Sell my Invader and buy a Blizzard?

[Tin-man]

I am thinking about selling my '79 Invader and buying an old blizzard. I don't know much about the blizzards. I do know that I would like one with the 503cc, liquid cooled, and the twin pipes.

Who has had these sleds? and what are your thoughts, and impressions on them? Also, is the suspension better on the blizzards than the invaders?

[rminier]

  I'm assuming you are talking about the 1979 through 1982 Blizzards. The 5500 Blizzard had the model 503 fan cooled, single-piped motor. The 7500 Blizzards had a liquid 340, twin piped, and the 9500 had the liquid 440, twin piped. Ski Doo did continue with that design with a larger 521 liquid twin piped motor in 1983 and 84, called the 9700, but they are pretty rare.
  I have owned a 79 Invader for decades, and just got an 82 Blizzard 9500 this past fall. I haven't had much riding time on it yet.
  The rear suspension is much better on the Invader. The Blizzard's isn't much different than my 1975 Sno Jet.
  The Blizzard sits higher, but that's partially offset by its wider 34" ski stance, versus 31" on the Invader.
  The Blizzard is fairly easy to work on, lots of room under the hood.
  The Blizzards are probably more rare than Invaders, particularly ones in good shape. They all had a steel belly pan that was prone to rust, and few survivors today have a really good belly pan.
  The Blizzards (liquid cooled) are heavier....440 lb. dry weight vs. Invaders roughly 400 lbs.
  The liquid cooled 7500's and 9500's that are still in nice condition are worth quite a lot today. Probably in the 1000 to 1500 dollar range. This is probably due to Ski Doo still being in business, and I doubt that they manufactured as many Blizzards back then as Invaders. I see lots of Invaders for sale on Craigslist for anywhere from 300 to 800 bucks.
  Those liquid cooled motors are smoking hot in the Blizzards. The 440 puts out around 80 horsepower, a fair bit more than the more mildly tuned Invader at 68-70 HP.
  Parts availability probably about equal between the 2 brands.
  The good, old, square shaft drive clutch on the Blizzards was prone to wear out the center bushing rapidly...many times within 1000 miles, but parts are still available, or you can always change to a Comet clutch.

Lake racing...pick the Blizzard...amazing motor.
Chance that the value will increase over the future years.....Blizzard
All around trail riding....Invader....better ride and handling, less "peaky" powerband that is more forgiving.

Both good sleds...the liquid cooled Blizzards were made to do one thing, and they did it well....beat everybody else across the lake.

 

[Tin-man]

Great amount of info! Thanks very much!
I am looking for something easier and quicker to work on. My heated garage now has a car in it, so no room to wrench on sleds inside anymore.

[Tory944]

If you want to go fast in a straight line...   Blizzards.   Just sold an 81' 9500 and 83' 9700.

If you want to break your back and start paying for chiropractor ....    Blizzards.

If you want an all around great trail/lake blaster ....     Invader.

I've had all these sleds on the trails and lakes...   Invaders will run low 80's in 1000ft...   9500's mid eighties and 9700's...  high 80's.  Not much difference between these sleds and very rarely will you have an opportunity to find 1000ft to line em' all up.  Traction is a big problem with the Blizzards and the Kawis have a much better weight transfer (suspension) then the Blizzards.

[Tory944]

Side note...   78' Invaders were the lightest of all the Invaders (fiberglass hood)= advertised 390lbs dry...  the 9500 & 9700 Blizzards advertised dry weight 490lbs......   (fat arse).  Pick up the back (or front) of a newer generation Blizzard sometime.  HEAVY.

[Tory944]

Advertised hp for the 9500's = 82hp      9700's = 86hp    Interceptor = 84hp   Eltigre 6000 (500 liquid) = 85 hp

                                   83' Vmax = 86hp    78/9 SRX = 82-86hp     80' SRX = 78hp                                                                                      ...Now it all comes down to clutching and chassis design/weight.

[Lloyd (ljm)]

 Dustin.  Asking that question on a Kawasaki site.   bet you can guess what answers you will get.

 Besides you must have almost all the bugs worked out of your Invader.

[Tin-man]

Invader it is. She stays.

[kawhead]

if you find a ltd or 81 invader[my favorite]the ride is way better than the 78 to 80 invaders