Electric Start - 600

[Chewy22]

How easy are the 600 to start? Looking at a '13 RMK for the wife and trying to decide if the ES is worth it or even needed. She is no weakling but i can maybe see after a long day of riding it'd be nice just turning a key. However, if they are pretty easy to pull, I'd prefer not having to deal with another battery. What do the ladies prefer or what do the gents have for their better halfs?

Thanks,

 

[Devilmanak]

I was thinking the same thing for mine (wife), but if she isn't willing to pull the cord on a 600 she better hit the gym before riding it anyway, lol, and save me the 400 bucks.

 

[bowtieboy]

No complaints starting my 600, only time its a lil stiff to pull over is when its good and cold out. My gf has no problem starting my 6 at all.

My advice, save the $400.

 

[volcano buster]

Get the ES. She'll have more energy when she gets home.

For whatever reason, the 600's require the pull of the rope to be firm and needs a long pull. Not that it is hard, but I see no reason not to get it installed.

 

[retiredpop]

I don't know how many times I have seen a lady standing at the side of a sled pulling with both arms and struggling to start the thing. No matter how easy it is to start with a pull starter it is a lot easier with the ES. Save her energy for riding and get the electric start. She'll thank you for it. Don't cheap out over $400.

 

[Demo250]

I think she'll like the ES. These Polaris sleds are easy to start when warm, but they do require a firm, long pull in order to do so. "Long" being the key word. If you don't pull them all the way out they don't like to start for whatever reason. You'll likely be the one starting it for her when it's cold, not that that's a huge deal or anything... but they are significantly harder to pull when cold.

Anyways, your call I guess, I've seen a few chicks struggle by the end of the day to pull the rope though.

 

[Murph]

Electric start-- for sure.

We have three Pros. All have electric start. I have ridden my buddies that are pull only and I don't notice the weight difference-- even with the stock lead acid battery.

I am the Director of Motorsports for Speedcell ( lightweight Lithium batteries), and we will be fitting our Lithium batteries to our Pros for next year.

My Gf (and myself for that matter) can pull start her sled, but why should she have to? Get the ES, tell her you can take it off if she wants, doubt you will be removing it.

 

[Polaris900RMK]

My girlfriend has a 600 pro. I offered electric start when I bought it for her. She said no. She pull starts hers with no issues she is 26. 5'01" and only 110 pounds. I have had severa sleds with ES. Waste of $ and weight in my opinion.

 

[Pownar]

My wife is pretty little and she has no problem starting her 2012 600 on the first pull. She can start it cold but I'm usually starting them on the trailer anyway. She finds it much easier to pull start than my D7.

 

[Kruchy]

I started another thread asking the weight difference with electric start. Anyone know?

 

[savagecanuck]

Happy wife happy life.I would never buy my wife a sled without ES.I never have to worry when I fire mine up and take off that she will be left there trying to pull the rope.Hers is an 09 RMK700ES.My last 2 sleds have been ES and I never noticed the weight.28lbs diff on the IQ's got to be less on the Pro as my battery is quite a bit smaller on my 12 Pro than my 09 D800.That said my snowcheck 13 163 retro has no ES as money is tite.

 

[diamonddave]

Get the E-start. Not only does the wife or gf enjoy it, but the added battery helps equalize and clean up what many in the field of electrical diagnostic experts call a "dirty" and "noisy" electrical system.

 

[AndrettiDog]

Starting a sled for a woman is usually a learning curve. Learning to pull "through" the stroke and not to the end. My wife has struggled with it and can start my Pro but she would be much better off with a E-start. She is 115 lbs so I don't think the extra weight of a e-start is going to make a difference.

 

[toofpaste]

All I can say, if the wife is not happy....I am not happy. LOL I bought my wife a new sled with electric start. Even if she can pull it doesn't mean she likes it. The way I figure it, its her sled....let her have it her way. If it helps to get her out riding then its a must.

 

[Devilmanak]

This is a funny thread. All the money 200 pound guys spend to lighten their sleds up for a better riding experience, hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a pound here and there, and the opposite is true for their little bitty wives.
1/1000 of the time in a riding day is spent pulling a rope/turning a key, 999/1000 of that day is spent hauling around the starter and battery.
(Not arguing with anyone and I see both sides, but it is still funny when you think about it.)

 

[Super A]

Don't be cheap buy the ES!!

By the ES, my wife loves it. It doesn't matter how strong they are or are not, it just makes the day easier, especially when restarting after getting stuck or in an off balance situation. Also if you ever have to crack the throttle a little bit to get the sled started, it is way easier with the ES.

A

 

[diamonddave]

This is a funny thread. All the money 200 pound guys spend to lighten their sleds up for a better riding experience, hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a pound here and there, and the opposite is true for their little bitty wives.
1/1000 of the time in a riding day is spent pulling a rope/turning a key, 999/1000 of that day is spent hauling around the starter and battery.
(Not arguing with anyone and I see both sides, but it is still funny when you think about it.)

The added weight of the starter, battery, solenoid, and associated wiring is no more than 2 gallons of fuel. Polaris motors have always needed a little more pull, (not the force it takes, but the actual length of the pull of the rope) to fire and start. Then some of us end up throwing a 660 kit (a little higher compression) on the wife's sled because it may be OUR back-up sled.

Not to mention, some of the wive's or gf's who don't ride alot, don't have the feel down, and/or don't want the help as they struggle to start the sled.

Why not try to eliminate possible struggles? The easy button is so nice.

 

[550iq]

A better way to look at it is that the pull starter is the back-up starting system on an electric start sled. Dealing with the strap-on-the-clutch pull method is not a desirable option, especially for the unexperianced and if it is cold. Pull starter failures can be nasty, so it is my back-up starting system. Another thing is if accessories are in your sled's future. Having a factory installed battery charging system on a sled has lots of good points considering the cool light weight batteries out there. Don't get caught up in the gender reasons, think instead of the cool new snowmobile you are buying and make it special to you.