Snowmobile STELS 800 “Wolverine”: the best offer of the season

Choosing an inexpensive, but powerful and reliable snowmobile

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Utilitarian snowmobiles are most popular in Russia, as the most budget-friendly transport option for traveling on snow. However, this season, prices for imported snowflakes have increased noticeably and not everyone can afford this purchase. But the Russian STELS has released a worthy alternative to its overseas competitors - an inexpensive, but reliable and powerful analogue.

People first learned about the existence of the STELS 800 “Wolverine” snowmobile in the fall of 2013. Many were even flattered by the new product, voting for it with rubles. Alas, that “Wolverine” did not make its owners very happy. On the snowflake there was a Chinese 800 cc Odes engine, which was not distinguished by quality. Suppliers of shock absorbers and the entire chassis of the snowmobile also let us down, slipping into production something that was not quite what they promised. There were some mistakes in the cooling system and other small things. In general, the snowmobile drove, but required some troubleshooting skills from its owner. Taking into account the mistakes, the stealth team completely reworked their brainchild, bringing it to mind. The “Wolverine” of the 2014-2015 model year has nothing in common (except, perhaps, in appearance and name) with its predecessor.

“Wolverine 800” is not a light snowmobile, weighing 370 kg. But thanks to the wide skis and 60-centimeter track, the car has positive “buoyancy” on the snow.

Made in Japan

The main change is a completely new power unit. Under the hood of the Wolverine, as you can easily guess from the name, there is an 800 cc engine developed by the STELS in-house design bureau. This two-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled injection engine was invented in Russia, but is produced in... Japan. This geography is by no means accidental. The fact is that in Russia there is neither the experience nor the equipment that could be used to produce a high-quality engine for motorcycles. But in the Land of the Rising Sun, not a single dog has been eaten in this case. And the fact that the Japanese had a hand in the snowmobile’s engine is immediately obvious. Very well assembled and with great production culture. It literally starts on the fly and runs smoothly, without any extraneous noise or ringing. Thanks to a perfectly matched balance shaft, the motor not only works, but whispers... By the way, STELS is so confident in its power unit that it gives a separate three-year warranty for it.

The Koso dashboard works at A+ even in cold weather. The only thing that caused a slight criticism was the installation angle, which is why the tidy is slightly covered with snow.

Comfortable and convenient snowmobile

Many people are interested in the question of how easy the Stealth 800 Wolverine snowmobile is to use. Reviews from people who have already tried the comfort of this machine themselves indicate that it is very convenient to travel on a snowmobile even over long distances.

Get on the Stealth 800 Wolverine snowmobile. Reviews about the comfort of this car are only positive, since the manufacturers did their best. First of all, the all-terrain vehicle has an ergonomic, comfortable seat. For the convenience of the passenger, everything is also provided, since there is a backrest that allows you to take the required body position. This is especially true when driving long distances.

To keep you warm, the car has heated seats and handles. And the windshield will protect you from the cold headwind. The control functionality is also excellent, and everything is located very compactly and conveniently.

"Kettle" for the motor

Is it the right choice to install a four-stroke engine in the snow, since two-stroke engines, as you know, are more powerful and start better in cold weather?.. You shouldn’t rush to conclusions. The stealth engine is equipped with a kind of pre-heater as standard. If necessary, the electric heater inside the engine is connected with a special wire to the battery terminals, 5-7 minutes - and the oil in the crankcase becomes warm and liquid, thanks to which the engine starts without problems even in the most severe frost. Skeptics will certainly notice that during this time the “boiler” will drain the battery and the starter simply will not crank the crankshaft. Unnecessary fears. The Wolverine 800 has two high-capacity batteries. We can definitely say that the snowman is one hundred percent perfect for the Russian winter.

Let's try the stealth "Wolverine" in action? After spending the night outside in 23-degree frost, all the snowmobiles, of which there were 7 in the test, started up perfectly in the morning even without electrical heating. While the engine is warming up at idle, we study the controls at random. Everything is very logical: on the left side there are starter buttons, low/high beam switches, as well as buttons for heating the grips and the gas trigger. On the same side is the brake lever. On the right side of the steering wheel there is only a gas trigger and an emergency engine shutdown button. In general, a classic of the genre, just like on any other snowmobile.

