Is a 800 to much for a 13 year old?
- Thread starter travydog
- Start date
Im 19 now, started on a 91 Phazer 480 when i was about 14 or 15. Road that sled for about 2years, and now have my dads old 670x, which i love, know how it rides and have put well over $1000 into it. So, i would say (if he hasnt already) let him start out on a smaller sled, like a 500 or 600, then give him the big boy when you can tell his riding skills have improved and has a good feel for the sled. Even alot of 600's are pretty powerfull sooo... The biggest judge is you, what do YOU see in him? Can he handle it? Is he experianced? Another good note is, if the sled flips over, will he be able to get it upright ALONE? Just my 0.2.
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harper
Member
its not fair, first sled being a 800
I started on a '69 Sno Jet 292 , had to start it with a rope, carried several spark plugs and a squirt bottle full of gas.... stalling was the ultimate fear.
One Drift and it would ice up solid
the good old days
learning on those old sleds was priceless
I started on a '69 Sno Jet 292 , had to start it with a rope, carried several spark plugs and a squirt bottle full of gas.... stalling was the ultimate fear.
One Drift and it would ice up solid
the good old days
learning on those old sleds was priceless
A
Adrenaline Revolution
Well-known member
Damn straight!
Mid 70's 340 Jag for me.
At elevation it would take four of us taking turns trying to start it if we stopped for lunch and it cooled down!
2 full inches of travel...More if all the skid bolts were loose!
I can't imagine a small kid starting on an 800.
Seems like you'd be asking for trouble and realistically, what do you think you would say if you heard of some guy who put his kid on a sled of that size when he was too inexperienced to ride it safely and he got seriously hurt?
You'd flame him for making a reckless decision.
I know I would.
Store it in the garage and pick him up an old Phazer or other 500 fanner and let him have all his wrecks and experience gathering on it then step him up to the bigger sled once he is able to start it on his own and finesse it through the tight spots.
Although, if all he would be riding is open fields then it might be ok but on trails with other riders whipping by?....
I think you already know the answer to your question or you wouldn't be asking here.
JMO but I wouldn't do it.
Not until he has a ton more skills.
exactly. 13 year old on an 800 sounds a bit extreme. Just give him a Turbo Apex, he'l be fine.
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Sasksummit
Member
The first part of this video is of my boy on his 06 800 rev. He was 13 at the time now 14. I think he handles it quite well he has been riding for 10 years and been going to the mountains with me sice he was 8. Started taking his own sled when he was 12. I wouldn't trade down I just sold his 670 when I bought a new one and kept the 06 for him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wOUyS0F3h0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wOUyS0F3h0
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portgrinder
Well-known member
The smaller the sled you learn on, the better rider you will be. no question.
I rode a friggin Tundra in the mtns for the first 2 years, and i am a much better rider for it.
I rode a friggin Tundra in the mtns for the first 2 years, and i am a much better rider for it.
He rides great! Kid can tear it up on that 800. Looks like he can really handle it. You taught him well. Swear to god, when i have a kid, he'l be on a sled before he starts school. ahah, he'l be the next Burandt!!!
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H2SNOW
ACCOUNT CLOSED
800 too big in my opinion ...whats he got to look forwar to when he already has an 800
I am looking for a sweet clean 97/98/99 summit 500 or 670 for my boy who is 12 turning 13 in April ....
but hey thats me ..when I was 13 I was still on an Elan and Tundra.....I think I really learned how to go anywhere on those things then when I was older and could get my own it was a real treat and could ride anything anywhere ..
I started out when I was 5 riding an Elan 250 twin and even had a single Elan ...rode the guts out of them in all types of terrain
I guess what I am saying is let have something with less power and tune his skills then when he jumps up it will be nice
I am looking for a sweet clean 97/98/99 summit 500 or 670 for my boy who is 12 turning 13 in April ....
but hey thats me ..when I was 13 I was still on an Elan and Tundra.....I think I really learned how to go anywhere on those things then when I was older and could get my own it was a real treat and could ride anything anywhere ..
I started out when I was 5 riding an Elan 250 twin and even had a single Elan ...rode the guts out of them in all types of terrain
I guess what I am saying is let have something with less power and tune his skills then when he jumps up it will be nice
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Every ones already said it, depends on the kid. My kids 15 yr old girl and 12yr old boy started riding before they could walk, kittycat, elan, phazer, snopro,
zr580 you get the picture.
