i personaly wouldnt go back to polaris if you paid me to after the indy i had. as far as skidoo goes my friends formula z is clocked around 126 on the lake and it has some pretty good power, but you woudl probly be better of with the 670 raher than the 583 just my 2 cents
Help Me Pick My First Sled
Hey guys, great site.... I'm looking to purchase a sled, I was lucky enough to be invited for some snowmobiling in VT this past weekend, all I can say is what a trip, we did over 225 miles on Sat. and Sun. I was able to ride an Polaris indy trail 500, a Polaris 500 liquid, polaris ultra 700 tripple, Polaris 550 classic.. I found the classic to be a cream puff, what a sweet comfortable ride although a bit underpowerd and slow for me being 6' and 250.. So i'm hoping for a bit of advice here. I am very familiar with PWC's, quads, and MX bikes, have ridden and raced for many years, and although I really like the looks of the ski-doo's after many years experience with sea-doo's I don't think they would be a good choice, anway, here are my specs.
6' 250lbs
Primary requirements:
RELIABILITY
comfort / suspension / handling
speed / power
700 - 800 CC ?????
descent fuel economy
reverse
100mph range
will be riding in NY and VT on groomed / ungroomed trails with an occasional ride in fresh powder, I would like something that sits a bit higher than what I rode over the weekend, so it will be easier on the knees.
I would also like to spend between 3-5K, new or used late model, and after a few days of research I think a Polaris 700 Fusion would be a great choice.. I would appreciate any additional suggestions or comments.. Thanks Chris..
Also would the type of sled I'm interested in fit in the back of an F-150 super-crew with bed extender ???
6' 250lbs
Primary requirements:
RELIABILITY
comfort / suspension / handling
speed / power
700 - 800 CC ?????
descent fuel economy
reverse
100mph range
will be riding in NY and VT on groomed / ungroomed trails with an occasional ride in fresh powder, I would like something that sits a bit higher than what I rode over the weekend, so it will be easier on the knees.
I would also like to spend between 3-5K, new or used late model, and after a few days of research I think a Polaris 700 Fusion would be a great choice.. I would appreciate any additional suggestions or comments.. Thanks Chris..
Also would the type of sled I'm interested in fit in the back of an F-150 super-crew with bed extender ???
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
i agree with william i have 2 polaris's and after trying out a rev ski doo won me over.with your height and weight and where you are going to ride.i would say matbe a renegade i'm thinkin 800 h.o sdi.my build is about the same as yours,and i tried out that same sled.great suspension,lots of power for mountains.very comfortable ride,the sdi is the way to go for fuel economy and oil consumption.when we stop for fuel the sdi's seem to use alot less fuel and 2 stroke oil. and i'm not sure about the U.S but i know right now in ontario they have some awesome deals on brand new left over stock 2006 and 07's. check it out i know the dealers around here are more then happy to let ya test ride one.i know i was looking at a new polaris but quickly changed my mind to doo. thats my 2 cents.
Thanks for the suggestions guys.. Basically I know squat about sleds, but I have lots of experience with Sea-doo PWC's, although the hulls ride nice the engines in my friends ski's all have had major problems and warranty problems, I'm thinking I would like to stay away from Bombardier products ???
have you thought about yammi ? i personally don't care for them,but i have heard alot of good things. also arctic cats look really good.my buddy has an 05 sabercat 700 and has had zero trouble with it.think hes around the 6000 mile mark
I have seen alot of issues with skidoo as well, but if you dont buy new, skidoo dealers seem to be more abundant than the others.... I have owned both skidoo and polaris and the polaris's were much more reliable in the engine department. Artic Cat I have never considered and have nothing to say about them, but the yamaha's seem to be ok...Thanks for the suggestions guys.. Basically I know squat about sleds, but I have lots of experience with Sea-doo PWC's, although the hulls ride nice the engines in my friends ski's all have had major problems and warranty problems, I'm thinking I would like to stay away from Bombardier products ???[/b]
I have seen alot of issues with skidoo as well, but if you dont buy new, skidoo dealers seem to be more abundant than the others.... I have owned both skidoo and polaris and the polaris's were much more reliable in the engine department. Artic Cat I have never considered and have nothing to say about them, but the yamaha's seem to be ok...[/b]
I have had the opposite experience with ski-doo and polaris, when it comes down to it they all break, and they all need to be taken care of. In the end pick something that will be easy for you to get parts for and fix, and something that has a great ride. The ski-doo and polaris both have great rides. Yamaha makes a very reliable sled.
