Best of Both Worlds

[LuckydawgAK]

My wife needs a Pro-Rmk 600 or 800 and we are debating which one and wanted input. She is a green rider with some trail experience but not much mountain/boondocking. I could think of no other easy riding machine than the Pro.

Is the 800 too much sled for someone brand new? Women, please feel free to chime in. The twist is that I will ride it quite a bit too . Probably a lot more than her.

I currently have a Nytro with a 180 Turbo/Skinz set up. I really like the sled. I like the torque and the power. It has it's place, shines in the climbing but it lacks in the trees and super deep when I ride with some buddies. I love the handling and of course the weight of the RMK and would love to use it on certain rides. Who knows, I may be a convert after this as I have never owned a 2 stroke

I'd like to address the 600/800. I kind of lean toward the 800 in case she doesn't like riding then I've got the option down the road for me but is this too much machine for her. Anyone else bounce back and forth between sleds?? Anyone go have the opportunity to ride a few sleds in a season?

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

get the 8..6 is pretty wimpy when things get deep and vertical..she can handle the 8 just fine..its all about teaching her the right way...

 

[Iceman56]

No question about it get the 8... Just let here now she controls all the power with her thumb so shouldn't make any difference for her. You will be kicking yourself later if you don't get the 800.
My wife just started ridding a couple years ago and has rode nothing but 800s. She has done great on them. Last year I bought her an 800 Etec for her to ride and a spare for me.

 

[Dazzler]

The 600 Pro works surprisingly well, but the weight difference between the two is minimal so I would go for the 8.

 

[Pro-8250]

GET THE 800, REGRETS CAN BE DISAPPOINTING

You can't get a 600 do what an 800 will do. But an 800 will do what a 600 will do, and more.
The 600 is great at lower elevations. 1000'-3000' But at 6000'-10,000" the 600 just doesn't cut it IMO.
Now you have to decide 155" or 163"

 

[Bossman]

MAKE WIFE HAPPY

If you want your wife to like the sport, buy the 600. With an inexperienced rider at the controls, the 6 is far easier to boondock with and trenches less. It costs less to buy and insure and has at least twice the engine life. If your wife weighs 50# less than any of your buddies, the best part will be watching her spank them in a 500 ft drag race!

 

[pelon]

Although the 800 has more power, its a disappointment waiting to happen. The 600 is much more reliable.

However, if you decide you really want a 2 stroke 800, then buy the new skidoo.

 

[Bagger]

Personaly I think it depends moree on your Wife than on any difference between the two sleds. Does she enjoy motor sports? Ride a dirt bike? Is she aggressive or timid? Does she understand what a great tool the throttle is or does she just think it makes the sled move . . .
If she's a rider, new or not, but with the rider mindset, then she is going to learn the operation of the sled and accept it.
Let's face it, at todays level of sled ability/quality there isn't that much differance. It's not like your putting her on an old RT1000. Weight and basic experience is going to be impossible to detect between the 8 and the 6 for a noob.
The 8 will have a better engagement for her if she's throttle timid, the 6 will never wear out. I believe that by the time she is experienced enough to understand the nuances of the quickness of the 6's handling she will be skilled enough to use the extra differance in the 8's power to her advantage.
So, I would base this purchase on her mindset/tendancies, not any sled difference, or which one you would prefer as a backup.
For the record, my Wife went from a Trail 550 to an 11 Pro 800. She is pretty throttle timid, and the 8 works great for her as she came get around using the lower rpm torque of the 8. My last sled was an 07 600 RMK, and she had a tougher time on that as it required her to use more thumb and it just wasn't in her nature.

Good luck!

And for the record, the best thing we did to get her comfortable riding so she enjoyed being out and getting off trail was take Amber's riding class together. Made a huge difference in her comfort level and understanding how to get around in the deep.

Again, good luck. The couple seasons I have invested in putting Her riding first has paid off with a great riding partner that loves the sport and wants to go and isn't a liability.

Bag

Sent from my BlackBerry 9850 using Tapatalk

 

[Excalibur]

Just like buying a handgun. What I would get myself might be different than what she would like. She really needs to test ride before buying (what type of riding). My wife and I are in our late 40s, started riding 3 years ago. As much as I would like her to ride the way I do (her getting a sled on edge has been a challenge) is not going to happen. She now has a 12 600 Switchback Adventure,awesome ride, lots of fun, she still follows us off trail a ways. My 15 year old twin girls, different story. They have had the their heavy Mountain Max sleds 600 & 700 on edge trying to sidehill, climb etc. Trying to keep up with big brother and Dads PROs. I got one 12 RMK 600 end of season, they love it (so do I) even with the Ryde FX shocks it is an amazing machine. Stays cooler on the trail, pull starts easily, uses less fuel. Paid $8400 If you get a 800 let her consider electric start, if you get a PRO she has to be mindfull of engine temps and how to control them.
Nothing better than if you both are out together enjoying the ride!

 

[diamonddave]

If the people who rec the 8 for your wife EVER spent any real time on a 6 in different types of conditions, they would realize (if they have the ability) that the 6 would be the better choice for a green or low experienced rider.

Even experienced riders I ride with, have traded their 8's for 6's. The fun factor, the lighter feel of the shorter stroke (can't dispute physics), faster revving engine, can't be described on a forum.

The best thing you could do would be to rent a 600 and let her spend at least a full day or 2 on it.

I promise you, you will be at the dealer the next day, picking up a 6. Then, if the day comes and she wants more power, you could throw a Carl's Cycle 660 kit on there and have a much more fun sled, even funner than an 8. My wife has a 660 and she won't even think about getting on my 800.

And do her a favor....get her a e-start.

 

[AndrettiDog]

...Yet another opinion...

