Sled for the little lady...

[windsock]

My wife enjoys the Polaris RMK/Dragon chassis. She can at least carve it a bit unlike some of the other sleds. She can carve the M7 a bit too. The older sleds aren't made to handle like the new ones, so try to put her on the latest technology. Us guys have to suck it up and ride the older sleds unless she takes the day off.

She is on a 2008 RMK 700 155 track. Here is a pic of her from Tuesday

 

[CatWoman]

*snip*

If she is coming off a 95 sled, I would aim her at the 600 class of sleds.
If you are actually interested in "her" having fun and not just getting a backup for you, let her ride the different sleds and see which one she likes the best. Then buy it.

(Emphasis in BOLD by me.) If you look at it as a back-up sled, then what is the point of even saying it's for her? A woman needs something that SHE likes, and feels comfortable on....not something that is set up for a guy. It needs to fit HER riding style, and it needs to be set up for HER.

Track length can make a difference. Too long, and towards the end of a day of riding, it gets to be awfully tiring muscling that extra around. I noticed a difference going from a 144" to a 153". I love the 153", but in certain conditions (like sidehilling, and around the tight trees), it takes more work.

 

[Lunch_Box]

I dont need a back up sled for me, maybe a sled for a buddy to ride if she let them but thats about it. We went to the snow show this past year and she really liked the Dragon; look and feel. Maybe I will have to get her to try one out on some snow.

 

[CatWoman]

I should also say that I'm about the same size as a couple of the wives listed are (5'5", 115 pounds).

The newer sleds are nice, and if you can swing that, that's the direction I'd look. I'm currently on an '03 1M 600, and it's been a fantastic sled for me to grow with these past 4 seasons. Definitely looking towards a new M series for my next sled.

 

[Snoweasel]

Raw

Last year I bought myself an 07 700 Dragon 155 and my GF was on a 2004 800 edge 151. Although I really like the edge (modified) she really didn't like it. She sat on the dragon for a few rides and that was it, I could no get her off. I wasn'y disappointed as it gave my an excuse to but a 08 800 163 Dragon. So for us, the 07 or newer 600 or 700 POL RAW chassis works very well.

 

[robwashdvm]

Just got rid of my wife's 01 700 RMK and got her an 06 M6 155. It is still stock. She loves that sled. She is 5'2" and maybe 115. A friends wife has an 07 600 RMK with an HPS can and loves it. I would really look hard at this class of sleds. Our gals can go almost anywhere on their 600's.

 

[sledjunky3]

nobody has really mentioned the ski doo for the ladies... it has been mostly polaris... and a few cat's is nobody buying ski doo's for the ladies?

 

[CatWoman]

The Doo's are a love 'em or hate 'em type of thing. Some gals love the rider forward and can do great, and others of us.....well we are of the latter. I don't like that rider forward, especially that far forward. Just not comfortable for ME.

That's why it is so important to let the gal ride the different sleds, and make her choice. She'll know when she gets on a sled that fits her. That is the best way to insure that she's going to be happy and love getting out.

 

[Gromit]

It should be easy to start, reasonably lightweight, have reverse and fit the rider. I've had an 04 800 Doo, 05 600 HO Doo and now have an 07 155 Dragon. The 800 Doo was hard for me to start at the end of the day (I'm no spring chicken) when I was tired because it had race rings installed which increased the compression, so that presented a safety concern. My husband likes to do some crazy climbs and if he ever got hurt and I had to go for help, starting the sled could have been iffy. The 600 HO Doo was easy to start and at my level of riding (don't do the big climbs), I noticed very little difference between the 600 H.O. & 800. The Dragon is very manoeuverable and fairly light. The older sleds had the sway bars removed.

All my sleds had/have reverse which helps getting unstuck. Since I'm taller (5'10") that some of the women on here, I have handlebar risers. All of our riding is in the mountains. There nothing worse that riding standing up and the handlebars are set at a height for someone a lot shorter than you. This is probably why I like the rider forward concept of these sleds too - the seat is higher.

What I'm trying to point out is, make sure the sled suits the person and a lot more fun will be had. Clothing and a suitable helmet helps the experience as well.

 

[sledjunky3]

so what you are telling me is that on a polaris the rider's position is farther back making it more of a stable ride than a doo?

 

[AZ800]

I can't use my wife's sled as a backup, she will not let me ride her sled. She says "break your own sled".

Funny, mine says that too, although I still get to ride it. In the last 8yrs since she started riding, the only real repair to her sled was a new clutch when the first one grenanded.
By way of comparison, we only get to ride 4-500mi/yr and I averageover $500/yr in broken parts. I'm startin' to see a trend here.

