entrylevel fun

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OK, so you went riding with a friend last season and caught the snowmobiling bug. We knew you would. Now you want a new sled, but want to spend the minimum, or darn near it.

Where to begin?

First off, relax. There are good choices for entry-level sleds from each of the Big 4, and sometimes with just minor upgrades you can get a first-rate machine that will keep you happy for years.

Even long-time riders with high-horse sleds in the garage can enjoy these, if their egos (and buddies) will allow them to. Or you may want one for the kids, spouse or significant other.

The best news is that only one of the Big 4's entry-level sleds (Supersport) is long in the tooth, the others are near the top of their game. Arctic Cat, for instance, has a new F570 in its new stiffer Twin Spar chassis, Yamaha offers its near new FX Phazer with a 4-stroke engine and motocross styling and Ski-Doo has its racy MXZ X 550F in the industry-changing REV chassis. And, you won't spend more than $6,600 for any of these sleds.

Here's how they stack up against each other.

Arctic Cat F570
Leading the entry-level market is Arctic's new F570, a fan-cooled 2-stroke that is light and nimble, but offers an excellent riding position, seat and is the most comfortable in this segment. It's the leader of the pack.

Last year Cat launched the Twin Spar chassis and its F-series sleds, and for 2008, Cat drops the 65- to 70-horse 565cc fan into the same rigid platform with its centralized weight and rider-forward positioning. Cat will tell you the F sleds offer the best rider position of all the sleds, and it IS a good position. However, this is the base model, so instead of its fancy (and helpful) IRP (Infinite Rider Positioning), you're locked into a fixed post setting here.

That's OK though because you'll still sit upright with your knees at a comfortable angle. And you sit a little higher (makes it easy to stand) due to Cat's tall, well-cushioned seat that's easy on your assets. Plus, we found the F570 simple to move around on as we zipped in and out of tight trail turns.

Wide boards also give you the ability to maneuver on the F570, and the hooked bars allow you to get up on the grips if you're the aggressive type. Bravo to Cat for the hooked bars, as other OEMs often do not offer them at this level. The heating element seemed to work especially well on these too.

All this leads to a sled that's extremely easy to control and steer, no matter the rider's size. Arctic Cat ensures this with the most responsive point and steer handling among this group. The F sled's steering post is mounted on roller bearings to give it a light, responsive feel.

Plus, underneath, both the front and rear suspension work hard to provide good handling and solid trail taming. Up front are double-wishbone A-arms with sway bar and hydraulic twin tube shocks. Those soak up the stutters well for an entry-level machine. And in back, the slide-action suspension with coupling blocks and adjustable torsion springs provides a calm ride. Rolling down some pretty decrepit trails out West last March, this was the entry-level sled that handled the slush, rock and ice the best.

Between the steering, light feel (this is the lightest sled in the category), easy ride and the cushy seat, you won't be tired at the end of a long run.

There are other ergonomic pluses here too. The F570's mid-height windshield does a fairly good job of deflecting wind, although I'd opt for the taller windshield if you ride long distances regularly or ride in particularly cold areas.

Electric start is standard, a big plus especially for newcomers or younger riders. Too bad push-button reverse isn't too. The manual reverse is a bit of a pain, pull out a pretty stiff lever and then push it down, but it doesn't always catch, so it ain't easy.

Cat adds a spiffy new gauge dead center in its dash. It's simple, and has a speedometer, tach, dual-stage trip odometer and electric gas gauge (much appreciated at night). There's also a low-oil light to keep you from running it dry and damaging the engine.

Speaking of which, it's easy to get at and unclip the oil filler cover under the F570's hood. And the gas tank is a sizeable 10.8 gallons.

2008 Arctic Cat F570
Engine: 565cc fan 2-stroke
HP: 65-70
Exhaust: Tuned pipe & canister
Ski Stance: 43 in.
Front Susp.: AWS VII double-wishbone A-arms
Rear Susp.: Slide-action frame w/coupling blocks
Track: 15x128x1.0 in.
Fuel Tank: 10.8 gal.
Dry Weight: 425 lbs. ('07 model)
Price: $6,499 US/$8,399 CA

MXZ 550X
If cost is a deciding factor alone, the base MXZ Fan at $5,799 US is your best bet, even though it's $400 more than the aging Polaris Supersport. We'd urge you to move up to the MXZ 550X at $6,399 US if only to get the REV chassis, but more on that in a minute.