I would stay with the 800. I did in fact! My wife was on my brother's IQ and a buddies Rev while I was riding the Pro 800. She tried my Pro 800 and I was then stuck on the old iron (go figure). So I kept my 2011 800 and bought a 2013 for me...uh, I mean her! This way I have two sleds with very similar parts and I have a backup sled if one goes down. I would have loved to BB a 600 and swap with her but that meant buying another new sled and I wanted the 2013 Pro. I don't think your wife will need less power and the 800 to 600 isn't significant. More torque and grunt in the deep.

However, if you decide you really want a 2 stroke 800, then buy the new skidoo.

Good idea, get the wife a bigger heavier machine. He already said he's not going to need more power. But hey, the Doo has a cool track that pivots right?

 

[goridedoo]

The power of the Poo 800 is very manageable, and you won't be wishing you hadn't bought a 600. 800 has my vote.

 

[pelon]

...Yet another opinion...

I would stay with the 800. I did in fact! My wife was on my brother's IQ and a buddies Rev while I was riding the Pro 800. She tried my Pro 800 and I was then stuck on the old iron (go figure). So I kept my 2011 800 and bought a 2013 for me...uh, I mean her! This way I have two sleds with very similar parts and I have a backup sled if one goes down. I would have loved to BB a 600 and swap with her but that meant buying another new sled and I wanted the 2013 Pro. I don't think your wife will need less power and the 800 to 600 isn't significant. More torque and grunt in the deep.



Good idea, get the wife a bigger heavier machine. He already said he's not going to need more power. But hey, the Doo has a cool track that pivots right?

Its all in the pivot!!

 

[mountainhorse]

Is your goal to have her dis-like riding so you get to keep two sleds... or is she truly your partner??

I've had saddle time on both... consider myself a strong rider but there are many MANY more skilled than I am.

I would have no hesitation recommending the 600 over the 800 for her and, unless you are 280lbs, for you as a back up as well.

Throttle control is one of the more difficult things to learn... and when you grab a handfull on an 800... more to manage...as in you have to be more experienced to handle all the input necessary to get the sled to go where you want it go.

Dan Adams runs a clinic for riders (which I'd suggest you take her on a 2nd honeymoon to Alpine Wyo for)... and prefers the 600's as learning tools and capable backcountry tools.

Read through this tread.. and pay attention to Stephs comments... she was a decent rider...but wanted to step it up a bit... went from an M7 to a Pro-6.
http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257911

Sure there are times when an 800 would have power to get you out of a situation.. But, for a lighter rider... you can go places with a 600 that a heavier rider would need an 800 (or more depending on how big they are).

I have some friends that are 280 lbs, like a linebacker, and cant get places on their 800's I can get to on a 600.

 

[LuckydawgAK]

Is your goal to have her dis-like riding so you get to keep two sleds... or is she truly your partner??

You busted me mountainhorse!!

I read your recommended thread. Here is an honest assessment of her skills and where we she is at:

My wife moved from Fairbanks to Anchorage two summers ago after an 11 year stint in Hawaii. She hasn't been on a sled in a long time. She enjoys it, would like to go "straight and level" and probably would not like it "snowing" while she is riding . She loves watching Slednecks and Thunderstruck but she has no desire to really ride in an aggressive manner at all. She'd love to get outside and break up the monotony of a long winter with an occasional ride. The best machine for her is probably a Skidoo Skandic 550... So.... it really is more about what I want.... The reality is that I have a lot more free time and do a lot of day trips during the week. If we ride occasionally on weekends she'll probably be fine on either the 600 or 800

This might be a bridge for me to get into this chassis and she is all about it. The Pro really shines for the riding 2 hours north of our house compared to my big four stroke!! I'm looking forward to the chassis but not the power loss. She's not able to ride much this winter compared to the next year. I might likely dump the Nytro altogether and buy her a 600 or Skandic then but until then I'm thinking 800.

 

[ak49er]

If she has any athleticism, I think she would outgrow the power of the 600, especially when carving hard, or pulling her up and out of something.

My wife ( 5'7" 130, ex-pro-athlete) has been riding the 800's for 7 years now, and stated that she could do things with the 800 that she couldn't do with the 600, on the same chassis, with the same set-up.

And if you want her to ride with you, make sure she has good gear, fit for her, so she has less to fuss about.

I too often see wives/girlfriends, riding old hand me down gear, and really "just going along" for the ride, when she has gear she can be proud about and is comfortable in, and is hers, she will be happy.

Happy Wife, Happy Life.....

 

[Scott]

Yes, for sure.
SHE must be warm, dry and comfortable.
Without, you lose a riding partner.


Warm and dry= Buy her the best riding gear that's made FOR HER and probably some electric socks. LOL

Comfortable on her mountain ride= (reminder to review "warm and dry" above). The sled that is light (ie not a 4 stroke) agile and makes the right amount of power that won't be a put-off for her.
The 600 RMK is the best sled, IMO for my wife. And if she ever gets back into it again, I'll be buying her a 6RMK...if I don't buy one sooner for my son.

Remember, if you are truly picking equipment (and also gear) for HER, you aren't picking it for you as your backup. LOL

If she has any athleticism, I think she would outgrow the power of the 600, especially when carving hard, or pulling her up and out of something.

My wife ( 5'7" 130, ex-pro-athlete) has been riding the 800's for 7 years now, and stated that she could do things with the 800 that she couldn't do with the 600, on the same chassis, with the same set-up.

And if you want her to ride with you, make sure she has good gear, fit for her, so she has less to fuss about.

I too often see wives/girlfriends, riding old hand me down gear, and really "just going along" for the ride, when she has gear she can be proud about and is comfortable in, and is hers, she will be happy.

Happy Wife, Happy Life.....