Observations from a maturer rider

[savagecanuck]

Ok Im not real old just 51!!!With that said I came off a good 60 mile boondock ride with 2 of my buddies.One was on an 08 RMK700 and the other on a brandnew holdover 2011 M8 snopro 153.We did mostly tree running some climbing,meadowbashing,creek jumping.The big thing for me as that at about 75% of the way thru the ride the 2 others were done as in bagged.They are the same age and in good shape aswell.I continued to side hill and power turn my way back keeping off the trails as much as possible while they stuck to the trail.This new 2012 pro is so easy on my body I can ride it hard all day compared to my 09 D800.I like riding this sled and not fighting it.

 

[B00nd0ck3r4lif]

The Pro might not have the power of the other sleds, but there is a lot to be said for a machine that you don't have to wrestle to ride. One of my riding buddies is 56 and he rides just as hard and long as I do on his Pro and never limps out on the trail on the way back either.

 

[Hardass]

Every rider no matter age or fitness has a self imposed limit or willingness to do more. tho the sled may be easier to ride does not mean that its the only factor in your scenario

 

[Scott]

Every rider no matter age or fitness has a self imposed limit or willingness to do more. tho the sled may be easier to ride does not mean that its the only factor in your scenario

Larry, although I DO agree with the original post from savagecanuk, I think there is a LOT to what you are saying.

To relate with a totally non-sledding example...

I waterski a lot in the summer. I dig a good short-line slalom pull at 32' off and 36mph...I hit it as hard as I can. I like my hip to touch the water when I carve. The river at Seeley Lake is about a 1.5 miles long...I usually make 2 or 3 laps before I ski into the dock. That's about 3 to 4 miles of skiing straight. About mile two...it's starts to get tough.

I can be totally whipped both in my legs, arms, back AND cardio.
I'm bending at the waist in my turns and wake crossings...headed for a big ole fatique-induced wipe-out if I'm not careful.

But I ALWAYS seem to be able to pull out for one more set of turns (usually about 8 or 12 turns in my set).

When I'm the most tired and whipped, I can usually do my best skiing. WHY? It's not physical strength or stamina that gets me through.

It gotta be mental strength more than anything. I'm usually happiest when I'm the most tired, yet still cranking the best turns and getting the slickest wake crossings.

One other factor...MUSCLE MEMORY serves BOTH of these issues between cardio and mental toughness.

My Dad is 64 and has been riding since 1976. I'm 39, been riding since the same day he started.
I'm in FAR better health, condition and shape than he is.
But he and I can go out on a ride, get the same mileage, do the same things...and neither of us is more tired than the other. We ride the same model of sled (one having WAY more mods than the other, LOL)

Muscle memory.


So Savage...which one of you has more lifetime sledding miles?

 

[gerrman]

Ok Im not real old just 51!!!With that said I came off a good 60 mile boondock ride with 2 of my buddies.One was on an 08 RMK700 and the other on a brandnew holdover 2011 M8 snopro 153.We did mostly tree running some climbing,meadowbashing,creek jumping.The big thing for me as that at about 75% of the way thru the ride the 2 others were done as in bagged.They are the same age and in good shape aswell.I continued to side hill and power turn my way back keeping off the trails as much as possible while they stuck to the trail.This new 2012 pro is so easy on my body I can ride it hard all day compared to my 09 D800.I like riding this sled and not fighting it.

Well, I am a few years older and have a '09 163 Dragon. I handles like a dream on and off the trail. I can go all day as well. Would not even consider a new machine with the suspension/engine upgrades that I have done. When I upgraded from the '04 Edge to a '08 Dragon, now that was a CHANGE!!!! I think I would be dissappointed with a '011 or '012 Pro compared to what I currently ride. Now I might be wrong, but I am not going to spend $8000 to find out.

 

[winter brew]

I'm exhausted after a day on my XP.....from digging and pulling on those Pro's.

 

[byeatts]

I'm exhausted after a day on my XP.....from digging and pulling on those Pro's.

OUCH...................................... next?

 

[Dustin_R]

OUCH...................................... next?

Snowmobiler in 3...2...1...

 

[Trenchmaster]

Well, I am a few years older and have a '09 163 Dragon. I handles like a dream on and off the trail. I can go all day as well. Would not even consider a new machine with the suspension/engine upgrades that I have done. When I upgraded from the '04 Edge to a '08 Dragon, now that was a CHANGE!!!! I think I would be dissappointed with a '011 or '012 Pro compared to what I currently ride. Now I might be wrong, but I am not going to spend $8000 to find out.

I'm 53 and I thought the same thing when I upgraded to the 08 dragon, never thought it could get better. My 2011 RMK is not as big an upgrade as the Dragon/ Edge was, but it is significantly easier to ride. The light weight and the way it gets up on the snow make for less stuckage and an easier pull out when it happens. Was so worth it in my mind, but I didn't spend $8000 to upgrade either!!!

 

[Hurricane Tim]

I'm exhausted after a day on my XP.....from digging and pulling on those Pro's.

Brew, you're a good man to help us Pro Riders get unstuck. You should come riding with us.

 

[savagecanuck]

Every rider no matter age or fitness has a self imposed limit or willingness to do more. tho the sled may be easier to ride does not mean that its the only factor in your scenario

We are all 51 yrs old and work in the trades.I am a cabinet installer,ones is a plumber,the other a floor layer.Point is they are all physical jobs and none of us smoke or are over weight ,yah I would say are fitness is pretty damn close

 

[savagecanuck]

Well, I am a few years older and have a '09 163 Dragon. I handles like a dream on and off the trail. I can go all day as well. Would not even consider a new machine with the suspension/engine upgrades that I have done. When I upgraded from the '04 Edge to a '08 Dragon, now that was a CHANGE!!!! I think I would be dissappointed with a '011 or '012 Pro compared to what I currently ride. Now I might be wrong, but I am not going to spend $8000 to find out.

Dead on it cost me$8100 OTD with the trade.After a 76 mile demo ride last spring and the thought of puting 3k into a new motor for my D800 I made the switch.The new pro is just that much better than my D800 and I loved that sled

 

[m8magicandmystery]

im 54 and i can go all day..thank goodness for those little blue pills....

opps..you guys are talking sledding..??...sorry...