I went over to doo talk and there seems to be the same problems with their sleds as their ski's.. all kinds of problems with their sleds. I understand that all manufacturers have their problems, just looking for a well suspended reliable sled with a bit of balls... There is a low mileage 05 RX1 locally for a good price... who has one and how do you like it ??
I would say the most important thing is the type of snowmobile you choose rather than the brand. By your description I would go with a 136" track length with 1.25" deep lugs. You don't want to go any deeper than that on the lugs if you ride mostly trail. I think the 121" short track is too limiting and it's really a rare case that you'd prefer that short of a track these days. 600cc engine (liquid cooled) should be bare minimum for you. If you think you might kill yourself going too fast I would start with a 600, which will still go really fast. 700+ engines go really really fast and when I go full throttle on my piped RMK 700 I get truly frightened. Sounds like you don't need altitude compensation so you don't necessarily need a "mountain" model (RMK, Summit). You also didn't mention if you're buying new or used.
In the comfort department, sit on what you are considering buying and try different riding positions. I absolutely hated the seat on the 2006 Skidoo Summit that I rode last spring. The rev chassis locks your legs in sort of a sport-bike stance, really cramped, which is fine for performance but not a long day for my body. I'm 6' 1" and my legs were dying from that acute angle that I couldn't relieve. The worst part is that plastic trunk lid on the back of the seat, you try to scoot back and stretch your legs and you get a trunk lid to the tailbone. It was awful. So watch out for stuff like that. Every model usually has something weird.
I would just try to find the best deal. Since Ski-doo is the hottest selling brand right now and has been for a few years, I would think you could get a better deal on a new or late-model sled from any of the other manufacturers. Arctic Cat in particular has had tough financial times and seem to have really cut prices. This is just a general observation but I think you see what I'm saying. Just find the best deal for your needs is my opinion. Ski-doo is the best selling for a reason, and that reason is the most advanced technology in both engine and chassis. So if you're willing to pay for what most people agree is the best technology, that's BRP. I'm just saying that as a beginning rider you probably won't ever notice the difference. Also I get a little skeptical about the durability of any revolutionary new design. It's the opposite of tried-and-true, and while "new" may turn out to be "better", it also may not.
Personally I would buy a nice 6 year old sled and then you won't feel so bad when you wreck it or lose it down a canyon. You have a lot to learn, and some of that tuition is going to be paid by wrecking your rig one way or the other. But if you have the budget, the newer the better.
In the comfort department, sit on what you are considering buying and try different riding positions. I absolutely hated the seat on the 2006 Skidoo Summit that I rode last spring. The rev chassis locks your legs in sort of a sport-bike stance, really cramped, which is fine for performance but not a long day for my body. I'm 6' 1" and my legs were dying from that acute angle that I couldn't relieve. The worst part is that plastic trunk lid on the back of the seat, you try to scoot back and stretch your legs and you get a trunk lid to the tailbone. It was awful. So watch out for stuff like that. Every model usually has something weird.
I would just try to find the best deal. Since Ski-doo is the hottest selling brand right now and has been for a few years, I would think you could get a better deal on a new or late-model sled from any of the other manufacturers. Arctic Cat in particular has had tough financial times and seem to have really cut prices. This is just a general observation but I think you see what I'm saying. Just find the best deal for your needs is my opinion. Ski-doo is the best selling for a reason, and that reason is the most advanced technology in both engine and chassis. So if you're willing to pay for what most people agree is the best technology, that's BRP. I'm just saying that as a beginning rider you probably won't ever notice the difference. Also I get a little skeptical about the durability of any revolutionary new design. It's the opposite of tried-and-true, and while "new" may turn out to be "better", it also may not.