About cross-country ability

We can confidently say that the high level of development of traction force, a fairly economical engine and excellent cross-country ability have made the Stealth snowmobile a leader in its class. Reviews about this car allow us to draw the following conclusions:

• “Wolverine” easily endures long distances, especially well-worn trails.
• Economical engine: moderate fuel consumption even when moving heavy loads.
• It overcomes thickets and rough terrain without any problems, but requires a certain skill from the driver. It has excellent maneuverability, despite the total weight of 320 kg when equipped. Easily overcomes slopes and hills.

Comfort for a workhorse

Despite the wide track, the snowmobile from STELS, in general, is very good to drive. Thanks for this should be given to the ski skates, on the bases of which carbide inserts are welded, ensuring steering control on almost any surface. We would like to add that without ski extensions, the Wolverine handles much sharper.

Let's jump on the seat. Very pleasant in all respects: the correct shape, you sit as if on a royal throne. Everything in the passenger seat is also at the highest level, and for greater comfort there is a backrest that supports the lumbar region. The seats are definitely suitable for a long-distance voyage. Typically, utilitarian snowmobiles have never been famous for their high level of comfort; the creators of snowmobiles poured all their concern for the ergonomics of the pilot and his passenger into the “tourist” class. They say, is there any point in bothering with amenities if a utility is a workhorse, created to solve everyday problems?.. But the market dictates its own rules of the game and now the buyer looks at the availability of amenities even when choosing a utility.

The STELS snowmobile of the 2014-2015 model year received a qualitatively new suspension, chassis, engine and transmission. That is, compared to last year’s “Wolverine,” this is a completely new snowflake.

Well, the engine, apparently, has reached operating temperature, and we can move to the mountains. The gear selector lever is located under the left hand. The handle has four positions: L - low gear, H - high gear, R - reverse and N - neutral. The action shifts with the precision of a bolt action on a good rifle. We turn on the boost and the gas, as they say, to the floor. The heavy car - and the loaded Wolverine weighs quite a lot, as much as 370 kilos - confidently takes off. According to the speedometer, in a matter of seconds the snowball crossed the 50 km/h mark, and the acceleration doesn’t even think of ending! The 67 “horses” that the engine produces at peak are more than enough for a stealth snowmobile. What about torque? There is also plenty of it - 73 N/m. Thanks to this traction, the Wolverine 800 is capable of pulling a sled weighing up to 300 kilograms. Why the sleigh, it will drag the car!

About some problems and breakdowns

Despite the positive characteristics of the car, you should still pay attention to some weak points of the Stels S800 Wolverine SUV. Problems, breakdowns, the most common:

• The track guides and slides quite often jump out of their seats, so it is necessary to constantly monitor this.
• Ski linings quite often become unusable and crack.
• Rubber bands are flying off the rollers.
• In the case of a manufacturing defect, or for other reasons, the hood lid is not high enough from the wiring and radiator, as a result of which they can fray.
• Problems with the brake system can occur due to a malfunctioning caliper.
• Sometimes problems with the dashboard may occur.

More detailed information can be read on thematic forums where weaknesses and breakdowns of the Stels V800 Wolverine snowmobile are discussed. The Kamchatka Snowmobile Club is one of these communities. Here you can get a qualified answer to almost all questions.

Heavy, clumsy, unsinkable

There was a lot of snow in the mountains of Khakassia. In some places, trying to walk on your own two feet, you fall waist-deep, or even chest-deep. But “Wolverine 800” is not chubby at all. Firstly, a fairly wide 60-centimeter track with a lug height of 22 mm perfectly holds the car even on freshly fallen snow, preventing it from falling through. Secondly, the stock version of the STELS 800 snowmobile comes with ski extenders, which also have a positive effect on the “buoyancy” of the snowmobile. True, there is also a downside to these extensions - the snowmobile does not respond very responsively to the steering wheel. Not an iron, of course, but to make a snake around the birches, you need to try pretty hard. For the purity of the experiment, we remove the expanders. The snowmobile has become noticeably sharper in handling, and not to mention that on narrow skis it began to get stuck in snow drifts more often.

