sled for wifey

[Polar Express]

Hey folks,

Well, my wife rode my '09 D8 this past weekend, and now she wants a Dragon. She's coming off of an M7 (great sleds), but liked how the dragon felt. She's super tall and thin, and not real strong. I'm leaning towards looking at a 700, 155" track, but I'd like electric start for her. I might be willing to go with an 800, but I don't want to pay a high premium to do it. She's only 135#, so the extra few pounds of electric start won't matter too much.

Any suggestions? Is there anything you would suggest I consider?

Thanks,
PE

 

[AndrettiDog]

Sounds like you answered your own question. The D7 is a superb sled (I owned the 2007 for 2 1/2 years). It's reliable and powerful (probably the most powerful stock 700 in the mtn segment). Get an electric start kit for it and don't look back. IT will make a good backup sled for you too.

 

[MORSNO]

You may as well get her the new sled. I let my wife ride my 07 Dragon 700 155" after riding my old 2000 700 RMK last year....She now has a 2010 600 155" with electric start this year!

Suggestions/Opinions
- I found that you can save a bunch by ordering the sled with electric start versus adding it at the dealer (around $600, because you aren't paying for 2 clutches or labor for the installation).

- The 600 is cheaper than the 700 and you aren't sacrificing much HP.

- The 600 is very dependable and uses less fuel.

- A 600 with a light weight female will go everywhere a 700 or 800 can go.

- And finally, you will get to ride your D8 instead of her old M7!

Good Luck

 

[rmkboxer]

I have seen 700 hold overs with electric start in enumclaw

 

[poorider]

700's rock! I just bought an '09 155 700, it's my 3rd raw chassis, the last one was an '08 d8 163, and so far I like this one better because:

a. It does not stumble, bog, die, whatever you want to call it in the midrange like my 800 did

b. it puts a hurtin on my buddy's sleds (xp 146's) and it says 700 on the side

c. It has the narrower plastic

d. it's easier to start when it's cold

e. for whatever reason I just find it way easier to ride than the 800. I've heard the talks about the higher gyro effect of the bigger motor, maybe that's it, but one thing is for sure it is retardedly easy to ride. I feel like I can pick any line through the trees, across the face of a hill with wind lips, uphill, downhill, transitioning, you name it. It is the most fun out of the box sled going in my opinion.

if she's that light why would you ever think she needs an 800 over a 700? Buy the 700 and you have a super reliable pull and go backup sled for yourself too

 

[MARV1]

Don't be cheap and buy an older one, get her one you'd ride and enjoy also. Bet she'll hang right there with a 700 and be more reliable.

 

[mountainhorse]

Find a low mileage 2009 RMK 700. It has a better front suspension on it.

That thing will rip for her.

You are much better off asking Brandy about her sled and how she likes it.

Has she tried the 2009/10 M-8?

 

[ne1cadrgn]

Definently the d7 it would be a great backup sled.

 

[diamonddave]

Yep...the 600 155 ES with a Carls 660 kit and a different track!! Probably the funnest sled out there. It will spank a 7 and keep up with an 8.

 

[windsock]

RMK 700 155 is great for the wife, mine can rip it up from time to time. I'd like to get the same sled, but just waiting

Link to video of my wife doing a bit of counter steering

 

[jim9006]

Hey, here's an idea... Why not just get her whatever it is she wants?

 

[mountainhorse]

DUH... I'm stupid sometimes..

RacerJB on the forums here has a CHERRY 2008 RMK 700 with new 2009 Plastic, 2009 Dragon front suspension (much better swaybar and LW spindles) on it... less than 300 miles on the sled!! ... and the guy is super carefull about his stuff... never wrecked..
155" and $6800 for the sled.

It also has $400 worth of RSI risers, carbon bars, grips and heaters
And $200 worth of NASA grade heat insulation under the hood and all the pesky foam removed already.
Brand new Dragon side panels.

The gloss white hood is a great base color for a trick Wrap for her!!

This is a sled you BOTH would be Proud of!!

Hmmm... I'm talking myself into this sukka!!

Also... for the electric start option.. . The kit, PN 2877257, is $490 from Babbits online... It includes the starter AND a new primary clutch with ring gear... You can sell that near new clutch that is on the 700 for at least $250 which makes the kit pretty darn cheap!!

Babbits online kit, Clicky

This Ebay post has a good pic of all that is included in the kit (but not as good of a price as Babbits)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-POLARIS-08-10-600-700-800-CF-ELECTRIC-START-2877257_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem48380fd4baQQitemZ310178206906QQptZSnowmobileQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Install is pretty darn easy!!

See if she can handle the pull start.. and if not... take some weekday nights to install it at the station

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SWAPMEET AD

It is a sweetheart of a deal!!

