What age for First Snowmobile

[MEADOW KING]

My Son is almost Six and have been riding with us since he was 3. What age do most kids start riding by themselves? I am not talking amount Mini Sleds, But rather lower Horse Power Full Size sleds.

Any suggestions on age and possible sles choices would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[drphil]

HI If he has a good understanding of how machines work and you have ridden him and Let him drive. I think he is at the perfect age to begin.

Yamaha Bravos 250 cc good start but they sell em for a fortune.
Any light 340 would also be well within his range. My kids started about there as well. I was riding at that age myself.

I have an 89 Yamaha Ovation that I am selling actually.
pm me if you want info I am in Montana.

 

[greenskeeper]

if he he has ridden with you setting behind him for a while 6 is a good age to start ,,,,,,,,,,,like was said a 250 bravowould be a good machine in our area,,, Wash state,,,you can pick up a good one for $300.00 to $4oo. you dont want to spend to much more because $$hit happins,also very close watching...........my kids started at that age, with sno ponys Mac chain saw motors than up to polaris colts,,,,,,,,,,..I hace a friend with a 250 bravo and a 300 enticer fair shape for $750 for the pair............Cle Elum Wash...............good luck

 

[nathaniel11]

might even want to look into a john deere they are great starter sleds

 

[gunslinger770]

It's not so much the magical number in regards to age but more the ability of the individual child and the experience he/she has under their belt. If you feel he's ready for his own, chances are, he probably is.

I started on a old Yamaha 292 when I was 8 and was self taught, as my family weren't snowmobilers at the time. I'd been riding motorcycles since age four.

My oldest daughter started riding sleds when she was 12 and my middle daughter started at 10. Both of them started riding my 97 Polaris XLT 600RMK with me sitting behind them on the sled in case things got out of hand and coaching them in how to turn, lean and about track and ski pressures. Also about using the throttle and when and when not to use the break. Both of them gained valuable experience riding behind and in front of me on my sled, with me coaching them in various riding senarios.

Machines in the 250 - 340 class are excellent for starting out. I'm looking for one myself as well for daughter number two and number 3 eventually.

Good luck !

 

[eddy]

Starter Sled

Both sons stared riding in front of me as soon as they could sit up and started riding a Phazer at 5 and had their own machines at 6.

 

[ace59]

1972, twelve years old, a 1969 493 panther. two years later, a 1970 634 puma with chrome side pipes. thought i was pretty cool. it had a 2.5 gallon fuel tank between the legs that leaked most of the time. had to carry a clorox jug with extra 24:1 purple power lube in the rear carrier. a factory 2.5 gallon tank, can you imagine!

 

[Boosted Brad]

my 7 year old started at 6. now she does long days well and is stating to side bank.340 intcer works well

 

[snowsgood4u]

Age/Size/Ability

It's more of an ability question than age. My son rode with me since he was two, then rode an Indy 340 on his own when he was eight. He's fifteen now and rides a 2000 RMK. He gets to buy his own sled when he's ready to move up! I've ridden with thirty year olds that should be riding on the back of a two up sled with their hands in their pockets so they don't hurt themselves... Don't choose a sled that's over his head ability-wise and hope he grows into it.

 

[snowmobiler]

when i was 10 i raced ovals with my new "70 340 puma and got 1st place

 

[snowjob]

my first question is does Jackson want to ride himself or is he content riding with you. knowing how you ride i can't imagine he could be in any more danger riding in front of you.

 

[mtnbound]

heres a pic of my son when he was 7 or 8

 

[Cat Kid]

I started when I was 10 or 11 and I think that's about the right age.

 

[teamillusion]

Im 16 now and I got my first sled when i was 12 but i had been driving a bit before that. I think it all depends on the kid and how well they understand how to work and handle a machine. I've been driving for a while now and I still learn something new everytime I go out. It really just depends on what you think is right.

 

[Bagger]

I started when I was 42, maybe a little premature......

Buddy showed me this trick when he was teaching his 7 year old. He would wrap Black Electrical tape around the throttle grip so the thumb throttle could only be pushed so far. As the Son got more and more comfy, he removed wraps.
B

 

[RmkMtnRider]

im 14 now. But ive been on a sled since i was 18 months old sitting in front of my dad. I started riding by myself when i was 6 or 7 on an 86 Indy 440. Then when i was 8 moved up to a 2000 550

 

[Snow Shark]

My Son is almost Six and have been riding with us since he was 3. What age do most kids start riding by themselves? I am not talking amount Mini Sleds, But rather lower Horse Power Full Size sleds.

Any suggestions on age and possible sles choices would be helpful.

Thanks

I got too excited and bought a 120 for my daughter when see was 2, now at 5 she just started riding last weekend, she loves to "give it a little gas" we take to a wide open spot and walk beside her. In a few weeks we will let her ride it between the wife and I. The daughter started riding with us at a month old and rode inside the wifes coat and has been riding with us ever since.