looking to get my boy a sled

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tomcat

Member
I have a 4 year old boy and have been back and forth on getting him a sled. I need to sell myself on it and then move onto selling the wife on it (which will be the major challenge). There is a 2000 Z120 for sale locally. It has a 6.5 horse honda motor in it. Supposedly will go 20-25. Seems awfully fast for a 4 year old. I kind of wish it had the original motor in it for now. Anyway to govern these things down. The guy mentioned putting zip ties over hand grip on throttle side. I may go look at it as it is close by. What should I look for on these sleds. Any need to compression test a little 4 stroke. I see I can by a summer wheel kit for them. Do they have enough suspension to run around on in the summer. I have about 3 acres behind my home that is relatively smooth that would be ideal for winter and summer play. Last but not least, what are these things worth. The man wants 1600 BO. Seems to be about the going price for them from what I've seen. Just want to buy it fair enough that I can get most my money back out of it after my kids out grow it. Seems like that seems to be pretty common with these 120s. Thanks for any input
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Look for a used kitty cat all he really needs at $500ish for a decent one. Be sure & have your track shoes on with a 4 year old in the yard with trees until he gets the hang of it & you need to be there 100% of the time. Best palce to take them is on a lake let them ride within a boundary while you icefish nothing to hit worked for me.
 
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groomerdriver

New member
When my oldest son was 5 I got him a SkiDoo Mini Z. First several laps he did fine. Then the neighbors started running behind him and one time he looked back at them and ran square into the well casing. Threw him over the handlebars. We ran to each other and he was crying and saying "I don't wanna do this anymore ever!". Hour later he was back outside making tracks down to the grass.

And to think that this kid now flys on and is in charge of a $300 million aircraft. God help us all!!!!

IMO - they outgrow Kitty Cats real fast. 4 years old?....could very well be ready for a 120 class sled.
 
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vic_junior

Member
I have a Polaris 120 for my daughter and son who both started riding when they were 4 years old. With the governor on it will top out around 8mph. With the governor off it will do about 16-18mph. 20-25mph for a 4 year old beginner might be too fast for him to learn the basic's of turning. Try and rig up a governor for now because by the end of this snow season or next year he could be easily going 20-25mph. Like whitedust said, make sure your footwear will allow you run. If you want to do a compression test go ahead. Just look up what the compression is suppose to be at. For a Honda 6.5 I would just make sure it runs good and drives. These sleds are mostly lubed by grease zerks and chain lube. Just ask him if has done his maintenance on it. Check the oil. I wouldn't pay anything more than $1000 for a 15 year old 120 sled. Newer Honda engine or not. I would look around some more and try and find a stock 120 sled. Either way good luck. I've had fun watching my kids learning to ride. From what I can see they are hooked for life.
 
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jshabadu

Member
I would think the only thing that could come close to $300 million would be the B-1 Lancer. B2 is twice that or more.
 
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renegade600

Active member
I went down this road a number of years back... forget the Kitty Kat, he will outgrow it in a year....

Buy the 120 and govern the engine down. Zip ties work, or there are springs you can buy.....

I bought a Kitty Kat and restored it only to buy a Polaris 120 that we used for several years.... we eventually modded it so he could keep up with the other kids when he started racing it and I also made a wheel kit so he could grass drag it....

The 120 started a love in him for snowmobiling that he still has today... he's 21 now.....

Get him something to grow into, not something he will soon grow out.....

Just my .02.... good luck in your decision, and have fun!!!
Tom
 
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jonesin

Well-known member
10-4 on skipping the kitty cat, if you get more than a few inches of snow they are worthless, the 120's are great
 
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tomcat

Member
What year did they start putting front shocks and plastic skiis on these things? I was just looking at a pic of this 2000 and noticed it had no shocks on the a arms. I would think that would make for an awfully rough ride at 20 mph with the summer wheel kit on.
 
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jr37

Well-known member
The Mini-Zs are over priced. I started my sons on the Kitty Kats. I used have 2 of them, now down to 1. Last fall I bought a '79 John Deere 340 Trailfire for my then 9 year old. My youngest still rides the Kitty Kat, although this is probably his last year on it, and my 10 year old drives the John Deere. I have a combined $700 in both machines. I thought that for $200 if he runs the JD into a tree or something I'm not out much. I know not many of you guys want an old John Deere in your yard, but for the $1000-1500 savings, I'll take it. Besides, I like the old iron better than the new ones.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
I think that is a decent price for a 120 with a big motor .
my bud just sold the poo 120 that I put a lo20 brigs in wide fr end rear shocks tall seat taller riser and new bars .
he got 2200 and it was gone in 2 days
loosen the throttle cable so the thing will not go over 1/2 throttle.
by next yr he will want more then u are in to a grand and a few nights after work for more speed.
U don't lose much on 120s.
a Yamaha snow scoot or snow sport is the real ticket if u can find one a few parts in one of those and it is good until he is 11ish
 
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woodey8

New member
I believe they switched to shocks in 2001. My son is 7 years old and he's ready for more power. I've decided against modifying his this year. I like the John Deere idea though.
 
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groomerdriver

New member
jshabadu said:
I would think the only thing that could come close to $300 million would be the B-1 Lancer. B2 is twice that or more.
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Nope - C17 Globemaster III with "all the bells and whistles". Must have $5 mil toilet seat covers...base price is $240 million.

tomcat - you're a pilot...what do you fly and are you ex-USAF?
 
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ezra

Well-known member
groomerdriver said:
Got anymore parades to rain on Ezra? Last effing time I post any good memory about anything on this board. People just itching to be a keyboard hero and rip sheet apart.
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not ripping on anything your kid is doing .
just stating how crazy expensive the thing is.
and saying if it was not a government contact plane and built for say UPS boing would not be getting 300mil.
just like a Polaris sxs on a larger scale .
sensitive much
 
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tomcat

Member
Groomer driver, I fly a learjet and am civilian trained. Looks like the sled sold so makes it an easy decision. Thx for the suggestions.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
groomerdriver said:
Got anymore parades to rain on Ezra? Last effing time I post any good memory about anything on this board. People just itching to be a keyboard hero and rip sheet apart.
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Ez not ripping on ya if he was he would have done a better job....lol.. :) Ez just ripping on how our tax dollars are spent!
 
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