Now my 15yr old girl rides her own 07 m1000 153 like a pro and my 12yr old boy is on an 01 rmk 800 151 and is wanting more sled. They ride with us every where and seldom ever slow us down or keep us from going any place we want.
I would never put a inexperienced child on to much sled but with the proper training and experience they will amaze ya.
zr580 you get the picture.
Now my 15yr old girl rides her own 07 m1000 153 like a pro and my 12yr old boy is on an 01 rmk 800 151 and is wanting more sled. They ride with us every where and seldom ever slow us down or keep us from going any place we want.
I would never put a inexperienced child on to much sled but with the proper training and experience they will amaze ya.
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richyrich
Member
My youngest boys first sled was an Skidoo 700 at the age of 8. He's now 15yrs old has been riding his current sled for two years now. It a 2003 pro-x built by Mark Holz. Light weight, coilover, boss seat, drop and roll and a 727 motor. I think if you do it right for their first real sled, they will be alot happier and so will you. I went with something he can grow into and build his riding ability around.
Good luck
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Good luck
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exactly. 13 year old on an 800 sounds a bit extreme. Just give him a Turbo Apex, he'l be fine.
When we sit around and have lunch thats exactly what my 12yr old boy wants to ride
thanks for all the comments and i am taken everything you guys into concideration. My first sled was a either 76 or 78 cant remember the year but a john deere cylone 440 heavy old thing and like ya said about 2 inches of travel in the shock. I rebuilt the track twice and the motor once before hangen it up. Always had a can of either with for starting(hence the new motor) but I think that helped me learn how a sled works. He always rides with me when we go out and is usualy in a feild or ditch. He has never seen a trail until this upcomeing year im taken him to the black hills for his first real ride. He is good with the power part he knows his limits. I have watched from afar when he thougth I wasnt around and he respects the sled and what it can do. He seen me break my leg on one and how bad that was and a neighbor not make it after hitting a rock pile. I do trust him on it. But to be on the safer side and for my own thought I think I will trade it for at least a 7 to really start out on. Like you guys said let him hone his skills then in a few years let him step up, or if he is happy with that let him go on it. thanks again
This a VERY subjective question. How LONG has your 13 year old been riding? What TYPE of riding has he done? How much seat time does he get in a season? How big/strong is he?
The reason these questions are important, is unless he has the experience, the knowledge of how to ride in certain areas, and the strength to handle that sled in any given conditions....you may be asking for trouble with him on an 800.
Our son is 13. We bought him his first sled at 3 ( a Z120), he then had a 340 at 8, then quickly outgrew that. We put him on a 440, then an M5 two seasons ago. He only rode the M5 for one spring, found it underpowered for him in some of the areas that we were riding in.
Last season he was on a 2008 M6 153", and the sled was PERFECT for him. But this season he has gone through a growth spurt, so now that sled that was awesome last year might need a bit of a HP gain!! He can RIDE, he can do lots of the bigger, steeper stuff that some guys would have a hard time doing, he can handle his machine for the most part pretty well, but he is a kid and sometimes they can have that "no fear" attitude. Putting him on an 800 this year would be a bit of a stretch, I would really like to see him put another season on the 6 first to really get used to all the technical riding that the mountains have to offer. We have a 700 topend kit for it, so it will go on when we feel he's ready.
Good luck, I hope you find your kid the perfect sled that he can build his confidence and make him an awesome rider!!
The reason these questions are important, is unless he has the experience, the knowledge of how to ride in certain areas, and the strength to handle that sled in any given conditions....you may be asking for trouble with him on an 800.
Our son is 13. We bought him his first sled at 3 ( a Z120), he then had a 340 at 8, then quickly outgrew that. We put him on a 440, then an M5 two seasons ago. He only rode the M5 for one spring, found it underpowered for him in some of the areas that we were riding in.
Last season he was on a 2008 M6 153", and the sled was PERFECT for him. But this season he has gone through a growth spurt, so now that sled that was awesome last year might need a bit of a HP gain!! He can RIDE, he can do lots of the bigger, steeper stuff that some guys would have a hard time doing, he can handle his machine for the most part pretty well, but he is a kid and sometimes they can have that "no fear" attitude. Putting him on an 800 this year would be a bit of a stretch, I would really like to see him put another season on the 6 first to really get used to all the technical riding that the mountains have to offer. We have a 700 topend kit for it, so it will go on when we feel he's ready.
