New Member - Help me pick out a new sled!

[BendSledNeck]

Matt here from Bend, Oregon.

I just registered. This will be my 2nd season sledding.

It's time for me to get a new to me sled that's slightly used.

What brand/model of sled should I get?

My wife is getting my 1999 Polaris RMK 700.
It's a great sled and I can't keep her off of it,
so I'm going to give it to her and get another for
me. Here are my stats...

CURRENT SLED: 1999 Polaris RMK 700 (Love it! Giving to wife)

NEW SLED BUDGET: $5000 max

YEAR of New Sled: 2000-2009

TERRAIN TO BE RIDDEN: Trails, mountains and powder
of the Cascade Mountains of Central Oregon.
Need a "Crossover" sled that will do trails AND powder well.

SKILL LEVEL: Skilled dirt biker gone sled head crazy.
1 season of snowmobiling so far. This will be me 2nd.
I'm fast on the trails and suck in the deep powder.
I will learn how to ride powder this season.
I'm 6 feet tall, 200 pounds, 40 years old.

I want a sled that is RELIABLE so I can just
"tow and go" without a lot of wrenching.
want a 700cc + machine. Need POWER!

So, what brand/model of sled should I get?

ARCTIC CAT F7, M8, 1M or 800xr like these?
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/mcy/946706407.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/spo/947931964.html
GNARLY! >>> http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/rvs/946666124.html


POLARIS RMK 700 or 800 like this? [800's have crank issues?]
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/rvs/942368117.html

SKI DOO
What about the 2003 Ski Doo Summit 800 like these?
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/951888653.html
http://portland.craigslist.org/grg/rvs/951576598.html

Thanks for your help!

 

[SLEDIOT]

Well you dont want a cat look how ugly they are. LOL

 

[BendSledNeck]

Yeah Slediot.

Those ARE nasty looking.

Me likey!

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Welcome to our world.

The snow sport world that is.
I have a suggestion but instead I'll ask a question.

With the time you have on a sled how many times did you find yourself wanting it to work like your KTM/Honda?

 

[holman6336]

If I were you I'd look for a 04 or newer rev if your going to go ski-doo. There are a number for sale here on the swap meet, and the chassis is much better than the zx chassis.

Good luck with your search and welcome to the addiction

 

[snowmobiler]

welcome.green rep for bend ore and snow this weekend
and green for 1 ski

 

[JHG]

Look for and M7, probably the best sled in that price range that will do what your looking to do.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

if you can find one..an 07-08 polaris 600 ho rmk would be a good sled for you..and while I know you want 700 +...the 600's a year or two old will walk all over 5-6 yr old 7-800 sleds(stock)..plus the handling is so much better....

 

[slednutz]

I saw one of the sleds u listed had twin pipes I believe that king-cat. If you want pull and go I would defenently stick to a single pipe unless you like doing some occasional tuning. I would look into 800 rev's m7 and m8's if you can find them for a good reliable sled.

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Since you posted CL adds.

2005 Artic Cat M7, I loved my little brothers when I rode it.
http://yakima.craigslist.org/rvs/932471033.html

Or put a bid on this, not ours.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...0274471735&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT&viewitem=

 

[BendSledNeck]

The snow sport world that is.
I have a suggestion but instead I'll ask a question.

With the time you have on a sled how many times did you find yourself wanting it to work like your KTM/Honda?

Uh...

Here's the difference I've noticed:

Snowmobiles don't COAST very well... they REV all day long. WEIRD.

Choppy snow whoops/bumps on the trail SUCK!!!

Why did they take so long to start building sleds with
LONG travel AND tall seats? DUH!!!

 

[BendSledNeck]

welcome.green rep for bend ore and snow this weekend
and green for 1 ski

I have no idea what you just said.

 

[BendSledNeck]

OK, thanks for the info.

I'll look for newer Polaris RMK's and Arctic Cat M7's, M8's.

Like this one...

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/mcy/946706407.html

 

[JHG]

I have no idea what you just said.

ah, you have much to learn.

He added points to your reputation for being from Bend. If you click the little scale in the right hand corner of the post you can add positive or negative rep. As you get more or less points your green bar in the corner will grow longer or turn red like snowhawkaddict's. you can check your rep by clicking the user cp in the top left of your screen.

The oneski comment was towards snowhawkaddict, he's notorious around here but seems to have been on a leave of absence lately.

Snowhawkaddict is trying to bait you into buying a snowhawk by questioning you about wishing you were on a honda/KTM.

Hope this clears it up for you.

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Why?

Uh...

Here's the difference I've noticed:

Snowmobiles don't COAST very well... they REV all day long. WEIRD.

Choppy snow whoops/bumps on the trail SUCK!!!

Why did they take so long to start building sleds with
LONG travel AND tall seats? DUH!!!

Because snowmobiles originated in the flat lands, yet they still had to learn whoops as they trashed their trails, but their grooming happens more often.

It was not until 1995 when the manufacturers truly realized the deep powder mountain market, and it has evolved in leaps and bounds since.

Your statement above would be the argument I have about the bike conversions not the Hawk, you pointed out in your original post you are addicted to a snowmobiles "power", so was I, what we realize later is what CVT clutching does with this power. My first three sleds were all mountain Ski-Doos, 670, 700cc's, and I also owned a KTM 300 then!

My first Snow Hawk was a 500cc air cooled model, went everywhere those sleds did, and felt much more like my bikes.

If you want to climb hills get a mountain sled, if you want to know what it's like to ride everything imaginable look into a Hawk before there are no more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZLjSRZ0mN0

 

[bigcat_ak]

Because snowmobiles originated in the flat lands, yet they still had to learn whoops as they trashed their trails, but their grooming happens more often.

It was not until 1995 when the manufacturers truly realized the deep powder mountain market, and it has evolved in leaps and bounds since.

Your statement above would be the argument I have about the bike conversions not the Hawk, you pointed out in your original post you are addicted to a snowmobiles "power", so was I, first three sleds were all mountain Ski-Doos, and I also owned a KTM 300
then!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZLjSRZ0mN0

Here we go again. lol.

 

[bigcat_ak]

Bend- 05-06 Arctic Cat M-7s

04-06 SkiDoo Revs

01-04 Polaris RMKs

They are all good sleds. My advise is to find out which dealer is the best in your area. A great dealer will make a world of difference in how much fun you have.

 

[cjgodden]

Here we go again. lol.

I say you can't go wrong with a pol 700, bullet proof sled in my eyes, as for a ski-doo an 800 rev is the ticket. If you ever have a chance jump on a hawk and give it a whirl with your bike experience you might like it.

sorry to hijack your thread, and lets not turn this into a bash SHA session.

I kinda thought it was a decent post, He never said anything antagonistic, can't we give the guy a chance? He's just very passionate about his ride, just like any other sledhead out there. Mabe a little missguided at first but give him a shot.

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Probably the best advise.

My advise is to find out which dealer is the best in your area. A great dealer will make a world of difference in how much fun you have.

Heck we never even had that option!

But a great dealer does not help much when he's buying used private party, only when needing parts or service will he form that opinion!

PS I added to the last post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ-tzKdCz6w

 

[Ollie]

Look for and M7, probably the best sled in that price range that will do what your looking to do.

What ^^^he^^^ said.
I would get one with the challenger track though. The other track was a little "slick" on trails and hardpack.