Personally I would buy a nice 6 year old sled and then you won't feel so bad when you wreck it or lose it down a canyon. You have a lot to learn, and some of that tuition is going to be paid by wrecking your rig one way or the other. But if you have the budget, the newer the better.
I have been running doo,s for 15 or so years never have I had to redo any motors any thing other then norm wear and tear . I don,t like to come in sec. Lots of miles here lots of miles to go , One time I broke a shock Doo dealer had me on the snow in 1 hour I,ve drove the rest now I drive the best.................. oI went over to doo talk and there seems to be the same problems with their sleds as their ski's.. all kinds of problems with their sleds. I understand that all manufacturers have their problems, just looking for a well suspended reliable sled with a bit of balls... There is a low mileage 05 RX1 locally for a good price... who has one and how do you like it ??[/b]
Just because you had problems with Bombardier's PWCs, doesn't mean that the snowmobiles will be a piece of crap. If you ride a rev for 100 miles I promise you that you will be forgetting what problems bomardier has with making their pwc.
Frank
Frank
Thanks guys, I have ridden and raced motocross, hare scramble, quads, dirtbikes, jet-ski's for many years, we did over 225 miles my first time out on a sled, had the ultra up to 85mph and that seemed pretty fast, I rode 4 different sleds and like you guys said each one had their likes and dislikes. There really wasn't anything I didn't like about the 550 classic w/ edge suspension except that it was a bit underpowered.
Like I said, I went over to doo-talk forum and read a bunch about their sleds, seems their sleds have the same problems as their PWC's. stators, electrical, rings, engine problems. As much as I would like a RX1er its not practical for the amount of times i'm gonna ride. so I guess i'm going used, late model say 2002 -2005 ,, I'd really rather not give my money to BRP if I dont have to, I'm sure their sleds ride great, just like their ski's, problem is how reliable are they...
Regardless,,, I found a nice 02 Yammi 700 Viper for a good price, any opinions on this sled ?? Thanks again.. Chris.
Like I said, I went over to doo-talk forum and read a bunch about their sleds, seems their sleds have the same problems as their PWC's. stators, electrical, rings, engine problems. As much as I would like a RX1er its not practical for the amount of times i'm gonna ride. so I guess i'm going used, late model say 2002 -2005 ,, I'd really rather not give my money to BRP if I dont have to, I'm sure their sleds ride great, just like their ski's, problem is how reliable are they...
Regardless,,, I found a nice 02 Yammi 700 Viper for a good price, any opinions on this sled ?? Thanks again.. Chris.
I ride in Southern Vermont (woodford) and I'm the same weight as you, so I may be of some help.
I got into riding in the winter of 01/02. Since I was new, I didn't figure that I needed a sled with an agressive suspension, so I bought a new Arctic Cat ZL SS 600 EFI. Nice cushy ride. I hated it. My skill level rapidly increased and when trying to keep up with my friends, I'd bottom the sled constantly. I swapped the SS shocks for fox, upgraded springs, and still hated it. I'm just now buying an 06 Crossfire. My point here is that unless you ride like an old lady, I'd suggest getting a performance oriented sled in order to ensure that you've got enough suspension under you.
As for power, that's a personal preference, but I found that with my 600, I almost never needed more power. Vermont trails are twisty and tight, so it's a very rare occasion that my throttle ever got pinned, and when it did, it was never more than 1 or 2 seconds at a time. Sure, I'd pin it on a lake now and then, but that's it. For trail riding, I think how the clutch feels is a lot more important. My ZL SS had a very smooth clutch, which I hated. It engaged so smoothly that I couldn't get the front end to come up with the throttle, which made it impossible to get on top of the bumps. My friend rides an 01 ZR 500. That sled was a vastly superior trail sled. It had a firmer suspension, and had very agressive stock clutching. The front end of that sled felt very light and nimble. So my point here is, again, consider a performance trail sled. I feel that these are the only sleds equipped to deliver a tolerable ride for somebody our size who intends to ride vermont trails fast enough to keep up with friends.