Good luck, I hope you find your kid the perfect sled that he can build his confidence and make him an awesome rider!!
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twistedtunnel
Member
How big a boy is he? I would tell him that if he wrecks it he buys the next one so he don't get to crazy with it. If he starts out with the 800 at least you won't have to buy another sled for him to outgrow in another year, or 2.
the money you will spend fixing the sled the first time he wreck it will pay for a smaller sled right now....
keep the 800 when his skills , grades , attitude what ever needs attention is all perfect and he has some time underhim let him graduate to a bigger better
animal....
lots of good used sleds in the same price youspent on upgrades
1000 to 1500 bucks and he gets HIS first sled
then when he belly pans a stump he didnt hammer YOUR old sled
their is a difference....
bottom line great to see your spending time together !!!!
keep the 800 when his skills , grades , attitude what ever needs attention is all perfect and he has some time underhim let him graduate to a bigger better
animal....
lots of good used sleds in the same price youspent on upgrades
1000 to 1500 bucks and he gets HIS first sled
then when he belly pans a stump he didnt hammer YOUR old sled
their is a difference....
bottom line great to see your spending time together !!!!
i reckon that boy would do just fine on a 800 polaris. thats like a 440 cat. either way make sure u carry life insurance just in case i reckon. buddy of mines son is 7 years old. seen him ride many 800s. took my buddys apex up a nice sized hill last year. but hes a big boy for 7. kids all balls no brains.
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PowderProject
Well-known member
Set him up! Just build up the back of the throttle with something. Then he can't open it up till you want him to!
lol its almost kinda funn and sad at the same time reading all your posts. im 19 now and i have been riding since 11-12 ish. started a ols everest with a 440 fan cyuna. all of 40hp. beat on that for 2 years. broke it so many times it couldnt be re welded. so i upgraded to newer everest and put in a 503 fan. and oooohhh aaahhh power lol so ya same thing couldnt be fixed. then got a 81 blizzard 9500. whoot back to a 440 at 90hp. rode it for a year with a 136 track. wanted more with less so i built a 78 blizzard 6500 with the 440, ifs and 136 track 2 years ago. rode it till the 440 died. that year put the big bore kit on now 470. thing halled *** and would give some newer 600's a run for there money only weighing 390lbs lol. the 470 died on a SINKING lake.....i dont do water anymore lol. so i went all out and bought a 617cc mach 1 engine and droped it into the blizz 108 hp. that thing would hold its own vs a 600 just not as far lol 5 gal tank sucked dry with 44mm carbs and a thirsty 617 lol. same year as the 440, 470 the 617 rod bearing went. so now it has a 583 and waiting to be tuned. but i have now upgraded to a 05 polaris 900. lets see if i can handle the power lol.
as long as your 13yr old has the basic sled skills - gas, brake, lean and common sence he should do just fine IMHO. its kids like me that you need to look out for balls to the wall, dodge and avaid kinda thinking lol i say go for it and if he needs it just give more slack in the throttle. that way with smaller hands he can have it pinned and only use say 1/4 to 1/2 gas while still having full grip on the bars. i would never just block a throttle... a smaller hand would be reaching for the lever and the bar
PS: i wish i has a 800 at 13 but now that i look back i think i have gained more sled control on my vintage sleds
as long as your 13yr old has the basic sled skills - gas, brake, lean and common sence he should do just fine IMHO. its kids like me that you need to look out for balls to the wall, dodge and avaid kinda thinking lol i say go for it and if he needs it just give more slack in the throttle. that way with smaller hands he can have it pinned and only use say 1/4 to 1/2 gas while still having full grip on the bars. i would never just block a throttle... a smaller hand would be reaching for the lever and the bar
PS: i wish i has a 800 at 13 but now that i look back i think i have gained more sled control on my vintage sleds
boy
are boy started at 12 on a 2000 700 rmk and at 13 rides a 2001 800 151 does great but its all up to how much a kid respects power
are boy started at 12 on a 2000 700 rmk and at 13 rides a 2001 800 151 does great but its all up to how much a kid respects power
