Looking into buying my First Sled... any help?

Reed.

Reed.

Active member
Well, I just moved to Colo. this season and then decided to blow out my knee 25 days into the season. So I dont have much to do but work. I'd really like to start saving for a sled for next season and start researching and all that jive. How much is a decent sled? I know I'll need a long track, 150-160 ish?, and about 800-900 cc. I live in Keystone and will be using the sled around vail pass and prolly south of here next season... Any help with brands, motor size, track length, year? What are some good sledneck sites? Thanks!
 
Read and research as much as you can. I do a lot of snowmobile skiing and I have an old '99 summit x, but it runs strong and it was cheap. If you want to spend some dough, my friends have the new ski-doo everest, it is tight! Can't really go wrong with any of the new mountain sleds. Personally though I would stay away from the four strokes for a couple more years, the ones I have ridden don't seem to have as much pop as the 2 strokes, and I have heard of guys having some engine trouble with the yamaha 4 strokes.
 
cool... thanks for the replys. Ive heard good things about skidoo, especially teh revs. are they gonna be able to break trail and shred some pow? What size motor am I looking at? 800 ish? Are most longer track lengths aftermarket? I just found the site www.snowest.com, im reading lots
 
polaris rmk's seem to be really reliable and you can find them for relatively cheap. some of my friends ride them and they seem to be really happy with their performance.

 
If it's your first sled and your not that experienced, I wouldn't buy a 800-900cc snowmobile. A 600-700cc sled will probably have more than enough power for you + they are easier to throw around and are generally lighter (unless you have like 12 grand to spend on one of the new revs (they are BAD ASS). I have a 2006 Polaris RMK 700 159" track, and have never gotten into a situation where I needed more power, and its hill climbing and pow riding abilities are sick! People have mixed feelings on track sizes, my track is pretty huge, but it does great in powder (I kinda suck at snowmobiling, and the times that I do get stuck, I get REALLY stuck). Smaller tracks you will go faster, and easier to manuever (race ski compared to Pow ski ex.). All brands are generally good, there are definitely certain models you should stay away from, just google some and you will find reviews). Generally though, the ski doo revs, polaris rmks (except the last couple model years on the bigger engines) are sick. Not really sure about the Arctic Cats, but it seems everybody with the M7s and M8s love them. The new yamaha's are rad, especially the FX Nytro, the phazer is underpowered, the Apex Mountains are as sick as it gets....It all depends on how much you want to spend, used or new etc... my two cents
 
wow, a lot of helpful info. Thanks a lot guys. The most productive thread on NS in well over a month...

anyone else with input would be great. I'm pretty inexpereinced with sleds so i might be looking for a 700ish power, the skidoos and polaris sound like a good starting point...
 
make sure its made of legit plastic and wont just brake. dont get one of those saucers from wal mart.. they are no good
 
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Get an 04-07 skidoo summit like 144-151 track.

Don't get electric start, you pussy.

I've got an 07 summit 800 144
 
id go with yamaha fx nytro mtx or the apex mtx. dope sleds if not artic cat m1000 sno pro 162' track
 
dont get electric start, but also DO NOT get a 2007 summit 800. these sleds were lemons. at the local shop here in west yellowstone 19 of 25 came back with blown motors in under 300 miles. you fill find these sleds for CHEAP, but please resist. my buddys has 1100 miles, and hes on his 5th motor. thats horrible. i highly recommend fuel injection, save you some spark pluga and more reliable. if its your first sled, dont get a new one. you may hate sledding and then that 12g down the tubes. 2004 REVs are great sleds, just do some research about years.

become a memeber on snowest.com, all the info you ever need is on there.
 
electric start and reverse are for pussies....... my vote is for a rmk 6-900..... epending on where your at, how deep of snow you'll be riding and what you need to climb
 
Please do yourself the favor of not listening to newschoolers about sleds. There are some people on here who do know some things about sleds and there are many who dont. Join the forums on SNOWEST.com and read as much as you can. There are nearly as many members on snowest as on newschoolers and the majority of them are very experienced slednecks who are older than most newschoolers. There are riders on snowest in their 20th year of snowmobiling and they can help you much much more than anyone on here. Furthermore snowest is a GREAT place to buy and sell snowmobiles and find parts when you break yours. Do your RESEARCH!!! spring and early summer are great times to find deals on machines. Between now and then you will be able to do your homework. Every machine from every manufacturer has its ups and downs...The trick is to make yourself as knowledgable as possible and choose the machine that is going to work best for your riding style, mechanical ability and budget.
 
If i were you i would get a skidoo because the rev is so fun to ride i love mine. A good place to go to talk about sleds is http://www.hardcoresledder.com/ I would go with a 800 with 151 track the run about 10,000 new and if you have an ebay account that is sometimes good place to look new and used sleds
 
i would get an arctic cat or a ski doo cause thats what i ride and i don't like polaris or yamaha.

but do some research for yourself and talk to people who know about them
 
im also looking to buy a sled... ive been on snowest.com and i think im gonna get a summit rev 800 in a 154 track... anyone know much about these like what year to get? or if you haqve one how about a review?
 