Back on topic, my wife is an average rider, she can ride all day, but never gets too crazy (jumps, hill climbs, etc.....not her). She loves the way her M7 rides/drives. Hates the way my GenII Pol drives.

 

[sledskiing]

I should be getting a 07 phazer for my lady any day. I may even boost it. It will double as my spring sled.

ohh... she has never ridden a sled..haha

 

[JustPinItFoxxy]

My girl has an old 95 polaris 488 trail that she has learned to ride on, but now its time to donate it to an opening sequence on a slednecks video! what are you other lady's riding? she is about 115 lbs and blonde if that helps!

Hey! I would suggest letting your girl decide what she likes best/feels most comfortable on etc. If she's not use to big power it doesn't really matter, she'd do just fine on an 800. Speaking from experience as a "blond" who is 125lbs, I ride an 01 800 RMK and I find that the more power the better! But it alll depends on the rider.
So I say take your sweetie shopping for a sweeet 800 DRAGON! haha Although, the Dragon is a tad tippy as compared to the older RMK's.

 

[live2ride]

I ride a '06 800 151 Doo. I personally use the power when riding as I go where my hubby goes period if not a few extra places. I have a 2" riser ( I am 5'2" ) I also weigh about 125 with gear. I start my sled one armed all day long, only have to get off the sled to start when it is cold in the am. I have rode my entire life, the first time I got on a doo was the 2003.5 demo that was out. I fell in love with it that day. They had to pry me off to get back on to my 2001 800 RMK 144. I rode a 2003-2004 159" Poo VE for a while, I tell you working that track all day long was very tiring for me personally. With my weight and height I love the rider forward position, but I also rode dirt bikes growing up. LET HER RIDE EM to decide what is comfy for her. Also get GOOD clothing, make sure she is warm!! I would suggest electric start as well, because with my experience of riding with other ladies (inexperienced or new to the sport) they do have a difficult time starting the sled time and time again.

 

[Nate]

Definitely looking towards a new M series for my next sled.

Sandy, I got a SWEET M series sled all done up for $8300. Just gotta buy race fuel and all the boys will be at your 6

 

[CatWoman]

Sandy, I got a SWEET M series sled all done up for $8300. Just gotta buy race fuel and all the boys will be at your 6

No race fuel for me. I want a stock machine that all I have to do is pull the rope and go. That's been quite a nice thing to have, and I'm not willing to give it up now!!

 

[sledjunky3]

Hey! I would suggest letting your girl decide what she likes best/feels most comfortable on etc. If she's not use to big power it doesn't really matter, she'd do just fine on an 800. Speaking from experience as a "blond" who is 125lbs, I ride an 01 800 RMK and I find that the more power the better! But it alll depends on the rider.
So I say take your sweetie shopping for a sweeet 800 DRAGON! haha Although, the Dragon is a tad tippy as compared to the older RMK's.

this is a very good point, but she does not know what she wants in a sled... its basically up to me to tell her what she needs... if it wer up to her she would keep the pld pice of #$*@, but i know we could go many more places with a new machine... the problem in B.C. is that there are not many places that take sleds out for you to ride on demo's its a fair ways on the roads to get to snow so saying that i am looking for a lightweight, easy to handle sled, about 600 cc... maybe around 05 that she will enjoy

 

[Ivie29]

My future wife started on a 94 580 (121).She loved riding that sled after I put some dual runner skis on it,but liked staying on the trail because thats pretty much what the sled was made for.Always staying on the trail is not really an option on the flat tops here in colorado and of coarse she got stuck a lot.

This year she tried a 97 ski doo 670 136 and after 2 rides she wanted to go back to the 580, said she just didn't like it.

Then I bought an 03 1m 151 900 which I told her she could ride to see if she if she liked it and she wouldn't touch it.She wanted to try my 98 thundercat 136 first which she loved.At this point I was begining to think that she was crazy.

Since then we found a deal on an 01 cat 800 with a 153 under it. I told her that if she could muscle around that heavy thunder cat all day she would get used to the 800 in no time.So we bought it and she loves it, she wanted her dual runner skis on it because she liked how they ride on the trail.It didn't take her long to decide that the powder is a lot of fun with the right sled and then she wanted some powder skis on it.

I guess what I trying to say in this ramble is give her an idea of what will work best for the area that you ride the most and let her dicide what she likes.It may take a lot of time but you will both have more fun if she is on something that works well for her. Ramble over