Please: Advice for a newbee

[Dobber1]

There are people who love the ride forward other who hate flying over the bars.

A smaller cc sled will make you learn how to use body positioning in order to make the sled work for you.

If buy an older sled parts will be easier to get and much cheaper.

Also you will be more likely to ride a 3-4 grand sled like you stole it so you can learn and if it breaks there are tons of cheap parts. A 8-10 thousanddollar sled ... most don't even want to scratch the paint.

A rider who knows how to change the center of gravity and manuever around the sled will beat any other less experienced rider regardless of the horsepower ... unless you are lake racing or running a straight line.

The debate is for you Dad, Daughter will be great on a 600 -700. But if you go straight to the top of the displacement ... 800cc then you might not learn some things cause you'll hurt something throwing that kind of horsepower around.

The best of both worlds. Find a new sled with waranty from the 2008, 2009 models still at the dealer. preferable "still in the crate" so none has borrowed a parts or messed with it.

Look at the Arctic Cat loan deals for a new sled. Also since in Coeur d Alene area should find some great deals

If you do buy used aftermarket parts has absolutely no value. Why ... cause they change the sled and the new owner, or shop might not "understand" the "setup" or have the tools/experience on what did what and who to go to to tweek the sled to perfection.

Most take off the aftermarket parts and sell sled stock.

Page 36 of SnoWest's latest edition....

Riding With Finesse, Not Brawn
We asked Amber Holt to share some riding tips for the novice and/or female riders who want to learn some basic tricks to mountain riding. By Amber Holt

 

[CR125HAYDEN]

Thanks,

More good things to think about. As for type (Mountain, touring, crossover etc.) I have no clue. I picture myself riding gromed trails 80% of the time and 20% powder/offroad. My daughter on the other hand will want to fly and go fast. She is one of the fastest MX girls in the Northwest, and kills me dirt biking. Mechanicly I should be able to fix 95% of things that break. Been working on 2 stroke motors for years. Wanted to get 2 identical sleds so I could help troubleshoot by swaping parts like I do with my racing bikes. I have never liked renting much, but I know a couple of neighbors who sled to I can get with them after the snow falls. It seems like the smart thing to go is get a good deal on a couple of used $3500 sleds suggested in the above threads, find out what like and don't like and only loose $500 or so if I sell them next year and get something different. Before I buy a used one I will get my neighbor who sleds to take a good look at it. Thanks for all the input so far, come on snow!!

Thanks,
David

 

[RMKcowboy]

SKIP the touring sleds. I would stick to a mountain sled, it will make the 20% of the time in powder much easier, plus if you decide sleds aren't for you they will be easier to re-sell in this area.

 

[donbrown]

Thanks,

More good things to think about. As for type (Mountain, touring, crossover etc.) I have no clue. I picture myself riding gromed trails 80% of the time and 20% powder/offroad. My daughter on the other hand will want to fly and go fast. She is one of the fastest MX girls in the Northwest, and kills me dirt biking. Mechanicly I should be able to fix 95% of things that break. Been working on 2 stroke motors for years. Wanted to get 2 identical sleds so I could help troubleshoot by swaping parts like I do with my racing bikes. I have never liked renting much, but I know a couple of neighbors who sled to I can get with them after the snow falls. It seems like the smart thing to go is get a good deal on a couple of used $3500 sleds suggested in the above threads, find out what like and don't like and only loose $500 or so if I sell them next year and get something different. Before I buy a used one I will get my neighbor who sleds to take a good look at it. Thanks for all the input so far, come on snow!!

Thanks,
David

This forum is 95% off road riders.

The shorter the track the higher the top end speed. Lots of rotational forces out there in that track.

Most guys on here get excited in 5 feet of powder and not a mile stretch of straight trail.

With that said a pure trail sled will have a 121 inch track.
A pure off trail sled will have 155 plus size track.

The suspension on a trail sled will be stiff to so not to lay over on a turn.
The sus pension on a off trail sled will be loose so you can lay it over and side hill.

Most pure trail guys will go to lakes and let er rip.
Generally a 600-700 will go around 100 MPH
A 800-1000 cc sled will go around 120 MPH

This is a short track ... 121 -136 inch track with under an inch of lugs.

For a longer track 155 plus inch the track will tear apart running at these speeds. A 155 track will have 2 plus inch lugs on it. Manufacturers and owners will gear the mountain sleds down so they will not go that fast and have more torque for the deep snow.

A track size 166 and larger 174 will fall apart at sustained speeds above 80 MPH.

 

[donbrown]

Sled track racers run 440 - 600 cc sledcs where hill climbers will run 800-1000cc sleds.

Engine size above 800cc typically need more maintenance.

Crossover sleds are suppose to be the best of both worlds, on and off trail bot most are unhappy and end up setting it up for trail or offroad.

 

[Boosted Rooster]

Riding the rentals would be a great idea. Ride them all You might find that you are not as against a 4 stroke as you think.
Been out of the snowest loop for awhile as has been said welcome to the addiction.

 

[donbrown]

Need to mention the longer the track the harder it is to turn on the trail and easier to "float" ontop the snow when it gets deep.

Typically the longer the track the deeper / taller the lugs.

Off trail tracks have 2-3 inch lugs where trail tracks have 3/4 to 1.25 inch lugs. Trail riders even put metal spikes on the track for more traction.

Mountain sled rails are bent and trail rails are straight.

With this said I would look at an Arctic Cat M series 141 size track so you can go fast on a trail and kind of go off trail.

A trail rider has a good day riding 100-200 miles of trails and an off trail rider has a good day riding 50. The off trail rider will spend more time and energy going 50 compared to the trail rider going 150.

Can someone chime in on engine and chassis life.

 

[donbrown]

Page 36 of SnoWest's latest edition....

Riding With Finesse, Not Brawn
We asked Amber Holt to share some riding tips for the novice and/or female riders who want to learn some basic tricks to mountain riding. By Amber Holt

I glazed over that article and I'm happy you mentioned it.

After an in debt read I learned sonething.

Thanks Snowest for the interview.

 

[motojunkie101]

Being a MX rider, I think your planned 80% trail riding is going to turn into 80% powder riding. Once you get off trail and get a feel for powder its VERY addictive. I think you are right on the money for what you are lookng for though. I hope to see you on the hill this winter!