Better for wife? 600 or 800 with 36"

[dejoli]

Any thoughts on which would be easier for the ladies to handle? Wife is small and doesn't have a lot of weight to throw around.

With the price of some used 800s cheaper than used 600 pros have been wondering if we'd be better off just getting an 8 and throw the 36" front end on.



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[goforbroke]

I didn't like the 36" front end. a little squirrelly. I like the 600 better for beginner to intermediate riders, but I often have them on an 800 and they do fine. The 800 just seems to make them more intimidated.

 

[treemagnet03]

Couple things to think of for sure.

1) Looks like you are in MN. If so, perhaps the 600 is enough for most the of miles in a year?

2) 800s are going to be significantly harder to start. If she is that small it may be a less than enjoyable experience to start the 800 vs the 600 if for some reason she is on her own. Just a thought.

3) If she is that small, her power/weight ratio is going to mean a 600 is essentially an 800 for most of us heavier folks.

4) The cost of the 36 front end is probably more than difference between the 6 and 8...

Happy sled hunting!

 

[wonderxc600]

if she isn't intimidated by the 800 buy the best deal, but the 600 would be a lot easier for her to start, unless you find a 800 with electric start. i have to start the 800 for my old lady every time or someone close to her.

 

[rmscustom]

The 600 does feel lighter but not much. Most important thing to do on either is get the shocks set up right for her. Can't comment on the 36" but my feeling is she's not gonna like how unstable it will be. My girlfriend rides a pro 600 and loves it, I think its a blast to. A lot of people will say just get the 8 she won't be happy with the power of a 600 but it really comes down to her skill level. Mine is happier on the 6 cause it's less intimidating than the 8.

 

[jdw1]

I think I would ask her what she would prefer!

A long time ago my wife wanted a 650 Indy, I said sure, if you can start it it's yours, she grabbed the recoil and pulled it through with no problem, she's a farm girl that worked on the farm and not just kitchen work, I knew I was in trouble, well I think they need to be able to start there own sled on there own just in case something goes wrong and they need to start it up and ride out.

Jmo

 

[alt]

My thoughs on this are if she is real new to sledding the 800 would still be the better choice. Just because you have more power at your thumb doesn't mean you have to use it but when and if she becomes a more aggressive rider your not having to go shopping all over again, not to mention if things simply do not work out resale is better. Keep in mind whether it's an 8 or 6 a great deal of practice in an open area, flat etc is always best, but again the weight difference between the two is minimal. Track length to me will make more of a difference in the way she will be able to control the sled than just a few extra pounds between the two. When and if she gets to the point that she wants to make a step forward think about the narrower stance. Terrain she adapts to will determine considering going narrow. All just depends on how things progress.. Either way taking things slow and at a comfort level she can have fun with is most important Thanks!
Dan

 

[Kcjepperson]

I agree, not much difference between the 600 and 800 as far as weight. My wife rides a 800 with a 155 and loves it. I have very rarely, if ever seen her use the sled to its potential but she is really confident in doing thing because she knows the sled has no problem taking her there. Probably my best advice to my wife was, "when in doubt throttle out". I have noticed many times when we need to climb up out of something and she isn't carrying enough momentum to get out, I will think she is stuck and then she gives it just a little more throttle and away she goes. If she hasn't rode a 600 to know that power she won't be any more intimidated with an 800. It will be a learning curve all the same. And she will quickly learn what she can and can't do. As far as starting the sleds they adapt. 90 percent of the time my wife can stand on the running bored and pull with two hands and gets it. On occasion I have seen her sit on the seat and sit up by the handlebars and then push off the footwell bars and almost fall backwards at the same time. This is usually towards the end of the day when she is tired.

I haven't rode with one girl/lady/man slayer that likes the 36" front end. You can't run a sway bar with it and it make the sled super unpredictable. My moms sled we bought the wider z bro a rms and she loves it. It's super stable and very very easy to ride. My wife's sled we just moved the skis out as far as possible and she is happy with that. We also are running powder pros on my moms and and now Mohawks on my wife's. Shock setup is very important, ski pressure will help a lot with how tired her arms get and if she can make it the whole day. We have found they tend to be happier is the front track shock is a little tighter than recommended for their weight and the back shock softer. That way when they are riding it tends to transfer the weight back and off the skis and it's not hard for them to steer. They usual aren't going fast enough to push through a corner because they don't have enough ski pressure. They have both conquered the art of leaning and how their body movements affect the sled in the powder. It's mainly getting up and down the trail that wears their arms out.