The base fan is light and lively. A trailblazer for years, the REV platform pushed all the manufacturers to centralize sled weight and move the rider forward. By sitting further forward, you have more control and better vision on the sled. Taller riders have found their knees tend to bump the bulkhead though, which can be tiring for some on long rides. It's not much of a problem for those less than 6-feet tall. Fairly tight foot wells could bother some riders with larger feet too.

Still, the 55+ horses deliver quick throttle response and will make you darned near as fast, corner to corner on the trails, as guys with higher horse engines. Add in the better ride, control and ski bite that the REV offers, and you'll have a blast on the 550 Fan.

Another plus is the 47-inch ski stance here. That makes the MXZ the most stable sled in the crowd, better for cornering and general comfort level for newcomers, spouses and kids. Electronic reverse also is standard, an advantage over the Cat, but electric start is optional.

If you worked enough overtime this year that you can afford a bit more, we'd suggest the racier MXZ 550X. For $600 more US, $800 more Canadian, the 550X adds better shocks all around to aid the REV's ride. The X version adds HPG take-apart units front and rear, the front shocks being clickers so they're easier to adjust.

If you intend to push this sled, and even if you don't, the X model handles trail bumps better than the base model.

It also adds a racing seat that's easier to move around on, plus bars with a riser block to gain you some leverage and hand guards to cut the wind's chilling effect. Yet there's a low windshield on this model, so you might want to consider something taller for comfort's sake.

The X model also gives you better off-trail or powdery trail performance by upping the standard 0.88-inch lugged track to a 1.25-inch lug RipSaw track. A few other upgrades include a reinforced tunnel and steel-braided brake line.

Either REV-based fan will deliver a fair amount of fun for the price though.

2008 Ski-Doo MXZ 550X
Engine: 550cc fan 2-stroke
HP: 55+
Exhaust: Single tuned pipe
Ski Stance: 47 in.
Front Susp.: RAS w/sway bar, HPG-TA clicker shocks
Rear Susp.: SC-4, HPG-TA shocks
Track: 15x121x1.25 in.
Fuel Tank: 10.6 gal.
Dry Weight: 435 lbs.
Price: $6,399 US/$8,499 CA

Yamaha FX Phazer
And now for something completely different!

Yamaha's Phazer is a world apart from the other entry-level sleds in both design and power. Last year Yamaha thought way outside the box to create its lightweight CF die-cast FX chassis with the engine mounted low and almost beneath the rider. It not only centralizes mass, but gives the sled a short snout and a dirt bike feel.

The engineering to get all the parts to fit neatly under the beak is a work of art. It's also a look that attracts younger riders, and those coming from motocross.

They'll also enjoy the spritely 80-horse, 2-cylinder 4-stroke engine that was derived from Yamaha's YZF 250 dirt bike. It's the most powerful in the entry-level market, and throttle response from this fuel-injected powerplant is snappy, making the Phazer a hoot from a standing start.

But the sled rides tall, so it is a little top-heavy in turns. You'll want to lean in more on this one than the others as you zip through tight turns. That can be fun, but you may find yourself easing off the throttle a bit more here, and because it's a 4-stroke, you'll need to get used to a little engine braking. But that's just a short-term concern.

Much of the fun here though is moving around on the sled, and this is the easiest to do that on because of its narrow dirt bike style seat. Plus, the sled's taller attitude and seat make it easy to stand on. Its wide boards also allow you to get your feet out to the edge and push as you lean into turns… sort of like you're on a dirt bike. Catching a theme here yet?

There is a bit more play in the handlebars than on the Cat or Ski-Doo, but ride is good. Phazer is especially well suited to those who like jumping moguls or snow drifts along the trail. The rear suspension has a whopping 16 inches of travel, and both front and rear suspensions use KYB gas cell shocks. These do a fine job on normal trails, but if you're really going to pound the Phazer, better to move up to the RTX (rough-trail) version with its Dual Shock CK torsion spring rear suspension. It features an HPG clicker shock with 20 clicks of compression and really soaks up bumps. Up front, the RTX also uses Fox Float shocks to help eliminate bottoming.

