Thoughts on Kids Starter Sled
- Thread starter mj54
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Deleted member 10829
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I would look for a 340 Indy Lite from around 2000-2002. It's about 3/4 the size of a full size sled. If you want a full size sled, I'd get any Indy 500 liquid cooled which they will be able to ride for years. If you want less HP, an 488cc fan cooled Indy Trail would be a good starter sled also, but I'm not a big fan of fan cooled engines.
Man, there are a ton of them. For me personally, I looked for a fan-cooled sled, trying to keep the power down until they can handle the sled good. I just bought a 1980 John Deere 340 Trailfire for my boys. But, you can find many newer, lower powered sleds for under $1000.
momoney2123
New member
When i was 12, i started on a 1997 MXZ 440 Fan cooled. Skidoo has made some version of this sled every year, but in the 2000's sometime it was bumped to a 550fan. These sleds handle very well and are bullet proof and almost maintanence free. My old 440 has over 20,000 miles on it and is still chugging. They dont have too much power, if i remember correctly the 440's had about 50 HP and i think the 550's have around 70ish. IMO they are a perfect starter sled for a youth rider as they only go about 70 mph. If you have more money to spend the 600 ACE from ski-doo is also really nice. Not to much power, easy throttle and very reliable and light weight. I think polaris and AC make fan cooled sleds as well if your brand biased. There was a nice mxz 440 fan in the classified section on here not to long ago that looked like a nice sled, not sure if it sold or not. If your looking for a little more power the 500ss is also a very nice and reliable sled. Good luck
I would go with a fan cool sled for their first sled all day. They are lighter and easier for the young ones to handle. We started our (than) 11 yr. old out on a 1995 Yamaha Ovation 340. Great starter sled. She is now 13 and we have moved her up to a 2000 Arctic Cat ZR this season. The 7 yr. old is now riding the Ovation around the fields as he has moved out of the 120’s (to big).
Go Fast or Go Home
Active member
Depending on how much you want to spend. Ski-Doo has the new 900 ACE. It has a programmable learners key. If experience rider would also want to take it for a spin then select the mode you want from the three position selector switch.
freestyle 300 DOO if u can get one they are way hotter than a 120.
if u get a deal u will pay 2500 but more likely 3 to 3500.only made a few yrs I think 06 07 08? same as a lynx in Canada. they also made a 550 136 that is imposable to find
u will not loose a dime on it and when u re post for sale if u get that far cuz a buds kid will want it it will sell in less than a week .
or yeah go out and buy some old out dated pile of junk that when u are done with it U may get 100 bucks in scrap.
if u get a deal u will pay 2500 but more likely 3 to 3500.only made a few yrs I think 06 07 08? same as a lynx in Canada. they also made a 550 136 that is imposable to find
u will not loose a dime on it and when u re post for sale if u get that far cuz a buds kid will want it it will sell in less than a week .
or yeah go out and buy some old out dated pile of junk that when u are done with it U may get 100 bucks in scrap.
My kids started with an Indy lite. Then boy two had a little 380 mxz. Next fall kid 3 will have a 380 too. Great little sled. The last one went about 60 mph. Very reliable. Took him to Michigan riding. Great learning. Don't want to put him or her on a 100 mph machine at age 12. Dangerous combo in my opinion.
Yeah, kind of like those old out dated kitty cats that you can pick up all day long for a 100 bucks.
Kids sleds hold value. Its called supply and demand. A 340 faner is a perfect sled for a kid starting out thats too old for a 120 and not old enough for a newer hot rod.
gogebic_sledder
Member
Any 80's yamaha. SS, exciter,bravo, ovation, srv. Can't go wrong cheap to fix, lots of parts available. I love the old 440's and 340's
Everyone has a different situation when it comes to this. I, myself, could not imagine spending $2500-3500 on a starter sled for a kid. A starter sled that may get damaged by inexperience. If you can swing that much on a starter sled great, I prefer to start with much less investment.
I held on to a 95 340 Puma Deluxe that I bought new in 1995 for my wife. She rode it two years then we had our first son sold thesledto my dad so my youngest sister had something to ride she was 14 at the time. Eventually the sled went in the back of the garage with only 900 miles on it. 10 years later my oldest started driving it (2) CDI bixes later and having to tow it home twice because of CDI failure its still going only about 2500 miles on it now though.
My 12 year son will drive it this year again but he is already complaining about how bad it rides. I told him to get a job and save his money and he can buy what he wants.
Anyway I would look for a good 340-440 fan cooled sled. Easy to work on not terrible on fuel.
My 12 year son will drive it this year again but he is already complaining about how bad it rides. I told him to get a job and save his money and he can buy what he wants.
Anyway I would look for a good 340-440 fan cooled sled. Easy to work on not terrible on fuel.
OK fair enough.
but ask your self this
u have a guys trip planed
every one is loading up at your shop to head out on a 7hr drive north.
some guy shows up on a old xlt is he coming with u?
if so u are a nicer guy than me
I am not trashing my limited free time on trips towing some old pile out of the woods. then going out scrounging parts to get some guys heep going cuz he did not want to spend the money to play with the big boys.
same goes with your kid but worse now U have the kid whining and the old lady bitching that u were to cheep buy the kid something decent to ride. now u get to listen to that for the whole toe in that night in the cabin and the whole ride home and prob on your 59th anniversary.
andI don't think insurance on a 3k sled is more than 100 bucks a season and if u are sending any kid out on a sled even a 120 with out insurance u are insane
and by the way the freestyle is a mid size chasi and very ez for a kid to drive.
1 of my buds kid is 7 and rides one. we drove 5hrs 1 way to get that one.
and 1 more has been floating from kid to kid around our crew from new there is a waiting list for them
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There are tons of 380's around, and a lot of them have been "the wife's sled". Not real expensive and not real costly to go thru and put into reliable condition. (or at least what we all think will be) cause I've been there when my brand-new sled has takin a dump on me and had to be towed too..