I need a sled for Teenage Kids to learn to ride in the Mountains. Which one?

[kingofthemountain]

If you do choose to go with an m7 for your kid, there really aren't any must have mods.. Unless maybe some more vents to keep it cool and help clutch/belt life. Stock reliability and handling are great and that sled already has plenty of power, especially for a kid that size and age. Eventually as he proves his riding ability then exhaust, air intake, control box, shocks, and maybe even nitrous are fun to have.

 

[HMC 399]

I'd go M5 or M6 for your daughter, I found with the kids I have taught how to ride that some times there is such a thing as too much power. I have a 5, 6 and 7 that the kids ride and it's amazing how far into the mountains the 5 will go with that light of a rider.

 

[tcpeterson]

Sounds like you are getting a lot of advice on this one. Considering what you already have, I would see if you can convince the family to let go of the RX-1 and replace it with an M7 for your wife. This year my girlfriend moved from a 00' MM700 to an M7 (it's only her second year riding) and it was the best move we made, she loves it! As far as mods go make sure you get the relocation bracket if it doesn't have one already and get the head shaved (ours already had both). Those two things make it a great sled, next on the list is a PC track.

As far as the kids what you have would work for now. I rode a MM700 from the age of 15-23, no it's not the king of the mountain anymore but they are a good sled. You can see what i've done to it in my signature.

The phazer may be a good sled for your daughter, i used to have a vmax 500 shorty. Dad found a guy with a MM that wanted the wide front end so we swapped parts. That is an option to narrow up the phazer.

I guess instead of just telling you to buy new/different sleds i though i'd give my .02 from this angle. You have some good machines right now, and that might work just fine. (Well at least for a little while!)

 

[av8er]

my brothers wife has a m6 and loves it

she had a m5 and it didn't have enough power, a m5 would be perfect for your daughter though, and definitely a m7 or m8 for your son, m6 or m7 for the wifey, kick that rx1 to the curb, wife will like the better suspension that a 162 will offer, keep the wife happy and everyone has fun!!

 

[Cowboy1]

Know alot of younger people as well as ladies riding the new M-6"s and these sleds run very well. Most of us are running the new M-8's and these people go pretty much everywhere we go within reason!

 

[Frostbite]

Wow, that would be cool!

M5 for the daughter
M6 for the Wife
M7 for the Son
M8 for Dad

I highly doubt that will happen but, you never know. I still need to stretch my three place enclosed trailer into a four place as well.

The Mountain Max should be ok for my son. I just need to work out some carb related issues. Like I said, this sled started out as less than stellar.

The Phazer 500 has a 1 1/2" x 121 track so it goes ok but, off trail it's a lost cause. I think swapping for a narrow front end, adding the Nytro MTX rear skid and and 153" track and gearing the sled way down may turn it into a fun little boondocker.

The RX-1 is absolutely beautiful and I love the way it sounds with it's under tunnel exhaust. It has every mountain mod BUT boost. It has a M7 rear skid under it (I need to do the Geo mod). I can ride ti very well but, it's like my old V-65 Sabre, terribly top heavy and a real handful.

I think it's time for the Ovations and Bravo to find new homes.

 

[Chris6060]

M7

I'm 14 and around 130 lbs. My dad bought an M8 and gave me his M7... It's had clutching done so it doesn't engage to around 4000 RPMs and it has a TON of kick with a 156"x2.5" Challenger Extreme under it. I ride it pretty well, I think your kid could ride one great.

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks for the info!

Does anyone else have any input?

 

[rdr99]

Like the others have stated, M6, M7. Not sure why you would put a Nytro skid into the sled. Maybe a M7 skid would be lighter? For simplicity of parts and supplies it is easier to stay with one brand.

 

[backcountryislife]

I think the D6 or D7 is a superior learning sled hands down. The easiest sled on the snow to get good on. I won't be buying one anytime soon as I demand more power & I think the M is a bit tougher, but for a learner or lighter rider, I wouldn't go with any other sled. (Yeah, I own all cats & am a cat fan...)


if you want him to learn on a yamahahahaha... I guess you could go backwards about 7 years & get him a mtn max, but a smaller rider learning on a phazer... waste of time. (unless all he'll be doing is trails)

 

[05snopro440]

Thanks for the info!

Does anyone else have any input?