I got into riding in the winter of 01/02. Since I was new, I didn't figure that I needed a sled with an agressive suspension, so I bought a new Arctic Cat ZL SS 600 EFI. Nice cushy ride. I hated it. My skill level rapidly increased and when trying to keep up with my friends, I'd bottom the sled constantly. I swapped the SS shocks for fox, upgraded springs, and still hated it. I'm just now buying an 06 Crossfire. My point here is that unless you ride like an old lady, I'd suggest getting a performance oriented sled in order to ensure that you've got enough suspension under you.
As for power, that's a personal preference, but I found that with my 600, I almost never needed more power. Vermont trails are twisty and tight, so it's a very rare occasion that my throttle ever got pinned, and when it did, it was never more than 1 or 2 seconds at a time. Sure, I'd pin it on a lake now and then, but that's it. For trail riding, I think how the clutch feels is a lot more important. My ZL SS had a very smooth clutch, which I hated. It engaged so smoothly that I couldn't get the front end to come up with the throttle, which made it impossible to get on top of the bumps. My friend rides an 01 ZR 500. That sled was a vastly superior trail sled. It had a firmer suspension, and had very agressive stock clutching. The front end of that sled felt very light and nimble. So my point here is, again, consider a performance trail sled. I feel that these are the only sleds equipped to deliver a tolerable ride for somebody our size who intends to ride vermont trails fast enough to keep up with friends.
I ride in Southern Vermont (woodford) and I'm the same weight as you, so I may be of some help.
I got into riding in the winter of 01/02. Since I was new, I didn't figure that I needed a sled with an agressive suspension, so I bought a new Arctic Cat ZL SS 600 EFI. Nice cushy ride. I hated it. My skill level rapidly increased and when trying to keep up with my friends, I'd bottom the sled constantly. I swapped the SS shocks for fox, upgraded springs, and still hated it. I'm just now buying an 06 Crossfire. My point here is that unless you ride like an old lady, I'd suggest getting a performance oriented sled in order to ensure that you've got enough suspension under you.
As for power, that's a personal preference, but I found that with my 600, I almost never needed more power. Vermont trails are twisty and tight, so it's a very rare occasion that my throttle ever got pinned, and when it did, it was never more than 1 or 2 seconds at a time. Sure, I'd pin it on a lake now and then, but that's it. For trail riding, I think how the clutch feels is a lot more important. My ZL SS had a very smooth clutch, which I hated. It engaged so smoothly that I couldn't get the front end to come up with the throttle, which made it impossible to get on top of the bumps. My friend rides an 01 ZR 500. That sled was a vastly superior trail sled. It had a firmer suspension, and had very agressive stock clutching. The front end of that sled felt very light and nimble. So my point here is, again, consider a performance trail sled. I feel that these are the only sleds equipped to deliver a tolerable ride for somebody our size who intends to ride vermont trails fast enough to keep up with friends.[/b]
Exactly,,, I'm looking for a reliable performance oriented trail sled w/ good suspension and the occasion 90-100 mph blast down the lake or across the fields..
the 05 xcsp 600 edge are nice,still a few leftovers hanging around,very fast,ride good and reliable,2100 miles,same plugs, belt,my buddy bought a 600 fusion at the same time has had it to the dealer 4 times,minor issues.the fusion rides better in the rough stuff,but on a lake i check out
Then I'd stick in the 600 class (or 120hp class as it's now being called) and look at the performance offerings of all 4 manufacturers. For 07 the magazine boners are aimed at the new Cat F6 and the Polaris IQ. My guess is that with the 08 Nytro on the Phazer chassis and the new Rev platform, those will be the hot sleds for 08.Exactly,,, I'm looking for a reliable performance oriented trail sled w/ good suspension and the occasion 90-100 mph blast down the lake or across the fields..[/b]
I personally bought a new 2006 Crossfire 700 Sno Pro leftover. I haven't ridden it yet though, so I can't comment on it. My hope is that the longer track will smooth out the moguls that used to swallow my ZL SS, and that the longer track also gives me the traction to blip the throttle and pull the front end up to stay on top of those moguls. It should also be much better in the deep stuff than my ZL SS was, which will help when I fool around in the fields near my house and break trail on the small back-woods trails near my house.
