What is a good sled to get for a SOME WHAT new rider....

[MN_Nole]

Moto, Theultra, and Extreme all made good points. BUt without knowing the ability you have based upon your disability, I would take all of there advice. I'd then go one step further, and just go rentals this year, if unable to ride demos of all makes this year. Your riding style is going to be much differant than anyone on this forum, everyone has there likes and dislikes, but you may need one specific to you. I would think a track length of 144 to 151 maybe all you want need, as much bigger the track the deeper harder the stuck is you get into.

my 2 cents

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

sled wise...ride them all and get a feel for what fits you....they all have problems..they all are great sleds....as for your ankles..what might help you be more comfortable riding wise is a set of HMK PRO BOA boots...they are very stiff and supportive of your ankles and should take alot of the load off your ankles...

 

[Extreme-One]

A lot of great ideas have been given... If your going to be sitting but still standing at times, look at the 09-10 Arctic Cats. They have adjustable height steering and reverse. Would be a nice option for someone that doesn't stand up all day.

 

[arfrce]

Great points that you have made. I copy and past alot of this into a word doc so I can access it easily. I have no problem handleing a shovel. lol As everyone should carry a tow rope in thier pack. I have been looking into the RMK's and XCR's the early models. Someone contacted me about my Raptor wanting to trade a 01 XCR 800 151" and a 99 RMK 700 144" I think. I guess I will take a look at them what do I have to lose. Nothing but Time. The XCR is stock the other is modded pretty good. I know you can get a reverse kit of the XCR's and the RMK's. Although reverse is not a must but it does help out when loading.
Does the reverse help out while riding? I thought it was mainly used when loading, and at the trail head. Anyway thanks again Jeff

 

[Bkinz]

get a polaris. dont listen to him

X2.

 

[Puddy Tat]

We took our new daughter in law up sledding with us last Jan, she in 5 feet 0 inches weighs about 90 pounds put her on my 05 M-7 she never had been on a sled before. she never got stuck all day. was with some other guys that was on some Polaris 800's been sledding about 20 years they went but did get stuck more then we did. ok but the one guy there was stuck all the time snow was very very deep. we was so tired digging him out. I ride an 07 M-8 it went pretty good, I did get stuck a couple time my fault messing around. my husband was on his M 1000 it was doing good, Husband had to ride my old MT cat 800 out to much sled for our younger son so I put him on my M-8 I took the M-1000 we had our old MT cat 900 there to, it did ok got stuck a few times. there wasn't any one who wasn't getting stuck. but out of all the sleds there and I mean this was some heavy wet deep snow no base coming out of the cabin we had been snowed in for two days. there was a break in the storm decided it was now or never. it was really hard coming out but the M-7 is the only sled out of all the sleds there that was out of 9 sleds there that never got stuck. what a great sled....A great sled for some one who doesn't have a lot of expertness on sleds. we will never sell this sled we can take any one with us and let them ride it and never worry about them..

 

[diggerdown]

I don't know where you are from but find riders near you that have sleds you can try on for size. There is no more dependable or easier sled to ride than an M7, but it might not fit you well. If you cannot bend your ankles you need a sled with a high seat and room to place your feet in front of you. A XP might fit you well, but they are quite a bit of money and for most people a little harder to ride in steep sidehilling catagory. Try different sleds and check you pocket book!

 

[frock]

Arfrce the M7 is a very good choice if your pockets aren't that deep. My wife has a stock 2005 with a 162 and she handles it with ease, she loves this sled. She is a small woman too and has no problem throwing this sled around in the mountains or on the trail. It is a very light chassis with plenty of power and EFI so you're not screwing with jets. Don't be afraid of the 162, as others have mentioned on here it's a great track to putt around on and not get stuck. Look at the 2006 though as they have some upgrades over the 05 that make the sled better. Try to get one with a Boss seat if you have difficulty transitioning from sitting to standing. The Boss is a much nicer seat than stock, I have one on my 06 M7 and love it. The downside to this chassis is if you want reverse they didn't have electronic back then, it's mechanical. Reverse isn't just for unloading. If you get it you will find it is very handy in a lot of situations, saves wrestling the sled around a lot.

 

[arfrce]

Thats good to know. ABout the BOSS seat, and the M7-M8. Just for record. My ankles don't move under my power. As in the move just that they are ...asleep. Yeah thats a good way to put it. I don't have pins in the or anything they are just asleep. Have no trouble standing or going to sitting to standing. I am not new to riding just getting back into riding snowmobiles. Have not ridden since I was a teenager. Since then I have been riding motocross, street bikes, quads. Since 98 (accident happen) I have ridden just quads. Thanks I believe I have some great info to put together so I can look for a sled now.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

If you could give us a price range that would help a bunch, then we can tell you what you can get and what to look out for in that range.


the trick to it though is if you have per say $4,000 to spend don't blow it all because you may want to spend less then buy the extras like a tall seat, bar risers and maybe some suspension components that will smooth out the ride and perform better. Setup is going to be huge for you,

The 00 -02( i think) sleds had some piston problems and there where many recalls so make sure the recalls have been done.

m7 with A20 tracks float like nothing else and are hard to beat for the price

But give us a price, also how capable do you think you are at sidehilling and can you go from standing on one side and switching to the other(stepping from side to side) or even ride on a nee.

 

[arfrce]

Side to side should not be a problem, But given the snow on the boards dunno. Just have try. I'll be sure to take pics lol. Everone enjoys a good tumble now and then.