact, the snowmobile is addressed) are deeply “parallel”, but, let’s be honest, “Wolverine” still has room to grow in terms of the quality of development of individual elements. And yet the fact remains: not a single snowmobile in Priiskovoye has seriously broken down, all the engines are normal, the suspensions are intact, there are no glitches with the electronics. Not even a single windshield was cracked. Although, needless to say, the “snowballs” tumbled down the slopes through their “ears” shamelessly. It turned out to be a strong car!