Cool, thanks for all the suggestions,,, I found a 03 RX1 locally for a good price, but want to do a lot of research before I pull the trigger on any sled..
Chris,
I'm not sure where you are on the process seeing as I don't have the patience to read all of the posts but I can tell you I've been riding snowmobiles for 16 years, both Yamahas and Ski Doo's mainly and NOTHING has even come close to the comfort of my new 06 Ski Doo GSX Limited 800. I've had it going over 100 and it wasnt even full throttle. I am 6'2 and am pushing 240 and after a long day of riding, I'm still comfortable. Go with a Ski Doo Rev!
I'm not sure where you are on the process seeing as I don't have the patience to read all of the posts but I can tell you I've been riding snowmobiles for 16 years, both Yamahas and Ski Doo's mainly and NOTHING has even come close to the comfort of my new 06 Ski Doo GSX Limited 800. I've had it going over 100 and it wasnt even full throttle. I am 6'2 and am pushing 240 and after a long day of riding, I'm still comfortable. Go with a Ski Doo Rev!
ChrisHey guys, great site.... I'm looking to purchase a sled, I was lucky enough to be invited for some snowmobiling in VT this past weekend, all I can say is what a trip, we did over 225 miles on Sat. and Sun. I was able to ride an Polaris indy trail 500, a Polaris 500 liquid, polaris ultra 700 tripple, Polaris 550 classic.. I found the classic to be a cream puff, what a sweet comfortable ride although a bit underpowerd and slow for me being 6' and 250.. So i'm hoping for a bit of advice here. I am very familiar with PWC's, quads, and MX bikes, have ridden and raced for many years, and although I really like the looks of the ski-doo's after many years experience with sea-doo's I don't think they would be a good choice, anway, here are my specs.
6' 250lbs
Primary requirements:
RELIABILITY
comfort / suspension / handling
speed / power
700 - 800 CC ?????
descent fuel economy
reverse
100mph range
will be riding in NY and VT on groomed / ungroomed trails with an occasional ride in fresh powder, I would like something that sits a bit higher than what I rode over the weekend, so it will be easier on the knees.
I would also like to spend between 3-5K, new or used late model, and after a few days of research I think a Polaris 700 Fusion would be a great choice.. I would appreciate any additional suggestions or comments.. Thanks Chris..
Also would the type of sled I'm interested in fit in the back of an F-150 super-crew with bed extender ???[/b]
I'm not sure you need a sled that will go 100 mph for your first snowmobile. I would suggest a Yamaha phazer or a MXZ 550 fan with the "X" package. Skidoo makes great snowmobiles and there quality is getting better each year. As you are aware the other manufactures are copyinng skidoo's design. As far as a Polaris Fusion 700 I would stay away from untill Polaris sorts out all of its issues. Yamaha makes decent sleds but you stated that you wanted the forward upright seating position, Yamaha did not adapt that style of riding untill 2006 which was their nytro or apex models big bucks still to buy one used. A good used MXZ 600 with sdi would be my choice.
Chris
I'm not sure you need a sled that will go 100 mph for your first snowmobile. I would suggest a Yamaha phazer or a MXZ 550 fan with the "X" package. Skidoo makes great snowmobiles and there quality is getting better each year. As you are aware the other manufactures are copyinng skidoo's design. As far as a Polaris Fusion 700 I would stay away from untill Polaris sorts out all of its issues. Yamaha makes decent sleds but you stated that you wanted the forward upright seating position, Yamaha did not adapt that style of riding untill 2006 which was their nytro or apex models big bucks still to buy one used. A good used MXZ 600 with sdi would be my choice.[/b]
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
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