 

[alt]

I agree, not much difference between the 600 and 800 as far as weight. My wife rides a 800 with a 155 and loves it. I have very rarely, if ever seen her use the sled to its potential but she is really confident in doing thing because she knows the sled has no problem taking her there. Probably my best advice to my wife was, "when in doubt throttle out". I have noticed many times when we need to climb up out of something and she isn't carrying enough momentum to get out, I will think she is stuck and then she gives it just a little more throttle and away she goes. If she hasn't rode a 600 to know that power she won't be any more intimidated with an 800. It will be a learning curve all the same. And she will quickly learn what she can and can't do. As far as starting the sleds they adapt. 90 percent of the time my wife can stand on the running bored and pull with two hands and gets it. On occasion I have seen her sit on the seat and sit up by the handlebars and then push off the footwell bars and almost fall backwards at the same time. This is usually towards the end of the day when she is tired.

I haven't rode with one girl/lady/man slayer that likes the 36" front end. You can't run a sway bar with it and it make the sled super unpredictable. My moms sled we bought the wider z bro a rms and she loves it. It's super stable and very very easy to ride. My wife's sled we just moved the skis out as far as possible and she is happy with that. We also are running powder pros on my moms and and now Mohawks on my wife's. Shock setup is very important, ski pressure will help a lot with how tired her arms get and if she can make it the whole day. We have found they tend to be happier is the front track shock is a little tighter than recommended for their weight and the back shock softer. That way when they are riding it tends to transfer the weight back and off the skis and it's not hard for them to steer. They usual aren't going fast enough to push through a corner because they don't have enough ski pressure. They have both conquered the art of leaning and how their body movements affect the sled in the powder. It's mainly getting up and down the trail that wears their arms out.

hmmm

 

[Drewd]

Get the 800. You want a good backup sled for yourself and for buddies you drag out with you on days wife cant ride. My wife is 5'2" and found my 800 easier to ride than her 98 600. I got her a 2008 700 rmk this season and she loves it.

 

[rmscustom]

We have found they tend to be happier is the front track shock is a little tighter than recommended for their weight and the back shock softer. That way when they are riding it tends to transfer the weight back and off the skis and it's not hard for them to steer.QUOTE]

Exactly how I set the girlfriends up. Also helps them initiate sidehills easier.

I disagree with the power thing but maybe that's because when I started riding in the mountains I was on less power than everybody else I rode with and I became a much better rider than anybody in that group. Nothing like trying to keep up with a bunch of turbos and bigbores with a stockish M7 to force you to learn how to ride while the others used power as a crutch. lol

After shopping for a used clean Pro 600 last year I disagree on the resale being less, couldn't hardly find one and when I did they wanted new price. Ended up with a new left over.

 

[dejoli]

Thanks for all of the great replies so far. We'd probably have ES put on or just deal with me starting it for her. I prefer her to be able to start in case there is an issue and I'm not right there near her.

That was part of what drove my thoughts on here is that there are not a lot of 600's around and like you said, new left overs seem to be almost the same price as the used 600's. which then is in line with some low mileage 800s.

For those that have ridden both, is the 800 more difficult to lay over than the 600?

 

[cateye5312]

My wife has been riding now for about 12 years. Her last sled was a Dragon 700 RMK which she truly loved. I put e start on it for her as a safety issue because there was no way on earth she could pull that thing over. Regardless of what you may think there are all kinds of times when you are not going to be there to start her sled. She has a 2012 standard 600 RMK now, again with e start and she absolutely loves it. She feels like it has more power than her 700 had. I have a Pro 800 and she won't even touch it. Just the thought of the 800 intimidates her.

Best thing I ever did for my wife was enroll her in one of Amber Holt's backcountry basics riding classes. Gave her tons of confidence and made her a better rider. (and she still doesn't want to ride my 800) Amber teaches them to ditch the outdated notion of 'when in doubt throttle out'.

 

[Kcjepperson]

Where is the amber holt riding clinic? The best teacher for your wife/girlfriend is someone else . I thought about doing the dan adams clinic with her but wasn't sure if that would be touch and over whelming for her.

