Most Reliable sled

[Roar_Your_Engine]

I am in the market for a sled. I have not owned a sled since 2002. I am looking for a lower priced machine. I think a 600 would be a good size for what I will use it for. Is there a sled out there that is know for its reliability?

 

[Ryan-41]

I am in the market for a sled. I have not owned a sled since 2002. I am looking for a lower priced machine. I think a 600 would be a good size for what I will use it for. Is there a sled out there that is know for its reliability?

Anything that is 600cc or less should be pretty reliable. An M6 or a Polaris 600 RMK, you should be able to find relatively cheap and would both be really good sled, best of luck to you.

RYAN!!

 

[Dogmeat]

M8 ...

If you asked for what the most reliable utility sled on the snow is probably an Apex.

 

[MORSNO]

Is there a sled out there that is know for its reliability?

A well maintained sled is a reliable sled! 600 RMK IQ Chassis are great runners in either carbed or CFI which ever you prefer.

 

[jr_amsoil]

hands down yamaha 4 stroke

 

[FrozenMOTO]

I'm going to have to go with a Yamaha as well. Some of those two strokes wear like iron but Yamahas new four strokes engines should outlast every part on that sled if taken care of properly. The only ones that I have heard go down are from idiots shouldn't even own one or if you roll it and dont get it killed quick enough.

 

[backcountryislife]

if you're hoping to ride it like a sled (you know, FUN & stuff...) avoid the yammis... your riding buddies will SERIOUSLY thank you.

the polaris 6AND 7 motors are VERY reliable, but the 7 has some serious go, just a great machine for what it is. Cat M6 & M8 are also VERY reliable. I ride a cat, but feel like for turning a so so rider into a GOOD rider, the polaris is just a great chassis.

 

[xtremetreeling420]

Just thought I'd put a shout out for older 600sdi summits. I have an 06 with over 9000km on the original top end still. Good compression and has never let me down. I think all 600's are pretty reliable though, don't have the same horsepower numbers as the 800's but do pretty good if clutched properly. I think a yammi would compare in performance to a 600 but far heavier.

 

[Roar_Your_Engine]

I live in Western Wyoming, so I will need something that my wife will be able to throw around, and will be ok in the mountains. I like the idea of the E-start on the 4-strokes. My brother had an 07 Poliris 600 with the Carls cycle 660 kit. That was the funnest sled I have ever ridden. Not the most powerful, (his new XP will out do it by a pretty good margin). I just need a family friendly sled for now. In a couple of years I will get me a 800. I was looking at a 2001 Mountain Cat, with an 04 600 EFI motor in it. I have never owned a cat but it looks pretty nice. They should be pretty nice??

 

[huseby76]

Any well maintained sled. I general any 4 stroke.

 

[FrozenMOTO]

I live in Western Wyoming, so I will need something that my wife will be able to throw around, and will be ok in the mountains. I like the idea of the E-start on the 4-strokes. My brother had an 07 Poliris 600 with the Carls cycle 660 kit. That was the funnest sled I have ever ridden. Not the most powerful, (his new XP will out do it by a pretty good margin). I just need a family friendly sled for now. In a couple of years I will get me a 800. I was looking at a 2001 Mountain Cat, with an 04 600 EFI motor in it. I have never owned a cat but it looks pretty nice. They should be pretty nice??

What type of riding are you doing, are you going into the deep 4+ feet or are you going into only about 2 feet of powder. Like others have said the yammies are heavy BUT if the snow is not two deep they are VERY fun and I would say the most family oriented of all. But if you want to go to the deep bottomless stuff at the top I think they will leave you hanging.

Also they make many 2 strokes with an electric start as well.

 

[Skippyspad]

I hate to disagree with some of ya, but here goes....I've had my 07 Yamaha Venture GT since it was new. True it's not gona hi-mark like the lighter sleds, but, as heavy as it is, it does just fine in DEEEEEP powder as long as you know what you're doing. And reliability, the 4 strokes fire up every time. All my maintenance time is spent on the polaris. The Yamaha....Check the oil and fill it with gas.

A Friend of mine bought his wife one of the new Yamaha Phazer Mountain sleds last year. If you're looking for a decent lightweight sled that the wife can handle, these are great. They are a little like riding an ATV (4-Wheeler) the way they handle. You can probably find them just as cheap as a 600 in decent shape.

This is kind of a loaded question. Everyone is going to have a sled they won't touch and it's going to be the same sled that someone else raves.

My $.02

Mike

 

[BigFish BC]

the good old yamaha mountain max will get you anywhere & run for ever plus you can get them for cheap.

