Looking for a Good Backup -- Which one?

[BeeDoo]

Hi guys,
Looking for a good backup sled for when my friends, brothers, or others want to come out and ride. It needs to be something that doesn't require a ton of maintenance (although I know it may be a 8-10 year old sled) and something that's easy to ride. Also needs to have enough power to not get stuck all the time.

I've found the following in my area for similar prices / condition:

98 670X Summit
00 700 Summit
01 700 Summit

All have 144 tracks and are in decent condition. All are also pretty similar in mileage - 2000-2600. Any specifics or suggestions?

Do all of these have DPM? I know the 670X does, it's on the hood. What about the others?

 

[hivoltagesledhead]

I owned the 98x and the 2001 x. The 98 is by far the better sled,better engine and easy to sidehill. The 2001 is a gas guzzler and I just couldnt get it to outclimb anything. If I were you and you can find one in your price range go for an 04 -07 rev. Awesome machine. They all have dpm.

 

[BeeDoo]

I owned the 98x and the 2001 x. The 98 is by far the better sled,better engine and easy to sidehill. The 2001 is a gas guzzler and I just couldnt get it to outclimb anything. If I were you and you can find one in your price range go for an 04 -07 rev. Awesome machine. They all have dpm.

Yeah, that would be nice. I've owned 3 REVs and still have an 07. Problem is, still cost about 3000 to get a nice REV. I'd like to be under 1500 with something that can get around. I've read good things on the 98 670X.

Other thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JedInUtah]

I would look as well to see if you could find an early zx chassis in your price range. The 700 they made in 2000-01 that was yellow was bullet proof.

 

[Snow Duck]

i would stay with a 01 to 02 if u can... a few 01's i think had the wide running boards and i know the 02 do for sure but u can find some good deals on the 800's also...

 

[JustinB]

How much you looking to spend I am in bountiful and I have an 03 zx and an 02 zx for sale the 02 is in awesome condition it'll be out of the shop Monday. 03 is an 800 144" the 02 is a 700 151" 02 has been rebuilt over the past year.

 

[BeeDoo]

How much you looking to spend I am in bountiful and I have an 03 zx and an 02 zx for sale the 02 is in awesome condition it'll be out of the shop Monday. 03 is an 800 144" the 02 is a 700 151" 02 has been rebuilt over the past year.

Sent you a PM!

Steve

 

[rhalloran]

I have a 99 670x and an 03 Summit 700; I like the 700 better than the 670 in every way. The 03 ZX has better running boards than the earlier ZX (02 might be the same), electronic odometer, RER, it is easier to work on, and I like how it rides better.

That said, my 99 670x is very capable, VERY reliable (almost 5k miles at this point), starts every time, shrug, I bought it as a backup sled & it has gotten use every single weekend since I got it.

I don't think you can go wrong with either one, but I prefer my ZX to the S. It certainly is a preference, though - one of the guys I ride with uses the 670 a lot, and he likes it better than the ZX, says it is easier to sidehill, has just about as much power as the 700, shrug, who knows - they're both good, but the ZX just suits me better. I can "see" the "easier to sidehill" angle; the S is REALLY tippy (not in a bad way), sidehilling the ZX is not really harder, but it certainly requires more input - throttle and body english. The S just rolls up on one ski whenever you want (and for me, a lot of times when I -don't- want it to). The ZX feels a LOT bigger, too - it is not, but it feels much larger. I put a 144" track on my S (the track originally off my ZX, which got a 156"), and that made a pretty significant difference in it's deep snow capabilities (the ZX got a TON better going from 144-->156).


Richard

 

[BeeDoo]

Great input. Thanks. I'm sure that whatever I get will get taken out most weekends as well. I'm always inviting friends to go ride -- just a little apprehensive putting newbies on my old 87 Exciter!
I know what you're saying about sidehilling. My 07 REV doesn't get up on its side nearly as well as my Firecat. But once you get the hang of it, it's a piece of cake. It comes down to getting comfortable on any sled. So long as they can both perform I won't be picky. Instead I can be picky about condition, mileage, etc. RER would be nice too.

 

[rhalloran]

One other thing - hivoltagesledhead is right; the 98/99 670x is a gas miser compared to my 03 700; if the 700 takes 5gal after a ride, the 670x will only take ~3-3.5. Not enough to make me like the 670 better than the 700, but it really does get better mileage, in my experience.

One of the things I ***HATE*** about the 670 is the throttle flapper - it is REALLY hard to pull, sticks off the bar at a funky angle, hurts my hand (boo hoo hoo.

The 03 700 is only 4 years newer, but they fixed a LOT of little things between the two.

Re: power - the 670x initially seemed more powerful than the 700; if drag races to ~50mph tell me anything, they're pretty much the same _overall_, but the 670x engine makes all kinds of power right NOW. I get why people like that motor. Clutching has something to do with it, too - the stock 670 clutching was pretty freaking aggressive; I put a softer primary spring in it, lowered the engagement, making it a LOT easier for us (read: not terribly talented) to ride. It still rips, don't get me wrong, but it is a LOT more user friendly re: insta-trench.

The 700, OTOH, is more subdued, smoother, refined - but from a dead stop to roughly 50, they're just about even. The 670 gains a length right off the bat (assuming traction), the 700 catches up pretty quickly and planes out - virtually identical in terms of acceleration, but delivery is different.

I like both, I just like the 700 ZX better, and reverse is mighty handy.




Richard