We won’t tell stories about the Wolverine’s unsinkability in the snow. There are places where any snowmobile is destined to get buried. And we found ourselves in such traps more than once during our two-day test drive. What saved me was that I found a good company. Without further ado, everyone was ready to come to each other's rescue. Is it possible to dig out a “Wolverine” buried in deep snow alone or together? I think no. Therefore, installing a winch will not be a waste of money. Moreover, space for its installation (both front and rear, if you sacrifice the large plastic case included in the stock package) is already provided by the design. Of course, it was not entirely correct to test the utility vehicle in the mountains, since it was designed for use in a completely different area. What can you do, because only in Priiskovoye at the end of October you can see a real Russian winter in order to experience a new product on the eve of the season. And imagine the surprise of the journalists when the heavy utilitarian snowmobile, like a mountain goat, dashingly climbed quite steep climbs.

About some features of the machine

The steering functionality of the “Wolverine” is made in the likeness of some Lynx and Skidoo models produced by the BRP motorcycle concern. Everything is quite convenient, as they say, at hand, and is easy to switch if necessary while driving.

The luggage compartment can be equipped with a spacious trunk, which will allow you to fold the necessary luggage. In addition, there is enough space under the seat to stow tools, as well as a canister of fuel. By the way, the winch in the Wolverine can be installed in the front, thereby increasing the space for the luggage compartment.

Price matters. Decisive

Not to say that the rides were deadly for the equipment, but none of the journalists felt much pity for the snowmobiles tested. That is, it was a real test drive, and not a fake ride for the sake of a photo shoot. Surprisingly, none of the snowmobiles tested gave the slightest malfunction. Not even a light bulb burned out anywhere. The stealth team's car turned out to be very strong. Is it possible to put Wolverine on a par with famous brands? Yes and no.

Yes - because, as we have seen, it is not short of reliability. If last year this model could be called a “semi-finished product” that needed serious improvement, then the “Wolverine” of this model year is quite a serious STELS bid for victory.

No - because “Wolverine” is a completely different price segment compared to branded equipment. Even in the conditions of the daily dance of the dollar exchange rate, when import sellers rewrite price tags for equipment several times a day, “Wolverine 800” in STELS dealership centers is sold for... 275,000 rubles. Well, where can you find an equally powerful and well-equipped car, mind you, not made in China, for such an adequate price? We must assume that this winter this machine, thanks to its price/quality combination, will become a real bestseller and will take the lion's share of the market for heavy utilitarian snowmobiles sold in Russia.

The STELS snowmobile of the 2014-2015 model year is the most budget-friendly utility vehicle.

AutoVzglyad Magazine | Dmitry Zlenko

Performance characteristics of the unit

The Stealth Viking 800 snowmobile has improved technical characteristics. In the new model, the two-stroke engine was replaced with a more powerful four-stroke, the fuel system and air intake system were updated. The vertical placement of the batteries made it possible to increase the luggage compartment. The latest variation, V800 M 2.0 CVTech, has a 12-volt socket for external devices. All wiring is additionally equipped with moisture protection. Below is a detailed overview of the main components of this snowmobile track.

Body and how much it weighs

The body is based on a steel riveted-welded frame. The dry weight of the all-terrain vehicle is 370 kg, while the utility vehicle is capable of pulling cargo sleds weighing up to 500 kg.

Dimensional characteristics (in meters):

The snowflake has two skis 1.065 m long and 18 cm wide. In addition, the machine has 15 cm ground clearance.

Suspension, brakes, track

The suspension consists of two parts - telescopic front and rail rear. Both have a spring mechanism and a hydropneumatic shock absorber. The stroke of the first is 15, and the second is 17 cm. For braking, as in most modern models, a hydraulic disc brake is used. Installed on the gearbox output shaft.

Daniila Rukin

Snowmobile specialist "Buran". I go fishing in my free time.

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The role of propulsion is performed by a rubber-fabric caterpillar of the Taiga 600 brand with a front-mounted drive sprocket.