 

[Pownar]

Thanks for all of the great replies so far. We'd probably have ES put on or just deal with me starting it for her. I prefer her to be able to start in case there is an issue and I'm not right there near her.

That was part of what drove my thoughts on here is that there are not a lot of 600's around and like you said, new left overs seem to be almost the same price as the used 600's. which then is in line with some low mileage 800s.

For those that have ridden both, is the 800 more difficult to lay over than the 600?

The 800 is more difficult to layover. Ive heard of some theories about the rotating mass off the engine having a bigger gyroscopic affect which makes total sense. I wouldn't worry about her being able to start it. I told my wife that she needs to start it in case i'm injured or she is separated from the group and she gets it. Now she takes it out with her girl friends and can start my 800 too. She is 125lbs and i only start it for her when it's really cold first thing in the morning otherwise she starts it all day 1st or second pull. I usually take her 600 when i'm going for more of a tighter tree ride and feel less fatigued.

 

[M8Chris]

My fiancé has been riding a 12' assault and loves it I don't think she ever fully gets on the throttle but she is getting a lot better at handling the sled. Granted I think she would be better off with a narrower stance. I think either 600 or 800 your lady will be happy with it just takes some getting used to.

 

[cateye5312]

Where is the amber holt riding clinic? The best teacher for your wife/girlfriend is someone else . I thought about doing the dan adams clinic with her but wasn't sure if that would be touch and over whelming for her.

You got it right on the someone else part!! Amber is up in Idaho but our club brought her to Colorado specifically to put on a clinic for women/beginners. The gals really relate to her. She put on a one day advanced clinic too while she was here. My son and I did that one. We enjoyed the heck out of it. I've been riding for 30 plus years and felt the class was very worthwhile. We (my family) are all going to try to get to one of her classes again next winter.

Just google Amber Holt or backcountry basics.

She's a professional rider for Cat - but don't hold that against her. She didn't give us too much crap for our Poo's but she's not very partial to Doo --
but seriously she's a great gal and easy to get along with/take direction from.

 

[mtpow]

I just bought a new 600 pro, and love it. I'm 170lbs and that sled goes anywhere I want to go. I ride from 6000 to 10,000 ft and feel that there is plenty of power to do the type of riding I like. I rode both the 800 and 600 before buying this new one. there is no noticeable weight difference between the two at a stand still, but i find the 600 to be quicker and more forgiving when under power. This is most noticeable when making a downhill turn. Someone had mentioned that they felt like you would need to ride with "more momentum" with the 600 because it doesn't have the power. I find the opposite to be true, as someone who is coming from an M7 where riding always required momentum, the 600 pro allows you to nearly crawl around the trees and punch it when that climb comes. The sled is so light, and quick to build RPMs that it makes boondocking a dream. The 600PRO was pretty hard to find used and the ones I did find were expensive. I was able to find a new one and it was about 1500 less than the 800. Hopefully she likes it, it would be great to have a riding partner all the time.

 

[LongHorn XC]

My wife had problems laying a '12 800 RMK over. So I decided to put a 36" front end on (before mine even). She now loves the sled. I'm not sure how people think the women wouldn't like the narrower ski stance. My thoughts are, if it's easier to ride and lay over, the more energy they will save to have fun longer.

 

[alt]

My wife had problems laying a '12 800 RMK over. So I decided to put a 36" front end on (before mine even). She now loves the sled. I'm not sure how people think the women wouldn't like the narrower ski stance. My thoughts are, if it's easier to ride and lay over, the more energy they will save to have fun longer.

couldn't agree more. I've been refraining from commenting on the statement made by Kcjepperson....( I haven't rode with one girl/lady/man slayer that likes the 36" front end. You can't run a sway bar with it and it make the sled super unpredictable.)I have a list of over 200 guys that would strongly disagree as well as a lot of wives that made the change. My arms DO in fact have the option to run the sway bar and is highly recommended. I'm not convinced they are a good choice for every women having trouble laying the sled over but does make a dramatic difference. The 36" kit can for some beginners be too much but IMO when they get to the point of being one with the sled it's the next step to improving their abilities and making each move much easier. Assuming we are still mountain riding. Thanks!
Dan