Whats a good sled for 13/14 yo?

[Keithcat]

My 13yo nephew has been going along on family mountain rides for 2 years now. He has been running my old 2006 Rev 500ss with a 144X1.25 on it and does OK. The track is not enough and it still has the wide front end. My sister asked if I would be willing to take him this year on one of my trips with the guys. His father is a dead beat and refuses to do anything with him. ( He would rather drink himself to death, and took off 3 years ago and never returned ) Nice....

I have 2 options that I looking into. I can put a 146X16X2.3 track under it and gear it down. It would still have the wide front end. Or sell the 500ss and pick up a true mountain sled for him to rip it up while he is with me.

I can get a smoking deal on a new Nytro 153. But im afraid it would be to heavy for him to throw around. What do you guys think?

I keep thinking the 500ss might work out well. But I dont want to leave him underpowered while making large climbs and such..

Keith

 

[HUNDO]

IMO, getting a young teenager a new sled isn't the best idea. I kinda trashed on stuff when I was that age, and I see my 14 year old boy do the same...kids don't understand (or maybe don't care) how much things cost unless they have to purchase things themselves.

You can get into a newer, scratch and dent special for a lot less and it's not going to bug you near as much every time he rolls it or scratches it. My son is on a slightly beat up 04 Vertical Escape 159 with a transplant 700 non-ves motor. It's more than he needs and I'm only into it about $2k overall. Works great for a backup sled for me as well when necessary

 

[AZ800]

An "old" 2006? You're nephew is one lucky kid to have that sled to ride! (Too bad about his dad. Kick him in the nutz for me the next time you see the drunk fvcker!)
Can't see how a 600 with a 144 track is not enough for a 13year old, unless he weighs like 300lbs or something.
Put a 144 paddle in place of the 1.25 track. Gear it down (if necessary) and let him ride. He'll appreciate whatever you do for him anyway, and with that setup, will be able to keep up just fine.
Wide front end, no problem. Pull the sway bar and let him rip it, he'll be able to side hill it if he's big enought to really "ride" the sled.

 

[2XM3]

couple year old 700 id try for a M7/rmk700 or the like...if ur buget allows of course.


If hes a good kid Id just try to geta nice sled and let him ride it when he goes along..that way u got a spare sled for friends and the boy can ride with u guys..then if he wants id let him make payments to me to buy it. IMHO

 

[Keithcat]

Thanks for the replys so far!

You guys make a good point on Kids trashing stuff. LOL Yea, been there done that as a kid too. He's pretty good at taking care of things but chit does and will happen. The Nytro idea was just a thought. But its just to much money. I have been looking for a reason to buy one myself for my next sled. Just a bad year to buy. Overall he is 125 lbs and growing.

The Nytro would just be to much for him. Any added power from the motor would be pretty close to the power to weight on the 500ss.

Is the chaincase the same from a Summit to a MXZ? Is the drop the same. I know the Summit 600s ran well. I just wondered if there was any other draw backs with converting the MXZ chassis with a mountain track.

I would love to see him on a M8 or something along that line.

What do your Kids ride and how well do they perform?

 

[bigflip13]

I think if you pull the sway bar on the rev and put a 2 inch track under it it should do just fine. other than its a skidoo

 

[sled*dunk]

My son is 16, works out a lot/strong, a good kid, is a good rider and rides a 2005 M7 163". This year we got a "backup" 2007 700 Dragon. If his grades stay up, he follows our rules of riding (we know where he is, avalanche safety, just don't be stupid), helps with getting ready to go and afterwards--you know all that good stuff-- he can probably ride the D7 quite a bit.
My husband says the kid will not ride anything bigger than a 700 at this point. He doesn't need it. We probably don't need the worry. LOL When he's older and on his own, he can buy himself whatever sled he wants.
P.S. A few years ago he started out on an old Yamaha Phazer. I think it was like a '91? can't remember.

 

[donbrown]

My 9 year old rides an air cooled Yami GT500. Small and little power.

Bought it mint for $500 with 250 miles and the first time I let her lead after several times riding ... she drove straight into a guard rail 10 feet from take off. Broke the headlight.

We've gone riding with other families and I have seen teenagers ride the families old 199X CAT, Polaris or Yamaha in the trees and do better than most adults with new sleds. Plus the kids are less nervous with the "old" sled because it is "old".

I would not give him anything over 700cc just because during an adverse condition he punches it and gets in deeper.

