Mountain sled for a beginner? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

alaska_rider_93 · 02-09-2009, 05:55 PM

Is letting a beginner ride a mountain sled a good idea? He's pretty light, so it would be hard for him to get unstuck. It's his second year and he's only crashed once, but I'm not sure he's ready for a big sled yet.

justin M. · 02-09-2009, 06:30 PM

what sled is it
size tack?
size engine?

alaska_rider_93 · 02-09-2009, 06:35 PM

just mountain sleds in general. We're looking at buying a new one. Probably a crossfire model or an rmk.

justin M. · 02-09-2009, 06:41 PM

i would just be a little worried
some of those sleds can throw you around pretty good
and the longer the track the harder to handle

Kellan_723 · 02-09-2009, 07:02 PM

What age and weight is the person riding it. I was in the mountains last weekend there was like ten year olds up there lol.

**BC_Dan** · 02-09-2009, 08:18 PM

I was at a snow day this weekend, there was an 8 y/o making passes on an Edge RMK 800 144" across the radar run at 70 mph.. he didn't seem to have many problems running a mountain sled

If you do a lot of powder riding or ride the hills, it would be a good idea to put the kidlet on a mountain sled. The 600 RMK or 600 Shift would be an awesome choice, especially with the 144" track. Going with anything smaller, you will soon have a discouraged young one on your hands because he will always be stuck trying to ride a trail sled in powder or in the hills. The IQ sled is light enough that even smaller people can turn it pretty easily, yet it isn't as intimidating as a bigger sled. And it will be a LONG time until he outgrows it. I have a BLAST on mine, and I'm far from a kidlet

Kellan_723 · 02-09-2009, 09:45 PM

I agree with BC Dan. I Was up at renshaw north of McBride last weekend there was lots of kids there. I saw a 8 year old too. And most of the time its easy to take them to a spot to practice on.

Gmiller · 02-09-2009, 11:28 PM

I saw a young one on an 98 RMK with a 151 the other day, Dad was close by watching every move, not sure how old, but he made some smaller hill climbs, It makes you laugh seeing them fly up the hill and yet they are so small! He couldn't throw around the sled very easy though! Maybe a newer RMK 600 with a 144 or 151 will do! I was amazed considering he had the same sled as me! I'd probably take him on some steeper hill climbs that are tracked out before taking him to fresh powder. They catch on quick!

Thanks
Grant

alaska_rider_93 · 02-10-2009, 02:43 PM

thanks for the advice guys. he's about 130 pounds, 13 years old, so ill have what you guys said in mind when we buy a new sled.

AKfortyniner · 02-19-2009, 02:03 AM

if i were in your position, i wouldnt buy him a new sled. because no matter what, he's gonna crash sometime. i would try to find a low mileage Gen. II 01-02 rmk 500 liquid or 550 fan. they are light, have decent size tracks (136"x1.5), and it wouldnt be as bad if he crashed an older sled rather than a new one. he also won't get bored with it easily. my friend had an 02 rmk 500 until he was 16. he went crazy places with that thing... he now has an m7, but he says the 500 is still more fun to ride.

riding freak · 02-25-2009, 08:12 PM

I have a son that is 13 180 pounds. I want to get him a newer sled. hes a speed deamon he rides the brand new 800s and opens them up! he loves power but i can only spend 2500. he will be riding trails mostly

Gmiller · 02-25-2009, 08:46 PM

Once again i was riding at Tiger Rd in Breck and i saw a kid on a BRAND NEW Ski-Doo 800, this kid COULD NOT even reach the running boards, he had one leg down and the other up on the seat, I could not believe my eyes, he was hill climbing and everything, getting air and all the good stuff, he must have the NO FEAR FACTOR that we all have! It was pretty cool though, good for him!
Just think about that when your boy wants a new BIG sled!

Grant

AKfortyniner · 02-25-2009, 11:32 PM

I would try to stay away from the 800 class as far as a first sled goes. I would go with something like a mxz 600, zr 600, xc 600 or prox 600, something in the 600 class.

alaska_rider_93 · 02-26-2009, 01:36 AM

its his second sled, his first one is the 95 bearcat we have, and its pretty heavy, so he's used to it. im not gonna get anything over 4000, so maybe a RMK or any better deal

mtn pdr · 03-05-2009, 05:25 PM

alaska rider 93:
I don't know whether you've bought your son a sled yet, but here's my 2 cents:
I agree with AK forty-niner.
Last year I bought my son (then 13 and about 130 lbs.) an '03 Summit 550Fan. He learned very quickly (his first year out), and is already pining for my 600 liquid.

If I were you, seeing that your son has already been riding quite a bit, don't buy new, find a good used Summit or RMK 550F or 600 liquid. The 550 is so easy to throw around. My son climbs most places we do as long as the snow is not too deep.
They have good resale value too. In a couple of years he'll grow, and want more go power.