Posted: 10/6/2016 8:38:29 AM EDT
|
6'3" 275lbs without gear. Looking for used sled. I know I fit and enjoy ridding the Yamaha nytro that my buddy has and can get used ones at decent price. Should I stick with that or look at other makes? I like the looks of the Polaris rush but would be a 600 in the same price range used. Never drove one either. Anything else I should look at? Need enough power to pull my big ass.
Thanks for the help |
|
I don't know anything about snowmobiles, but I've spent a lot of time on all sorts of different motorcycles. Every component of the Yamaha will have been thoroughly engineered, peer reviewed, and tested. From street bikes to generators to dirt machines to my children's flute/recorders to our digital piano keyboard EVERYTHING that I've ever owned with the Yamaha name on it was well made, regarded as a good purchase, and never gave us any unexpected problems.
Polaris may be wonderful. I'm completely ignorant of their product line. My impression of them is more like the Harley of 30 years ago. More marketing and branding than quality. Fully admit that I could be wrong here, but aggressive looking fairings wouldn't sway me away from the Yamaha machine that you've already ridden and found to perform well. For motorcycling one of the most important things you can do is 'set sag' on your suspension. This means adjusting it so that the machine sits in the middle of its suspension travel with the rider on it. Lets the suspension adjust the wheels up or down as necessary for conditions. I imagine there's something similar with sleds. Bikes come from the factory with super mushy suspensions. Sleds probably do to. Your weight probably has it bottomed out or nearly so. You probably need to re-spring the machine for your weight. If you do this it will be much more nimble and enjoyable to ride. Post pics of whatever you get. |
|
Quoted:
I don't know anything about snowmobiles, but I've spent a lot of time on all sorts of different motorcycles. Every component of the Yamaha will have been thoroughly engineered, peer reviewed, and tested. From street bikes to generators to dirt machines to my children's flute/recorders to our digital piano keyboard EVERYTHING that I've ever owned with the Yamaha name on it was well made, regarded as a good purchase, and never gave us any unexpected problems. Polaris may be wonderful. I'm completely ignorant of their product line. My impression of them is more like the Harley of 30 years ago. More marketing and branding than quality. Fully admit that I could be wrong here, but aggressive looking fairings wouldn't sway me away from the Yamaha machine that you've already ridden and found to perform well. For motorcycling one of the most important things you can do is 'set sag' on your suspension. This means adjusting it so that the machine sits in the middle of its suspension travel with the rider on it. Lets the suspension adjust the wheels up or down as necessary for conditions. I imagine there's something similar with sleds. Bikes come from the factory with super mushy suspensions. Sleds probably do to. Your weight probably has it bottomed out or nearly so. You probably need to re-spring the machine for your weight. If you do this it will be much more nimble and enjoyable to ride. Post pics of whatever you get. Yeah, ummm, most new Yamahas are made and engineered by Arctic Cat now, with a Yamaha engine in them. They still sell a few of their own "made in Japan", but not many. Cat also sells some of their own branded sleds with that same Yamaha engine in them. It's an excellent engine, if you want a four-stroke, and don't need more than 130 horse. Adjusting a snowmobile suspension is nothing like a motorcycle. You have four points of pressure to adjust (instead of just two), and all of them work together to effect ride and handling. First you adjust the rear preload, which should only be about an inch or two of sit-in at the rear bumper (on the newer rider forward sleds). If you sit halfway in, it's going to push badly in the corners. Then you adjust the preload on the two front skis to get the correct height, and then you adjust the center spring preload (on the front arm of the rear suspension) to get the proper amount of weight on the skis. And it will need correction any time a substantially lighter or heavier rider is on it. Polaris has a good 600, but they have never been able to build an 800 that lasts. The new one seems better (so far), but the jury is still out. Their new chassis handles excellent and is light, but rides harsh compared to the competition. |
|
Quoted:
6'3" 275lbs without gear. Looking for used sled. I know I fit and enjoy ridding the Yamaha nytro that my buddy has and can get used ones at decent price. Should I stick with that or look at other makes? I like the looks of the Polaris rush but would be a 600 in the same price range used. Never drove one either. Anything else I should look at? Need enough power to pull my big ass. Thanks for the help Not really enough info there to make a recommendation. Is it strictly trail use, or off-trail too? Four strokes suck off-trail, especially the Yamahas. That Nytro has a good engine, but I'm not a fan of that chassis. But if you like it, buy it. |
|
Quoted:
Not really enough info there to make a recommendation. Is it strictly trail use, or off-trail too? Four strokes suck off-trail, especially the Yamahas. That Nytro has a good engine, but I'm not a fan of that chassis. But if you like it, buy it. Quoted:
Quoted:
6'3" 275lbs without gear. Looking for used sled. I know I fit and enjoy ridding the Yamaha nytro that my buddy has and can get used ones at decent price. Should I stick with that or look at other makes? I like the looks of the Polaris rush but would be a 600 in the same price range used. Never drove one either. Anything else I should look at? Need enough power to pull my big ass. Thanks for the help Not really enough info there to make a recommendation. Is it strictly trail use, or off-trail too? Four strokes suck off-trail, especially the Yamahas. That Nytro has a good engine, but I'm not a fan of that chassis. But if you like it, buy it. Mainly trail use but off trail when/where I can. Thanks for the tips so far |
|
Quoted:
Mainly trail use but off trail when/where I can. Thanks for the tips so far Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
6'3" 275lbs without gear. Looking for used sled. I know I fit and enjoy ridding the Yamaha nytro that my buddy has and can get used ones at decent price. Should I stick with that or look at other makes? I like the looks of the Polaris rush but would be a 600 in the same price range used. Never drove one either. Anything else I should look at? Need enough power to pull my big ass. Thanks for the help Not really enough info there to make a recommendation. Is it strictly trail use, or off-trail too? Four strokes suck off-trail, especially the Yamahas. That Nytro has a good engine, but I'm not a fan of that chassis. But if you like it, buy it. Mainly trail use but off trail when/where I can. Thanks for the tips so far If there will be some off-trail, go with a crossover (longer track)...especially if it's a four stroke. I've seen short track Yamaha 4s get stuck in the trail. Off-trail is a no-go. What's your budget? |
|
Quoted:
If there will be some off-trail, go with a crossover (longer track)...especially if it's a four stroke. I've seen short track Yamaha 4s get stuck in the trail. Off-trail is a no-go. What's your budget? Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
6'3" 275lbs without gear. Looking for used sled. I know I fit and enjoy ridding the Yamaha nytro that my buddy has and can get used ones at decent price. Should I stick with that or look at other makes? I like the looks of the Polaris rush but would be a 600 in the same price range used. Never drove one either. Anything else I should look at? Need enough power to pull my big ass. Thanks for the help Not really enough info there to make a recommendation. Is it strictly trail use, or off-trail too? Four strokes suck off-trail, especially the Yamahas. That Nytro has a good engine, but I'm not a fan of that chassis. But if you like it, buy it. Mainly trail use but off trail when/where I can. Thanks for the tips so far If there will be some off-trail, go with a crossover (longer track)...especially if it's a four stroke. I've seen short track Yamaha 4s get stuck in the trail. Off-trail is a no-go. What's your budget? Was thinking $6000 tops |
|
I'd suggest a Ski-doo Renegade. Should have no problem finding one in your price range. 800 for sure IMHO.
Last thing I'd buy is a poolarass. Yes I've owned many and learned my lesson. Been riding sleds since 1969. In front of my dad on his 640 TNT, hanging on for dear life. |