Best sled for solo or two up?

[meburdick]

I'm narrowing choices on a sled for me, and I'm looking for some ideas about why which models might be ideal for a "switch" between solo riding and a two-up model. I've been thinking that a Indy 500 with a two-up seat for "those occasions" would be plenty powerful enough to wind through the fields and trails, but can also provide a little more kick when it's just the wife.

Should I go to a 600 to make sure that it will haul essentially two adults worth around? Is a fan cooled going to really be better in terms of running cooler on the slower, hard-packed terrain? Or, can I offset some of the higher heat by running higher octane gas instead?

I really like the overall performance of the liquid cooled, but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot for two-up riding, either.

Thanks!

[Mach 1 Guy]

If you are 2 average sized adults, I would go for the 600. That extra power will come in handy if you ever find yourself in deeper snow, or going across a lake of some sort too. I bought a 617 2 up for the wife and I to ride together. Although the 500 will be enough power for the 2 of you, the 600 will have that extra push when needed. Better for deeper snow, or up some of those bigger hills too.

And for liquid cooled and fan cooled, I wouldn't worry about it. They both work fine, a fan cooled machine will work just fine. But I do understand your liking of the liquid cooled, but I wouldn't let that make or break a deal on a good machine!

[meburdick]

Thanks for the thoughts... Exactly the sort of stuff I'm looking for.

I found what appears to be a great deal on a '02 Edge X 500. High miles, but well maintained. Very good condition cosmetically. I think I might grab it, find a 2-up seat for it, and then plan to rebuild the motor at the end of the year. That should bring it back to "full power", and make it that much better for the following season.

[mmgg]

I had an "02 500xcsp with a track extension and vforce3 reeds.
It was an awsome sled ,and carried two poeple with no problem.

It did overheat a couple times in 0c(32f) weather with a passenger in the spring.
I think the track extension was the problem.
I added WATERWETTER coolant aditive, and there was a higher psi coolant cap in a recall for it. That FIXED the problem.


I think in "03 a rear heat exchanger was added to that model.

[meburdick]

The person that owns the sled I mentioned above said they had a recall done it to swap a heat exchanger, so maybe there was a general issue with them...

[mmgg]

Also I forgot,,the days it did over heat the trails were bare and half of the mud flap was gone. It wasn't a big deal the warning light came on then I shut it down for twenty minutes and continued on.

[meburdick]

Good to know... I'm still searching things out... This 500 looks to be *very* interesting, especially for the price. The only thing that he hasn't done to it is rebuild the motor. I'll be doing a compression test before making a final offer to him.

Everything else on the machine has been replaced, rebuilt, or serviced - most of it recently.