 

[Ak nitro]

if you're hoping to ride it like a sled (you know, FUN & stuff...) avoid the yammis... your riding buddies will SERIOUSLY thank you.

the polaris 6AND 7 motors are VERY reliable, but the 7 has some serious go, just a great machine for what it is. Cat M6 & M8 are also VERY reliable. I ride a cat, but feel like for turning a so so rider into a GOOD rider, the polaris is just a great chassis.

Everytime someone comes on here asking about which sled to buy you get on here bashing Yamaha, the title of the thread is which sled is the most reliable, that would be hands down Yamaha, not what YOUR personal biased opinion is. The only real complaint people have on Yamaha is the weight, there is always a compromise, they are solid reliable sleds.

 

[Roar_Your_Engine]

I would really like something like a 600 RMK, Cat or Skidoo. They are mellow enough for the wife, but will still be pretty fun for my big frame. The 01 Mcat 600 I was looking at is having issues. At about 1/4 throttle it just cuts out. The owner said this only happens sometimes. I called a couple dealers and they said it is most likely a throttle position sensor. That can't be separated from the throttle body, and that is like 1200 bucks! I could get the sled for 1500 but I won't buy it knowing it might need a new 1200 dollar throttle body. If I could find a 4-stroke for less than two grand I would do it. I am a 2-stroke guy but for what I want right now the 4-stroke would probably be great. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[MARV1]

Find an '04 or newer 600RMK, '07 or newer as the Raw chassis is better yet.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I would really like something like a 600 RMK, Cat or Skidoo. They are mellow enough for the wife, but will still be pretty fun for my big frame. The 01 Mcat 600 I was looking at is having issues. At about 1/4 throttle it just cuts out. The owner said this only happens sometimes. I called a couple dealers and they said it is most likely a throttle position sensor. That can't be separated from the throttle body, and that is like 1200 bucks! I could get the sled for 1500 but I won't buy it knowing it might need a new 1200 dollar throttle body. If I could find a 4-stroke for less than two grand I would do it. I am a 2-stroke guy but for what I want right now the 4-stroke would probably be great. Thanks for all the replies.

most likely it is the bushings in the throttle lever pivot pin..but if it is the older sensors it is a magnet glued into the carb slide(they come unglued, and its pretty simple to reglue them in place.....

 

[Skippyspad]

if you're hoping to ride it like a sled (you know, FUN & stuff...) avoid the yammis... your riding buddies will SERIOUSLY thank you.

the polaris 6AND 7 motors are VERY reliable, but the 7 has some serious go, just a great machine for what it is. Cat M6 & M8 are also VERY reliable. I ride a cat, but feel like for turning a so so rider into a GOOD rider, the polaris is just a great chassis.

Oh, and BTW, the guys I ride with usually have me break trail through the deep stuff. They're on Doos and Cats. Hands down, the most reliable right now are the Yamahas. Since Yamaha went to all 4 strokes, the rest have been clawing and scratching trying to keep up. It's forced Polaris, Doo, and Cat to push their quality. When you get tired of rebuilding the top, syncing the carbs, carying extra plugs and smelling oil, try a Yamaha. You may never go back.

 

[backcountryislife]

Everytime someone comes on here asking about which sled to buy you get on here bashing Yamaha, the title of the thread is which sled is the most reliable, that would be hands down Yamaha, not what YOUR personal biased opinion is. The only real complaint people have on Yamaha is the weight, there is always a compromise, they are solid reliable sleds.

By definition, everyone's opinion is EXACTLY that... biased.

Yes, I have dug out those obnoxiously heavy pigs & therefore I'm biased against them.

I was one who said that we'd ALL be riding 4 strokes by 2008... well, I was wrong. IF Yamahaha had ANYWHERE near the commitment to take weight off that the other MFG's do, they'd be usable sleds by now. I just don't believe they belong even in the same class with the rest of them, but that's my opinion. Your opinion is exactly the opposite... and that's your call. IF you like them, sweet, they're reliable, but honestly I couldn't say that they're any more reliable than a poo 700, and it weighs over 100 lbs less.

Just dug out 2 yammis in the last week... and my opinion remains the same!!


oh, and as a cat owner, can't remember the last time I had to change plugs, and don't remember the last time anyone I know with an M8 or 700 polaris had to do a top end... I'm all for preventative maintenance, and you should likely make sure to toss in new pistons at around 7-8k on those two motors. ($300)

The SECOND there's a 4 stroke honestly under 500 I'll be all over it, I love how the power feels on them with a turbo!

 

[acutah]

if you're hoping to ride it like a sled (you know, FUN & stuff...) avoid the yammis... your riding buddies will SERIOUSLY thank you.

What a stupid statement.