New to the forum/area/sport...

[SEWELLGT]

Hey guys,

Wanted to introduce myself since the Alaska part of the board seems to be it's own little group. My name's Chris and I just moved up to Anchorage in January. I'm coming from Atlanta where I grew up, went to school, etc etc. I've always been into power sports down south and since I sold most of my warm weather toys before I moved up I'm looking to get a sled.

I've done quite a bit of research trying to determine what I want and here's what I've come up with...feel free to suggest new things. First of all, there are a couple of factors to consider. First, I'm totally new to snowmachines and this will be my first sled. That being said, I don't want something that I'm going to get bored with during the first season, I'd prefer it to keep me entertained and on my toes for the next few years. Although I understand they don't really translate, I've been riding motorcycles down south for a while and sold my R6 before I moved. Second, I'm about 5'7 165, not the biggest guy around.

I'm also still trying to decide between new and used since sleds seem to hold their value pretty well up here, I'm anal about taking care of my stuff, and you get a warranty with a new one. Anyway, the list.

Arctic Cat M7 (slightly used)
Arctic Cat M8 Snopro (new)

Ski-Doo Summit Rev 800 (2006/7 slightly used)
Ski-Doo Summit Rev-xp 800 (154")

Polaris RMK 700/800

Most of the people I've talked with recommend mountain sleds for around here and from my research these all seem to be pretty good choices. I really like most aspects of the new rev-xp but have heard a lot of stories about belts and driveshafts so it's fallen out of the lead. If I go new, I'm leaning towards the 08 M8 snopro right now. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance for all your comments.

Also, if you know of any good deals on sleds or trailers let me know.

-Chris

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Hello Chris, nice to meet you..I am mike... welcome to anchorage..hope you like it..it is a fun place if you like outdoors...machine wise..all good sleds....I ride a dragon 800..so am more partial to poo but I think you should rent all of them and see which one you feel most comfy with..alot of my friends ride doo revs..a few on the new xp's(but I think the jury is still out on its relability), and even a few on the cats...my recommendation? try a polaris 2008 600 HO rmk 155..bought my son one for x-mas and it is a awesome sled....wont highmark with my dragon but will give 2-3 yr older 800's a fit..as well as all of the 700's..it is a blast to ride, and will go most anywhere with style and grace...and if you feel it lacking at anytime carls cycle makes a couple of nice bigbore kits that really crank....and are inexpensive...nice to meet you and hope to see you out there..mike

 

[AkHockey10]

Welcome to the forum! and the AK!

Im in Anchorage too.

cant go wrong with either of those sleds you have mentioned. but, be cautious...once your hooked...your hooked!

hope to see you on the snow!

 

[aksledneck]

Welcome to the AK. Oh yeah, sleds will become an obsession

 

[HYFLYR]

Welcome!

If your new to the sport i wouldnt recommend a xp unless you want headaches, and thats not the way to start a new sport, too many issues right now. I would lean towards the new cat or even a Yamah Nytro. Nytro will have a bike feeling and less maintance a true gas and go. M8 or rmk is a nice sled as well and will be lighter than the nytro but will include more maintance, oil and gas. All good sleds now days. If you can ride a few and get a feel for what you like. Go to the dealers and sit on a few, get one that fits you and have fun.

 

[BLONDZ]

or... if you are like some people I know you borrow a few different friends sleds until you find the one that fits right for you

actually, it is all great advice and you did well on your research. Although I am partial to the rev chasis for doo... I would agree with NOT buying an XP ~ skidoo has some kinks to work out (a lot of them)

Also, you could contact the dealers and find out when and where they are "demo-ing" sleds and test some out.

And welcome to AK - what brings you up here (if you don't mind me askinig)??

 

[CATillak]

welcome to illaska chris. your gonna love it, minus the temps the past few weeks!

ps- go with the M8, anchorage suzuki & arctic cats a great dealer!

 

[AkSummit]

Whatup man- and welcome to these dern hills.

I came up from N.C. so I know what its like going from all warm weather sports to cold weather snowmachining.

I have rode Dirtbikes since I was 5 so the transition from bikes to sleds will be different for ya to say the least.

I am very partial to the Rev(not xp) Its rider foward stance and handling take time to grow into but once you do It makes riding SOOO easy.