 

[Roadtrip]

The M7 will go down in history as one of the best sleds ever made, as will the D700 155. There is a huge advantage to standardizing your fleet. Last year at Arctic Man my group of six had four sleds go down and none were able to supply parts for the others. Needles to say we drank many beers as we discussed the folly of non-standardization. I can't frikin wait for next Arctic Man.


x infinity

 

[deepdiver]

This should not be so difficult....pick something that will work well as your backup sled.

Then again...too much power and she can get into trouble. Keep it light...you said she isnt that strong I beleive. The RMK 600 155 is an awesome machine with good reliability..it feels lighter and more nimble in deep snow than the 800. You can beef up the motor on the 600 quite well. My wife has the 08 RMK 600 155 HO....I used it last year when my 800 was down for two months and had a blast on it. Depending on her weight ...the power to weight ratio may be better than your 800! ..if we get some snow maybe you can ride up somewhere with us and let her try it out..Brendas has a cool hood wrap on black from Arctic FX...On Paper the 600 is only about 10 lbs lighter but in the deep snow it feels considerable lighter than the 800...it tends to float better. The higher the power the easier for her to get stuck as the throttle is not near as linear or forgiving. I really think the 600 switch maybe one of the best bangs for the buck out there.

I have not seen anyplace that Brenda could not go where we went with her 600. She has marked some pretty high marks at Baker and others, we all sort of look the other way when that happens. In Priest Lake two years ago there was close to 10feet of fresh powder..Brenda was tearing it up...I used it and had a blast...I think it is a "funner" sled than my 800... 6 or 7 you wont go wrong. The 6 may be better for her and the 7 better for you.

I think I saw a 600 holdover along with an 09 Assult holdover at Cycle Barn in Smokey Point. The Assult with the 147track may be a good option as well... you can deal pretty good on holdovers right now. Then the Sled that MH showed you may be a good option as well...just have a dealer sell you an extended warranty for it.

 

[CoyoteGirl]

If she wants YOUR sled.... put electric start on it and hand it over! Go shopping for you... you are going to be easier to please.


Otherwise, I'd be looking at that sled that MH posted, looks clean, 700s are the OVERACHEIVERS, 155 will be nicer on her "still learning to carve" muscles and we know the dude selling it.

And MH, I LOVE MY 700. She has given me 3000+ miles of powder shreddin' love.

 

[coreyt700]

Try them all!!!

Everyone is giving you GREAT ideas. The biggest thing is to make her happy of course. It would definately be a big bonus if the new sled was a great backup for you. You are welcome to set up a demo ride with Clem here at the shop for you and the wife to test the various machines to make sure she is comfortable on it and you like it as well.

 

[wasatchrider]

This should not be so difficult....pick something that will work well as your backup sled.

Then again...too much power and she can get into trouble. Keep it light...you said she isnt that strong I beleive. The RMK 600 155 is an awesome machine with good reliability..it is lighter and more nimble in deep snow than the 800. You can beef up the motor on the 600 quite well. My wife has the 08 RMK 600 155 HO....I used it last year when my 800 was down for two months and had a blast on it. Depending on her weight ...the power to weight ratio may be better than your 800! ..if we get some snow maybe you can ride up somewhere with us and let her try it out..Brendas has a cool hood wrap on black from Arctic FX...On Paper the 600 is only about 35 lbs lighter but in the deep snow it feels 50lbs lighter...it tends to float better. The higher the power the easier for her to get stuck as the throttle is not near as linear or forgiving. I really think the 600 switch maybe one of the best bangs for the buck out there.

I have not seen anyplace that Brenda could not go where we went with her 600. She has marked some pretty high marks at Baker and others, we all sort of look the other way when that happens. In Priest Lake two years ago there was close to 10feet of fresh powder..Brenda was tearing it up...I used it and had a blast...I think it is a "funner" sled than my 800... 6 or 7 you wont go wrong. The 6 may be better for her and the 7 better for you.

I think I saw a 600 holdover along with an 09 Assult holdover at Cycle Barn in Smokey Point. The Assult with the 147track may be a good option as well... you can deal pretty good on holdovers right now. Then the Sled that MH showed you may be a good option as well...just have a dealer sell you an extended warranty for it.

not sure where you are getting your info on weights
these a straight from polaris industries claimed weights all 155
600 484 lbs
700 486 lbs
800 487 lbs
800 dragon 472 lbs
the only thing your doing by going less ccs is saving money not weight

 

[mountainhorse]

If she wants YOUR sled.... put electric start on it and hand it over! Go shopping for you... you are going to be easier to please.

Women... go figure! (wink)

 

[racerjb]

Just buy my sled and be done with it. It is right between a 600 and 800 so you can't go wrong. If she wants more power down the road, just take it to Fastrax they can easily make it out perform a stock 800.

I will even throw in a brand new 2.5ga Trail Tank spare can for you!

-John

 

[mountainhorse]

Davy,

Did you end up getting a new sled with her?