Low mileage sleds too good to be true
- Thread starter saber1
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polarisrider1
New member
I have found sleds from the 70's and 80's with only 800 to 1000 miles on them. Most older gentlemen buy the 4 strokers and find out that the cold is not for them and don't ride much. Or they are in AZ all winter and sled was an after thought. Look at the vin# if it is hand ingraved you got a sled that had been totalled. If the sled has a digital speedo then I would trust the mileage. dial speedo's with a cable can be fiddled with quite easily.
2006 Apex has digital speedo so 856 miles could be right on. Look at track if looks new you should be in good shape also make sure everything up front is tight. If you have slop in front end & track is beat then 856 miles is bogus. 856 mile sled sells before 10,000 mile Yam 4s but price should not be more that a couple $100 more still 2006 sled. If the sled looks lke a 856 mile sled then you have a fab find & snap that puppy up
I saw a 2008 Apex GTLTX with 125 miles. Guys doctor said stop riding today & he did & went on the market that day.lol
I saw a 2008 Apex GTLTX with 125 miles. Guys doctor said stop riding today & he did & went on the market that day.lolanonomoose
New member
I have purchase a good share of used equipment. I pay very little attention to the odometer....the fact that they can be replaced or disconnected very easily means they aren't much of a guage of use.
Look at the engine compartment, skis/wearbars, track, bumps and bruises, spare parts, THEN compare to the odometer. Sloppy steering is another indicater.
Newer sleds should have fewer miles, but older sleds will rack them up unless they didn't get used much and then you have cracked fuel lines and gummed up gas tanks....they should be completely gone thru before you trust them out in the extreme weather.
I used to laugh when I saw sleds with 28 miles on them...two years old. If YOU bought a new sled how long would it take YOU to put 28 miles on it????
And that's why you can't trust odometers....
Look at the engine compartment, skis/wearbars, track, bumps and bruises, spare parts, THEN compare to the odometer. Sloppy steering is another indicater.
Newer sleds should have fewer miles, but older sleds will rack them up unless they didn't get used much and then you have cracked fuel lines and gummed up gas tanks....they should be completely gone thru before you trust them out in the extreme weather.
I used to laugh when I saw sleds with 28 miles on them...two years old. If YOU bought a new sled how long would it take YOU to put 28 miles on it????
And that's why you can't trust odometers....
Lake County
Member
Was riding with a friend who totalled his sled. The next day he went out and bought a new sled (same brand). Before heading out to ride first thing he did was swap out the digital speedo.
Took more time to open and close the hood then to switch them.
Just another example.
polarisrider1
New member
Why would you put a speedo with miles on it in a new sled?" New sled should be close to zero miles????????
polarisrider1
New member
I have a friend of a friend of a friend who hooks speedos up on a bench and hooks a dremel variable speed up and runs the miles off in reverse at about 60 mph to not burn up gauge. Iit takes a couple days to remove any sizable mileage. Speedos are also on ebay all day long to buy for just such purpose.
I bought a 06 Polaris Fusion 600 that was about 3 years old with about 200 miles on it. I live near Indianapolis, this sled came from a dealer near Indianapolis, and as far as I could tell, it was never titled. I of course have my doubts, but I think the miles are accurate and the guy only rode it around the fields near his house. Having gone through a very low mile purchase, I'll be hesitant to do so again because I think this machine suffered from neglect or lack of use more than it would have if it had "normal" miles.
My next sled, if I can't justify a new one, will come from someone I can verify took care of it (either from someone I know, or from someone on a site like this, etc.) so I have some idea what its history is. If I was buying a 4 stroke, I would probably be a little more willing to take a chance than a 2 stroke. But that's just my uneducated opinion.
My next sled, if I can't justify a new one, will come from someone I can verify took care of it (either from someone I know, or from someone on a site like this, etc.) so I have some idea what its history is. If I was buying a 4 stroke, I would probably be a little more willing to take a chance than a 2 stroke. But that's just my uneducated opinion.
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snow_monkey
New member
Another reason to purchase new. As clean as I keep my sleds I have friends constantly egging me on to roll her back. This is just not my style but I would not doubt if someone rolled back my old edge. It could of passed for a sled with under 2,000 miles and had over 7,000. Someone gets a bad deal! There was a thread where a fellow snowmobiler found a friends sled for sale with less miles than traded in, buyers beware!
Lake County
Member
PR1, I'm sure you can figure it out when he goes to sell.
For the record I do not (and did not at the time) agree with this action. We are all big boys and have to make our own choices in life. I firmly believe what comes around goes around. Usually when you least expect it.
None the less, the topic was asked. It does and will happen.
arcticgeorge
New member
Look at everything real closely. A sled that has real low miles should be free of normal wear and tear like mint running boards, no stress cracks and a super clean engine compartment. I saw a 1996 ZRT 600 with only say 700 miles on it at a swap one year and the engine area was mint with all the original stickers in place, no worn paint where your feet go, all the bolts look clean it was in perfect condition.
snow_monkey
New member
I agree there are many good used sleds. I guess the point I would make is take someone with you that knows sleds. My buddy took me to look at a used yamaha warrior that was,"only driven by the wife", with money in his pocket. The owner trying to sell said it was not in any accidents. I flipped it over and found a huge bad weld where all three tubes met under the frame. We passed and he followed us all the way to the car and was very unhappy that we discovered the damage!
My 2 cents...I think there are a lot of legit older low mileage sled out there. I know a lot of people who buy and then don't have time to ride or ride as much as they would like. My buddy is like that just a few hundered miles a year..which is sad but real. We have 2 98's up at the cabin that my parents bought back in 98 and thought they would ride more but don't. They have 1200 & 1700 miles on them. Now the kids bomb around on them.
snow_monkey
New member
I would think most are honest but between the crooks and poor maintenance it makes it a challenge to find a good used sled. I looked for used before new and it was very frustrating.
I sold my ZL with 6900 miles to a guy in Black River Falls, WI and a few weeks later i found my same sled for sale in Black River Falls and the ad said "4300 original owner miles"
Speaking for myself I would have noooooooooo problem buying a used sled from Kip or Chad. If a sled has an engine from here & suspension from there they tell all. When I sold my older sleds it has been throw it on my lift if you want, start it up, take it for a spin do whatever, come up with the lean green & ride off into the sunset & enjoy your new sled. Always get top dollar & nothing ever came back. Turning back speedos is for crooks & I would not ride with someone who does that to other people.