Making it fun for her

[NWPow]

My wife is getting tired of sledding for a couple of reasons. She is riding a 2000 Summit 600 right now.

1. 2-Stroke Smell
2. Hates always getting stuck, so is a timid rider when there is fresh snow.
3. Difficult deep snow handling. It does take some muscle to manuver her sled
4. Needs reverse

We were thinking about finally getting something new next year. A nytro or an XP e-tech 600 seem like good options but I have not ridden either. Both of those sleds will help with the smell, but which is going to be easier for her to handle and get stuck less? The 600 is way lighter with a bigger footprint (16" track), but per the comments on here it seems the Nytro is easier to handle than the XP chasis.

Any comments from someone who has ridden both?

 

[sled*dunk]

I'm not an expert on sleds, just a lady who can identify with your wife. I had an older sled with a short track ('99 arctic cat 600). But I was happy with what I had, my son and husband are the avid riders so any upgrades I thought should be theirs. We came across a great deal on a 2006 M6 153". Of course my guys didn't want a 600 so I ended up getting it. I can't tell you what a difference! My husband would of still liked me to get a 700 but for my skills the 600 is fine. I can handle it so much better! It goes through the powder (love it), I don't get stuck nor sink like I used to! I wish it did have reverse though. I went places this year I could of never gone last year on the old one. (Though I'm still a timid rider, but getting better). We did put better skis on it and a riser.
There is a lady in our group who is a pretty good rider and got a new nytro. I'm not sure what size etc. But I think that machine kicked her butt all year! I felt sorry for her. They guys say it is just too heavy and tippy, she tipped over constantly. I really like the arctic cats and several ladies in our group do too. My sister loves her new 700 Polaris.....
Our group always "tests" each other machines to see what we like and don't. If you have that opportunity.....

 

[plumnuts]

Janet is probably going to go with another 800 this coming year.. going with a 154. She wants less weight so a 4 stroke is out. Buy a good oil, such as Torco or Redline and you still get the smoke (not as bad) but the smell is pretty good

 

[sled*dunk]

A lady in our group also had scents that you can add? Like vanilla and strawberry.....You could definately smell them. Don't know where she got them...on the internet somewhere. She got them for stocking stuffers, just something fun.

 

[Extreme-One]

As for the smell of the sled you can get scents that you put in the gas tank. Check out JEGS, they sell all sorts of flavors. A friend uses Redline oil and cinnamon in the fuel tank... smells pretty good when he's in front of you.

 

[NWPow]

She says her lungs actually hurt after a whole day of riding. I don't know if she is just sensitive, or it has something to do with her asthma. Getting a cleaner motor is probably better than hiding the smell. If her hair and cloths smelled like strawberries I'm sure she would complain less.

It probably also has something to do with sitting around on an idling sled when i shoot off trail to play a little. Maybe I should add electric start to the list show she'll shut it down more often!

 

[NWPow]

I'm sure all of the newer sleds are also cleaner than our Summits from 2000. They are horrible.

If not the Nytro or new E-Tech, is there a sled in the bunch that the female riders find easier to handle and tend to get stuck less?

 

[tudizzle]

I'm guessing it's not her oil that she is smelling...its everybody else's


I really don't like the 2 choke smell either.....thats why I like to lead!

 

[NWPow]

I always lead, so i'm guessing what you are saying is that I should get the newer cleaner sled? Sounds good to me.

 

[tudizzle]

turbo four strokes for the whole family...just because you care about your wife's health and well being though.

 

[built4dtuff]

DEFF add E start. Best thing I have ever done for the wife. She really liked her 06 RMK 600 with a 151 on it. This year I have her on a D800 with E start and she hated the height of the bars so I lowered them to the an 07 700 riser but she hasnt ridden it yet to see if it was enough. That was the best thing with her 06 600 was the bars were very adjustable and she could put them right where she wanted them. She now will shut the motor off when not riding cause she knows she can just turn the key and start it.

I would say get her an 800 with e start and put a pipe or a can to cut the wait from battery and she will love it. Don't tell her about the E start until the first ride either. My wife got on hers for the first ride and I said just turn the key....she did and I said "WHO LOVES YOU!!!" she gave me the bird But I know she loves it.

You can't go wrong with any of the new sleds they are all very impressive but for sure add the E start!!! Good luck better make her happy or it may cut down on your riding

 

[mtnjunkie]

Last year I rode my boyfriend's Polaris 900. I could ride it, but it was too heavy for me. I rolled it a lot of times. I couldn't side hill at all on it. But I went lots of places I shouldn't have. Was more reckless I guess. This year I have a 2007 Summitt 600 and I love it. It's so light and easy to handle that it's making me a better rider. I will probably upgrade to the 800 in a year or two, but this takes me just about everywhere. The way I got better in deep powder (and we have a lot this year) was to go out on some low angle hills and just play. A couple days we had over 4 feet of new powder and I rode the hell out of that sled till I figured it out. Somewhere I couldn't roll clear to the bottom into trees and didn't have to worry about keeping up with everyone. It helped me a lot, as well as just having a couple beers and going for it.

I like the smell so can't help you there. But having a nice sled has made a huge difference in my confidence.

 

[CoyoteGirl]

Coming off that sled all of the new ones would be an improvement.