I run an artic cat M7 162, Love the long track, great for climbing. Here are the essentials: If you buy an older sled with a smaller track and less power, make sure your with someone with a big sled, On super deep days im always breaking trail for my buddies pow special 600 with a 136. Get fuel injection if you can, no fucking with carbs. Reverse is good for backing off the trailerand thats about it. Bring lots of extra gloves.
 
the rev is a great chassis, but i HATE a carbed sled. if you get stuck in wierd angle, its gonna flood. thats a fuckin bitch not to mention EFI is much more reliable. just dont get a 2007 800. those things were pieces of shit. but i am just about to buy a 2007 600 SDI. this is ski doos version of fuel injection and these sleds are solid. dont eb afraid of 700 or 600s. a 600 with a 144 track will teach you how to ride. when i ride a 600 144 i get everywhere the 800s do, i just have to get creative at times. also be warned that big engine and tracks can get you into trouble...
 
I've got Geoff Kyle's old rig. Skidoo warrantied the clutches from last year, and they put an extra year of warranty on the motors, so not worried. I've put 700km on the thing so far, Geoff put 1200km on it last year, its still running fine.

08's are blowing drive belts every 200-300km depending on the riding. Wait for them to work the kinks out for next year.
 
If you flip or get stuck on the side and you flood, keep the throttle pinned and pull away, works every time. I love my 800, great for big hill climbs

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Brrrraaaap brap.

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um, there is no reason to add all of that extra weight when you have a 450 pound sled and your throwing another 80 pounds to it. If your sleds light enough you can pick it up by one end and turn it. IF you think you need electric start, think of it as an upper body workout.
 
you got a good 07, but when you hit 3000 km let me know if its still pulling hard. im just saying a lot, no most of the 07 800summits were pieces of shit IMO.

and the xps are great sleds if you do the right thing to them. almost no one cleans the beslt when they get it, this makes a big differnece in durability. also, a clutch vent kit makes a big difference. the xps ive seen with this are the best running sleds on the mountain.

and to the creator of the thred, your going to hear all about 4 strokes vs. 2 smokes. its what the snowmobiling community has been debating for the last 4 years...ride both and see what you think for yourself...

 
Here in Whistler there are mandatory hill climbs to get up certain routes. In brandywine you have to go up the gauntlet its like 1000m long, probably 50 degrees at the top. If you're smart about it they're not a problem.

The snowpack is super unstable right now, wouldn't recommend it what with 25 avy deaths already in US/Canada since december.
 
i understand, i ride where there are large mandatory climbs also, but im just saying all climbs are dnagerous. i prefer to boondock in the trees, but im just as guilty as highmarking as everyone else. and avalanche deaths are way to common now. do you ride with an ABS pack? if not i recomend one...
 
Ive got a black diamond avalung pack, and always have avy gear + beacon with me. Everyone I go with has full avy gear. All the good sled access skiing involves climbs. I'm getting pretty good tandem climbing too! I find going down is worse than going up actually.
 
I did exterior painting and construction all summer to pay for mine. You can get a decent 2nd hand one for 3000$ish canadian.
 
i like avlung, but i think i have a better chance of pulling the cord on a ABS pack then stiicking a tube in my mouth....and for going down steep shit, bring old belts or chains wih you and wrap them around you skis for the steeps. prouces more drag and helps slow you down...
 
wow, just looked my thread back up and a lot more useful info has been posted. I just jound snowest and am doing a lot of homework. Im looking to spend up to $3000... is that enough for a decent sled?
 
i sold my 02 summit 80 with a 151 and a can and blah blah...all the good things you need for 3 grand...really solid first sled, i'd look for one of them...i suggest buying at the end of the season, thats when people are it chin to get rid of them so they sell them for cheap. u can even get a 2003 1/2, the revs but they have more problems, id get an 02, then when you get the dough, update to a much enwer rev. i know run a 07 summit x with a 159 and LOVE it
 
don't ask NS about sleds. the best advice i've seen in this foum was the dude who directed you to snowest.com. srsly.
 
for like an 00' to maybe an 05'....I'd really look into the M series by Arctic Cat...won all of the sled of the years....(the rev is nice too, but the chassis leans you forward for an all aggressive all the time...sucks for trails due to some ski lift....) Another way to look are the hybrid sleds....they get anywhere that the mt. sleds do...great for long distance riding....and can ride trails....if you every ride trails, mt sleds are not made for them at all and have difficulty cornering....you'll find out real fast how difficult it is to ride in powder....reverse is really nice to get unstuck especially for beginners...a 600 will keep up with all the big boys....my dad and I ride in the bighorns and snowy mt.s quite a bit...he rides a crossfire 6 (arctic cat hybrid) and I ride an M8 (arctic cat mt.) I can do higher and faster hill climbs and thats about it....he lives in MN though and uses it on trails and lakes...he can keep up with me and go through the same damn stuff....all while sitting down...!

Hope it helps but it is best to go talk to a dealer rather than someone online...you don't know these other peoples experience levels, and experience is what counts most in this sport....
 
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