If you want to gas and go for 20,000 miles then buy a yamaha

If you buy a polaris get the 800 dragon (my brother has one and its very nice- turn key it comes with ALOT of extra's)

I cant speak for artic kitty

But If I was buying I would go find a 2006 (not 2007)rev 800 or get the new 800 Dragon

just my .02

 

[AKboondocker]

Welcome to AK Chris. All the sleds out there are decent these days. You picked a great time of year to come up as the best part of the season will be upon us shortly. Should have kept your R6!! I ride an 07 600rr in the summer and love it. There is also great riding as far as quads dirt bikes, etc. up here.

 

[Ak nitro]

Welcome to Ak, If you're looking for reliability get a Yamaha, If I would buy another two stroke it would be a Polaris RMK or the 600 replica racer(there is one for sale here at Polaris Junction in Delta if anyone is looking). The 07 and older revs are great too.

 

[SEWELLGT]

And welcome to AK - what brings you up here (if you don't mind me askinig)??

Thanks, just graduated from Georgia Tech with a Mechanical Engineering degree and got a job with BP. I'm actually on the slope right now but will be back in town on Weds for two weeks of vacation/riding time

Welcome to Ak, If you're looking for reliability get a Yamaha, If I would buy another two stroke it would be a Polaris RMK or the 600 replica racer(there is one for sale here at Polaris Junction in Delta if anyone is looking). The 07 and older revs are great too.

If I had to say I'm leaning one way or another right now, it's actually towards an 08 FX Nytro MTX, for a couple of reasons. First, from the research I've done the reliability factor is definitely there. Second, in all honesty I'm going to have fun with anything I get being that it's my first sled. The plan would be to ride the Nytro for a few years and at some point, probably demote it to my #2 sled if I decided to get something that climbs a little better. I think the Nytro will do everything I'm interested in doing for a while and probably pretty well/comfortably/reliably. It should also last a long time as long as I take care of it and would be a great backup sled for myself, friends that come visit, etc.

The real thing I need to do is get out and ride to be sure. It didn't sound like the Yamaha dealer in Anchorage had any demo sleds. Does anyone know where I could maybe ride one or two of the sleds I'm considering just to be sure? I've sat on all of them but would like to at least take one for a spin before I drop that kind of money

Hopefully I'll get to meet some of you guys soon, sounds like a good little group you've got here. btw...I'll be working a 2/2 slope rotation all year so I'll have two weeks of free time every month in case there's ever anything going on during the week or someone wants to head out.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

well..would be happy to help..I can cover the 08 dragon 800 163, as well as the 08 600 HO RMK 155..if so let me know..I am working all week and next saturday ..but sunday will work...mike

 

[wwracer]

Welcome to Alaska Chris, I left Ak. in 85 to work a winter in Fl./Ga. and wound up spending 20 yrs. down there. Did a lot of work out of Valdosta and used to race karts up around Tifton. Aside from the gnats, skeeters, and 93* August days, it was a neat place to live... but I'm glad to be back home... wwracer

 

[aksteepndeep]

Welcome to Alaska and congrats on the job. Not exactly chump change working up there for BP
I ride a turbo Phazer that would put a smile on your face and throw another option out there. If we are voting on the sleds you listed, Id'e go for a 06-07 800 summit. Big fun factor and would be able to learn on a non new sled.
I'll never forget the first time I went riding with a newbe at Turnagain. "Why don't you guys have windshields on your sleds"? He found out in about 5 minutes

 

[AKviper]

Welcome! I was in the same situation that you are in. When I was looking for my first sled I didn't want something that I was going to outgrow in a year, but I didn't want a sled that I would kill myself on either. I was looking at a 700 or 800 Polaris RMK (the dragons weren't out yet) and one my buddies let me ride his Yammie SXR 700. I went with the mtn viper and I love it. If I had to choose now I would either go with a Nytro MTX (once you get used to it and you want more, turbo it) or one of the new Polaris Dragons. I honestly don't know much about the Skidoos, I heard they have problems but they have really good power to weight ratio.