Unfortunately, you'll have to spend a little more. The RTX starts at $7,599 US, but keep in mind you also get a low windshield and hand deflectors, where the base model has neither. RTX also comes with hooked handlebars, while FX Phazer's are straight.

Long rides are possible on Phazer, if you're comfortable on the narrow seat. You might need to add a windshield too, unless you're one of those Iron Dog competition folks.

For 2008 all Phazers come with new snow panels that seal the gap between the seat and tunnel that was problematic for some folks with the 2007 models.

Note too that Phazer comes standard with electric start, something only it and the F570 offer. However, while some come with push-button reverse, that's only an option on the FX Phazer.

2008 Yamaha FX Phazer
Engine: 499cc 4-stroke
HP: 80
Exhaust: Rear
Ski Stance: 42.7 in.
Front Susp.: Independent double-wishbone
Rear Susp.: Dual shock
Track: 14x121x1.0 in.
Fuel Tank: 7.0 gal.
Dry Weight: 476 lbs.
Price: $6,599 US

Polaris Supersport
This has been a BNG special for several years now, meaning it gets Bold New Graphics, or decals to update its look, but stays much the same mechanically. The Supersport, much as it now appears, was launched in 1994. To be fair, its 544cc engine got major updating a year ago, and that was spelled - NiCaSil.

For the 2007 model year, Polaris upgraded its 544cc engine with NiCaSil-lined cylinders to improve durability and help it cool more quickly. A side benefit (for all of us) is that the lining helps cut engine emissions drastically. For owners it also boosts fuel economy.

This is a simple sled like folks have been using for years. Still, it rides like an older sled with a lower seating position that puts you further back on the machine as you reach for the handlebars. Essentially this is a low rider that's a "pull-and-go" sled. The gas gauge is just a sight level in the gas cap, and the footboards are narrow with tight wells.

Supersport's windshield is low, providing little wind protection, but there are good three-speed handlebar heaters and wind deflectors to keep your mitts warm on a long ride. However, the seat is hard, so lengthy rides may be less comfortable than other sleds in this group.

The Supersport is just slightly lighter than the Yamaha 4-stroke that gets better gas mileage and doesn't burn oil, but it remains easy to maneuver by leaning in the turns and yanking on the straight handlebars. Starting it isn't hard, and electric start is an option.

Reverse is standard though, easily engaged by pushing a button, and the dash features a simple gauge with speedometer and odometer.

Just the basics ma'am!

2008 Polaris Supersport
Engine: 544cc NiCaSil fan 2-stroke
HP: 60
Exhaust: Single
Ski Stance: 42.5 in.
Front Susp.: EDGE
Rear Susp.: EDGE
Track: 15x121x0.82 in.
Fuel Tank: 11.8 gal.
Dry Weight: 470 lbs.
Price: $5,399 US/$7,049 CA

Roundup!
Hey, we can make an argument for the Cat, Yamaha or Ski-Doo here.

We like the Cat for its comfort and ease of handling on the trails. It's light-weight and has the strongest 2-stroke among the group. Plus, it looks new and gives you the best ride of this bunch, a major benefit if you plan to put on some miles each season.

The Yamaha has the power in this category and its looks are by far the most youthful and exciting. It's also fun to toss about, yet ride comfort due to the narrow seat and more exposed feel could hold you back for distance riding. If your aim is to go out and just play hard in the snow, this is probably your best choice.

Ski-Doo's fan is still a load of fun to bash around on. It's easy to steer, although steering effort is slightly more than on the Cat. Yet, its skis dig in for good cornering. Taller riders still may have sore knees after a long day on the REV, and it's possible this model could move to the newer REV-XP with its better riding position in the next season or two. So it might be wise to wait.

Polaris? Well, hopefully it will upgrade its entry-level model soon, but does remain the winner on price at $5,399 US. Polaris folks also may argue that you COULD move up to the no frills Shift sled in the newer IQ chassis with a 120-horse 600cc engine. It starts at $6,999 US, so it isn't a giant stretch from some of these models. But, do you, or your kids or your spouse, need that much more power, just to enjoy a day's ride? Not really, and the Cat and Ski-Doo still are way more comfortable and easy to ride.