The new Phazers are a great sled and you can pick up an 07+ Phazer MTX pretty cheap. Other than that, a 700 Mountain max (I rode a Mountain SRX for a couple years) with at least a 141 or 144, or a M6 or M7. Skip the M5.

 

[clarkwinsor]

ya when i was that age i was riding a formula 583 with a 121 in the mtns of the kootenays....needless to say i am really good at getting unstuck, and even better at not getting stuck in the first place....riding a crappy sled then getting on a nice one made twice the rider i would have been....saying that, get the kid on the rx-1 for a season, then put him on an m8 or something similar in the next couple years

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks guys! Great input!

rdr99, I added the Nytro MTX skid and it's Maverick 153" counterpart to the Mountain Max because it was cheap to do so and the stock track and skid were shot.

Backcountryislife, I have never ridden a D6 or 7 yet but, I remember all the favorable things said about both sleds. I'll ask if I can try my buddy's D7 next time we ride. Thanks

05snopro440, I rode a MSRX for several seasons too. I'd still have it if..........
I rode a Phazer MTX 144" in the powder last season and was absolutely shocked at how horrible it worked. The sled sunk in the powder on a flat surface. My buddy sold it right after our ride.

Clarkwinsor, if you have anything to do with Winsor resort send me a PM. I would still love to come up this season and track up your Kootenays. Yes, the boy could ride my RX-1 but then it would get trashed. I'd prefer he trash the mountain max and then graduate to the 1 ton.

 

[justinkredible56]

ya when i was that age i was riding a formula 583 with a 121 in the mtns of the kootenays....needless to say i am really good at getting unstuck, and even better at not getting stuck in the first place....riding a crappy sled then getting on a nice one made twice the rider i would have been....

Always been a firm believer of this...I started on a 500 air cooled ski doo stratos with a 119". Best thing I could have done!

 

[w4cstriker]

My kids enjoy there crossfire 500 enough power for them to climb and 141 track there weight seems like a good pick for them they float pretty good on them.

 

[summit-x]

i started out in the mountains on an m5 so if u can get one reasonable or an m6 id go for that, 144 long enough, now im 15 and ride m8 153`

 

[05snopro440]

05snopro440, I rode a MSRX for several seasons too. I'd still have it if..........
I rode a Phazer MTX 144" in the powder last season and was absolutely shocked at how horrible it worked. The sled sunk in the powder on a flat surface. My buddy sold it right after our ride.

My brother put a 151" Camo extreme on his Phazer and it made a decent sled out of it. The older Maverick is garbage (They revised it for 2010). I would suggest a challenger on the mountain max and it should work a lot better.

 

[Frostbite]

Please keep the inputs coming.

Wow, a Crossfire! I never even thought of that. Although, I don't see too many of them around compared to pure mountain sleds in my area.

Yes, I know the Mavericks are horrible but, they get horrible over time and the two tracks and skids I bought are brand new and I turned the Mavericks around as well. I have read they work better this way and if they only last 500-1000 miles, I'm ok with that. If the kids show great interest and really like the sleds, I'll put Powerclaws on the sleds. If not, the price was right.

 

[MT rydn]

Maybe I missed it..what kind of riding does your wife like/want to do??
trails? powder?

If she is into trails only or packed/late season off trail riding (AKA - minimal powder) then you need a nice fourstroke cruiser with all the bells and whistles. Would be sure your son has good/light powder sled and teach him right away how to ride powder/slopes. I think is best to find open meadows/gradual slopes and just learn the techniques right away - usually means you stop and have the 'learner' practcie while you watch so you can give pointers and get that out of way ASAP (which means getting stuck less in the long run and more likely he will love rather than hate it!) Also - take an avy class together - at least an intro course!

Daughter - either the way of the trail cruiser or powder depending on her interest. My daughter is a trail rider but one of the girls in the group was riding powder at age 8!

which sled is best for each? - like what is better..Coke or Pepsi. I have my bias as do my family, but when we go riding with friends all models/makes are represented.

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks Man!

You made me think and nope, I can't imagine my wife ever wanting to ride deep powder. It's too bad but, more than likely the truth.

My son and daughter like both but, I think they prefer off trail excursions. There is an area that is perfect for them them to practice but, the snow was so bad this year that we never made it there.

I hoping they like powder more than the trail. Please, please, please.......