I would go with an 2001-2004 Polaris edge cause it is closer to the ground and parts are cheap. You could get a 600 144 paddle 2 inch track for under 2 grand.

If you can wrench and as time goes on you could put a 727 / 797 under the hood and watch him fly over the crest ... when he has a few miles of experience.

 

[polaris dude]

i rode a yammi phazer 91' till about 14, then i took the 2006xc sp till this year(16 now) and i bought myself a 600. then again i have always been on the light side and not very strong till this year, but i've bulked up to 140 now

 

[sunbather1969]

edge or gen 2

nimble,inexpensive,faithful and parts evertwhere but you wont need em.if youre like me ive got four machines you need some machines you dont have to worry about so you can keep sledding every weekend fun,sleds are just the start motorhome,groceries,gas,load/unload,oil, and checking them every time out for safety.gotta save time for you and your machine wife and kids have edge and gen 2.AND YES THE KIDS NEED TO REALIZE THERES A MACHINE THEY WORK ON AND MAINTAIN NOT JUST RIDE ITS FUN ALL AROUND.PIZZA IN THE SHOP TONIGHT

 

[powderbound]

pull the swaybar and 2" track. He will get around fine and will learn how to ride much better.

 

[snowhawkaddict]

A Nitro, un!!

I can get a smoking deal on a new Nytro 153. But im afraid it would be to heavy for him to throw around. What do you guys think?

Keith

Get him a fifty cal. while you're at it, if he can't hang or eventualy catch up with that Rev 550, you should'nt be leading him there.

I know plenty of riders who throw themselves at the mercy of their whining wives/offspring that hand over their extreme machine and still lead the pack on the old Phaser. The one that the whiner said, "It wont do it!!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ61OMb9lwY

It's the rider not the GUN.

 

[Keithcat]

Im thinking the 500ss will do just fine with a better track and skis.

Thanks everyone!


This is 2 years ago in Cooke City ( 11 yo at the time )

 

[cookiecutter]

I'm sure I'll eventually get the rep as the guy who brags up his 600 every chance he can, but I'm good with it, they are great sleds! Your good in thinking the 500ss will do fine! I'm now 19 and about 170 lbs and keep up fine (keep up being the key word) with all my buddies on their 8s with my 600 sdi. The smaller sled will make him a great rider. I'll eventually go bigger when I have the cash but for now, take pride in the "small" sled

 

[Flakey]

M6 153" would be awesome.

The cat has very controllable power and very easy to lay over. Also will hold resale value when he grows out of it. Would also be a good buddy sled if need be.

I'm sure you can find one for a good price.

 

[Sasksummit]

First of all I would like to take my hat off to you for taking the time for the youngster. It is a really great thing you are doing and he will remember what you are doing for him for the rest of his life.
As for the sled it really depends on his ability. My 14 year old rides my old 06 800 rev. It is alot of sled for him he only weighs 100 lbs. But he has been riding sleds and dirtbikes for 10 years now. I could have sold it and got a 600 for him but i really didn't see the point. The weight differnce isn't alot but the power isn't even comparable. He knows his boundaries on the throttle. Seat time is everything.
And once again hats off to you.

 

[Bkinz]

I know me at the age of 14, I love and ride the piss out of my D7. But with him only being 125lbs I think I would go with a newer 600 with a 155 or 144. It will allow him to keep up, but not get him into any trouble. i just got my d7 mid winter last year, and before I had a 98' xc 600. It was ok, but didn't go real well in the deep(it had a 144). The newer chassis will keep him afloat way better than the older sleds. with that being said though, he would more than likely do well with the rev. Just put a bigger track and gear it down for him, and he should be able to keep up just fine.

 

[Yamahamod]

My 15 yr old nephew rides a 08 tunneled supercharge nytro, and he can ride it better then most adults. I think he might weigh about 135 pounds now.
It was at the denver snowshow with the red fabcraft tunnel on it, anniversary plastic.
He will be climbing Monster in no time.
What a punk! huh?

I know what you guys are going to say so keep your thoughts.

 

[dragonblue]

I'd like to echo other posters' praise for getting involved in positive activities with your nephew. No advice on an appropriate sled for him, but the positive influence and good memories will undoubtedly do him good.

 

[cookiecutter]

Let me step back a little from the sleds, to echo the echos about giving your nephew a good role model...when it boils down to it, he'll forget the sled and remember you. My dad and I would hit the snow on old ski doo 377s, those days are still the most fun I've had. Have a good winter!