sled-heads...

[gonzo]

Oye!

Girlfriend wants to buy a sled...which is nice. Will be used mostly off trail in steep terrain in the Gunks, NY. Who makes quality? Does that mean long track, wide skis? Will a 2 or 4 stroke matter? Don't know much...

[Steven S. Dallas]

Originally posted by gonzo
] Don't know much...

...but I know I love yoouuuuu/and that may be-eee all I nee-eed to know...


Okay, back to the snowmobiling. Can't help at all .

[AKturnanburn]

Hmmm... I'm not much of a "sled head" but heres my .o2
Most brands are pretty solid, obviously it really matters how much coin you can spare. I'm not sure about NY but up here in AK you can find something with less than 500mi, at least a 700cc,and a 141" track minnimum (if you are wanting to climb with a passenger) for around $4500. The Polaris RMK 700 or 800, 2000 to 2002 is a great mountain sled as well as the Yamaha mountain max. Sometimes you come accross modified sleds being sold by the more serious riders ("sledheads"), the sleds usually have more miles on them but for the most part have been very well maintained. If you feel like a "little" road trip to the NW I'll sell you my 99' mountain max 700 triple with a 156" trk for $3000, which is a frikkin steal

good luck gonz!

[gonzo]

That is the type of info I'm looking for - thanks!

So, ideally, we want a track at least 141", less than 500 miles on it, '99 or newer, and a 700 or 800 RMK or Mountain Max would be juuuuust right?

Any more thoughts? Bueller? Bueller?

[Beaver]

Don't get one that has been modified ie. piped/ported/reed spacers..... they will just be a pain in the ass eventually. Stick w stock. Bombardier (ski doo) makes really good machines. If I had the coin I'd buck up for a Yamaha 4 stroke but I don't so ....

Reverse is a handy thing to have too.

[gonzo]

Yeah Beav...I've heard reverse is good for getting un-stuck? And what is the difference between 4 stroke and 2 stroke...more power & noise w/ 4 stroke?

She would rather more power/torque for climbing and just getting
around than speed...if that matters...

Thanks again doods.

[iceman]

More power (assuming equal engine size), noise and pollution from 2-stroke. 2-stroke think lawnmower engine, 4-stroke think car engine. Look hard at Polaris, I'm no sledhead but the electric reverse sounds really cool and the company has an excellent rep for all its products.

[Beaver]

Reverse wont get you unstuck but will dig your hole a little deeper. Revese is good for getting out of the truck/off the trailer, turning around & general manouveriing. It is a bitch when you park too close to the guy in front of you & his sled dies and you gotta wrestle the front of your sled around to get out from behind him. 4 stroke uses less fuel, is quieter, doesn't need 2 stroke oil, weighs a little more when than an empty 2 stroke but about the same when the smae 2 stroke is all topped up with oil & fuel. I don'r know how the tourque compares but I'm sure you could find info on the world wide waste. My sledneck neighbor bought a yamaha 4 stroke last winter and loves it. He sold his 2 stroke and says he wil not go back.

[gonzo]

nice!

so a two stroke requires the fuel mix like an old school lawn mower or chainsaw? that could be a pain in the ass...

[Beaver]

Most new 2 strokes have a tank for the 2 stroke oil on them. they mix the oil as it is on it's way to the engine. If the injectors fuck up you lose your engine. If you forget to top up the 2 stroke oil and you run out, you lose your engine.

[Owens Never Sleeps]

I would ask that question Here: http://www.frontierfilms.com/yabbse/index.php

[freshuan]

I think it wiil be hard to find a mountain sled in ny. My .02 , try to find last years artic cat fire cat 7. Alot of my boys upstate ride them . and love them. Me I ride a 04 ski doo rev x 800. with a 151 track. well cant say i ride it because its never been ridden ,yet. soon very soon. Just remember to find something with a track bigger than a 1.25 inch. anything smaller than that and you will get stuck towing anybody behind you. Oh yeah , I have had really good luck finding utilty sleds from ski areas. These would be, Long track wide track. These are for work not flat out speed. I had a ski doo skandic for years and it towed me and my friends around with no problems. go to some ski areas and see if the are selling them. Good luck and have fun getting stuck

[gonzo]

thanks again doods...

good tip on the ski resorts, alough having worked at a resort and seen the abuse those things get at night when the crowds/boss is gone, i'm not sure i would want to buy one...

there was a thread on 2 stroke v. 4 stroke on that cold smoke link ONS posted. not one guy over there says they like 4 stroke...although those are all guys who post on snowmobiling message boards...

freshuan i'll check that sled out. thanks a lot!

[SledNeck]

Ok, 4-strokes SUCK in a bad way. Maybe more eco friendly, however, they are extremely heavy. The Yamaha rx-1 is the only hi performance 4 stroke, 150 hp (998 cc) and almost 700 lbs fueled up. We call it the RX-ton. The next closest 4-stroke is an arctic cat and its only like 70 hp.

You want bang for buck go for RMK (polaris) 700 Vertical Edge 144 inch track and 2 inch lugs. Gets you anywhere you want to go. You want to at least get a 2001, it has an edge chassis. Almost 17 inches of rear suspension from rear bumper to ground. You should be able to get into one for about 4500 with fairly low miles. I just saw a repo the other day at bank, a 2002 with 640 miles went for 4200.

And make sure your super fit, you WILL get stuck many times.

I got one 3 winters ago to help me "access the backcountry", um I havent skied for the last 2 winters now.

Sledding is kind of fun........

[gonzo]

dude. you rule. thanks.