Ok guys Im lookin for a little help trying to pick out a new sled. I live in Iowa, so I dont have a lot of snow or trails to ride. We normally just bang up and down ditches, and rivers. So I guess my question is what kinda sled has the best combo of top end river and lake running and short spurt runnin an jumpin in ditches. I have a bad back and still like to play with jumps so Im gonna need something with a good suspension and travel since im also 6' 240lbs. but I would also like to be able to keep up when we hit the open lake or river. Is there any perfect sled for this kind of riding??? I guess I shouldnt have titled this post as NEW SLED because im actually lookin to pick up a used one. Ive been riding a 92 vmax4 750 and it is awesome on the lake and river rides and can keep up with all the 7,8, and 900s that I ride with but its horrible being so heavy and having a crap suspension for the ditch riding. As far as top end speed how much actual difference in enigine size like a 440, 600, 700, 800, or a 900? I was actually thinking of trying something like a 440 snopro but didnt think I stood a chance of keeping up when we hit the open stuff, and I cant stand to be in the back :wink: so then I thought about something like an ZR900 or RX1 but Ive never riden one so I have no idea how they will do in the small jumpy type ditch riding. Im in no way brand specific just lookin for the best of both worlds as far as top end and playing in the ditches, thanks for any help or suggestions theyre appreciated

nobodys got any suggestions???

Could anyone tell me what the difference in top end speeds is between a stock 440, 600, 700, 800, and a 900

well I cant say i read your whole thread, i was too lazy. but the difference between a 440 and 500 top speed depends on the sled. i guess from what i've read on forums here the newer 440s go a good amount slower than the 500s. longer travel sleds have lower top end. ive ridden a 96 xlt tripple that goes 110 or 115 and its stock. anything over a 600 for top end u might as well just kill yourself now unless you want your head to turn into oatmeal. triples have a good amount more power than twins but your arms get tired much quicker on them because they are generally bigger sleds. I would stick with 500 and under for jumping. If you are just going around your yard id stick with 500 and under. anything else is unnecessary and you'll get sore arms much faster if your yard isn't a huge field.
in general-long tracks are for deep powder, short tracks are for trails. long tracks/tripples get bad gas mileage.

hope that helps

i read your post. haha. id say a 500 or maybe 600 is good for you. 500s aren't too heavy. 600s have more power, especially tripples. but the xlt ive ridden weighs a ton. the newer the sled the better the suspension

I have a 440 fan cooled that tops out around 65-70.....are you open to any brands? as for polaris i would say a indy 500 or 600 would be good for your application, I'm in central SoDak, so I have similar weather....the xcf is a good ditch banger but it won't keep up with the bigger sleds.....if your worried about keeping up with people you better opt for the 600 (maybe even 700) A/C has a 580, never rode it but it should have decent power/speed....