Hi, all.

I have been out of riding for quite some time... My last sled was a '96 Indy 500 EFI that I picked up used from a trusted source at a great price. I didn't get to ride it for long, and then sold it off.

I'm looking to get back into riding with the kids now, and am looking for general advice on how to buy a used machine from a private seller. What are the things to look out for?

Some ideas that I've had:

- The more "original" the machine, the better (more mods may mean harder riding or a specialized setup that won't translate well to my use).
- Lower miles = less overall wear. But, I also know that this could mean that the machine is internally degraded.
- Plastic that's not broken. Cracks and holes could indicate accidents.
- No dings, dents, scratches (obvious stuff here). Generally good overall condition means higher likelihood of being well cared-for.
- No rust, especially under the hood. Corrosion of any kind could indicate poor storage habits.

What about things like particular models? Years? Specific things to check for?

Is it reasonable to do a field test for compression on the motor? How do I check belt and track wear? How likely am I to be able to find / negotiate a deal (especially at this time of year) on a sled at or below the Kelly Blue Book value?

I am a fan of Polaris INDY sleds for look and comfort. But, for my size (full-grown adult male, 6', 220), I want something with great suspension. My EFI had XTRA-12, and it was excellent for me. There's a sled in my general vicinity for sale ('99 700 XC, $1700) that appears very interesting. What should I know to look for on a sled like that?

Are there any recommendations for a good twin, liquid-cooled machine (especially something that would be EFI) to keep maintenance down but still provide a trail rider with some punch on the straights?

I live in CT, but would likely also ride in NH. Any thoughts, insight, advice, etc would be very welcome.

Thanks in advance.

What about things like particular models? Years? Specific things to check for?
I like 99 and up Polaris,skidoo and cat. Then 2004 and up yamaha.
for problems just do a model seach on this site.
Is it reasonable to do a field test for compression on the motor?
yes do a compression check,120+is ok.115 is normal ,105 time for rings,below 100 it is hard to start.
How do I check belt and track wear?
belt wear ,,,black on the clutch cover will show hard use or deep snow driving, trackwear is just visual.
How likely am I to be able to find / negotiate a deal (especially at this time of year) on a sled at or below the Kelly Blue Book value?
Find stuff wrong, find one in the country side or wait until january to get a deal

I am a fan of Polaris INDY sleds for look and comfort. But, for my size (full-grown adult male, 6', 220), I want something with great suspension. My EFI had XTRA-12, and it was excellent for me. There's a sled in my general vicinity for sale ('99 700 XC, $1700) that appears very interesting. What should I know to look for on a sled like that?
Things to look for,,compression,clutch wear(cracks,bushings) wear
,chain(tensioner all the way in is worn) wear,rh track drive bearing(speedo drive been replaced means bearing is probably worn,) wear,
shock wear,oil pump adj.( lines lined up),check the suspension attach holes.if oval,( may have been jumped check for suspension damage),
it's old so anything that moves chech it. Ask about maint.schedule,, storage.

A friend of mine had the '99 700xc with a track extension,, it was awesome fun to ride.
If your buget is only $2000 I'd say the'99 700 xc would be good(if it has the m10 suspesion even better.)
but if you can afford $2500 you should be able to find a 2001,2002(pretty sure most sleds upgraded their suspensions and went to 1" track lugs in 2001,2002 )

Thanks for the info... I may take a look at the sled I mentioned just because it's reasonably close and would be worth the drive.

While I *can* afford $2,500, I'm trying to keep costs down because I'm looking for TWO machines AND a trailer. If I could cap the whole thing at $3,000, I'd be pretty thrilled.

I may be buying a 14' or 16' equipment trailer, and could certainly haul the sleds on that. If I do that, I'd probably try and cap a pair of machines at $2,500 because the trailer is going to run me at least $1,500.