Caterpillar parameters:

Fuel and consumption

The snowmobile is equipped with a spacious 45-liter fuel tank. The manufacturer recommends using gasoline grade AI-92 and higher.

According to the technical data sheet, the average consumption is 12 liters per 100 km. However, in practice, depending on the type of terrain, this figure can increase to 15-25 liters per hundred.

Transmission

The chassis is equipped with a manual transmission, which is a variator with a V-belt. Three gears are available:

• reduced;
• increased;
• reverse

In addition, the box also has a neutral position.

Engine and dynamics

This snowflake has a V-shaped four-stroke injection engine with liquid cooling. It differs from earlier models in increased efficiency and good power. The unit is controlled using an on-board computer.

Main parameters of the power unit:

An electric or manual starter is used to start. The maximum design speed according to the technical data sheet is 70 km/h. However, on smooth surfaces and ice the car can accelerate to 95 kilometers.

Operating experience

The owners of Stels Guepard appreciated the brainchild. A powerful machine with high cross-country ability became a real hit in 2014-2015 and confidently stayed in the top until the release of the Cheetah 850 model. In reviews of the Stealth Cheetah 800 ATV, owners noted the following advantages:

• High cross-country ability. Cheetah is a true conqueror of difficult trails. The machine easily passes through wetlands, mud, sand, etc.
• Versatility. The Stealth Cheetah ATV can be used for work, racing, outdoor activities and tourism.
• Reasonable price. The Russian device costs much less than foreign ATVs, but it is not inferior to them in technical terms.
• Reliability. Even with active use, the device will work for 2-3 years, without serious breakdowns.
• Excellent package. The standard set is enough for comfortable driving over rough terrain or tourism.

Unfortunately, it was not without its drawbacks. The main disadvantage is the “weak” fuel system. Hoses and bushings wear out quickly and require replacement.

general information

Rumors about the creation of a new product circulated for a relatively short time.
The Stealth Wolverine snowmobile first appeared towards the end of 2013. Many Russians, flattered by the new product, began to buy the very first model. However, “Wolverine” is a snowmobile, the first model of which did not really shine with its quality. The Chinese eight hundred cc engine of the Odes brand, shock absorbers and, in general, many running parts could have been pumped up at the most crucial moment. There were also mistakes in the cooling system. In general, although the snowmobile was driven, it assumed that its owner must have some skills to troubleshoot problems that arise

Therefore, taking into account the defects and completely reworking my brainchild, I brought it to perfection. And today the Wolverine 800 snowmobile has nothing in common with the first model, except for its appearance.

Appearance

The hood of this motorcycle is smooth. There are no creases or gutters in which snow can accumulate. The frame is made of reliable steel, and the body is made of high-strength elastic plastic that does not lose quality even in severe frosts. A windshield with improved aerodynamics allows the driver to see everything that is happening without bending over or standing up.

The space under the seat is increased, so it can accommodate two power sources at once. The new model has improved the heated steering wheel grip function, the air intake system, and the electronic wiring is equipped with water-resistant connectors.

Appearance

The hood of this motorcycle is smooth. There are no creases or gutters in which snow can accumulate. The frame is made of reliable steel, and the body is made of high-strength elastic plastic that does not lose quality even in severe frosts. A windshield with improved aerodynamics allows the driver to see everything that is happening without bending over or standing up.

The space under the seat is increased, so it can accommodate two power sources at once. The new model has improved the heated steering wheel grip function, the air intake system, and the electronic wiring is equipped with water-resistant connectors.

Equipment from Ermak company

One of the most reputable domestic manufacturers of equipment of this type is the Ermak company. The organization represents top-class equipment that successfully competes with foreign analogues. The manufacturer is constantly improving its models, thanks to which the line of snowmobiles is expanding every year.

This speaks not only of the successful development of the company, but also of a wide choice for any buyer.

Ermak snowmobiles are presented in various versions, target audiences and price categories. Therefore, everyone will be able to choose exactly the version of the snowmobile that will be optimal in technical and financial terms.

So that you can choose the most suitable model for yourself, you should familiarize yourself with the most popular equipment from this company, which will allow you to get a complete picture of snowmobiles. This is presented in the video and photographic materials published in the article.