Going with your 4 points though...
#1- The 4strokes are nice for this, but there are 2stroke oils out there that burn better and smell better than others.
#2- then you want light and nimble.
#3- get her the lightest sled possible!
#4- I think all of the new have that option. Having a push button reverse is kind of nice, the mechanical on the Nytro is a bit fussy sometimes.

I'd try to get her on all 4 to let her choose. Ultimately she may decide that the 2stroke smell is worth being more capable and comfortable on her sled. Or she might hop on the 4strokes and just rock it.

 

[chelle]

If your worried about dropping a lot of $ on a sled I would suggest the Yamaha Viper. It's reliable, stable, reverse, e-start and comes in a very pretty red. It's a bit old school but so easy to ride.

It doesn't take many rollovers or nasty stucks to turn a lot of women off of this sport. For a lot of women it's all about building confidence and a stable sled can go a long way. Adjustable risers might be a good idea too. Allow her to choose her own steering height will make the sled more comfortable. Most women don't have the same strength to muscle a 500+ lb sled around the same way that the guys do. Narrower bars might be a good idea too.

A stuck in pow is a stuck in pow, not much that you can do about that. Suck it up sister and then ask a nearby guy to help you lift your sled out. Works every time. I ride a '04 summit 151 800 and I've had to get a little help now and then.

Good luck

Chelle

 

[R J]

1) 2 stroke smell most of the time can be adjusted with better oils, even from different OEM's that don't "stink". Ski-Doo oil and amsoil has a harsh smell to me and by the end of the day I was always getting a headache. I switched to Polaris oil and the problem went away as far as smell and the headaches were concerned.

2) Sleds help but I think you will have your work cut out for you here. If the sled isn't fun, or she isn't having as much fun anymore she will not be as willing to try. Put a fun sled, good conditions and things will come around most of the time.

3) Get a sled that "fits" her, not YOU. Meaning if she's 100 lbs with gear she doesn't need a big sled with a long track. Most women snowmobilers I have seen would be a perfect fit for a 600 with a track length in the 144-151 range. Too many people buy the wives and girlfriends their back up sled instead of buying the wives and girlfriends a sled they would be best suited for.

4) Reverse, everyone needs reverse whether you want to admit it or not.

Sled wise, I haven't rode either of those but I can garuntee you it would be the Doo over the Yamaha on any given day. Think about all day riding, every extra pound whether is handles good or not is extra pounds that have to be dealt with.

 

[Ollie]

ok, my wife is an avid powder hound.

I wouldn't recommend the nytro. For only one reason. It is heavier than the other 3. Once she learns to ride and how to make the sled do the work for her, then it might be a good option.

I would strongly recommend letting her ride the other 3.
Not around a field or anything like that, but try and get a half day or full day ride on one. That will give her a good feel for the sled.

Once she figures out which one she likes set it up for HER. Have her test the bar height, how does the seat feel, how does the steering feel, etc. What ever sled she chooses has to "feel" right for her.

Pretty much any sled you choose will run MUCH cleaner than the one she is on.
My wife runs the 07 700 dragon. I changed the ski's, spindles, modified the seat, put a bar riser on it, tail light relocation kit, different windshield and put a couple vent kits on it. You couldn't get her off that sled with dynamite.

 

[sledhead ut]

I did the same as Ollie(07 700 Dragon). Also did HPS can and SLP box. My wife has become an extremely good rider. I think having the confidence that your sled will get where you need helped her ride more aggressive. She keeps up with any group of guys and I prefer to ride with her. It's very common for us to 120 to 150 miles each, per weekend. She accually like the smell of the the Polaris VES Gold. Smells kinda sweet.

 

[PowderGirl]

Sounds like any new sled will help her tremendously - I dont think even I would want to snowmobile anymore if I had to ride an old Summit, at least not in the places I enjoy riding.

I'd reccomend riding all the sleds, each for a couple hours (at least) and in various terrain - if at all possible.

The Nytro seems to be a agile machine - I've ridden one breifly and it floated well in the pow and tipped easy into a carve.

I have not ridden an XP but the couple gals I know who have them, seem to love riding them.

I rode an M7 for the last few years and it was a good, agile machine.

I now ride a 07 700 Dragon 155 and it's soooo easy to ride - it floats awesome through the pow and handles excellent through all kinds of challenging terrain. I upgraded my spindles too - definitely made it steer better. Ollie - how did you modify the seat? I know I like the 08 seats better.

 

[Impatientforsnow]

I am impatients wife, and I used to ride a doo 2000 700 it was ok for learning but then when I got on a rev the days became much easier. Sidehilling is so much nicer and they seem to float way better, and with the lower gearing they can come out of some holes even if you slow down for a turn, I am on an 06' 800 now and absolutely love it. He has an xp it is ok but handles different (pulls my arms out of the socket). I love the smell of 2stroke in the morning so I can't really help there.

 

[hatchers]

haul off and punch her straight in the mouth, than ask, "do you wanna get punched again?, or you wanna ride?"........10 times out of 9 the lady wants to ride and all is well

ok im just kidding, what did i do?:
1- Boss seat
2- toes warmers
3- hand warmers
4- pack some hot coco
5- eveything klim makes
6- lighten up the ski pressure
7- ride on blue bird days with little to no wind
8- cross you fingers and hope shes hates it, more time with the guys