 

[Winter Project]

Welcome to alaska bro. One thing you'll find out, no matter what sled you ride, the riding community is a tight knit group of people. Everyone on here is giving you great advice, and everyone is making solid points. My ten cents... what sled you wanna buy depends on your riding style, which you don't have yet. If you've ridden dirk bikes or quads, this should help you slim your choices down some. If you've been in the dunes and like hill climbing, get a longer track. If your more of a jumping type person, less track the better. That being said, blondz and other people brought up good points... borrow/renting a few sleds and then you will be able to make a better decision. Judging by your weight, you don't need anything more than a 600, but you might want it... once again you have to ride to find out. Long story short... i don't know you, but i recommend a REV chassis... mxz renegade 136... not too long, not too short. But thats what i ride. Good luck, and look forward to seeing you on the trails.

 

[ak_tinner]

Welcome to Alaska,


here are my thoughts. I have a 07 Summit 800r that has been nothing but problems since day one, I would not reccomend one unless its an 06 or older. Second, I bought a 06 M7 to have as a back up sled and something to ride while my Summit is at the dealer ( every other week ) I rode the M7 three times and just sold it, could not stand the way it rode and it was crap in the trails so I cant reccommend the Arctic Cat. Seen a few Dragon 800's out there and I must say I think I would be a proud owner of one and may snowcheck an 09.

I bought the o'lady a 2008 phazer mtx and it is a great sled. Does not climb that great but its more than enough for her. Thing that is so nice is it runs perfect and NOOOOOO maintenance a true GAS and GO sled. I know that the Nitro mtx is even better so I would buy the Nitro in a heartbeat.

You were for sure right by wanting a sled that will keep the fun factor for a few years therefore I would NOT buy a 600 or 700. If I were you I would go in this order.
1. 2008 Polaris Dragon 800
2. 2008 Yamaha Nitro MTX ( very close to the Dragon )
3. 2006 Ski Doo Summit 800

I would not go with anything less than a 151" track and with the Nitro go as long as you can get , same with the dragon. Getting too short of track is like buying to small of cc sled cause your going to wish you had went bigger. Also a longer track is more forgiving for a new rider, you make a mistake and it will help get you out where a shorter track ( 144, 136 ) will just get stuck.

Just my 2 cents, hope I could help !

 

[AKboondocker]

Longer tracks can also get cumbersome, especially if you ride in the trees or like to jump or ride a bit more aggressively. I know plenty of guys that wished they went shorter, not longer. All depends on your riding style, but unless it were a point and shoot hillclimb type sled you are after, Id stick with 151 -153 at the longest. 144x15 is a great all around track, works well in springtime too. It sounds like you have experience in the realm of powersports and would pick it up quickly. Most guys I know that ride sport bikes like the twisties, and a 162 isnt a sled to take the twisties or the trees with thats for sure. Good luck in your decision.

 

[CATillak]

if he wants a versatile sled... 1m chassis would be the way to go. hell never grow out of a king cat, just take your time and learn the sled.
but you will most likely end up with a rev chassis of some sort, which is a excellent sled

 

[AKkatz]

My 2 cents: My buddy has an 08 nytro, and it's been broken the WHOLE season! Waiting on one part! I think it's something that Yammi is going to fix but still it's not even my sled and I'm pissssed! Anyhow it also a Tank! It's cool as **** for sure but I don't think it's a good choice to start with. Luckily for you there are a wad of great sleds out there. Heres my opinion: talk to all of the dealers and get a feel for them 'cause you'll need to be on good terms with them. Second you're right on used sleds it's a buyers market up here-most riders don't keep sleds for more than 2000 miles, but they can be hard miles, you never know what's been done to a sled! Insofar as the track length anything in the 140's would be a good place to start-short enough that it's not cumbersome but long enough to keep the sled on the snow-cause stuck sucks! And a 2" paddle is mandatory! Powerplant: I'd say start with a 700 it'll do anything you need it to and won't get you in trouble, though an 800 would probably be fine, but a bit riskier. So the sleds themselves: The Rev are super popular, great jumpers in the shorties and great climbers in the Summit Chassis-I think they handle weird, but it just takes time to learn to ride a certain chassis. Also the 08 Dragons are great I've ridden the 600 and the 800-skip the 600 and consider the 700 or 800-, but the Dargons are big $$$ and hard to ahold of. I think the 08 M8 is your best option, but I'm biased. Good luck! What ever you choose will be fine, it's about getting out there as much as what you're ridin'.